Hey Cola, Lauren here. 👋 It’s safe to say summer has arrived in Cola. The consistently high temperatures + humidity levels have us ready for days spent by the pool, at the beach + on the porch with a good book in hand.

Lately, I’ve been reading The Secret Life of Bees (which is based in a small SC town) + I can’t get through it fast enough. And now, as I’m adding books to my “want to read” tab on the Goodreads app, I’m interested in finding more that have a local tie-in.

With a little digging, we’ve put together a list of 12 summer must-reads that were either written by South Carolina authors or take place in the state. If you want to add a little southern flair to your reading list, take a peek at the titles below. 📚

A Glimpse into my Life cover art | Photo via Goodreads

A Glimpse into my Life: A Collection of Micro-Memoirs | Sylvie Feghali Smith

○ Columbia-based author Sylvie Smith shares eight short stories about her family’s experience with war + starting a new life.

American Sonnets cover art | Photo via Goodreads

American Sonnets for My Past and Future Assassin | Terrence Hayes

○ The Columbia-born poet explores present and past life in America in sonnet form and explores the meaning of “America”, “assassin” and “love”.

I Been in Sorrow's Kitchen and Licked Out All The Pots | Photo via Goodreads

I Been in Sorrow’s Kitchen and Licked Out All the Pots | Susan Straight

○ This novel is set in the late 1950s and tells the story of a girl growing up in a Gullah-speaking village in SC.

Love Child’s Hotbed of Occasional Poetry: Poems & Artifacts cover art | Photo via Goodreads

Love Child's Hotbed of Occasional Poetry: Poems & Artifacts | Nikky Finney

○ This book is the local poet’s newest release of modern poetry and narratives of black American life. Finney was born + raised in SC and is now a professor at UofSC.

Pantsless Nation: HR Guidance for Mastering Remote Work cover art | Photo via Goodreads

Pantsless Nation: HR Guidance for Mastering Remote Work | Jada Willis

○ This newly published book includes tips on effectively managing a team while working remotely + was written by local company Willis HR.

Saints at the River cover art | Photo via Goodreads

Saints at the River | Ron Rash

○ Set in Tamassee, SC, this book follows a reporter who’s sent to cover the drowning of a local girl. However, the drowning causes lots of controversy in the town.

Tell me a Story cover art | Photo via Goodreads

Tell me a Story | Cassandra King Conroy

○ This memoir was written by the late Pat Conroy’s wife and is the story of their relationship and life together.

The House on Tradd Street cover art | Photo via Goodreads

The House on Tradd Street | Karen White

○ Set in Charleston, this book follows Melanie Middleton, who can see ghosts + is left with a historic home on Tradd Street. She’ll have to use her ability to help solve a mystery.

The Lower Quarter: A Novel cover art | Photo via Goodreads

The Lower Quarter: A Novel | Elise Blackwell

○ This novel combines the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, murder + an art heist. Bonus: Blackwell is a faculty member at UofSC.

The Secret Life of Bees cover art | Photo via Goodreads

The Secret Life of Bees | Sue Monk Kidd

○ Set in rural South Carolina in the 1960s, this book follows 14-year-old Lily and her “stand-in-mother” Rosaleen as they escape and are taken in by a trio of black, beekeeping sisters.

The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires cover art | Photo via Goodreads

The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires | Grady Hendrix

○ Think Steel Magnolias meets Dracula in this supernatural thriller set in Mt. Pleasant in the 90s when a women’s book club must protect its community from a dangerous newcomer.

Work Shirts for Madmen cover art | Photo via Goodreads

Work Shirts for Madmen | George Singleton

○ This book tells the story of a well-known metal sculptor seeking to restore his reputation + follows his journey of building metal angels for Birmingham.