Summer Book List
I’ve spent many hours sitting on the beach reading this summer (my top fave activity!). It’s been glorious and the books themselves, fantastic. Why can’t summer last forever? Let me know what you think of my picks.
Beartown: A Novel by Fredrik Backman - books about sports obsessions and small towns usually win me over as did this one. Hockey is central here and while I don’t think you have to enjoy hockey to enjoy the book, for me it helped that I’m from a small town outside of Buffalo where hockey was huge. Given the high temperatures across the US right now, maybe the cold rink and surrounding frigid woods inside this book will give you some cooling relief!
Carrie Soto Is Back: A Novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid - another book about an all-consuming sport, this time its tennis. Jenkins Reid has a loyal fan base (especially after Daisy Jones and the Six on Amazon Prime OMG it is soooo good) and this one does not disappoint! I enjoyed the relationship that Carrie Soto, the protagonist has with her father who is also her coach. One of many of the books in my list with a strong woman at the center.
Refuse to Be Done: How to Write and Rewrite a Novel in Three Drafts by Matt Bell - my book is simmering on the back burner while I focus on submitting to literary magazines this summer (8 submissions and counting), but this brief and impactful book by Bell is full of tips and techniques that are getting me excited to jump back into novel writing.
The Girls: A Novel by Emma Cline - my #1 favorite of all the fiction I read this summer. If you’re like me and watch all the cult documentaries on Netflix and Hulu, you will love this book. A complex female protagonist and a cast of gripping characters will keep you up way past bedtime!
Pineapple Street: A Novel by Jenny Jackson - feels like a true beach read, but sneaks in issues of class and privilege. Easy and sweet!
All That's Left Unsaid: A Novel by Tracey Lien - this debut novel from Lien took my breath away. I try to learn more about different cultures through fiction, a tip I knew intuitively, which was reinforced by Inclusion on Purpose by Ruchika Tulshyan. This book’s protagonist is a young Vietnamese-Australian woman desperately searching for clues following her brother’s murder. I like that Lien was able to weave a compelling story without a neat ending. Complexity abounds in this one!
Narrative Healing: Awaken the Power of Your Story by Lisa Weinert - one of the books I purchased to support author Lisa Weinert, a favorite writing teacher of mine! I met Weinert back in 2018, two years after I started Orchid Story and she has been a guiding light for me, proving that it’s possible to run a business based on the idea that writing is healing. Weinert is a expert yoga teacher who weaves body work into writing practice. It’s completely unique and (speaking from experience) super helpful in uncovering your stories within.
What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma by Stephanie Foo - whew! This is a nonfiction account of Stephanie Foo’s path to find healing after an abusive childhood. May be triggering for some, Foo does an excellent job of talking through why she included a portrait of the abuse and prepares you for it in the beginning. My favorite parts of this book are Foo’s honesty with the long road to finding mental health care that works for you, her interactions and exploration of her ancestors in Malaysia, and that her therapy sessions were recorded and parts of them included in the audio version. Highly recommend listening to the audio book.
The Secret Summer Promise by Keah Brown - one of the books I purchased this summer to support author Keah Brown, creator of the hashtag #disabledandcute. Brown was on my podcast and I’m a big fan:) I’ve used her memoir to teach about disability in my graduate school classroom. This is a YA (Young Adult) fiction novel exploring themes of queerness, friendship, disability, family. Perfect for my 14 year old daughter and I loved it for myself too.
Lessons in Chemistry: A Novel by Bonnie Garmus - 100% fun! Currently reading this novel and cannot put down. All about female empowerment and embracing your personal quirks. Garmus is 66 years old and this is her first book! I find that incredibly motivating and inspiring.
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