As I’m sure many of you noticed, it’s finally summer. And with a change in seasons comes a change in reading habits. What else is one to do while spending languid hours on a beach towel or during summer nights in front of the bonfire besides reading a great book? So, without further ado, here are ten tried, true, and reviewed titles that are bound to keep you warm this summer.
P.S. Like my shoes? They’re called “UFO-No” and were designed by Blake Jones out of my beloved Chicago, IL from Bucketfeet!
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
Genre: Fantasy
This book is for those of you who want to be swept away to another world entirely. I call this type of reading Fantasy Lite, because it involves magic and unfamiliar languages, but it also reinvents London and touches on family dynamics in a very relatable way. A Darker Shade of Magic is a young adult series that almost anyone can get into.
Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman
Genre: Film Adaptation; Coming of Age; LGBTQ
Perhaps you saw the movie in theaters a few months ago or noted the indie flick’s well-earned presence at the Oscars. But even if you haven’t had a chance to sit down with Armie Hammer and Timothee Chalamet yet, you’re in for a treat. Full of beautiful prose and moments that will make you put down the book and reflect on your own relationships, Call Me By Your Name is a stunning way to escape to Italy and celebrate Pride all summer long.
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
Genre: Television Adaptation; World Fiction (Australia); Thriller; Family Lit
What’s better than reading a book and talking about it with friends? Reading the book, then watching the spectacular show adaptation starring queen of the world, Reese Witherspoon, with friends! Big Little Lies is a great show made from an even better book. Practice your Aussie accent, then hop into this book filled with gossip, mystery, and dreamy friendships.
The Martian by Andy Weir
Genre: Film Adaptation; Science Fiction; Humor
If you’re in the mood to laugh really hard and learn a thing or two about space while you’re at it, you’re going to love The Martian. Written from the perspective of an astronaut left behind on Mars, our main character must survive with only his wit and intelligence. Since he has plenty of both, this book is a joy to read and makes for a perfect travel day book!
We Are Never Meeting In Real Life by Samantha Irby
Genre: Humor; Essay Collection
One of my most recommended books of all time, We Are Never Meeting In Real Life is Samantha Irby getting as real as someone can get. Prepare yourself to laugh at everything from Irritable Bowel Syndrome jokes to “I’m a black woman in rural America” comedy and know that you’ll want to go out and buy the rest of her books when you’re done.
The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer
Genre: Feminist Fiction
This recently released tome is well on its way to becoming a touchstone in the feminist literature category. It is filled with layered characters who have all different perspectives of feminism in a modern world and who also have complicated relationships with each other. Read this book if you want to immerse yourself in female empowerment and also become invested in the lives of our four main characters.
Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney
Genre: Thriller
What is summer without a hair-raising thriller to binge read? This one has been one of my favorites this year, as it has an insane twist, an unreliable narrator, and shocking moments abound. Note that this book does contain distressing themes, so if you’re sensitive to those it may be best to choose a different book on this list!
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Genre: Women’s Fiction; Romance
Not only is this book spectacularly written, but it also tackles many a taboo subject with the grace and ease mirrored by our main character; a vintage Hollywood movie star named Evelyn Hugo. If you’re in the mood to be swept away into another time, cheer on a strong female, and shed a tear or two, this is your book.
Blood, Bones, and Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton
Genre: Culinary Memoir
For those of you who worship summer for the extra hours of light in front of the barbecue or the nice weather to burn off all the sweet treats you’ve whipped up in the kitchen, this memoir is all you. Gabrielle Hamilton has an interesting childhood, a scandalous young adult life, and an inspiring adulthood, despite it all. Get elbows deep into her latest culinary creation, into her relationships, and into her thriving NYC restaurant with James Beard award-winning Blood, Bones, and Butter.
The Bride Quartet by Nora Roberts
Genre: Contemporary Romance
This four-book series is one I have gone back to every summer for the last five years. Somehow, nothing else sings “beach day, hammock afternoon, and vacation reads” as much as this Nora Roberts creation. The Bride Quartet is a well-written contemporary story of love, family-like friendships, and stunning, over the top, perfectly-executed weddings. How can you say no to that??
