2017 Carefree Colourful Women Beach Reads

Summer is just around the corner. I know the calendar says it doesn't start until June 20, but if you're like me, it starts somewhere around Memorial Day and doesn't end until Labor Day. While some people prefer mysteries, thrillers or biographies for their beach reading, I like to keep it light. I'm sharing some of my favorite reads that pair nicely with a refreshing pina colada or Bahama Mama. Or maybe you're not planning to hit the beach this summer, but you need a palate cleanser after some of the heavier books you've been reading. I've got you!

Some of my favorite books are about women of colour just having fun. Too often we get saddled down with other people's problems and take on the burden of the world. All you'll find in these selections are carefree, colourful women who sometimes get caught up in quirky situations, bad romances and silly schemes. All of the books are about women of colour from around the globe and were written by women from around the globe. Happy reading!

Beach Thing by D.L. White
Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson
Dinner at Sam's by D.L. White
Like a Mule Bringing Ice Cream to the Sun by Sarah Ladipo Manyika
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Release date: June 13, 2017)
I Left My Back Door Open by April Sinclair
Almost Single by Advaita Kala
The Perfect Find by Tia Williams
Because My Heart Said So by Nia Forrester, Jacinta Howard, Lily Java & Rae Lamar
The Sistahood of Shopaholics by Leslie Esdaile
Serving Crazy with Curry by Amulya Malladi
Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing by Kathy Cano-Murillo

#BookReview: Ms. Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing - Kathy Cano-Murillo

Scarlet Santana is a spitfire.  With two degrees in engineering, her family wants her to settle down and work a real job.  Scarlet, however, has her own ideas.

By day she works for local designer, Carly Fontaine.  At night, and in her spare time, she designs her own wardrobe and items to sell on her Etsy site and blogs about her heroine, Daisy de la Flora. The deceased Daisy was a designer and person Scarlet most admires.  Through her blog, she shares with her readers her dreams and passion for living a Daisy-inspired life.

Given the chance to attend a designer's program offered by the late Daisy's nephew, Scarlet creates her own class to teach others the style of patternless sewing that her Nana taught her, in an effort to raise money.  It's through this class that the reader meets a variety of characters that could all use some help with getting their lives on track, Scarlet included.

An absolutely delightful read, you'll find that Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing is a book that you won't want to put down once you start it.  Kathy Cano-Murillo creates such strong female characters that you can't help cheering for them and hoping they reach whatever goal it is they've set.

What did you like about this book?
I loved the friendships all of the women shared, even though their backgrounds were remarkably different and they had little to nothing in common.

What didn't you like about this book?
I honestly can't think of a thing.

What could the author do to improve this book?
I would have loved to see some sketches of the outfits Scarlet created.  The way the author described them made them sound quite stylish.

352pp
Published March 2011
Disclosure: ARC received from publisher.

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