Enchanting Book Series for Summer

Light, clever, and often humorous, possibly lesser known books for Mom

Summer is a great time for easy, breezy, light reading. I love finding a series because it takes the guess work out and I can just go from one to the next. So I thought it’d be fun to put together some of my favorite series that fit the bill. I’ll be honest, I have not read every single book in these series (some of these authors are quite prolific!) But I love the characters and think you will, too! In no particular order let me introduce you to…

Flavia de Luce by Alan Bradley - An 11-year-old genius who loves chemistry and lives in an old castle solves her village’s murders? Yes please. Did I mention her snark and wit are absolute perfection?

Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower - This one has been all the rage in some literary circles. But in case you haven’t heard about it (or if you have and scoff at literary trends) I want you to know this series is delightful.

Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman - A widow with grown children, white hair, and a feisty attitude is bored with life. What is she to do? Why become a CIA agent during the Cold War, of course. Her encounters with the enemy go about as you’d expect them to…delightfully hilariously.

The Cecelia and Kate Novels by Patricia Wrede & Caroline Stevermer - Jane Austen meets Harry Potter. Need I stay more? But for real, just dive into these YA novels and enjoy.

Being Jane Austen by Stephanie Barron - Speaking of Jane…she’s not just an author, she’s a sleuth! I feel like that should be enough to recommend this series. However, a caveat; at some point I found out something awful though not entirely unexpected happens and I stopped reading before I even got to that book. I just couldn’t. So, be warned and do with it what you will.

Father Brown by G.K. Chesterton - Roman Catholic priest and amateur detective, Father Brown looks innocent enough but criminals are no match for his observation skills and understanding of man. The wit you would expect from Chesterton comes through and these short stories make for delightful reading.

Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear - This series is less “light” in the sense that it does deal with various issues of the aftermath of WWI but also “light” in the sense that it’s an easy read. From a maid in an aristocratic home to a WWI nurse to her current profession as private investigator, Maisie Dobbs, is not your ordinary 1929 modern woman or even your average sleuth.

Amelia Peabody by Elizabeth Peters- Feisty, adventurous, confident, Egyptologist Elizabeth Peters manages to get herself into dangerous situations but don’t worry, she has a ton of fun getting herself out of them, too.

Love Comes Softly by Janette One - Going old school with this series. I mean…OLD. But it’s sweet YA (though I don’t think that was an actual genre when it was first published) series about a family that moves west and is faced with tragedy, joy, struggles, romance, and find God’s faithfulness is good and true. A bit sappy but sometimes, that hits just right.

Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman - A murder? At a retirement community? No worries, four 70-year-old amateur sleuths are on the case! Yes, there’s a movie coming out and yes, it’s perfectly cast. I read this a while ago, before talks of a movie and Helen Mirren easily played the role of Elizabeth Best in my mind’s eye. So take it from me, as you read it, cast her, Ben Kingsley, Pierce Brosnan, and Cecia Imrie as the 4 septuagenarians.