Summer Reading

Though I hate to admit it, I’m a creature of habit. The “latte factor” (the theory that there a fortune lying hidden in our little, daily, needless expenses) annoys me to no end. Yes, if you tally up what I spend a month on cappuccinos ($90) and multiplied it by 12, ($1,080), or what I spend a month on magazines ($24) and extrapolated that for a year ($288), I would probably find that I have more disposable income than I thought.

But, what kind of a life would I have if I was deprived of my daily cappuccino-sipping-in-front-of-nytimes.com ritual? Or Glamour’s monthly Dos and Don’ts page, and InStyle’s insipid recycled celeb style (actually - it’s probably time I kicked my InStyle addiction)? A crappy life, if a slightly richer one.

Another ritual I’ve developed (and also robs me of a few deliciously-spent $$$s) is waiting impatiently for my favorite writers to come out with their latest releases, which usually happens over the summer (only Emily Giffin has broken with tradition… maybe little Harriet and the twins ran her haggard last year - her next book isn’t coming out until spring 2010).

Last year, I lusted after This Charming Man (Marian Keyes), The Beach House (Jane Green), Love the One You’re With (Emily Giffin), and Dirty Girls on Top (Alisa Valdez-Rodriguez) for many months until they were finally released in a slow progression over June and July.

This summer these authors did not disappoint. Here are some of the books on my must-buy list:

…and though these don’t have a cover yet, word on the street is that Marian Keyes’ next one, called The Brightest Star in the Sky is imminent, as is Sophie Kinsella’s Twenties Girl.

Of course, there’s another major release coming out this summer… the mass paperback edition of Cutting Loose in a mere two weeks! Happy summer reading!