With spring in full swing, it’s time to defrost your reading list with picks from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Weiner. As the author behind “Good in Bed,” “The Summer Place” and this year’s “The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits,” it’s clear that Weiner has some expert writing skills. But she also has some pretty great recommendations, too.
Maybe you’re in the mood for a domestic thriller that makes you think about how well you really know those closest to you. Or maybe you’re on the opposite side of the spectrum and are in the market for a cozy romance.
Whatever the book worm in you is feeling this month, Weiner has you covered. Joining the 3rd hour of TODAY in-studio, these are all the novels she thinks you should add to your spring TBR.
Best thriller: "Famous Last Words" by Gillian McAllister
On her way out of the house one day, literary agent and new mom Camilla notices that her husband Luke has left her a rather eerie goodbye note. Eventually, the police inform her that he’s been wrapped up in a hostage situation. But nothing is really as it seems in this suspenseful thriller.
What drew Weiner to this pick was “the relatable heroine, the non-stop plot twists, and the big question — how well do we know the people we love,” she told TODAY.com.
Best Book to Screen: "The Friend" by Sigrid Nunez
After a tragic death, the novel’s unnamed narrator acquires an unlikely inheritance: a Great Dane named Apollo. This pick investigates grief, gain and the complex relationship between dogs and humans.
Through caring for this massive dog, the narrator finds “the love she never expected and desperately needed,” said Weiner. “I read this book for the first time on a plane, and I was crying so hard by the end of it that the flight attendant was worried about me.”
Best binge read: "Jane and Dan at the End of the World" by Colleen Oakley
Jane and Dan’s marriage has been stale for the better part of their two-decade long marriage. Right when Jane has made up her mind to ask for a divorce at a luxe restaurant, the place is invaded by armed climate-activist terrorists ... including the pair’s daughter.
This read explores the complexities of partnership and parenthood under difficult circumstances. That being said, “the humor of the voice, the portrait of the marriage, the feeling of superiority,” make this read truly epic, Weiner explained. Plus, “knowing that no matter how bad my teenagers might be, they’re not going to take me hostage” is a great reminder.
Best romance: "The Shots You Take" by Rachel Reid
“Rachel Reid writes hockey romances, which was not a genre I ever thought I was particularly interested in,” Weiner said. “But her books are so well-written and entertaining that I got sucked right in.”
In this second-chance romance, former hockey teammates Riley and Adam reconnect after twenty years. Back when they were dominating the ice, the pair had a steamy no-strings-attached relationship. With Riley an out gay man and Adam finally single, these two might finally find their way back to each other.
What Jennifer's reading: "Happy Land" by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
For a scenic read with depth, this book follows a single mother who uproots her life in Washington, DC. to spend time with her grandmother, Mother Rita, on her flower farm. In the process of fighting against her grandmother’s eviction, she learns of her family’s incredible legacy, including “a kingdom of free Black people established on the border of North and South Carolina after the Civil War,” Weiner said.
What had Weiner hooked from the start was “the relationships between four generations of women, learning about the real Happy Land kingdom, as well as the inheritance laws being used to take property away from Black families.”
Bonus pick: Best upcoming pick to look out for:"Hazel Says No" by Jessica Berger Gross
The Blum family goes from Brooklyn to Maine. There, something happens to the teenage daughter that impacts them as a unit and as individuals. Switching perspectives, the book shows what happens and will you wonder — what would you do?
The book offers an astute understanding of character and psychological depth.