BOOKED FOR SUMMER

JANE UBELL-MEYER • July 10, 2025

Your ultimate reading (and listening) lineup is here.

Summer is here—and so are the perfect reads! From page-turning thrillers to beachy escapes and inspiring books that nourish your mind and body, Bedside Reading has you covered. Prefer to listen? Explore our growing collection of audiobooks at BedsideReadingAudiobooks.com. 

Here’s what they’re reading at

Sonesta Resort Hilton Head, SC...


CHARITY TRICKETT IS NOT SO GLAMOROUS: A NOVEL BY CHRISTINE STRINGER


Hollywood, 1997. When Charity Trickett moves to LA to assist the director of the biggest blockbuster film of the year, she quickly realizes that Hollywood isn’t all red carpets and Rodeo Drive. But her determination to become a screenwriter and producer in this glamorous yet cutthroat industry cannot be stifled. 


Working harder than she ever has before, she impresses the top brass at Canopy Studios and inches herself closer to her dream. But her ambitions and tender heart are threatened by backstabbing cowork- ers, an evaporating bank account, love gone wrong, a mistake that could cost the studio hundreds of millions of dollars, and an FBI investigation that could land her in jail.


Surrounded by fame and money but unsure how to access either one, Charity’s grit and kindness steer her toward devoted friends and hopeful artists. If she can manage to stay out of trouble, maybe she can change bad to good.

Here’s what they’re reading at

The Benjamin Royal Sonesta, NYC...


WHIRLAWAY:

THE RULE OF THE SEA BY ROBERT WINTNER


Whirlaway is a mind and body adventure of the double-edge 80s, a time of growth beyond idealism and self-absorption of the 60s and 70s. Bolder reaching for the gold ring made success seem attainable. Many young folks enjoyed cocaine as a cultural stimulant for encouragement, confidence, and assurance while it lasted. It cost a bit and a bit more but beat depression. The 80s also marked the beginning of the end for nature on Earth.


The human population has been doubling since the 50s and has generated trash. The piles doubled, too, along with traffic and indiscriminate destruction. Free love or sex was still in, as pesky new diseases arrived. On the bright and risky side, the 80s held potential for those in need. A bold player could float a loan at a bank, of all places, with an application form. Most banks had loan apps that were easily submitted with personal tax returns. The P.O. had racks of blank tax returns. Naturaly, the numbers had to make sense. 


That is no problem, with alignment available at friendly accounting services. Freebooting and fun-loving, 80s life was for the spirited, high lifers to down and outers, whoever could reach to grasp and bring the prize home!

Here’s what they’re reading at

The Marker Union Square, San Francisco...


NAKED GIRL

BY JANNA BROOKE WALLACK


Growing up motherless in 1980s Miami Beach, Sienna and her little brother Siddhartha get by with their charismatic and capricious father, Jackson Jones. When a small windfall relocates them to a condemned mansion on the water, the siblings are forbidden traditional schooling and left to live off the land. As Jackson uses their new home to create a communal cult, the siblings are forced to raise themselves in a carefree, chaotic oasis. 


Living amidst the vagrant seekers who take up residence in Jackson’s utopia, Sienna and Siddhar- tha strive to protect their unconven- tional family. Janna Brooke Wallack writes with warmth, compassion and comic brilliance in Naked Girl, an enthralling debut novel brimming with the adventure, resilience, humor and heartbreak of growing up on the fringe of decency and longing for the unattainable comfort of home.

Here’s what they’re reading at 

Bardessono Hotel & Spa, Yountville, CA...


THE RANCHER BEFORE STILETTOS

BY MARCIA WILLIAMS CROMER


The Rancher in Stilettos captivated readers across three novels featuring Texas-born rancher Zaide Grace and her close-knit group of friends known as “the Dreamers.”


Fans of the series and new readers alike will delight in The Rancher Before Stilettos, a prequel that delves into the backstory of this enduring sisterhood centered around Zaide, the group’s linchpin.


Discover the roots of fellowship, solidarity, controversy, and conflict as we follow this camaraderie and Zaide’s journey from cowboy boots to mile-high heels. A move from Texas to New York City, plus a challenging job opportunity and a new best friend in corporate HR manager, Sasha Rollins, unites two women from different worlds who share much in common.

Here’s what they’re reading at

33 Hotel, NYC, Seaport...


HEY DAD...: EVERYTHING YOU SHOULD’VE LEARNED ABOUT LIFE (BUT DIDN’T)

BY ROB FINLAY


Stepping into adulthood feels like taking a leap off a cliff—one that you are not quite prepared for. From figuring out how to land your first job to managing your finances, renting your first apartment, and not panicking when your car breaks down, “adulting” can feel overwhelming. 


That’s where Hey Dad... comes in. With expert advice on everything from job hunting and personal finance to launching your own business—plus real stories of triumphs and missteps—Hey Dad... is your ultimate guide for navigating the twists and turns of adulthood.

Here’s what they’re reading at

The Pierre New York, A Taj Hotel, NYC...


BEHIND A CLOSED DOOR

BY JD BARKER


Would you kill a total stranger to save someone you love?


