CNN asked theAmazon Books editors about their favorite new books that inspire, build bridges, cross borders and bring joy. Here are their 10 picks for the summer of 2018 and the reasons why they chose these books:
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"The Widows of Malabar Hill": Set in 1920s India, Sujata Massey's novel introdulces Perveen Mistry, Bombay's first female solicitor, who works for her father's law firm handling contracts and estate work. When one of his clients is found murdered, she is perfectly poised to take up the investigation. Readers will become lost in the sights, the sounds and the heat of Bombay as Massey's clever and determined heroine sidesteps both custom and danger to deliver justice.
Soho Crime
"The Electric Woman": Many people say they'd like to join the circus; not many people actually do. Having difficulty coming to terms with her mother's imminent passing, Tessa Fontaine joined The World of Wonders, the last touring sideshow in America. "The Electric Woman" is a fascinating behind-the-scenes peek at carnival life, and an ode to unconditional love.
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
"How Hard Can It Be?" This sequel to Allison Pearson's best-seller, "I Don't Know How She Does It," finds her madcap heroine at a crossroads. In classic sandwich-generation style, everyone -- from her teenage kids to her aging mother -- needs her attention just when what she really needs is a job. But is she too old to re-enter the workforce or reignite her love life?
St. Martin's Press
"Aru Shah and the End of Time": For fans of Rick Riordan, this is the next new series (by Roshani Chokshi) to read over summer vacation. When seventh grader Aru Shah accidentally unleashes a dangerous god from Hindu mythology, the adventure begins and young readers won't be able to stop turning the pages. It's an exciting new fantasy filled with friendship, bravery and plenty of humor.
Rick Riordan Presents
"You Think It, I'll Say It": The intimate, often wryly funny short stories in this collection will make you feel that you're having a heart-to-heart with your most insightful friend. Curtis Sittenfeld's characters are "all set" — sort of. They've got their partners; they may have kids; they've got their work to do. But they're still thinking about the past, and each story is a reckoning with the vestiges of their former selves.
Random House
"Us Against You": Author Fredrik Backman is best known for his super best-selling novel "A Man Called Ove," but this new book, along with its predecessor "Beartown," is as heart-warming as any of his other works. One could describe "Us Against You" as a story of rival hockey teams in small town Sweden, but it's really about how friendship, loyalty, and kindness can make the difference in our lives.
Atria Books
"The Sun and Her Flowers": Indian-Canadian poet Rupi Kaur begins her newest collection with a devastating event but, like a growing seedling, stretches over the course of the volume toward healing and positivity. Kaur is at the forefront among a new generation of writers who have revived the once-musty genre of poetry, enriching it with the power to exorcise emotional demons and embrace the complexities of a well-lived life.
Andrews McMeel Publishing
"Sting-Ray Afternoons": Steve Rushin's memoir of growing up in the 1970s -- the golden age of candy cigarettes, sugar on your grapefruit and Nixon on the TV -- is a deep-dive homage to the "Me Decade," and if that's a title you're too young to understand, don't worry: Your dad knows.
Little, Brown and Company
"Feast by Firelight": Whether it's a picnic, a backyard gathering or actual camp cooking, Emma Frisch's cookbook brings it all together in style. Seventy delicious recipes cover everything from breakfast and snacks to mouth-watering desserts, along with clever tricks and tips for prep, transportation and cooking in the great outdoors.
Ten Speed Press
"Twilight of the Gods": For those about to rock: Steven Hyden's heroic "journey to end of classic rock" is a soaring tale spanning five decades of bombast and bad behavior that asks the essential questions: Did any of us ever really escape from "Hotel California"? What is the difference between a classic rock record and a Classic Rock record? And most importantly, what happens when (TO) a generation of pop culture icons when the latest farewell tour ends.
