This year for the BookSparks Summer Reading Challenge we’ve gone to PARADISE and we are crushing on some books you won’t believe (like Caroline Kepnes’ new novel, a fresh Emily Giffin hardcover and the can’t-miss Carola Lovering book).

But perhaps the one getting all the Summer Lovin’ is our host, Jessica Knoll. Her new book, The Favorite Sister, is blowing up the charts.

In an exclusive interview with us, she talked about her top reads and gave some writing advice all aspiring authors can enjoy.

The last book Jessica Knoll couldn’t put down:

“The latest novel from lawyer-turned-best-selling novelist Burke is as freshly topical as a #MeToo hashtag, but it unfolds with the slow-burn thrill of pure fiction…. A genuine shocker, sneaky and smart.” – Entertainment Weekly, “Must List”

Knoll’s Summer Vacation Read:

“This is Megan Abbott at her very best. Cool, crisp, chilling.”―Paula Hawkins, author of the #1 New York Times Bestseller The Girl on the Train

Get the rest of Jessica Knoll’s reading recommendations on our sister site, SheReads.com.

Writing Tips from Jessica Knoll

Jessica Knoll has become quite the force among her fellow writers. After an unflinching Op-ed in the New York Times, she’s made it clear that she not only wants to be an author, she wants to be a rich one. In an interview with She Writes, she gave some great tips to aspiring authors and we broke down some of her feelings on wealth and her writing career.

She Writes: As a writer of contemporary women’s fiction, why do you think it’s important for women’s stories to be told?

JK: Women are are not some rarefied breed—we’re human beings, just like men! The male experience is not the default human experience, and our stories are important not just for other women to find ways to connect to each other, but because they simply make for compelling content.

She Writes: As Cosmopolitan‘s former book editor and a bestseller yourself, what makes for a “summer hit?” Did you set out to write one when you started?

JK: A summer hit needs three components: a vibrant, energetic voice, an intriguing plot, and a little bit of dark humor.

Check out the entire interview on SheWrites.com.