Summer Reading List
Seasonal reading is my jam, and summer reading is the best of all the seasons.
Look, 22 books is too many books. There is no way I’m going to read all 22 of these books this summer, but I couldn’t help myself. Once I started this list I couldn’t stop adding titles that I’m excited about. Instead of just dividing up the books fiction vs. nonfiction, this year I’ve grouped them in some fun categories.
I hope this list helps you find some books to read by the pool, on a roadtrip, or in the comfort of your air conditioned home. Even if you only read one book from this list I’d love to hear about it!
Summer Lovin’
All my friends are reading rom-coms. I love that the genre has grown so much in popularity and gotten so many people into reading as a hobby. I like, but don’t always love romantic comedies, so I’m pretty selective about which ones I pick up. Here are three I’m looking forward to this summer.
The Bodyguard
by Katherine Center
I've been on a kick of reading “famous person falls in love with normie” romances. This one also includes the wonderful “fake relationship” trope. Katherine Center has a new book (Hello Stranger) releasing this July, so if you like this one you can add that to your list as well!
Romantic Comedy
by Curtis Sittenfeld
I have loved Curtis Sittenfeld ever since I read Prep in high school study hall. I would read whatever she released, this time it just happens to be her first rom com. As soon as I learned that this story is set at an SNL like late night show I was all in.
Happy Place
by Emily Henry
It's the hottest book of the summer, I know. Emily Henry's consistency is a marvel, and I'm excited to see what she does with a group of friends. Added bonus, she's coming to St. Louis for a book club theme night with the Cardinals. You can bet I'll be in attendance!
Guess Who’s Back, Back Again
A lot of authors I love have recently released new books. Some I have longer histories with than others, but all of them have brought me a genuine feeling of anticipation.
The Guest
by Emma Cline
Way back in 2017 I was getting back into reading when I read Cline's debut The Girls. Now she's back with a story about a week in the life of a female drifter. Cline's books are full of eerie vibes and fascinating women.
I Have Some Questions for You
by Rebecca Makkai
What's summer reading without a good page-turner? Rebecca Makkai's latest is part true-crime, part campus novel with a podcaster protagonist. Even if I didn't read and enjoy The Great Believers earlier this year I would be excited to read this.
Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club
by J. Ryan Stradal
J. Ryan Stradal is a season pass for me. Whatever he writes I will read, and probably enjoy. He is known for his skill at writing interesting female characters. That and his Midwestern settings make for books that land right in my sweet spot.
Now is Not The Time to Panic
by Kevin Wilson
One of my pet peeves is when a song about summer is released in February. So, when this book, set over the course of a summer, came out last November I knew I would save it for warmer months. I'm not sure I made a big enough deal of how much I loved Nothing to See Here. That is a quirky book with a big heart and I'm hoping for more of the same.
The Half Moon
by Mary Beth Keane
Mary Beth Keane's last book Ask Again Yes spanned decades in the lives of two families. In contrast, The Half Moon takes place over the course of one week. I'm not sure why a book set in a bar appeals to me, someone who spends almost no time in bars, but that was the detail that got me really excited.
The Celebrants
by Steven Rowley
Everyone in my bookclub loved The Guncle. Steven Rowley is back with a story about a group of friends growing up and trying not to grow apart. I'm expecting a heartfelt and humorous read.
Congratulations, The Best is Over!
by R. Eric Thomas
R. Eric Thomas' first essay collection Here For It was a balm during the dark days of 2020. His writing is laugh out loud funny, wise, and relatable. If you've never felt like the smooshed cupcake on the cover, we probably shouldn't be friends.
I Like Big Books and I Cannot Lie
A joke often made in our house revolves around the number of pages my husband and I respectively read in a year. I definitely read more books, but the books he reads consistently live in the 500 to 1,000 page range. I like the idea of long books, but don’t always dedicate time to them. This summer I have three options to choose from.
Surrender
by Bono
It's Bono's memoir. Need I say more? Each chapter is named after a U2 song. When I saw U2 in concert I was absolutely taken with how cool Bono was. Of course I'm reading this book.
576 pages
The Boys of Summer
by Roger Kahn
I am always trying to read more sports books. I literally Googled “best books about baseball” and found this on a list. This covers my favorite team, the Dodgers, in their Jackie Robinson Brooklyn, New York era.
512 pages
Fellowship Point
by Alice Elliott Dark
A story of lifelong friendship between two women who have spent countless summers together on the coast of Maine. I'm intrigued by a novel with a writer protagonist and that dares to center aging women.
586 pages
Hot Off the Presses
I didn’t intend for this list to include so many new and recent releases, but those seemed to be the books that jumped out at me. I love a buzzy book. Most of these are discoveries from various book outlets I follow.
The Farewell Tour
by Stephanie Clifford
I love female country music stars and this novel follows a fictional one at the end of her career. I'm imagining a Tanya Tucker like character. On a list full of great covers, this one is probably my favorite.
Everything’s Fine
by Cecilia Rabess
In a lot of ways 2016 was a year of revelations. Cecilia Rabess uses the relationship between a finance bro and the only black woman working on her floor at Goldman Sachs to explore the seismic shifts of 2016. Seems similar to The Other Black Girl, but I'm hoping to like it even more than that book.
If We’re Being Honest
by Cat Shook
My understanding is that this is like southern Emma Straub. When the family patriarch passes away the family converges on their hometown in Georgia. Of course things go off the rails and each member of the family has to deal with the implications of their loss and their return home.
Hello Beautiful
by Ann Napolitano
If Oprah tells us to read it, it's probably a pretty safe bet. This sweeping story about the Padavano sisters is described as an homage to Little Women. I believe this is one you'll want to have the tissues nearby while you're reading.
The Perfectionist’s Guide to Losing Control
by Katherine Morgan Schafler
I think many of us secretly love identifying ourselves as perfectionists. I'm so intrigued by the possibility of a fresh take on perfectionism. Is it possible that it's not an entirely bad thing? What if they are more than one type? I can't wait to find out.
You Could Make This Place Beautiful
by Maggie Smith
You've probably read Maggie Smith's viral poem Good Bones, and if not, I'd encourage you to stop and do that right now. This is her memoir about the end of her marriage and the challenges of womanhood. I've heard her discuss the book on a couple of podcasts and I can't wait to read it myself.
Take Me To Church
My little reading project this year is to read at least one faith related book each month. These three are possible picks for June, July, and August, but I wouldn’t be surprised to find myself filling in those slots with something else entirely.
Orphaned Believers
by Sara Billups
So many Christians in my generation have felt the need to leave behind a great deal of the faith of their childhoods. Some cases are more extreme than others, but this always comes with a sense of loss. Billups’ memoir explores the lasting effects of growing up during the culture wars.
The Color of Compromise
by Jemar Tisby
While it may not be fun to learn about the history of racism in the church, it is vital. This tells the history we either don't know or choose to ignore.
Tattoos on the Heart
by Gregory Boyle
Enough people I respect have quoted or referenced Gregory Boyle's writing that it's about time I read it. This particular book is about his time working in a gang intervention program in Los Angeles.
