Perfect Happiness
By Kristyn Kusek Lewis; Harper; $17
Kristyn Kusek Lewis, an Arlington-based author, released Perfect Happiness on June 9, which follows self-help guru Charlotte McGanley as her career rises from helping people find more contentment in their lives—but she couldn’t be more miserable with herself and her husband and daughter. This family love story explores how people drift apart, and what happens when they try to come back together.
Tweet Cute
By Emma Lord; Wednesday Books, St. Martin’s Publishing Group; $18
Born and raised in Fairfax, Emma Lord released her debut young adult novel, Tweet Cute, this past winter. Named as a must-read by Marie Claire, Bustle, PopSugar, HelloGiggles and BuzzFeed, the book is like a modern version of You’ve Got Mail. Except this time, instead of falling in love via email, two teens’ angry Twitter battle takes an unpredictable, romantic turn.
The Drink Selection: With Something to Nibble on
By N.S. Shankar; Mascot Books; $18
You won’t find your next mixed drink recipe in this book, but you will find a cocktail of poems shaken and stirred by teen author and Herndon resident Nisha S. Shankar. The prose, released in March, began when Shankar’s sister challenged her to write a poem about any topic, which led to “Murder on the Whiskey Express” being written, the first of the drink-related poems found in this series.
Silver Wings, Iron Cross
By Tom Young; Kensington Publishing Corp.; $27
A World War II thriller, Silver Wings, Iron Cross hit bookshelves in May as a powerful historical fiction depicting the harsh realities of war. Written by air combat veteran and Alexandrian Tom Young (who is also an airline pilot based at Reagan National Airport), the novel follows an American fighter pilot who must align himself with the German soldier who shot his plane down over enemy lines for both to survive WWII.
Echoes From Far Lands
By Ridley Nelson; Mascot Books; $15
A travel memoir written by Great Falls resident Ridley Nelson, Echoes From Far Lands explores cultures, farming, everyday life and personal stories spanning five continents and multiple countries, including Australia (Nelson’s birthplace), Egypt, England and Kenya. Released in March, the story follows Nelson as he gains wisdom from a progressive women’s group in India, watches an aircraft explode overhead, spends time with the Maasai tribe and much more.
George Washington, Entrepreneur: How Our Founding Father’s Private Business Pursuits Changed America and the World
By John Berlau; All Points Books; $29
On sale June 30, George Washington, Entrepreneur takes a historic look at how Washington’s private business pursuits impacted the country and the world, focusing on his innovations across several industries, including agriculture and whiskey. John Berlau, who lives 7 miles away from Mount Vernon in Alexandria, drew inspiration from Washington’s journals and correspondence for a factual look at Washington’s entrepreneurial spirit.
This post originally appeared in our June/July 2020 print issue. For more things to do this summer, subscribe to our Things to Do newsletter.
