I’ll happily cry my way through a sentimental plot, speedily flip through the pages of a juicy memoir, or get down with a steamy romance novel. But there’s one genre I’ve found myself repeatedly returning to lately because it’s just so fun to read: bubblegum thrillers. These have the thrill of a “keep you on the edge of your seat” storyline, but weave in a nice sort of bubbly levity through comedy and snappy writing. Here are a handful of my favorites, and a new one that I’m really excited to read.
Rachel Hawkins: The Villa
The Villa by Rachel Hawkins.
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Amazon
In my personal opinion, Rachel Hawkins has perfected the art of the bubblegum thriller. Her characters are always very modern, her writing feels fresh and snappy, and she does an excellent job of telling winding, drama-for-the-drama stories. Any of her books are a fun read, but one of my favorites was The Villa. It features two 30-something frenemies on a girls’ trip to Italy, where they set up camp at a gorgeous (but definitely creepy) gothic villa.
Lucy Foley: The Midnight Feast
The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley.
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Amazon
Lucy Foley is another author who nails this genre—she also wrote The Guest List and The Paris Apartment, which are both among my favorites. That said, if it’s a juicy murder storyline you’re after, then she’s your girl. True to Foley form, The Midnight Feast is centered around a big shindig at an outrageous venue, but among friendly convos and side-eye between guests, there’s darkness lingering in the nearby forest.
Ashley Elston: First Lie Wins
First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston.
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Amazon
I love the way Ashley Elston is able to take us on the stressful, twisted journey of Evie Porter: a woman who seems to have a perfect life on the surface but is actually full of all kinds of secrets. (The biggest one: She doesn’t actually exist…). While she’s falling in love with her handsome boyfriend and (trying) to bond with his friends, she’s dealing with a ton of personal drama on the side that can uproot everything she’s working toward.
Kate Fagan: The Three Lives of Cate Kay
The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan.
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Amazon
The Three Lives of Cate Kay is similar to Best Lie Wins, so if you’ve read that one and loved it, then definitely pick up this snappy read by author Kate Fagan. This light thriller follows Cate Kay, a successful film author who finally confesses that she hasn’t exactly been honest about her tragedy-riddled past. The rest of the story—rich with narrative tension and fragmented storytelling that keeps you flipping pages—unfolds from there.
Amanda Chapman: Mrs. Christy at the Mystery Guild Library
Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library by Amanda Chapman.
Credit:
Amazon
This debut novel by Amanda Chapman is coming out at the end of August (August 26, to be exact), and it’s already getting a lot of buzz. The storyline follows Tory Van Dyne, a sort of shy book conservator who comes from an eccentric “old money” family in New York City. Early in the book, Dyne meets a posh woman while working at Manhattan’s Mystery Guild Library who claims to be Agatha Christie. Together, they go on a spinning goose chase to solve a murder together.