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Win The urbanmoms.ca Summer Reading List!

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late nights on air.jpgTHIS CONTEST IS CLOSED!

Summer is almost here and if you are like most moms you are going to be looking for recommendations on great books to read while soaking up the summer sun. Well, thanks to our friends at Random House we can offer you a little help in your literary quest. Check out Random House’s list of top summer reads here to get started: Summer Reading List. But that’s not all! Not only do you get their fabulous list of top books but they are offering you 20% off plus free shipping when you order off the list using the promo code “summer”!

As if that’s not enough. We loved the Random House list so much that weunaccustomed earth.jpg needed to share that love with you. So, post your recommendation for one of your favourite summer books in the comments section below and you could win all of the TEN books listed below! Definitely enough to keep you busy during your days at the cottage or evenings by the pool this summer. Remember, you must be an urbanmoms.ca member to win. Not a member yet? Click here to join.

Our urbanmoms.ca Summer Reading Prize Pack consists of:

Unaccustomed Earth
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
The Gargoyle
Late Nights on Air
The Tenth Gift
The Outcast
The Origin of Species
The Good Mayor
Friday Nights
The Flying Troutmans

Comments

  1. Laura says

    What a great list of books, both the Random House and all the urbanmom’s comments! I just put holds on several of these books on my library’s website as I was reading the list.
    My favourite summer reads would be Pillars of the Earth and World Without End by Ken Follett as well as The Book of Negroes and Any Known Blood by Lawrence Hill. Just finished Any Known Blood yesterday and it was fantastic!

  3. Judy Williams says

    The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a wonderful retelling of life during the war. A very good read that was hard to put down as it was very close to the stories from my Mother-in-law of her life with three small boys and a husband in the Royal Air Force ( one of those boys is my husband)

  6. Michelle Y says

    I absolutely loved The Time Traveler’s Wife! It was an excellent book and I’m very excited to see the movie soon too;) Right now, though, I’m reading the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. I’m almost finished the second one, Dragonfly in Amber, but I know that I’ll keep going until I’m done them all!!
    Great contest, thanks for the chance to win!

  8. dixbay says

    Any book by Jonathan Kellerman, if you like that genre. Also James Patterson’s books are all page turners. The Maximum Ride series is not for me, the Women’s Murder Club series are great.

  9. arcticfox says

    The Shopoholic series of books – hilarious and light reading. I can definitely relate to buying makeup for the bonus, lol!

  15. Michele says

    I would recommend The Glass Castle. It’s a book that can only affirm the ability of children to overcome countless obstacles and keeps you shaking your head. Other oldies but goodies include Too Close to the Falls, The White Bone and The Red Tent.

  16. Christine says

    Hello!
    I recommend any book by Jodi Picoult. One of my favs was My Sister’s Keeper which just came into the theatres yesterday. Happy reading! I love summer for that.

  20. Jennifer Rayment says

    Deja Demon: The days and nights of a demon hunting Soccer Mom by Julie Kenner
    Hilarious!!!!!

  21. Pamela Humphrey says

    the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon is a wonderful historical romance mixed with time travel. It is the first in the series and will keep you enthralled for the entire summer.

  24. Dianne G says

    For anyone who likes a bit of nostalgia I would recommend Prairie Girl – A Memoir by Melissa Gilbert. Kind of an eye opener to what life was really like for this young star of Little House.

  29. Aliya D. says

    ‘Unaccustomed Earth’ by Jhumpa Lahiri is a great follow-up to her ‘Interpreter of Maladies’ and ‘The Namesake’… Lahiri’s novels and short-stories are poignant, heartfelt and speak to the human condition, but especially touch me (and Indian raised in North America) because of her literary convergence of the Indian world and the West, generational divides and the expectations and trials of bridging the two worlds and feel comfortable in one’s own skin.
    Please accept this as my entry… Thank you!

  31. Heidi says

    I’m reading the Maisie Dobbs mysteries by Jacqueline Winspear and they’re very entertaining. Anything by Martha Grimes is really good too.

  33. Anita Jones says

    The Time Traveller’s Wife is wonderful and Late Night Nights on Air is very special too — so many great books — so little time.

  34. Seema says

    Love reading…. just finished “City of Ashes” “City of Bones” and City of Glass”, for all you Twilight lovers who want a similar read… too much fun. I also just finished “the Girls” by Lori Lansens about conjoined twins…. surprisingly good! I haven’t read any of the recommended books yet, so I would love to win them!

  35. Kat D says

    “Gods Behaving Badly” by Marie Phillips. An absolutely hilarious romp through modern day London by a group of rather ill behaved ancient Greek gods/goddesses.

  36. Rose Holloway says

    I would love to win this. What a lovely way to spend the lazy days of summer reading these. 😀

  37. ladydoor says

    I recommend A Long Long Way, by Sebastian Barry. Lovely prose, heart-wrenching story of WWI.

