Top 10 picks for summer reading…plus a few honorable mentions!
Daisy didn’t choose our latest recommendations, but she’s become my faithful reading companion over the past year. She rarely critiques my selections, never spoils the ending, and is always willing to settle in for a good story—so it seemed only fitting to give her a cameo in the above photo!
Following are Emily’s and my top 10 picks for summer reading—not in any particular order—and I genuinely think there’s a book here for everyone. From page-turning mysteries and heartfelt romance to memorable life stories and inspiring accounts of people pushing their limits, this list offers a little something for every mood, whether you’re reading by the pool, on the beach, or curled up in bed.
#10 The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb and #9 The Artist and the Feast by Lucy Steeds
While Lamb’s newest book, The River is Waiting, is an absolutely incredible read. Emily and I couldn’t quite say, “I loved it!” because the storyline is traumatic. That said, the main character, though flawed, was so likable and the story always felt hopeful. Lamb’s insight into the prison system is fascinating, and the themes of redemption, accountability, and the long shadow of past choices give the story real emotional weight without feeling dark or overwhelming.
The Artist and the Feast by Lucy Steeds feels like a hidden gem—a book that hasn’t quite made its way onto as many reading lists as some of the more trending titles, which is part of its charm. Set in France, it follows a cast of memorable characters whose lives unfold through art, food, and the rhythms of a seemingly quieter countryside life. It’s a novel that lingers in its setting as much as its story, offering that satisfying sense of being transported somewhere entirely different. A lovely pick for readers who enjoy art, food, a good escape to the French countryside—and just when you think this isn’t the sort of book with twists and turns…
#8 The Names by Florence Knapp and #7 The Measure by Nikki Erick
What’s in a name? For one mother fleeing a toxic marriage, it’s a single decision that creates three distinct versions of her family’s future. By exploring how the trajectory of a life can completely change based on the name a mother chooses for her child, The Names beautifully follows these three paths. I thought this was such a clever premise for a novel, which ultimately, is a hopeful, emotionally gripping story of a family’s capacity to heal as well as love’s enduring power—no matter what fate has in store.
Similarly speculative, The Measure is a debut novel by Nikki Erlick that explores a “what if” question: If you were given a small box containing a string that, based on its length, showed exactly how long you had to live, would you open it? Part existential thriller, part tender human drama, this book forces a haunting question upon us: if our days were suddenly numbered, how would we choose to live?
#6 London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family’s Search for Truth by Patrick Radden Keefe and #5 The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett
London Falling is best described as accurate, true crime reporting with a side of historical nonfiction. The book investigates the tragic death of a 19-year-old Londoner who, unbeknownst to his parents, was living a secret fantasy life posing as the heir to a fake Russian oligarch. What follows is a deep dive into an underworld of massive wealth and deception, mixed with a real-life family mystery and raw emotions of parents who refused to stop fighting for the truth. I appreciated how Keefe detailed his sources; he had access to a dream journalistic setup of firsthand data, in-depth interviews with most of the key players, and recorded phone calls, which created an added level of intrigue and feeling of proximity to the story.
The bestselling author of The Help has returned with The Calamity Club, an entertaining novel that’s perfect for readers looking to completely lose themselves in a lengthy (600+ pages) read. Set in Depression-era Mississippi, it follows three unbreakable women who hatch a wild plan to survive. The book is funny, moving, a little naughty, and just a beautiful piece of storytelling. Fun fact: A while back, I read that Stockett’s The Help was rejected a whopping 60 times before her 61st submission was finally accepted—and went on to become a massive blockbuster. Proof that perseverance pays off!
#4 Theo of Golden by Alan Levi and #3 Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke
Theo of Golden is a heartwarming book about an older man who quietly moves to a small town and begins to anonymously use his means to transform the lives of his new neighbors. A local café initially serves as the springboard for this clever story, which blossoms as people slowly begin to notice the quiet, life-changing acts of kindness happening all around them. But just when you think you have this feel-good tale figured out, there may or may not be an unexpected plot twist!
For those who have heard of “tradwifery” or follow @BallerinaFarms, Yesteryear speaks to the recent movement of women choosing to live a more traditional life. Think big families, growing your own food, and women staying at home to keep house. Regardless of your thoughts on the movement, this book exposes the intersection between modern day technology and farm life with a twist you may not anticipate.
