Books of Interest Part 14: 2026 Summer/Fall Reading Recommendations
Since 2018, we have been curating lists of our employees’ favorite reads. In celebration of National Book Lovers Day (August 9), we are excited to be back again with Part Fourteen of our “Books of Interest.”
If you are looking to be captivated by a story or have already binged your way through your streaming watch list, here is a list of nine books recommended by our employees. To check out even more recommendations, here are parts 1-13 of our Books of Interest blog posts: Books of Interest Archives | Stillman 2 Cents.
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
If you’re looking for a heartfelt and memorable read, The Correspondent by Virginia Evans is well worth picking up. This acclaimed debut became a word-of-mouth sensation and went on to top The New York Times Hardcover Fiction Best Seller list, while also winning the 2026 Women’s Prize for Fiction and the PEN/Hemingway Award for Debut Novel.
Told entirely through letters, emails, and postcards, the novel follows Sybil Van Antwerp, a witty and fiercely independent 73-year-old retired attorney in Annapolis, Maryland. As her correspondence unfolds over a decade, readers are drawn into a moving story about relationships, resilience, and the lasting power of human connection.
– Recommended by: Jennifer W.
Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Dr. Travis Bradberry & Dr. Jean Greaves
Emotional intelligence – the ability to recognize, understand, and manage your own emotions while effectively navigating relationships – is a skill that can be developed, not just an innate trait. The book breaks EQ into four core areas: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management, offering practical strategies to strengthen each one. Its central message is that improving you EQ can lead to greater success at work, stronger relationships, better decision making, and increased overall well- being.
– Recommended by: Cheyenne S.
Dogs, Boys, and Other Things I’ve Cried About by Isabel Klee
From the social media star behind @SimonSits, Isabel Klee shares a heartfelt memoir about finding love, purpose, and belonging in New York City, with the help of the rescue dogs who changed her life. After moving to Manhattan in her twenties, Isabel discovered her calling: helping rescue dogs heal and find their forever homes. While navigating friendships, heartbreak, romance, and the challenges of growing up, she found her greatest companion in Simon, a rescue puppy who became her anchor and helped her build a community of dog lovers. Blending stories of foster dogs with the ups and downs of her own journey, Isabel’s memoir is an honest, touching celebration of second chances, unexpected love, and the bonds that transform us.
Filled with humor, heartbreak, hope, and plenty of four-legged friends, this memoir is a reminder that the best kind of love often comes when we least expect it. If you’re a dog lover or simply enjoy stories about second chances, you will want to add this one to your reading list. Just be sure to grab some tissues first!
– Recommended by: Jennifer K.
Gone Before Goodbye by Reese Witherspoon & Harlan Coben
Army combat surgeon Maggie McCabe has built her life on high-stakes medicine until a series of personal tragedies costs her everything, including her medical license. Desperate for a fresh start, she accepts a secretive job treating an elusive billionaire in a luxurious, high-tech hideaway. But when her patient vanishes without a trace, Maggie is forced on the run, caught in a dangerous mystery where becoming the next to disappear is all too possible.
– Recommended by: Phyllis O.
Over the Edge of the World by Laurence Bergreen
This tells the story of Ferdinand Magellan and his crew. The first circumnavigation of the world in 1520 was an incredible adventure filled with battles, mutiny, giant thunderstorms, starvation, cannibals. Five ships and 240 men left Spain. Three years later, one ship with 18 men returned. It’s the story you didn’t hear in high school history.
– Recommended by: Chris L.
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
I read Project Hail Mary this year, and I can honestly say it’s one of my new favorite books! I’ve never really been into science fiction, but it was recommended enough times I took a chance and do not regret it! It has great problem-solving, interesting characters, and an ending that really stuck with me. The movie was great too!
– Recommended by: Kelly C.
The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett
Set in Depression-era Oxford, Mississippi, The Calamity Club follows three unforgettable women whose lives collide in unexpected ways. Eleven-year-old orphan Meg has learned to trust no one, while outspoken Birdie uncovers shocking secrets beneath her sister’s polished Southern life. Together with the determined Charlie, they hatch a daring plan to take control of their futures.
Filled with heart, humor, and resilience, this moving story celebrates the strength of women who refuse to let hardship define them. If you love historical fiction with unforgettable characters and plenty of hope, The Calamity Club is a must-read.
– Recommended by: Cristy M.
Catastrophe 1914: Europe Goes to War by Max Hastings
An incredibly detailed telling of the prelude to, and the first 5 months of World War I, the War to End all Wars. Hastings explains the events that led to the war, complete with the thoughts of those in power, and their reasonings for war. Once the war begins, a flurry of battlefield breakdowns, first hand accounts, and homefront sentiments follow. Hastings also manages to intersperse some amusing accounts to break the bleak nature of events. Read all about the lesser know World War, before it’s most well-known aspect, trench warfare, began to become the norm. The conflict everyone as well as no one wanted, and no one was prepared for at all. Hastings’ immense knowledge and research will keep you engaged as well as teach you about this momentous tragedy.
– Recommended by: Dakota B.
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
One Dark Window is a dark fantasy filled with eerie forests, forbidden magic, and a haunting romance. Elspeth Spindle survives by relying on the Nightmare, an ancient monster living inside her mind. When she joins a dangerous quest with the king’s nephew to collect twelve magical Providence Cards and save the kingdom, she must confront an even greater threat: the monster within her is slowly taking control. Atmospheric, suspenseful, and perfect for fans of gothic fantasy.
– Recommended by: Taylor B.