  39. Marlene V says

    I really love the Shopaholic Series by Sophie Kinsella and the Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon. These are both great books to read over the summer. Thanks for the great giveaway:)

  41. Jessica Meisner says

    I am reading Stone Angel by Margaret Laurence for the summer and I recommend it to everyone. Here’s to Canadian authors for the summer.

  43. Tracy F says

    I’m reading A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry. It’s set in 1975 India during political upheaval. I didn’t know what to expect but I’m having a hard time putting the book down. It’s not a fun-loving light read like The Domestic Goddess (Sophie Kinsella), but it’s sure great for pulling you into another culture for a couple of hours.

  44. Diana Corlett says

    I’d like to add my recommendation for a novel mentioned above, The Time Traveller’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. It is, without doubt, the best book I have ever read! And amazingly it is a debut novel. More recently, I have enjoyed Falling Under by Danielle Younge-Ullman.

  45. cwilman says

    I couldn’t put down either: The Devil Wears Prada, the book is 10x better than the movie and The Prize Winner of Defiance Ohio, keep a kleenex box handy!!

  46. Rachel says

    I like to read books set in cold climates during the summer, like Sue Henry’s series of Jessie Arnold mysteries. They are thrilling whodunits and, on a hot summer day, the descriptions of the Alaskan environment make me feel cooler!

  49. momof2monkeys says

    I’ve heard a lot about the Shopaholic series, they sound like a nice, light summer read.

  50. KittyPride says

    Helen Humphries’ The Lost Garden is one of my favourite reads. It has female bonding, life challenges, a bit of mystical wonderment and gardening! What more could you ask for in a good read?

  51. Debbie W. says

    I would love to win these. It would be a great excuse to sit back and read, when it’s too hot to do anything else.
    Thank you for the giveaway

  52. Kerrie says

    I would recommend the Darkfever series by Karen Marie Moning.
    Book 1: Darkfever
    Book 2: Bloodfever
    Book 3: Faefever
    Book 4: Dreamfever (comes out in August)

  53. Tania says

    Loved “The Gargoyle” – could not put it down! My guilty pleasure reading materials are anything by J.D. Robb (aka Nora Roberts). I love a strong yet flawed heroine and Eve Dallas is that to a T! At the cottage, after kids have been put to bed, I love to curl up with any book by Stephen King or Dean Koontz or Patricia Cornwall. I just love reading and it seems I have passed this love of books gene to my kids! My 3yr old son is big into the Dr Seuss Beginner Readers and Eric Carle. My 6yr old daughter is just getting into chapter books and loves having us read them to her. Her favourite ones are anything to do with Pokemon.

  55. JL says

    just got 2 of the Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella, looking forward to some downtime in the shade!

  60. Gwen Pellerin says

    Haven’t read any of these but with some summer time at the beach I would love to read them.

  63. Jemrah says

    I haven’t read any of them; therefore, i would love to win them all, so i can recommend them to my friends!

  65. Sabrina East says

    I like the light laughs of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series. Finger Lickin’ Fifteen should be out any time now.

  67. jentam says

    I loved “Eat Pray and Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert. It’s my favourite book of all time now.

  69. Chelsey says

    I would recommend “The Lucky One” by Nicholas Sparks. If you like the movies based on his books — you’ll like this book for sure. (I can’t wait for the movie lol…) Also “Like Dandelion Dust” by Karen Kingsbury is a good read (and has been made into a movie now!).

  70. barbfersht says

    The tenth gift sounds like my kind of book. Some history, some romance and lots of action. would love to win these books.

  71. Nicole says

    Late Nights On Air was beautifully written and really interesting. It made me want to live up north and join the staff of a radio station! By the end, the characters felt like old friends.

  72. carol16 says

    I highly recommend “Three Cups of Tea” – a true story about a man who is building schools for children, especially girls, in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Well worth the read!

  73. Heather rosen says

    Nino Ricci’s The Origin of Species is a winner. It’s amazing how he develops his main characters, the relationships among characters and the conflicts they experience. I always consider his novels fascinating labyrinths with startling denouements. He is truly one of our great Canadian authors.

  78. stacey dempsey says

    i am a big DAN BROWN fan and right now and reading MICHAEL CHRIGHTONS STATE OF FEAR very good cant put it down, and if you want to improve your life THE SECRET the one they had on OPRAH is also very good , ohhh and EAT PRAY LOVE was GREAT

  79. tjbugnet says

    I read a book several years ago that I still read every so often. It’s a book that can be very startling and disturbing at times but if you read it through you will feel as though you have gone through a journey yourself. The book is called “When Rabbit Howls” and it is authored by The Troops for Truddi Chase. I highly, highly recommend this book, especially for anyone who questions the validity of multiple personality disorder or MPD. Amazing!

