Reads to make your summer that much better
What makes the perfect summer read? Is it the latest bestseller purchased in the airport while racing to your flight? Is it the book your sister-in-law just finished, passed to you across the beach lounger? Or is it a book you bought long ago that you’ve never quite had the time for until now?
We’ve rounded up our picks for summer reading this year. Some are recent hits. For others all the chatter happened a while ago. Books are made to last so we’ve included a selection of our favorites from different moments, for different moods, and with different intentions.
The One You Won’t Want to Put Down | Romantic Comedy, Curtis Sittenfeld
To be read by the pool. On the plane. In bed in the morning. At any moment you can grab really. Curtis Sittenfeld's Romantic Comedy is a witty and insightful exploration of love and modern relationships set against the backdrop of a late-night comedy show. With sharp humor and relatable characters, this novel offers a fresh take on the classic rom-com genre. If the sun isn’t warming you, this book will.
The Joyful Read | Still Life, Sarah Winman
Probably the book we most recommend at the moment. We read this earlier in the year and regretted that we hadn’t sooner. Sarah Winman's Still Life is a heartwarming tale that spans decades, blending art, love, and friendship in post-war Florence. At a moment when we’re only ever reminded about what divides us, this book shows how we can make our lives better by connecting, both wildly and with joy.
The Darker And Twistier One | The Marriage Portrait, Maggie O’Farrell
And the opposite, though still a great read that you’ll tear through. Maggie O'Farrell's The Marriage Portrait is a captivating historical novel that transports readers to Renaissance Italy, unraveling the life of Lucrezia de Medici through a richly woven tapestry of art, power, and intrigue. Full of twists, turns, and surprises.
The Secret Find | Enchanted April, Elizabeth von Arnim
We picked this up after our local bookshop Winstone’s made it their book club pick of the month. Knowing nothing about Enchanted April this book has become one of our surprise reads of the year. Elizabeth von Arnim's novel published in 1922 is a delightful escape to a sun-drenched Italian castle, where four women find renewal and unexpected friendships. If you want to still believe in people’s capacity to change and to surprise themselves, read this. Though it captures the magic of springtime and renewal, it’s still perfect for a summer when we’re all longing to feel more hopeful.
The Heavy Book That Shouldn’t Have A Place In Your Suitcase But Does | Wolf Hall, Hilary Mantel
Summer doesn’t have to mean new. Or light. Or contemporary. It can mean older, weighty, and historical. During the non-summer months, we often fall asleep after a few pages because we are so, so exhausted. But on vacation, with the promise of more hours free, that also hopefully means more hours for reading. That’s where Wolf Hall (and the following two books in the series) can come in. Hilary Mantel's masterful historical novel brings to life the complex and cunning world of Thomas Cromwell in the court of Henry VIII. With its rich detail and compelling narrative, this Booker Prize-winning book will immerse you in the political intrigue and drama of Tudor England. Deeply engrossing, you’ll ignore everyone you’re on holiday with.
The One Everyone Else Has Read (and Watched) Except You | One Day, David Nicholls
Yes, we spent spring talking about the Netflix show. Yes, there’s another book out by David Nicholls that we’re falling for too. But in case you haven’t read One Day, do. Not just a beautifully crafted love story between the seemingly mismatched Emma and Dexter as we revisit their lives on the same day each year, but a nostalgic remembering of the two decades that it spans. It may even have you longing for a pre-smartphone age.
The One That Will Have You Thinking | Such a Fun Age, Kiley Reid
This came out some years ago but it’s still lodged in our heads. Such a Fun Age is a sharp and thought-provoking novel that delves into issues of race, privilege, and identity through the lens of a young Black babysitter and her well-meaning employer. Summer reading doesn’t have to mean throwaway; it can include those books that just stay with you through the years. This is one of them.
The Trusted And True One | Tom Lake, Ann Patchett
Really anything by Ann Patchett. Could be The Dutch House, Commonwealth or These Precious Days. We’re mid Tom Lake, and we couldn’t leave this off the list. Already we’re been drawn into one of those intimate stories that only Patchett can tell. It’s a beautifully crafted novel that explores themes of love, memory, and family through the lens of a summer theater production in Michigan. By the time you read this, we will have finished it and will be reaching for the next Patchett novel. We’re slightly envious that you’ve yet to start.
The Ultimate Summer Read By The Ultimate Summer Author | People We Meet on Vacation, Emily Henry
Pick anything by Emily Henry and you’ve got the perfect summer escape. We first discovered her with Beach Read which is exactly what it says on the cover. People We Meet on Vacation is a delightful and heartwarming romance that follows the evolving friendship and love between travel writer Poppy and her best friend Alex. An easy, breezy summer read.
Let us know if any of these become your favorite summer read. And tell us about other book discoveries from this summer or those long past.
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