Summer Reading: Hot Takes & Warm Recommendations
Just in time for the long weekend
Hi everyone - as I opened substack today to write this newsletter, the app served me a summer reading list by
(amazing writer, great taste, author of “The Great Believers” which is a top 100 NY Times book of the century and which I have promised myself to gain courage to read this summer, as well as several other literary-but-genuinely-thrilling books I’ve read over the course of summers past, etc etc). It was entitled “Fifteen REAL Books You Should ACTUALLY Read This Summer” and not only is it a great list (I cosign on “Entitlement” and “The Most”, and have “Virgins” and “The Buddha In The Attic” on my perennial catch up list), but the ALL CAPS-ing (by a published author! for emphasis!) of REAL and ACTUALLY made me realize that the summer reading content journer is officially a hampster wheel. So many recommendations (and I, for one, never know if people have actually read these books), so little time, an AGGRESSIVE marketing cycle that has tried to shape this for us.In summary: the last thing you need is another summer reading listicle. But, unfortunately, I have zero other newsletter ideas for this weekend (aside from maybe writing an impassioned essay about “Overcompensating” as the Summer watch of the year) so, you’re stuck with it. But I’ve decided to play things a little differently.
To start, some personal (very passionate) opinions about summer reading:
1. Don’t be afraid to decide what kind of summer you want to have. A summer of growth, the summer of Shuggie Bain (I am not there yet myself), a summer of YA mysteries, a summer of Gentle Queer Fantasy, a summer of old-school horror. It is not often that the phrase “The world is your oyster” rings true, but when it comes to planning how to spend your hard earned free time, it actually does. Plus, it helps to have a compass. In fact, if you need recommendations, for your already decided summer vibe - ask in the comments, I’ll be happy to try and help you get to where you need to go.
Summer IS a great time to read, but don’t limit yourselves to the prescriptive summer-y genres. It is actually A GREAT TIME TO READ HARDER BOOKS (ALL CAPS FOR EMPHASIS). You have time and space and energy ideally to really sink your teeth into something longer or more emotionally/intellectually challenging. One of my favorite summer vacation reading memories in recent years is DEVOURING, in under two days, “Birnam Wood”, Eleanor Catton’s ambitious about capitalism, environmentalism, greed, personal ambition, idealistic posturing and maybe the state of the world itself. During the work year, this would have taken me weeks and I would have not had the wherewithal to focus and get into the language as much as I could on vacation. This is why this year my list includes the aforementioned “The Great Believers” (a tale split between 1980s AIDS crisis, something that always overwhelms me, and mothers looking for estranged children, something that I actively try not to seek) and any of the Alan Hollinghurst’s thick, emotional novels I keep not being quite ready to wash over me.
And even in the prescriptive genres, not all breezy summer reading is created the same. I, personally, DO NOT ENJOY (ALL CAPS FOR EMPHASIS) Emily Henry or Taylor Jenkins Wood or Kristin Hannah. AT.ALL (I will not sit here while I get removed from substack for hate speech or something). I get the role these books play in people’s lives, but I tend to find them kind of basic and extremely surface level (especially jarring if it deals in actually complex topics). I do however REALLY ENJOY (ALL CAPS FOR EMPHASIS) Elin Hilderbrand (have been saving “Swan Song” for this summer), Maeve Binchy, Katherine Center, Linda Holmes etc and have, for research for this newsletter read two super summery romances “Every Summer After” by Carley Fortune and “Nora Goes Off Script” by Annabel Monaghan and genuinely really very much enjoyed them both. Both of these authors have new books out too btw. So, you know, don’t give up but also be ok to not like what you don’t like?
3. Literary thrillers are the unsung hero of summer reading. Romances get a lot of momentum (maybe just in my particular elder-millennial women social media echo chamber), but I always try to pre-order some thrillers and support my mystery people. Here are 5 books that are 150% coming to my house already:
- - I loved “Sicilian Inheritance”and the fact that her next book is: a. a #tradwife murder mystery (how has this not happened already?) and b. out on my birthday, is basically a sign
“King of Ashes” by SA Crosby - “All The Sinners Bleed” was a masterclass in Southern mystery writing (so so so so dark, so so so evocative), and while this feels more of a thriller (“The Godfather” is listed as a direct inspiration), it is bound to be great.
“Ecstasy” by Ivy Pochoda - A Greek tragedy retelling set at a ultra luxury resort for the super rich - what could go wrong? “These Women” is in the parthenon of thrillers for me, and while I am a little ashamed not to have read “Sing Her Down” yet, it may be a Pochoda double feature this summer.
“El Dorado Drive” by Megan Abbott - always, but this one especially because it is giving me “Hot Springs Drive” energy (IYKYK) - and I am ready to be galvanized..
- Michallon - “The Quiet Tenant” was terrific, and this promises to be very different but just as good: siblings, cult escapes, murder at a fancy resort (so many sketchy fancy resorts this summer!)
Plus, Lisa Jewell AND Stephen King (Holly Gibney is back!) both have new books out too this summer - though she probably doesn’t need me to help then promote it.
I will however NOT BE BUYING (ALL CAPS FOR EMPHASIS) new thrillers by either Riley Seger or Ruth Ware, because I’ve learned my “meh” lessons in summers past.
Consider the classics - if you are anything like me, you are so in the recent release cycle that it is truly impossible to go beyond. But, inspired by my Mom, I have decided I am extremely excited to sink my teeth into the juicy The Alexandria Quartet by Lawrence Durrell and also maybe finally get into one of the Elizabeth Bowen or Georgette Heyer novels. If 2025 is not the year to read something called “The Death Of The Heart”, I don’t know what is.
So, this is where I stand so far. Oh, and “All Fours”, a true book of Summer 2024, is out in paperback and my neigborhood book club pick for July (so appropriate!) AND I am going to see
in convo with Elif Batuman next week in NY (is anyone going to be there?), so - if you missed it, now is the time to catch up.I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU TOO!
ALSO - it has come to my attention that last week, for my survey for you, my darling readers, I accidentally put a zoom link (of course I did) vs a survey link it, so for PART 2 of this newsletter, which entails YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS - you have through the long weekend to please fill out this very breezy 3 question form - I’m excited to hear what you’re up to, reading wise.