Sugar & Spice is the latest app craze taking the world by storm, but for Abby and Brendan Hollander, down- loading it leads to a dangerous game of life and death. 


When the app assigns them a series of increasingly taboo tasks, they soon find themselves caught up in a twisted web of seduction and violence in this sexually charged dark thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of The Fourth Monkey—master of suspense, J.D. Barker.

We are so proud of our hotel partnerships. THANK YOU all for bringing memorable stories to your guests!


Read VIVANT Magazine and all of Bedside Reading picks at any of these hotels.



33 Seaport Hotel, NY, Acqualina Resort & Residences, Sunny Isles Beach, FL, Andaz Miami Beach, FL, Bardessono Hotel & Spa, Yountville, CA, Conrad New York Downtown, Conrad Washington, DC, Dawn Ranch, Guerneville, CA, Dream Inn, Santa Cruz, CA, Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows, Santa Monica, CA, Hotel Yountville, Yountville, CA, House of the Golden Turtle, Palm Springs, CA, Kimpton Marlowe Hotel, Cambridge, MA, Kimpton Palomar Philadelphia, PA, Kimpton The Rowan Palm Springs, CA, Le Meridien, Fort Worth, TX, Nautilus Sonesta, FL, The Benjamin Royal Sonesta, NY, NY, The Charles Hotel, Cambridge, DC, The Marker Union Square San Francisco, CA, The Mayflower Hotel, Autograph Collection, Washington, DC, The Pierre New York, A Taj Hotel, NY, NY, The Plymouth, Miami Beach, FL, Serendipity Labs, Stamford, CT, Sonesta Resort Hilton Head, SC, The Tennessean, Knoxville, TN, The Ven at Embassy Row, Washington, DC, Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach, CA,1708 House, Southampton, NY, Baker House 1650, East Hampton, NY, Beachcomber Resort, Montauk, NY, Capri, Southampton, NY, Hotel Moraine, Greenport NY, Journey East Hampton, NY, Maidstone Hotel, East Hampton, NY, Marram Montauk, NY, Mill House Inn, East Hampton, NY, Southampton Inn, NY 

SHELTER ABOVE THE SEA

By Colleen Richmond • August 25, 2025
 A Conversation with Thomas A. Kligerman

VIVANT's Unforgettable Summer Night in the Hamptons

By Vivant team • August 10, 2025
VIVANT's Unforgettable Summer Night in the Hamptons East Hampton, NY | July 26, 2025 Summer nights—Hamptons air. VIVANT’s third annual summer celebration at the Bake r House 1650 was nothing short of magical. Hosted in the heart of East Hampton, our event brought together an inspired mix of creatives, visionaries, and tastemakers for an evening rooted in connection, beauty, and soulful luxury. A Living Expression of the VIVANT Mission From the moment guests stepped through the ivy-framed gates of the historic Baker House, they were transported into the heart of what VIVANT stands for: elevated living, intentional experiences, and a life designed with soul . “Rooted in the French word for ‘alive,’ VIVANT embodies energy, elegance, and the art of living,” said founder Colleen Richmond . “This evening was a celebration of that ethos—of wild beauty, real connection, and meaningful luxury.” The gardens came alive with curated experiences at every turn: Live music by Mojo the Band set the tone with rich, soulful rhythms. Culinary brilliance from Chef Francis Derby delighted guests with dishes inspired by nature and crafted from locally sourced ingredients. Botanical cocktails from Via Carota Craft Cocktails, Aplós, and Chrome Horse Society Tequila flowed freely, while Wainscott Main Wine & Spirits offered refined wine pairings. Luxury met storytelling across fashion and beauty activations: 11 Juillet showcased their stunning line of handcrafted Italian handbags and fine jewelry, with pieces that sparkled in the Hamptons sunset. Island Time Farm created a dreamy floral bar, where guests built their own bouquets from freshly cut blooms. FreshDirect brought the bounty of summer with a rustic-chic farmstand brimming with seasonal produce and farm-to-table charm. Guests explored a thoughtfully curated gifting suite featuring products from: Sarah Wragge Wellness Scott’s Protein Balls Arrae Repechage Tea Forte Each item was selected for its intention, wellness-forward ethos, and alignment with VIVANT’s commitment to purposeful luxury. The Baker House 1650 , hosted by the gracious Antonella Bertello , served as the perfect canvas for this storybook evening. Recently named one of the Hottest Luxury B&Bs in the Hamptons, its historic elegance and manicured gardens added a sense of timeless magic to the night. With Gratitude We’re beyond grateful to our partners who helped bring this evening to life: @bakerhouse1650 @freshdirect @islandtimefarm @11jullietofficial @teaforte @chromehorsetequila @aplos.world @viacarotacraftcocktails @wainscottmain Until Next Summer... Stay tuned for The VIVANT Summer List 2026 and more extraordinary moments where culture, cuisine, and community collide. For brand partnerships, editorial features, or to join our next experience, contact us at: colleen@vivant.media

FRESHDIRECT GOES COASTAL

By Colleen Richmond • July 29, 2025
A Gourmet Revolution from Greenwich to the Hamptons
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