Summer feels like its been a long time coming. With that harsh winter, those late spring snowstorms, a chilly kick-off to the season, and the current political landscape that makes most of us cringe in the very least, we’re all in need of an escape, both literally and figuratively. With bookended holiday weekends approaching (the Fourth smack in the middle of the week? what do we do?) many of us are planning our escapes from the studio and the city, so we took a quick survey in the office to see what everyone will be delving into on their hard-earned time off.

A little NYC history for architecture buffs

The Address is an intriguing bit of historical fiction centered around one of Manhattan’s iconic buildings, the Dakota. Descriptions of the unique building and its history mingle with a peek into the lives of the characters who live there, a hundred years apart from each other in the 1880s and 1980s. New Yorkers, architecture buffs, and fans of mystery will enjoy this read.

“Lively and detail rich—set against the backdrop of NYC’s infamous Dakota building—with a thread of mystery that makes it easy to enjoy, hard to put down.”—Family Circle

Politically-inspired tales of pushing back

The Power is an appropriate bit of speculative fiction that reacts to society’s history of men in roles of power to explore what would happen if women gained a physical advantage over men. Would the world be transformed into a nurturing, empathetic utopia? Or do women and men who are in places of power inevitably exploit it? On the heels of the #MeToo movement and Hulu’s recent release of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale this book couldn’t be a more perfectly timed – or necessary – challenge of the status quo.

“It’s really well written and gripping … And it resonates with the rage I’m feeling in this current political climate.” —one of our own Design Works staffers 

The Hate U Give has nabbed several awards and, despite its classification as a fictional young adult novel, has resonated with readers of all ages. Soon to be translated for film, this story follows the life of a young girl between two worlds – the poor neighborhood she lives in and the fancy suburban prep school she attends – and shows how both are shattered following the shooting of her childhood friend by a police officer.

“There are those books that are important and timely, worthy of reading because of the social and/or political message that they send. They fill a gap in the market; they make waves. They need to exist. And there are other books that are well-written, emotionally-charged and unputdownable – books that are not important as such, just really f***ing good. But, on occasion, you find one of those rare wonderful creatures that is both important AND really f***ing good.” —review on GoodReads.com

A little something on the lighter side for all of us trying to adult

Everything I know about Love is a spot-on, wildly funny, and sometimes heart-breaking autobiographical account of growing up, growing older, and navigating all kinds of love along the way. For all of us trying to find our way through the world as adults, this book will strike a chord.

“Her take is refreshingly honest, hilarious, and self-deprecating. I was laughing out loud on the subway!” – another Design Works staffer

No matter how you choose to escape this weekend, whether with a comedic laugh or something that inspires, we hope you soak up every minute of it. From all of us here at the studio, we wish you happy reading! And an even happier holiday.