Your 2023 Summer Reading Guide
Summer is finally here! There is so much to do. Come along with your friends at Deseret Book as we take summer by storm! Find the perfect book from our collection of gospel teachings, inspiration, historical fiction, romance, middle reader, children’s and so much more! Summer isn’t summer without a great TBR list. Get started right here and stayed tuned as we add more titles throughout the summer!
Gospel Teachings And Inspiration
Stay Thou Nearby
Carol Lawrence-Costley, Ahmad S. Corbitt, Edward Dube, Tracy Y. Browning
At the heart of so many cries to the Lord for understanding and faith, we find the same yearning: “Stay Thou nearby.” This collection of essays from Church leaders shares reflections, insights, and experiences regarding the priesthood restriction and the 1978 revelation on the priesthood from those for whom it is most personal—namely, our Black brothers and sisters—and how Jesus Christ offers healing and hope when none else can.
Jesus Is the Christ
Neil L. Anderson
Jesus Is the Christ is an invitation for all people across the earth to come to know Christ. Whether you are a lifelong follower of Christ or are just discovering who He is, this book will offer you inspiration and learning about the Savior of the World. In this powerful and concise volume, Elder Neil L. Andersen provides an overview of the Lord’s life and ministry and bears fervent testimony of His Atonement and Resurrection.
Men of God
Robert L. Millet
From bestselling author and scholar Robert L. Millet, this book is for the beloved sons of our Heavenly Father—husbands, fathers, sons, ministers, and friends—who have chosen to commit their hearts and lives to living the gospel and following our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Connecting with Christ
Kate Lee
In Connecting with Christ, beloved artist Kate Lee shares the experiences that have helped her come to Christ and learn to trust Him and the healing only He can give. When we allow Christ to carry our loads, we can begin to see the light He is offering us, the hope He is giving to us, and the love He feels for us. In thoughtful prose paired with her beautiful full-color paintings, Kate invites us to ponder scriptures, explore questions, and record our impressions on the journal pages.
Let’s Talk About: Science and Religion
Jamie L. Jensen, Seth M. Bybee
Why are science and religion often pitted against each other? Do the discoveries of science undermine Latter-day Saints' religious beliefs or inevitably cause honest inquirers to lose their faith? In Let's Talk about Science and Religion, scientists and BYU professors Jamie L. Jensen and Seth M. Bybee tackle these questions head-on and answer the latter with an emphatic no.
Both Things are True
Kate Holbrook
Kate Holbrook draws on her lifetime of expertise as a historian of Latter-day Saint women's history to examine the "contraries," the fruitful tensions that have stretched Saints present and past, including the true Church, revelation, housework, forgiveness and accountability, and legacy. While the book is richly illustrated with personal and historical examples, its ideas are expressed in the simple, gentle manner that is Kate's trademark. Both Things Are True is remarkable in its ability to reach readers of every walk of life.
Fiction
Along a Breton Shore
Arlem Hawks
Maxence Étienne, a soldier for the République, believes fiercely in the revolution that is bringing liberty to France. Armelle Bernard is a young woman from Breton who is ordered to be executed—an order to be carried out by Maxence.
When Maxence can’t bring himself to carry out his assignment, he and Armelle find themselves united as fugitives of the new republic. Now they must find a way to trust each other as they search for a path to peace, and to freedom.
Swimming in a Sea of Stars
Julie Wright
Returning to school after an attempted suicide, Addison knows that rumors will be flying about why she did what she did. But she’s not ready to share her secrets yet. Throughout the day, Addison will encounter four other students who are all struggling with their own secrets and struggles.
Swimming in a Sea of Stars is a poignant and gripping novel about how we’re all interconnected, like the stars in the night sky that form constellations and map out the universe, and if even one star goes missing, the effect is profound.
Only a Trenza Away
Nadine Fonseca, Camila Carrossine
Every night, Xiomara's (zee-oh-MA-da) papa delicately braids her hair before bed. As he gently tugs and twists and tightens her hair, father and daughter embark on imaginative and fun adventures as he makes up stories about Xia and her trenzas, or "braids" in Spanish.