  80. Dawn says

    The Kite Runner is a fabulous book about the lives of 2 Muslim boys and what they had to endour. I loved this book, and the movie as well.

  81. Sherriemae says

    I work in a very multicultural school with a very high percentage of Muslim students. They are some of the most greatful and receptive students I have ever taught. I recently read a book called Sweetness in the Belly. An interesting look into the life of a non Muslim living in a Muslim community and the challanges she encounters. Fabulous setting and plot. A wonderful read. I highly recommend this book to all!

  82. SFraser says

    I just finished The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and it is a must read for this summer. I absolutely loved it. It shows the power of books to bring people together. My only problem with this book is that there will not be any more from this author. She wrote a classic and it is unfortunate that she did not live to see her amazing success. I definitely want to pass this book along but want to read it again too. If I win this set, I can do both!

  83. Yvette says

    I read any chance I get, but with a FT job, a side business and being a mom, it’s kind of difficult to find time to do so 🙂 Right now I am waiting to start the third book in the Twilight series, but would also recommend the Pillars of the Earth and all the Shopaholic series….

  84. cheryl says

    I would recommend books by Linda Sole. I just read ” The Lie” The story line is intriguing and the characters have alot of depth. I would love to win the Summer Reading Prize Pack as I am an avid reader always looking for new authors.

  85. Julie Dyer says

    The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb is absolutely unputdownable — dive into it!

  86. Janet Meisner says

    To relax under an umbrella, I would recommend Martha Grimes, “The Grave Maurice”. She writes entertaining British mystery novels.

  87. Kiki says

    I’d recommend “My Sister’s Keeper” by Jodi Picoult or “The Time Travler’s Wife’ by Audrey Nieffenegger… any book that has a film adaptation should be a part of someone’s light summer reading list!

  88. Gem says

    Anything by James Patterson is a great summer read but if you want a little meat in your novel The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver will give it to you. It’s long but don’t let that discourage you, it’s worth it.
    My friends and I had a monthly book club years ago that fell away with the busy schedules of our children. All of our oldest children graduated from high school last week and we’ve decided to do a summer reading club. We each have to come up with at least 2 suggestions and now I have 10….thanks.

  89. Anne T says

    The Girl Who Stopped Swimming has to be the best book I’ve read in a long time! Beautifully haunting!
    Thanks

  92. Valerie Jeanne Gibson says

    Anyone who missed Life of Pi by Yann Martel should read it now. It’s engrossing and surprising.

  93. Katie says

    “The Book of Negroes” is amazing. Highly recommended, and trigirl, don’t be worries about the length of it – it’s a pretty fast moving read!

  94. trigirl says

    I loved The Namesake (novel) by Juhmpa Lahiri. I am now reading “Still Alice,” which I can’t put down, and next on my summer reading list is The Book of Negroes…although it may take awhile to get through it!

  95. joanneelford says

    I’ve been reading the Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella. They are an easy read and so funny. Perfect for a day at the lake. I’m going to start the last one, Shopaholic & Baby, right now. I can’t wait any longer!! I’ve been sufferring withdrawal without Becky Bloomwood and her crazy antics. Happy reading!

  97. Dianne Wood says

    I’ve got a Home in Glory Land, A Lost Tale of the Underground Railroad by Karolyn Smardz Frost(non0fiction). She won the Governor Generals Award for this and it is totally interesting. It is about a dig in downtown Toronto and how they pieced together the story of Toronto’s first Taxi driver, who it happens was an escaped slave from the Southern USA. My 16 year old bought me this for Christmas and I plan to finish it this summer.

  99. kenaimom says

    Gotta love the classics, like Emma and Jane Eyre for easy summer reading. Or anything by Tom Clancy.

  100. Angie says

    I’m an avid reader of everything. Right now I am on book three (Eclipse) of the Twilight series.

  102. Michelle says

    Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld…a really good summer read about a teenager at a US prep school. Great writer!

  103. Linda says

    I just finished “The Girl Who Stopped Swimming” by Joshilyn Jackson, and could not put it down. This is basically a ghost story, but so much more. I really don’t care for this kind of story usually, however, she tells it so well, I was on the edge my seat. Great summer reading!

  104. jeanten says

    Late Nights on Air sounds like an interesting story, would love to win all these wonderful books

  105. teal says

    I love reading Amila Peabody mysteries! Great summer reads for the beach, cottage or just about anywhere.

  107. Catherine E says

    For anyone who likes gothic classics like Jane Eyre and the Woman in White, one of my favorite summer reads is “The Thirteenth Tale” by Diane Setterfield.

  110. Kaila Burke says

    Can You Keep a Secret from Sophie Kinsella
    A lighthearted read that wil have you laughing out loud!