Memorial Day is commonly recognized as the unofficial start of the summer season. That’s right, it's time to break out those white pants (and the bug spray), because your car will soon read 100º every time you get in.

It’s also time to figure out what your next socially distant pool or beach read is, so we reached out to M. Judson Booksellers for five recently released summer reads by authors with ties to the Palmetto State to get you started. These books come highly recommended by M. Judson + get great reviews on Goodreads, so you probably won’t be able to put them down.

On Ocean Boulevard by Mary Alice Monroe | A quintessential Charleston-set beach read + a return to Monroe’s beloved Beach House series

The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix | Think Steel Magnolias meets Dracula set in Mt. Pleasant

Tell Me a Story by Cassandra King Conroy | A beautiful memoir written by the late Pat Conroy’s wife about their life + relationship

In the Valley by Ron Rash | A collection of short stories featuring Rash’s famous character, Serena, to be published in August

Lost Restaurants of Greenville by John M. Nolan | This one is for all the foodies out there. A book of bygone Greenville restaurants with foreword by Mayor Knox White

All of these books, with the exception of In the Valley, are currently sold at M. Judson Booksellers. They are offering private 30 minute shopping appointments for groups of four people or less (talk about a dream come true) and are also taking orders by phone at (864) 603-2412 for curbside pickup.

If this list piqued your interest, be sure to check out our article on other authors from Greenville here.

Happy reading from two fellow bookworms. 📚