Ten Books You Should Read This Summer

My serotonin levels have soared with summer’s arrival. Memorial Day is over, summer Fridays are here, and the days get longer and warmer more often than usual. Others choose to stay in cool rooms with a cold beer in their hands. Sun-lovers head to the beach or park to spread a blanket, soak up the rays, and read the latest bestseller on their Kindle.

A few years ago, I stopped reading books in physical form and have never looked back. My former self would have found this a scandalous move, but it has made my life much easier. After a huge decluttering phase, I realized that I no longer needed all the books on my shelves.

Marie Kondo’s motto “Imagine yourself living in a space that only contains things that bring you joy” can be used to help you get started. This is the lifestyle you want. It was clear to me that my old books were only sparking a cluttered mind.

I had been promising myself I would read every book on my nightstand, from top to bottom. I would be tempted by a new title and my pile of unread books grew in height. I was convinced that I would need my old books, even those I didn’t like from high school English classes, just in case. But that never happened. My bookshelves took up valuable space in my small apartment. It became a major problem when I had to move. I decided to sell the books I could and donate the rest.

My entire book collection can now fit on one bookshelf, giving me more room to dance and storing only my absolute favorites. My edited pile of novels is the first thing I see now. The convenience of a Kindle makes it worth it.

The Kindle app is available on all devices so I no longer have to carry a book. I also have the option to purchase a physical book if I find any bestsellers on my Kindle. However, this is reserved for my top-rated Kindle books.

Beach Read by Emily Henry

Sally Rooney fans will love Emily Henry’s charming novels, which start with Beach Read. Although it is a more sugary romance than Rooney’s usual fare, it is just as charming because it adds a modern twist to the genre tropes. The complex characters and the well-paced pacing will make you fall in love. It’s the perfect beach read.

Elin Hilderbrand, The Hotel Nantucket

Elin Hilderbrand’s new work is perfect for the Coastal Grandmothers or anyone who spends a lot of time on TikTok browsing the #OldMoney tag. Elin Hilderbrand is one of my favorite summer reading authors. This Nantucket-based tale is the epitome of beach reading. It’s set in a New England hotel rife with scandal and is both stunning and suspenseful.

The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka

There are two types of novels: character-driven and community-driven. This story is the latter. The story follows a group of pool-goers who discover a crack in their pool. This story will stay with you long after it is over. It’s about interconnectedness, family, aging and the emotional portrayal and lives of the characters.

Rules of Engagement by Stacey Abrams

This novel will be the talk in the town. Stacey Abrams — Yes, that Stacey Abrams. She is a champion for voter rights and a former Georgia state representative. Did you also know that she is a skilled writer of fiction and nonfiction? Her latest novel is about a top-secret intelligence agency operative who must infiltrate terrorist groups and steal environmental technology. Selena Montgomery is Abrams’ pen name. This spy thriller will keep you on the edge (or in your beach blanket)!

Memphis by Tara M Stringfellow

Memphis is a family story that follows three generations of Black women from the American South. It’s a truly amazing and moving tale. It was a joy to read and an artfully written book. This story is heartbreakingly heartwarming. The women suffer a lot of personal trauma, but there is a support group of Black women who are there to help them as they heal from the past. This book is a tribute to black womanhood, the community, identity and sisterhood as well as endurance.

Things I Should have Told My Daughter: Lessons, Lies, and Love Affairs by Pearl Cleage

This classic work is essential for every library. Read Pearl Cleage’s journals this summer. Her work is a feminist playwright who explores love and race, politics, sex and motherhood. As she shares her daily life, it almost feels like you’re at brunch with her.

Token Black Girl by Danielle Prescod

This is a candid account of what it was like to make it as a Black woman in predominantly white institutions. Danielle Prescod is a veteran of every type of educational institution, from private school to elite universities to private schools. Anyone who has ever been tokenized will find her memoir all too familiar. It reveals the sad state of the world over the past decade in a personal, poignant account.

Selma Blair’s Memoir of Growing Up: Mean Baby

Selma Blair’s memoir reads like an entire novel. Blair, who is best known for her roles as Cruel Intentions’ and Legally Blonde’s mother, relates her childhood and the path she took to become a troubled adult. This is her raw and honest account of her childhood, how alcoholism influenced her, her complicated relationships, and her encounters with death.

Douglas Stewart, Young Mungo

This is the sequel to Shuggie Bain’s award-winning novel. It’s a riveting, queer love story set in a working-class neighbourhood of Scotland between two Catholics and a Protestant. The story follows a young boy in 1980s Glasgow who struggles with his sexuality and the world.

Delia Owens: Where the Crawdads sing

This award-winning novel is available before the feature film adaptation, which will be released on July 15. Strangely beautiful, but quiet protagonist comes of age in a swamp. This novel is a must-read.