Brooke Lea Foster is a staff writer for The Washingtonian and has written for Parents magazine, Good Housekeeping, and Psychology Today. In 2005, she was a finalist for the Livingston Award, the highest honor given to a journalist under the age of 35.
Down with the Shipmans (2026) Meg Mitchell Moore "Meg Mitchell Moore's perceptive latest is the absolute best novel I've read about sisters since Ann Napolitano's Hello Beautiful. Moore has a way of bringing you into the heart of her characters and layering her unputdownable story with depth and humor, honesty and insight. Get ready to laugh, cry and fall in love with the Shipman sisters as they grapple with the death of their mother, learn each other's secrets and say goodbye to the beloved family beach house. I loved this book so much. Sure to be the number one must read of summer."
Last Call at the Savoy (2025) Brisa Carleton "An irresistible novel about second chances, Brisa Carleton's sparkling debut is a gripping look at the bonds of sisters, the power of finding home and the courage of following your heart, no matter how hard it may be."
A Novel Summer (2024) Jamie Brenner "Pack this book in your beach bag! Jamie Brenner's A Novel Summer is compulsively readable, hooking you from the first page with characters so real it feels like they're sitting next to you. A Novel Summer follows three friends in bustling Cape Cod who reunite after a few summers apart, and is a testament to deep enduring friendship and second chances. An absolute delight!"
The Life She Wanted (2023) Anita Abriel "The glamorous cast of characters in Anita Abriel's The Life She Wanted captivated me from the start, while the unforgettable setting had me dreaming about stepping inside every mansion in wealthy 1920s New York. But I adored Pandora most, the novel's plucky heroine whose single father works at one of the region's grand estates, giving Pandora entree into a world of glittery formal balls and suitors with deep pockets. And while Pandora seems like she's on a path to good fortune, her story shows us it's rare that life turns out as planned - no matter how much money you have. For anyone who loves a sweeping rags-to-riches tale, Anita Abriel's novel delights!"
The Hidden Life of Aster Kelly (2023) Katherine A Sherbrooke "Infinitely readable, atmospheric and emotionally charged, The Hidden Life of Aster Kelly follows Aster, an ambitious young woman in old Hollywood who is following a dream she can't quite catch. But it's her journey to find enduring love that makes the pages fly. From the glamorous runways of Hollywood to the glittery shores of a summer island, Aster Kelly won't disappoint with its ability to surprise and delight the reader with its twists and turns. Book club fiction at its best."
Full (2022) Julia Spiro "Raw and unflinching, this heartbreaking portrait of one glamorous social media influencer's quest for physical perfection is insightful and moving, thanks to author Julia Spiro's talent in proving the power of authenticity. The main character's transformative journey to Island Wellness and Martha's Vineyard delights with an insider tour of the sparkly New England island, a place where nature can heal the deepest wounds."
The Lobotomist's Wife (2022) Samantha Greene Woodruff "A dazzling, page-turning debut, The Lobotomist's Wife is the shocking tale of a pioneering lobotomist and his devoted ambitious wife. Not only did I stay up reading past midnight to find out what happened in this fascinating portrait of a marriage and mental hospital, the pitch-perfect ending thrilled me to the core."
Haven Point (2021) Virginia Hume "Haven Point has all of the elements of a great beach read: sparkly summer town, beautiful people, sun-kissed cocktail parties and rambling mansions overlooking the sea. But don't be fooled: No one is perfect. Hume has created unforgettable characters in the three generations of Demarest women whose stories unravel the dark secrets swirling around Haven Point, all while testing their character and family bond. A powerful novel of families trying to understand the forces that shape them just as the ocean shapes the elegant coastline they're summering on."
Summertime Guests (2021) Wendy Francis "The best kind of page-turner… This seductive novel will draw you into the fascinating backstories of characters sipping cocktails poolside, and you won't stop reading until you know what really happened."
The Last Garden in England (2021) Julia Kelly "An engrossing portrait of three generations of women longing to find their place in the complicated times in which they live. Blooming with warmth and heartbreak."
