Books Lighting Me Up (Summer Edition)
In early June, when I published an adult and a middle-grade summer reading guide, I had aspirational fantasies about a sunny season filled with lazy beach days and endless page-turning. Well, there were two beach reading days (when I held a book in my lap but didn’t read much—conversation with my nieces was more enticing) and before-bed reading which amounted to turning a couple of pages before my eyes were so heavy I had to turn out the light and fall asleep.
My summer was awesome but COVID, colds, and the darn Olympics hacked away at my available reading time. Plus, I was reading books for other book clubs, teaching, and retreats (thirteen!) that weren’t on my reading guides. I’m not complaining—it’s still reading and that’s what’s important—but my TBR is overflowing as usual.
What about you? Did you have a good summer reading experience? Are you someone who romanticizes summer reading like me?
So let’s get to it! Here are my favorite summer reads. Enjoy.
Best Book: James by Percival Everett. It’s a retelling of Huck Finn from the perspective of Jim, the runaway slave. This book is funny and devastating at the same time. Nominated for the Booker Prize, I think it’s a seminal reading experience with stunning writing that’s also accessible and sparse—to me, that’s masterful artistry. This is in the running for my best book of the year.
Best Thriller: The Last Ranger by Peter Heller. Set a book in a national park and I’m in. Fun, page-turning read.
Best Genre I Never Usually Read (Sci-Fi/ Time Travel): The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley. I loved this book. I loved the characters and the plot which felt original and well-written. Fun fact: I am not a reader who loves open-door sex scenes, but this book has one of the best sex scenes I’ve ever read. Don’t get me wrong—this book is more than one great sex scene, and I highly recommend
Best Just For Fun Book: The Husbands by Holly Gramazio. I love the unique premise of this book (a single woman discovers she has a husband and every time a husband goes into her attic, a new one comes down). The premise held up and didn’t become gimmicky. For me, this is a classic beach read.
BIG Book of Summer That Everyone Was Raving About But Was MEH for Me: The God of the Woods by Liz Moore. I’m hearing so many say this is their favorite of the summer. I read it fast—it’s a good page-turning thriller, but it’s not in any of my best categories. However, I include it here because you might love it, too!
Books That Have Moved To My Fall/Winter TBR List Because I’m Sad I Didn’t Read Them This Summer:
I Cheerfully Refuse by Lief Enger. I loved Peace Like a River and I keep hearing great things about this book!
A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon by Kevin Fedarko. I’ve read about fifty pages and it’s great. I’m seeing him speak in October so I’ve got to finish this soon!
Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy. Elizabeth Barnhill, the book buyer at Fabled Book Shop, highly recommends this book.
The Madstone by Elizabeth Crook. This is the sequel to my favorite book of last year, The Which Way Tree. It’s a no-brainer to return to this author.
North Woods by Daniel Mason. The premise of this book intrigues me. It’s about a house and the different people who lived in it over the centuries.
Currently Reading:
One Amazing Thing by Chitra Divakarumi. This is the Once-in-a-While Book Club pick for September. (We have one or two seats left if you’d like to join us and you live close to Palos Verdes, CA.)
Beautyland by Marie-Helene Berino. Enjoying this a lot and will finish soon, but won’t be on any of my best lists for summer.
Best Picture Books:
The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld. This is the sweetest book about the power of listening—sometimes even more effective than giving advice and talking a lot. Many adults would benefit from this book—myself included.
Ahoy! by Sophie Blackall. This is a delight—a celebration of play, imagination, and parents who understand what it’s like to be a child.
Best Middle-Grade Novel: Olivetti by Allie Millington. This is a sweet novel with a remarkable character who is a typewriter. NOTE: Full disclosure, I only read three middle-grade novels this summer so I’m not really sure if this is my favorite book from the summer reading guide.
Middle-Grade Books That Have Moved From my Summer to Fall/Winter TBR List Because I Didn’t Get To Read Them Yet:
The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers. This WON the 2024 Newbery Award.
The Many Assassinations of Samir the Seller of Dreams by Daniel N Neayeri. This is a 2024 Newbery Honor Book.
Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow. Also a Newbery Honor Book.
NOTE: Since I’m highlighting 2024 Newbery Honor Books, I have to give another shoutout to Mexikid by Pedro Martin. It’s not in the summer reading guide, but it’s still one of my favorite books/graphic novels I’ve read this year.
Currently Reading: NO middle grade at the moment, which is ironic since I’m deep in Family of Writers course prep and that’s my audience! I guess I want to step away from kid-lit when I’m taking breaks! However, I just ordered all three of the Newbery books listed in the last category so they’ll become my currently reading list by tomorrow afternoon! Thank you, Amazon.
Phew! That’s it! What’s on your BEST OF SUMMER READING LIST? Is there a title I need to add to the top of my TBR? Let me know in the comments.