Imprint Friday: Hot Picks for Summer Reading

Welcome to Imprint Friday and today's featured imprints from Simon & Schuster. Stop by each week to be introduced to a must-read title from one of my favorite imprints. I know you'll be adding many of these books to your wish list.

I'm shaking it up over here at Imprint Friday by introducing you to three imprints within the larger publishing house of Simon & Schuster. I'm also playing a bit of catch-up so I can talk about books that were published over the last few months.

Let me start with Atria Books, which includes Washington Square Press. I'm not sure if you recognize the Atria name, but I can pretty much guarantee you've read their books. They publish Jodie Picoult, William Kent Krueger, Brad Thor, and Jennifer Weiner as well as many other household names. They are a twenty-first-century imprint and thus have a strong digital presence. To get the full scope of what Atria is all about, watch this short video.

So what Atria Books are at the top of my reading stack? Sarah Pekkanen's The Best of Us (ISBN: 9781451673517) takes us to the steamy shores of Jamaica, where four college friends and their partners reunite to celebrate a birthday, only to discover that despite outward appearances, the stresses of everyday life weigh heavily on everyone. Pick this up for an honest look at contemporary life in one's thirties. Douglas Kennedy's Five Days (ISBN: 9781451666359) examines what happens when Laura, a radiologist whose marriage is cooling, meets Richard, a salesman, when both are in Boston on business. Will their encounter heal, hurt, or open new horizons? M. J. Rose's Seduction (ISBN: 9781451621501) takes us to the Channel Islands, where we meet Victor Hugo in the past and a mythologist in the present. Both protagonists are searching for answers in the misty realms of the other worlds.

How many Gallery Books do you have on your bookshelves? No matter what your reading style, Gallery has a book for you, from celebrity memoirs and biographies (William and Kate) to the best in book club choices (Still Alice) to books that have made it to the silver screen (The Perks of Being a Wallflower). To watch a video about the broad scope of titles published under the Gallery umbrella and their strong, long-term commitment to their authors, visit their website.

Here are three fairly recent Gallery Books you won't want to miss. Chelsea Pitcher's The S-Word (ISBN: 9781451695168) is a mix of mystery with social commentary on high school bullying. When Lizzie's reputation is shattered and she driven to suicide, her best friend is determined to find out how and why this tragedy happened. Patricia Beard's A Certain Summer (ISBN: 9781476710266) explores a different sort of question: How do you live your life after your husband has been lost in action but is not officially declared dead? This is a thought-provoking novel that would make an excellent book club choice. Adam Mitzner's A Case of Redemption (ISBN: 9781451674798) offers up court room drama at its best, as a grieving attorney must get his act together to defend a high-profile rapper who has been accused of murder. Can either of these men find redemption?

As you put together your summer reading list, I hope one or more these titles from Atria and Gallery end up in your hands. Although they feature very different protagonists, all of these books explore issues that are sure to start an interesting discussion.

For more on Atria Books (and Washington Square Press) check out the imprint's website and Facebook page and follow them on Twitter. And don't forget to do the same for Gallery Books: website, Facebook, and Twitter.