Books are the best companions. They’re made for summer reading—on porches, in hammocks, on piers, or beachside. If you’re planning a road trip or a staycation, take note of what Virginia has to offer—authors and stories alike.
Commonwealth, Ann Patchett
(Harper Collins, 2016)
Two families, five decades, six children, and four parents. Ann Patchett’s best-seller creates a humorous and heartbreaking tapestry of love and a family who spend summers in Virginia.
Florence Adler Swims Forever, Rachel Beanland (Simon & Schuster, 2020)
Rachel Beanland’s work of historical fiction examines the aftermath of tragedy in the Adler family during the Depression. This Richmond resident and VCU alum also wrote The House is on Fire (S&S, 2023), a gripping account of the Richmond Theater fire of 1811.
Trailed: One Woman’s Quest to Solve the Shenandoah Murders, Kathryn Miles (Algonquin Books, 2022)
In 1996, two young women were murdered while backpacking in Shenandoah National Park, but the case went cold. When journalist Kathryn Miles heard about it, she became enthralled. Follow her deep dive that uncovers the truth behind the grisly murders.
Happiness Falls, Angie Kim
(Hogarth, 2023)
Angie Kim delivers a riveting page-turner about a family in crisis with Virginia as the backdrop. When the father goes missing, the tight-knit family begins a desperate search, leading them to question what they really know about him.
Rebecca, Not Becky, Christine Platt
and Catherine Wigginton Greene (Harper Collins, 2023)
This compelling novel about motherhood, friendship, and sisterhood is set in the fictitious Virginia suburb of Rolling Hills. Read along as De’Andrea Whitman and her family move to a neighborhood and navigate their new community.
Finlay Donovan is Killing It,
Elle Cosimano (Minotaur Books, 2021)
This New York Times bestseller took readers by storm with the story of Finlay Donovan, a stressed-out single mom and struggling novelist. While overheard pitching the story of her new novel idea, she’s mistaken for a contract killer. Find out what happens in this witty novel by Virginian Elle Cosimano.
The Only Black Girl in the Room,
Alex Travis (Alcove Press, 2024)
Northern Virginia-based author Alex Travis makes a splash with a story about courage and grit. It stars Genevieve Francis, an ambitious reporter, who’s stuck in a dead-end newspaper job. An opportunity to attend a swishy gala leads her to a career jumpstart and self-discovery.
This article originally appeared in the August 2024 issue.
