Summer Reading List 2024

Summer is here and I have once again curated a list of way more books than I can possibly read in the next three months. Last year I managed to read 16 of my 22 selections (not all in the summer) and had a great time doing it. Professional book people will offer you Summer Reading Guides, but I am just a normie. So, instead of books I recommend for summer reading, this is a list of books I aspire to read this summer. I am sure some of these titles will only interest me, but I hope some will interest you, my friends.

Wishing you lots of time with a good book, a cold beverage, and a comfy reading spot this summer!

Headshot
by Rita Bullwinkel

I love boxing movies. It doesn’t totally make sense, I don’t really understand the sport or have any desire to become a fan. Still, somehow, boxing can be a powerful vehicle for great stories. In this book Rita Bullwinkle follows eight young female boxers as they compete in a tournament. The excellent cover is the cherry on top.

Knife River
by Justine Champine

Knife River is about two sisters whose mother disappeared when they were teenagers. One stays in their hometown and lives in the past, while the other moves on and moves away. When their mother’s remains are found years later the sisters are brought back together and back to the place where they grew up.

A Fever in the Heartland
by Timothy Egan

I was not shocked to learn of the presence or even dominance of the Ku Klux Klan in Indiana. There was a town near where I grew up in Illinois that people liked to joke about it’s ties to the KKK. My understanding of the history of the KKK is very limited. Egan takes his readers into that history including the story of a seemingly insignificant woman who brought the whole organization down.

The Wedding People
by Alison Espach

Alison Espach’s last novel ‘Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance’ was on my 2022 summer reading list. If you’re looking for sad, character driven books where not a lot happens, I think Espach might be the author for you. The main character of this book shows up at a hotel in Rhode Island full of people there for a wedding. She, on the other hand, is there grieving the loss of her husband. She strikes up a connection with the bride and hijinks (or something like that) ensue.

James
by Percival Everett

The last reimagining of a classic was ‘Demon Copperhead,’ and that became an all time favorite. I’ve never read Percival Everett before, but I really enjoyed the movie ‘American Fiction’ an adaptation of his novel ‘Erasure.’ I’m excited to read his take on the ‘Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’ told from the perspective of the enslaved Jim.

Good for a Girl
by Lauren Fleshman

EVERYONE WATCHES WOMEN’S SPORTS. It’s an Olympic year, also known as the best kind of year. I’m planning to read this during the Olympics in August. Fleshman writes about her experience as an elite runner, dealing with injuries, and pushing through a systems that was designed for boys and men.

The Husbands
by Holly Gramazio

This is just one of those buzzy books you’ve probably seen around (possibly on the Today Show’s Read With Jenna book club). Basically, every time Lauren’s husband goes to the attic he comes back down as someone new that she’s never met before. You can see how this might cause complications, and make for the great plot of a novel!

Mostly What God Does
by Savannah Guthrie

More Today Show! I kind of have a thing for TV personalities and I love Savannah Guthrie. Whenever I have heard her talk about her faith it is in an understated and approachable way that I find really refreshing. I’ve heard her say that she hopes readers will take their time with this book. My plan is to read it slowly over the course of the summer.

The Women
by Kristin Hannah

I have real mixed feelings about Kristin Hannah. I disliked ‘The Great Alone’ so much that I thought I might swear her off for good. The thing is, I can’t resist big buzzy authors. I wouldn’t read a Hannah novel if the premise didn’t appeal to me, but the untold stories of the women of the Vietnam war sounds pretty darn compelling.

Just for the Summer
by Abby Jimenez

I am allowing one rom com onto this list. For a while now I have found myself disappointed in the romantic comedies that I read. I’ve cut back on them in my reading life, but I wanted to put one on my list in case the mood strikes me this summer. The cute cover, ‘summer’ in the title, and Abby Jimenez’s amusing social media presence combined to make this book the winner.

Real Americans
by Rachel Khong

This is the big juicy summer read I might be looking forward to the most. Family saga, spanning generations, asking questions of identity and destiny. Say less. I don’t really need the specifics of the plot to get excited for this one.

Small Mercies
by Dennis Lehane

‘Small Mercies’ is set during a the desegregation of schools in Boston. There’s a heatwave and tensions are high when Mary Pat’s daughter goes out one night and doesn’t return. On the same night a black man is found dead under mysterious circumstances. Lehane is the author of ‘Mystic River,’ and ‘Shutter Island,’ both of which have become acclaimed movies.

On Our Best Behavior
by Elise Loehnen

I saw this book all over the place last summer, and it’s been chilling on my TBR list ever since. Elise Loehnen looks at women’s tendency to equate self-denial with being good. She does this through the lens of the seven deadly sins, not in a religious framework, but by examining the way they have impacted culture.

Selling the Dream
by Jane Marie

I loved the first season of Jane Marie’s podcast ‘The Dream,’ where she investigated and revealed the predatory nature of multi-level marketing companies. This was right around the time that I was getting a lot of “Hey girl!” Facebook messages from acquaintances asking if I was interested in leggings/weight loss supplements/essential oils and more. I don’t know how much new material this book will add to the podcast, but I’m looking forward to reading and supporting one of my favorite podcasters nonetheless.

The Last of His Kind
by Andy McCullough

Two things that have been true of me since I was a child: I am a Los Angeles Dodgers fan and I love a good biography. Clayton Kershaw has been the ace for the Dodgers for most of my serious fandom. This book tells his story and places him in the changing landscape of baseball. I can see myself saving this book for the end of summer when I’m yearning for October baseball.

The God of the Woods
by Liz Moore

Let’s go to summer camp, where bad things happen. Liz Moore’s last book ‘Long Bright River,’ was a favorite of mine when I read it in 2021. A camper goes missing, a frantic search ensues, and family secrets are revealed. It sounds like a great fit for summer, but I probably would have snatched up whatever Moore put out.

Everything Sad is Untrue
by Daniel Nayeri

I’ve seen so much praise for this middle grade novel. It’s a story of a middle schooler telling the story of how his family became refugees. It’s a little outside of my wheelhouse, but I’ve heard too many good things not to give it a shot.

Sandwich
by Catherine Newman

If you can’t be at the beach, read about people who are. ‘Sandwich’ is about Rocky and her family’s beach vacation where she is sandwiched between her kids who are growing up and her parents who are growing old. It’s a simple set up for exploring the messy middle of life.

Tom Lake
by Ann Patchett

I’m going to Michigan this summer and I’m finally going to read ‘Tom Lake’! I love Ann Patchett and I’m excited to read her latest book. Two of my most trusted book friends have raved about it. Ann Patchett is another author where the particulars don’t really matter, I’m going to read her books no matter what.

The Creative Act
by Rick Rubin

I’m getting back into creative work, and I’m trying to take it more seriously. Rick Rubin says he set out to write a book about the creative act, but it turned into a book about life. He’s known for producing incredible music with wildly different artists in a variety of genres. I hope to learn a little and find a little inspiration.

Today Tonight Forever
by Madeline Kay Sneed

Wedding books just belong in the summer to me. Madeline Kay Sneed’s latest book features a destination wedding, a reluctant 30 something bridesmaid, and an unexpected guest from the past. Sneed’s debut was quiet and reflective. I’m curious to see how this book compares and contrasts.

Colton Gentry’s Third Act
by Jeff Zenter

A country music star speaks out about gun control, sees his career tank, and finds himself back in his hometown wondering what comes next. I love books about music and musicians. This sounds like a great second (or third) chance story.