#2 Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage by Belle Burden and #1 Famesick: A Memoir by Lena Dunham
Strangers begins with the shocking collapse of Belle Burden’s life when her husband abruptly leaves her just a few weeks into the COVID-19 pandemic. The book moves back and forth in time as she searches for the cracks in what had seemed like a picture-perfect, 20-year marriage. Emily and I both listened to the audiobook, which Burden narrates herself with an introspective candor that really brought her story to life for us. I originally assumed this oft-told story of a fractured marriage couldn’t possibly offer anything new—and yet, it turned out to be a page-turner (or the equivalent term when listening to a book!) that kept me hooked until the very end.
Emily watched the TV show Girls when she was a new grad living on her own in New York City, and so it was fun for her to relive it all in Lena Dunham’s new memoir, Famesick. Mirroring the raw, unfiltered energy of her hit show, Dunham leaves nothing off the table as she chronicles her rapid rise to fame at the age of just 25 alongside her behind-the-scenes battles with chronic illness and addiction. The audiobook version is narrated by Dunham, and her quintessential voice and sharp wit makes the memoir feel intimate, authentic, and dishy!
Still On Our Minds: More Books We Loved This Year
Narrowing our list to just 10 books was no easy task, so we’re highlighting a few more favorites that kept one or both of us turning pages this year:
- The Correspondent by Virginia Evans is uniquely written with letters sent back and forth between the narrator and various friends and family throughout her life. Through this correspondence, the reader slowly grows closer to Sybil and begins to understand how she makes sense of the world. I wondered whether I would enjoy a novel written entirely in letters, but I loved it…and grew to love Sybil as well. (I suspected many of you may have read this one, which is the only reason it isn’t on our main list!)
- All Fours by Miranda July pushes our boundaries, telling the story of one woman’s quest for a new kind of freedom with unabashed curiosity about human intimacy. It’s a boundary-breaking look at midlife reinvention that is both hilariously bizarre and wildly original.
- If you haven’t read 2016’s A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara, author of the more recent and acclaimed To Paradise, get ready to indulge in a beautiful and heartbreaking story of four college classmates whose relationships ebb and flow as they grow and deal with major life events and emotions.
- Mahjong: House Rules from Across the Asian Diaspora by Nicole Wong is perfect for those of us learning to play Mahjong this year (and from what I hear, it’s a lot!) or those who have been playing forever. The book covers gaming history, variations from around the world, as well as great tips for your next game. Makes a lovely gift for your mahj-ing pals as well.
- All the Way to the River: Love, Loss, and Liberation — While her famous travelogue Eat, Pray, Love documented a quest for self-discovery, Elizabeth Gilbert’s new memoir chronicles the painful chapter that followed her subsequent divorce, including a romantic relationship with her best friend and the difficult caregiving journey that followed this woman’s terminal cancer diagnosis. With astonishing vulnerability, Gilbert documents her battles with codependency, grief, and love addiction in a moving look at what it truly takes to heal.
- Heart the Lover by Lily King is a love story that is easy to empathize with, thanks to King’s relatable story and accessible writing style. It begins with a college love triangle of sorts, which grows into something even more complicated as time marches on and eventually forces them to face the consequences of their choices.
- If you hopped on the Love Story bandwagon when it first aired in late winter, you may enjoy these two books, which are also centered around the Kennedy family: Once Upon a Secret by Mimi Alford is the writer’s account of her affair with President John F. Kennedy when she was a 19-year old intern at the White House. She carried this massive secret for 41 years until a reporter tracked her down and appeared at her door, exposing her hidden past after a JFK biographer subtly outed her identity. Also, What Remains: A Memoir of Fate, Friendship, and Love by Carole Radziwill (yes, she’s a Real Housewife) tracks Radziwill’s journey from a working-class town to becoming an award-winning TV producer, eventually marrying Prince Anthony Radziwill—JFK Jr.’s cousin and best friend. As a result, she became embedded in John Jr. and Carolyn Bessette’s inner circle, offering an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at their iconic but tragic lives.
I just started The Berry Pickers, a novel by Amanda Peters, and while I’m not far enough in to have a solid opinion, the opening chapters are somber, as the story is shaped by a devastating tragedy—the disappearance of a four-year-old Mi’kmaq girl from a Maine blueberry field in 1962—but I’m sensing there is reason to be hopeful. Will I be right? Stay tuned…or read along!
What are you reading this summer? Please share in the comments below!
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