Hey! You’re here. Thank you.
How are you holding up? I know this time of year contains so much for so many. Whatever is filling your days, I hope that there is some space for the things that fill you up. You know what fills me up? I bet you can sense where this is going…
BOOKS. Reading books, thinking about books, making lists of books I want to read. That’s the ballgame for me.
Below is a little plan/road map I put together for my own summer reading.
First, six books I recommend for all you summer readers out there looking to sink your teeth into a good story. Next, because I love to make things about me, I put together twelve books I want to read this summer - six backlist titles, and six new releases that caught my interest.
The book internet is awash in thoughtful, smart, inventive summer reading guides. I’m thinking particularly of
of Fiction Matters and everyone’s favorite non-fiction aficionado, of The Stacks, both of whom have summer reading guides dropping this Friday.I hope you enjoy my humble addition to the genre. I just love gabbing about books with y’all.
Let’s get into it!
My Recommendations
Trust & Safety by Laura Blackett & Eve Gleichman // This book was such a surprise. When I recommend a book to friends (
!) because I just can’t stop thinking about /referencing it, you know it is something special. I’m calling this one a millenial comedy of manners set in the Hudson Valley. There are lesbians. There is a polycule. You will laugh and if, like me, you live in western Massachusetts, you will wince with recognition.Family Meal by Bryan Washington // Bryan Washington is one of my favorite writers working today, and I think about this novel all the time. It’s about grief, food, and hard won community. I recommend picking this one up before Washington’s new novel Palaver drops in November.
The Prospects by KT Hoffman // I recommend reading queer romance all year long, but summer is the perfect time to settle into this low-stakes trans baseball romance. Simply a joy.
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers // A book I wish I had been assigned as summer reading in high school. I read this 1940 classic novel for the first time last summer and I couldn’t believe the way it leapt off the page. A coming of age novel like nothing I’ve read before.
Sandwich by Catherine Newman // If you look at the cover of this novel it looks like traditional, light summer reading. I have nothing against traditional, light summer reading, but this is much more than that. I am obsessed with the way Catherine Newman writes about family and aging. This short, funny, smart family drama is exactly the kind of book I want to read in the summer. Read this one before Newman’s next novel, Wrecked, a follow-up to Sandwich featuring the same family, drops in October.
Colored Television by Danzy Senna // Another novel that is exactly what summer reading should be - all consuming, funny, and quick.
put me on to the work of Danzy Senna, and I had such a good time racing through this novel about life as an artist and creator in our modern marketplace.
My TBR: Backlist Titles
Dear Friend, From My Life I Write to You in Your Life by Yiyun Li // This memoir written during the author’s struggle with suicidal depression has been on my radar for a long while. I want to pick it up before I get to Li’s new memoir, Things in Nature Merely Grow.
Florida by Lauren Groff // I am fully in my Lauren Groff era right now. She is a writer I admire so much and it’s long past time for me to really dig into her work. I’m reading Fates and Furies right now and I can’t wait to get to this short story collection.
Intimacies by Katie Kitamura // Kitamura’s latest novel, Audition, has been getting a lot of buzz and before I get to it I want to read her previous novel, Intimacies.
The Vegetarian by Han Kang // Han Kang won the Nobel prize last year and I’ve not read any of her work. It’s time to fix that. Nothing says summer reading like, a darkly allegorical, Kafka-esque tale of power, obsession, and one woman’s struggle to break free from the violence both without and within her.
Big Swiss by Jen Beagin // This quirky book about a woman who works as a sex therapist’s transcriptionist has been recommended to me by many folks, but when a certain, very special reader picked it up and loved it, I knew it was finally time to get to it. Plus I want to get to it before the tv adaptation staring Jodie Comer (!!!) comes out.
Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan // I am still very much a beginner romance reader with much to learn from the romance readers I admire. All those readers are fans of the work of Kennedy Ryan and I plan to dive in this summer. I think this is the right place to start, but if you are a romance expert please weigh in in the comments.
My TBR: New Releases
Things in Nature Merely Grow by Yiyun Li // As I mentioned above, I have long been interested in the memoir work of Yiyun Li. I have heard high praise of this latest memoir from writers and readers I admire. Readers of mine know I have something of an obsession with grief memoirs and I am eager to spend time with this author’s work.
Original Sins: The (Mis)education of Black and Native Children and the Construction of American Racism by Eve Ewing // It’s not an overstatement to say that nearly every writer and reader I admire has raved about this book. I am eager to dig into Ewing’s deep study and research into this history and it’s impact.
The Girls Who Grew Big by Leila Mottley // I have been a fan of Leila Mottley ever since her debut, Nightcrawling, and I can’t wait to read her follow up (out June 24th). Also one of the best covers of the year so far if you ask me.
Audition by Katie Kitamura // I’m excited to dig into this buzzy novel! So many readers have said this book made their brain explode and I have FOMO. Like I mentioned above, I am completely new to Kitamura’s work, but I can’t wait to experience it for myself.
The Lilac People by Milo Todd // I first learned about this trans historical fiction novel set in 1932 Berlin at Winter Institute, the bookselling conference I attended in March. When you hear a gaggle of booksellers rave about a book, you simply have to listen.
The Dry Season: A Memoir of Pleasure in a Year Without Sex by Melissa Febos // I loved Melissa Febos’ book on craft, Body Work, and I am excited to read her latest memoir (out June 3rd) about sex, celibacy, queerness, desire, and the quest for self-knowledge.
Well, I’ve put Dunkin to sleep so it’s probably time to wrap things up. If you’re still reading this, you’re a champ.
Will I read all of these books? There is literally no chance. Will I try my hardest? You bet!!
Will I spend a lot of good reading time watch the WNBA instead? YOU BET.
Tell me what you are hoping to read this summer. Tell me what you will likely do instead of reading. Tell Dunkin how perfect he is.
I’m glad you’re here.
Love,
Rosamond
Love your recs! And I’m from Western MA too! Also spent many summers on Cape Cod. Even lived there as a child and have family there still…so Sandwich is an all-time fave!
I'm not really sure what's going on with your readers because apparently no one has told Dunkin he's perfect yet?!?!?! Well, I have not forgotten him. You're perfect, Dunkin!!!
I think I'm actually gonna do a full Ocean Vuong catalog read this summer before I do Gladness!!! In order. I haven't actually read Time is a Mother yet!! So 2 rereads and 2 new reads! It might take me a little while but rest assured I will not skimp with the texting.