In one story, her trenza becomes a sturdy twisted vine that she uses to bravely swing through the jungle. In another, her trenzas are jump ropes as she catches the beat to play double Dutch with the best players in the neighborhood.
But Xia worries what she would do if Papa was not there to help her in a real adventure—like starting a new school. Could the strength Xia needs already be woven into her braids?
The Art of Love and Lies
Rebecca Anderson
Aspiring artist Rosanna Hawkins paints “parlor pieces” of classic masterpieces, but hopes to one day create her own, original work. When she meets Detective Martin Harrison at an art exhibition, the two immediately fall into an easy companionship.
The couple's blossoming summer romance takes a strange turn when Rosanna recognizes her own works on display in the exhibition hall. Someone is stealing paintings and replacing them with her parlor version reproductions. When the evidence casts suspicion on her, Rosanna must convince Detective Harrison of her innocence and proposes a plan to capture the real art thief.
A Heart Worth Stealing
Joanna Barker
Genevieve Wilde enlists the help of the rather frustrating (and handsome) thief-taker, Jack Travers, to find her father’s missing pocket watch. When investigations into the missing piece unveil an even larger mystery, the two enter a risky charade to investigate further. As more details come to light, Ginny finds herself falling fast for her charismatic partner, while also uncovering secrets that may put her life in danger.
Under the Cover of Mercy
Rebecca Connolly
Based on a true story, Under the Cover of Mercy is the remarkable account of one woman who defied an entire nation in order to heal those who needed her help the most.
Teen and Middle Reader
The Official Fablehaven Cookbook
Brandon Mull & Cherie Mull
Author Brandon Mull’s magical creatures from Fablehaven, the brownies, are known for coming into the kitchen at night and baking delightful treats as a surprise for the caretakers and guests. In this official cookbook, the brownies and other characters from the series reveal dozens of their favorite recipes from quick snacks to festive meals to ingenious treats.
The Candy Shop War: Carnival Quest
Brandon Mull
The Blue Falcons is a secret kid’s club that fights against a family of villainous magicians. Using an impressive arsenal of magical candy, Nate, Summer, Trevor, and Pigeon defeated sinister candy shop owner, Belinda White, and her brother, Jonas White, a maniacal arcade operator.
Now, the Blue Falcons believe they must battle the third sibling—Camilla, who has brought the Dreams and Screams International Carnival to their town of Colson, California.
Just Gus
McCall Hoyle
Gus is a livestock guardian dog with one job—protecting his farm from coyotes and foxes. He likes keeping the sheep, the chickens, and his humans safe, and he’s very good at it.
When Gus is wounded, he travels to the North Carolina Coast to rest and heal with a young boy, Diego, and his family. Gus realizes Diego might need a friend as much as his sheep need a protector, but if he can’t learn to control his instincts, like barking and patrolling the neighborhood, Gus might lose his chance to stay in his new home. If he can’t protect the farm or his boy, Gus worries he might never find his place in the world.
Beauty Reborn
Elizabeth Lowham
Fantasy and reality collide in this retelling of Beauty and the Beast about a young woman’s heroic quest to save herself.
Beauty's life is the stuff of fairy tales, but a tragic secret leaves her feeling hopeless. When her father emerges from the enchanted forest with a stolen rose in his hand and the tale of a vicious beast on his breath, Beauty seizes the chance to run from her past.
Breaking the Beast's curse might be the key to discovering her own path to healing—and finding the courage to allow herself to feel reborn.
Paper Daughters of Chinatown (YRE)
Heather B. Moore & Allison Hong Merrill
In a heartbreaking but hopeful tale, we meet Tai Choi who is sold by her father and sent to work as a servant in San Francisco, where she is also given a new name: Tien Fu Wu. Tien Fu eventually crosses paths at a mission home with Dolly Cameron, who is dedicated to helping girls in her situation.
Despite many challenges, Dolly and Tien Fu forge a powerful friendship as they mentor and help those in the mission home and work to win the freedom of thousands of immigrant women and girls.