Whathca going to read now that the sun is beckoning for beach blankets and sunny days in the park? We’ve got some tips for June from BookHampton (41 Main St., East Hampton, 631-324-4939). Right in the heart of East Hampton, there’s something for everyone at this year-round, vibrant bookseller, who for over 50 years has been keeping South Forkers supplied with page-turners. Bought by Carolyn Brody in 2016, the store has a 5,000-strong inventory packed into a 1,000-square foot space, which still somehow manages to come off as airy. There are tons of author events, a monthly book club that meets at LongHouse Reserve (cool, right?), and Brody’s awesome Authors to Schools program, which brings touring writers into local schools to talk about taking on writing as a career, among other topics. We checked in with them to see what pages the savvy staff there are turning this June…
“Raw and slightly uncomfortable, All Fours is a provocative look at a curious, creative woman confronting aging, sexuality and the second half of life. As she embarks on a cross-country journey, the unnamed narrator pauses at a literal fork in the road to reevaluate her future. A real conversation starter.” — Eve Karlin
“My favorite book of 2024! This is a brilliant novel about an exile’s life ‘shattered by violence yet sustained, fiercely if complicatedly, by friendship.’ (Claire Messud) Deeply affecting — if there is a language of exiles, Mater is its master. Unforgettable, touching, and elegant.” — Carolyn Brody
“The perfect book to get you excited for summer! Wyn and Harriet are (almost) infuriatingly pining over one another. There’s an adorable, undeniable connection between the two that’s obvious to readers and side characters alike. A great, enjoyable, easy read! — Ashley
“Come for the murder mystery but stay and settle in for the rich characters and insight into how small towns handle justice. There’s so much going on under the surface. I loved the slow-burn tension!” — Holly Buchanon
“A young man of Persian dissent, struggling with addiction, tries to reconcile his mother’s senseless death by exploring the notion of a meaningful death, aka ‘martyrdom.’ His search leads him to a performance artist who is living out her final days in/as an exhibition called “Deathspeak.” Akbar is an award-winning poet with a gift for language. Funny and philosophical, this is the most original novel I’ve read this year.” — Eve Karlin
