8 great series for your summer reading list | Modern Mrs Darcy

Let me begin by saying some of you will hate this series. But some of you will love it, so: the first 3 books--beginning with Glittering Images--take place in the Church of England in the early 1930s. The latter 3 take place in the 1960s. Each book stands on its own, and each is narrated by a different character. While This is a gritty series--for Christian fiction, at least.

Some might try to categorize this as “religious fiction,” but that wouldn’t be quite right—unless your religious fiction typically comes with lots of romance, psychoanalysis, and sex. Glittering Images is the first book in the Starbridge series, set in the Church of England in the 1930s, and later, the 1960s. That may not sound like your idea of a page turner, but the characters are rich and engaging and the stories suck you in. Each of the series’ six books is self-contained, but is told from the perspective of a different character: taken together, they make a magnificent composite. Recommended by the likes of Anna Quindlen and Jacqueline Winspear. Now that's high praise.

I adore Howatch's Starbridge series. Thanks to its hefty page count, this makes it great for an ereader, and perfect for "a book that's more than 500 pages" for a Reading Challenge. From the publisher: "The stunning gothic manor is the picture of English nobility, wealth, and comfort. But as the twentieth century unfolds, those behind Penmarric’s towering walls face nothing short of disaster. As Mark and his children struggle to save their home and their aristocratic way of life, they must engage in a bitter fight against greed, ambition, betrayal, and even murder."

I haven't read this one but love Howatch's six-book Starbridge series. From the publisher: "During the Roaring Twenties, Paul Van Zale is the undisputed king of the financial industry, an influential man of great wealth, unparalleled power, enormous ego, and insatiable appetites. Inspired by the love triangle involving Caesar, Cleopatra, and Mark Antony—presents an unforgettable saga of an American dynasty in the tumultuous years between the two world wars (Publishers Weekly)."

From the publisher: "Among the Wall Street elite, no name inspires as much awe and envy as Van Zale. The family’s sprawling banking empire, run by the determined and talented Cornelius Van Zale, is thriving. Their lifestyle, glittering and luxurious, is the epitome of the American Dream. But behind the gilded perfection of their public persona, the Van Zales hide dark secrets. And they’re all willing to pay any price to win—no matter how deadly. Author Susan Howatch, renowned for her historical family sagas, takes on the disturbing world of the American elite in this novel inspired by the bitter reigns of Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, and Octavian, a classic tale of American avarice in the booming postwar years that still resonates today."

I adore Howatch's Starbridge series, but haven't read this yet. Thanks to its hefty page count, Kirkus calls this "a novel to get lost in all summer long."

I haven't read this one but love Howatch's six-book Starbridge series.