Author suggestions

[moredetails.livejournal.com]

Hi, my community. :)

I think I get pickier with age. I'm fairly particular about what I like to read now. I like it when books make me feel hopeful and inspired. I tend to prefer somewhat light-hearted stories with a female main character. It's nice when she's in her 30s like me, but I'm kind of flexible. I'm not really into high-school-aged main characters anymore, though (but there are exceptions when it's a unique situation--such as in Cinder). I like some romance, but I don't want it to be the entire topic--a little goes a long way with me. I like happyish endings. I don't mind an unlikely situation, but I don't want super cheesy lines and completely unrealistic reactions. Mysteries are fun sometimes.

Authors I've really enjoyed lately:

Mary Kay Andrews
Sophie Kinsella
Beth Harbison
Emily Giffin
Sarah Strohmeyer
Kristen Heitzmann
Rainbow Rowell
Lauren Weisberger

I'm currently reading one by Hester Browne, and it's pretty good so far.

Authors I've tried but am not really in the mood for, in case you're going to suggest them: Jennifer Weiner, Mary Stewart, Cecelia Ahern (actually I have never made it through a book of hers--so boring!), Elizabeth Peters, Elizabeth Adler, Dorothea Benton Frank.

I loooove audiobooks and don't put in a lot of time reading book-books, so I'm looking for suggestions of authors who have audio of some books available. I'm open to Christian and non, provided the Christian isn't totally corny, and the non isn't full of sex scenes.

So...have I been too specific, or do some of you have some ideas for me? :)

Comments

[eattheolives.livejournal.com]

Hester Browne was who I was going to recommend first, so I'm glad you've found her! Which one are you reading?

I haven't read all of these, so I can't totally vouch for content, but as far as I know they seem like possibly good fits -

Meg Cabot's adult novels

Jane Green

I just got one called A Hopeless Romantic by Harriet Evans that's supposed to be like Hester Browne, but I haven't gotten to read it yet.

If you do feel like young adult fic at any point, I've really enjoyed Maureen Johnson's books - they're funny, not over the top romance, and typically very real-worldish. The Name of the Star series incorporates a mystery, too.

Librarian powers... activate!

[sonneta.livejournal.com]

What Alice Forgot (http://www.amazon.com/What-Alice-Forgot-Liane-Moriarty/dp/0425247449) by Liane Moriarty - The main character hits her head at 29, wakes up at 39 and has to try to reconstruct her life.

Big Stone Gap (http://www.amazon.com/Big-Stone-Gap-Ballantine-Readers/dp/0345438329/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_z) by Adriana Trigiani - "Ave Maria Mulligan is the town's self-proclaimed spinster, a thirty-five year old pharmacist with a "mountain girl's body and a flat behind." She lives an amiable life with good friends and lots of hobbies until the fateful day in 1978 when she suddenly discovers that she's not who she always thought she was. Before she can blink, Ave's fielding marriage proposals, fighting off greedy family members, organizing a celebration for visiting celebrities, and planning the trip of a lifetime"

Sofie Metropolis (http://www.amazon.com/Sofie-Metropolis-Bk/dp/0765350998/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1428547671&sr=8-1&keywords=sofie+metropolis) by Tori Carrington - A young private investigator, "Sofie's life takes another unexpected turn when her latest cheating spouse case turns into attempted murder--of Sofie--and she's rescued by a dashing Australian bounty hunter. And there's a missing "vampire" to find, not to mention Sofie's mother's best friend's lost dog . . "

Bond Girl (http://www.amazon.com/Bond-Girl-Novel-Erin-Duffy/dp/0062065904/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1428548101&sr=8-1&keywords=bond+girl+a+novel) by Erin Duffy - Described as "The Devil Wears Prada meets Wall Street"

[mainemilyhoon.livejournal.com]

Dorothy Cannell's The Thin Woman mysteries are fun - they're mysteries but they're light and a bit goofy (in a good way)

The Thing About Jane Spring by Sharon Krum

I haven't read any but I've heard good things about Sarah Addison Allen and Marisa De Los Santos.

Madeleine Wickham is Sophie Kinsella, though her books under that name aren't quite as funny. And Hester Browne also writes as Lucy Dillon.

I think you might like Where'd You Go, Bernadette, too.

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

[kiwiria.livejournal.com]

Seconding Sarah Addison Allen. I especially enjoyed "Garden Spells".

You know I have to suggest Debora Geary :) Her books are available as audiobooks through audible.com and audible.co.uk

Also seconding "Where Did You Go, Bernadette" - totally different from what I expected, and I loved it.

I rather like Erica Bauermeister. Especially "Joy For Beginners".

How do you feel about Maeve Binchy? She's rather hit-or-miss for me, but I really enjoyed "Scarlet Feather" and "Evening Class".

Gil McNeil is another favourite of mine.

[birdienl.livejournal.com]

How about Kristin Hannah or Luanne Rice? They are two of my favourite secular authors writing contemporary fiction. They write maybe a little less 'light' compared to the authors you mentioned, but they fit the bit for the rest I think. Romance is not the main story thread, I would call these books 'family-drama'