My Summer Reading List
I’ve always loved reading. It’s a form of travel, education, meeting new people, experiencing different worlds, connecting with others, and considering (or re-considering) your values.
I’ve been reading a ton of great books lately and wanted to share a short summer reading list for you to take on the plane, train, or as your beach companion.
A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
I was shocked at how much I enjoyed this book. After all, a book about hiking the 2,200 mile-long Appalachian trail doesn’t seem entertaining (no offense Bill). However, Bryson approaches it with humor, descriptive story-telling, and personal revelations, and I couldn’t put it down. If you’re wondering… no, I will not be hiking the Appalachian trail any time soon after reading this book. It seems like hell.
2. Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
This is a memoir about Zauner’s reflections on her relationship with her mother while she was dying from cancer. It’s so raw, with comedic relief peppered throughout. I hope Zauner continues to write, because I love her style. BTW, she’s a singer and guitarist for the band Japanese Breakfast.
3. Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez
Oscillating between New York City and Puerto Rico, this fictional story explores family relationships, romantic interests, social justice, political corruption, Puerto Rican history, and what it really means to achieve the “American Dream.” I loved the main character, Olga, and read this book quickly because I was so invested in her story.
4. Verity by Colleen Hoover
Colleen Hoover is all over the literary world right now, and this was the first book of hers I’ve read. Man, was this story a page-turner! I read it in one day, frequently gasping out loud or speaking directly to the characters as if they could hear me and take my advice. Definitely a beach read with a dark twist.
5. A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas
If you like fantasy, action, drama, romance, and plot twists, this series is for you. I didn’t know what to expect when I started the first book, but I quickly sped through the next four in a matter of months.
6. This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper
This is a book that I read a few years back and has stuck with me. It’s also been made into a movie! Satirical yet comedic, it’s the story of a somewhat dysfunctional family coming together after the death of their father to sit shiva — and what spending a week together brings up for each of them.
7. The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson
The main character, a 100-year-old man living in a nursing home, reminded me so much of my great-grandmother when she was still alive. Still mentally cognizant, this man decides to leave his stuffy situation and find a new adventure. An easy, fun read!
8. Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
Her debut novel, Reid writes a captivating story about race, privilege, and what it means to be a young, Black woman in the U.S. I think everyone can relate to this book in one way or another, and I’m excited to read many more books from her in the future.
9. The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
This story, about twin sisters who follow extremely different paths in life, switches between the 1950s and 1990s. One sister, who passes as white, moves to California and obtains what she considers the “life of her dreams.” The other sister, who remains close to their hometown, has a daughter who ends up in California and meets this mysterious aunt she’s heard so much about. What results from there is a dialogue on family, race, individual desires, and much more.
10. The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin
If you could find out exactly how you would die, and when, would you? That’s the central question of this novel. Four siblings go to a fortune-teller when they’re young, who tells them exactly when, where, and how they’ll die. Does this knowledge shape the rest of their lives? That’s for you, the reader, to determine.
Have you read any of these books? Have one or two you think I should add to my reading list? Let me know!
To check out some of my favorite books, head over to my book review.
