May 17, 20224 min read

3 Books (And 2 Shows) For Fans of "Pines" By Blake Crouch

While I love a good professional development book, I definitely read WAY more fiction than I do professional development. One of my favorite types of books to read is a fast-paced novel with a sci-fi vibe and great character development.

The Karli Sherman Productions May Book of the Month is Pines by Blake Crouch is exactly that!

Pines is also the first book in the Wayward Pines trilogy, and this summary tells you pretty much everything you should know before you dive in:

"Secret service agent Ethan Burke arrives in Wayward Pines, Idaho, with a clear mission: locate and recover two federal agents who went missing in the bucolic town one month earlier. But within minutes of his arrival, Ethan is involved in a violent accident. He comes to in a hospital, with no ID, no cell phone, and no briefcase. The medical staff seems friendly enough, but something feels…off. As the days pass, Ethan’s investigation into the disappearance of his colleagues turns up more questions than answers. Why can’t he get any phone calls through to his wife and son in the outside world? Why doesn’t anyone believe he is who he says he is? And what is the purpose of the electrified fences surrounding the town? Are they meant to keep the residents in? Or something else out? Each step closer to the truth takes Ethan further from the world he thought he knew, from the man he thought he was, until he must face a horrifying fact—he may never get out of Wayward Pines alive."

If you enjoyed reading Pines then I wanted to share a few more books (and shows) that I think you might love!!

Wayward Pines - Television Adaption

Let's start off with the obvious. Pines is part of the Wayward Pines book series which was adapted for TV and aired on FOX. The TV show only aired for two seasons but were a pretty good representation of the novels. Plus the pilot episode was directed by M. Night Shyamalan, so if you love his work, definitely check out Wayward Pines.

Who Should Watch It?

Fans of Pines the novel, anyone looking for a weekend binge-able series, fans of sci-fi or horror TV

The Magicians by Lev Grossman & Television Adaption

Quentin Coldwater's life is changed forever by an apparently chance encounter: when he turns up for his entrance interview to Princeton University, he finds his interviewer dead – but a strange envelope bearing Quentin's name leads him down a very different path. Instead of Princeton, he finds himself invited to study at Brakebills – a secret college of modern-day sorcerers.

Quentin plunges deep into a secret world of obsession and privilege, a world of freedom and power; and for a while, it seems to answer all Quentin's desires. But the idyll cannot last. There are others powers than sorcery, powers that are as seductive as they are dangerous – and when the illusion of safety shatters, Quentin is drawn into a world far darker than he ever imagined.

After all, power corrupts. No exceptions.

While The Magicians falls a little more into the fantasy genre than Pines, this series is another one of my favorites. Think Harry Potter, but edgier and more adult.

There are three books in Lev Grossman's book trilogy, and the TV adaption ran for six seasons on SyFy before being canceled in 2020.

Who Should Read/Watch It?

Fans of Harry Potter, anyone who loves a well-built fantasy world, fantasy readers

Verity by Colleen Hoover

Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish.

Lowen arrives at the Crawford home, ready to sort through years of Verity’s notes and outlines, hoping to find enough material to get her started. What Lowen doesn’t expect to uncover in the chaotic office is an unfinished autobiography Verity never intended for anyone to read. Page after page of bone-chilling admissions, including Verity's recollection of the night her family was forever altered.

Lowen decides to keep the manuscript hidden from Jeremy, knowing its contents could devastate the already grieving father. But as Lowen’s feelings for Jeremy begin to intensify, she recognizes all the ways she could benefit if he were to read his wife’s words. After all, no matter how devoted Jeremy is to his injured wife, a truth this horrifying would make it impossible for him to continue loving her.

The magic in Verity doesn't come from spells or scientific theories. Instead, it comes from the author's ability to build suspense and keep you guessing. All I can say is buckle up for this one. The plot twist will knock you over when it comes.

Who Should Read It?

Anyone who loves a fast-paced thriller, someone looking for a quick read, fans of Colleen Hoover