Summer Book Pairings
Hello lovely readers! I hope you are all having a fabulous summer. I love the longer days, filled with family walks and new adventures (but I could definitely live without this heat). Today, I thought I would share some book recommendations based on your favorite summer activity. Hopefully somewhere in this mix of contemporary and classic novels, you will find a good read to enjoy in the sunshine.
If you like to lay on the beach, read Beach Read by Emily Henry
I read this book many summers ago on a trip to Gulf Shores and it was the PERFECT beach read. Many of you have probably heard of Emily Henry as she has become best known for her sweet romances. This contemporary romance is about two writers stuck in a rut who end up living next to each other (in beach houses of course). Their solution-try to write in the other’s genre; What follows is a summer of growth and love, a light read for the beach.
If you like swimming, read The Lido by Libby Page
This was a book I randomly picked up at the library during a rare browsing adventure (rare because…toddler mom life) and I am so glad I did. This contemporary British novel centers around a local lido (outdoor pool and rec centers) that is about to close. Kate is the reporter for the closing and she meets Rosemary, an 86 year old woman who has swum at the lido daily and whose life is deeply intertwined with it. If you love the feel good novels of Frederick Backman, this is a must read between swim sessions.
So you enjoy traveling, try Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne
A few years ago, I wrote a guest post for my favorite book blog,Tea and Ink Society, recommending books that transport you to other places. Here is the link: https://teaandinksociety.com/wanderlust-books-for-armchair-traveling/?srsltid=AfmBOorQN8aLN0bmrzHZHexs0h8JkgTpN9k90LXlhL7JBEGuNNSZ8BVC . I decided to go with a classic for this category, as it travels to many different places with many different modes of transportation. Many of you have probably seen or heard some movie version of this story but the 1872 book is such a fun adventure! The protagonist Mr. Phileas Fogg of London makes a bet with his friends at their gentleman’s club that he can circumnavigate the world in 80 days. If he can accomplish this, he will receive 20,000 pounds (which equates to 2.89 million pounds or almost 4 million dollars today!). With his new valet Passepartout, they set off from London and end up in many wacky situations. Can they do it? You’ll have to read to find out!
If you enjoy long walks in the sunshine, read any Jane Austen novel
Yes, I am talking about Jane Austen once again. She is a genius and her books are fantastic- I offer no apologies. In most, if not, all of her books, characters walk...a lot. Whether you prefer the countryside, the city, or along the shore, there is always an Austen book to romanticize such wanderings. Be careful you don’t let your dress end up ‘six inches deep in mud’.
If you enjoy summer parties, read Villa America by Liza Klaussmann
Summer is a wonderful time to get together with family and friends. When I think of a summer party, two very different types come to mind. First, a simple barbeque or cookout with a small group of friends. This is what I, and many people, tend to enjoy during the long summer days. The other is a Great Gatsby style blowout with champagne, glitz, glamour, and drama. The novel Villa America falls into the later category. This novel is based on real historical American expats in the 1920s; in fact, the characters and their lives are believed to be the basis of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Tender is the Night, who also wrote the Great Gatsby! This is a novel for lovers of 1920s European summers who want to escape into some drama.
If you like to reflect on childhood summers, read The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall
I am blessed to say I experienced many wonderful summers as a child. It was the time of playing outside endlessly, visiting extended family in Texas (via a 14 hour car ride), and time at the pool or beach (depending on where we lived at the time). If you want to relive the nostalgia of childhood summers, then I highly recommend the middle grade novel The Penderwicks. This is a five book series but I have only read the first (I do plan to read the rest of the series in the future) and so that is my recommendation. It follows four sisters and their father as they go on a summer adventure to a beautiful estate called Arundel. The adventures they fall into and the timelessness of the writing are so wonderful. You will especially enjoy this if you are a fan of Little Women as it has that same cozy, close knit family bond. Even just writing this makes me want to go buy the set immediately! Definitely give this book a try.
If you enjoy learning something new, ready Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature by Linda J. Lear
Learning is not only for school months! The long summer days are perfect for deep diving into new topics. I read this two summers ago and it did indeed take all summer, as it is 640 pages (and a new mom)- but don’t let that stop you! I love Beatrix Potter as an author, but did you know she made major contributions to the science of the natural world? This book explores her life and her love of nature. It was so informative and gave me a new appreciation for her work.
BUT WAIT, you cry, THIS IS NOT A NOVEL!
*sigh* Dear reader, you are right. If you prefer to learn in a nonfiction way (which I don’t blame you), I would steer you towards historical fiction. Some recent ones I would recommend include Where we Belong by Lynn Austin (1920s life in Chicago and biblical archeology), A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles(Russian history post revolution), Somewhere in France by Jennifer Robson (WWI, focusing on women in the field).
Whatever format you choose, find a topic to deep dive into this summer.
And finally…
If you dislike summer entirely, read The Secret History by Donna Tartt
I can understand if summer is not your season- the heat, the overcrowded public spaces, the high prices for traveling. If I want to immerse myself in worlds that are the antithesis of summer vibes, I go for gothic or dark academia. For those unaware, dark academia is a subculture that romanticizes higher academia and the arts, usually in a gothic dark setting, with plots including old colleges, murder, and secret societies. If this sounds intriguing, I recommend The Secret History by Donna Tartt, which is considered the gold standard of the genre. This novel follows a group of classics majors at a liberal arts college in Vermont and a murder they are involved in. It is dark and bizarre, perfect to block out the summer sun. If dark academia doesn’t sound like fun, I would suggest some gothic classics like Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, or Frankenstein by Mary Shelly. For new readers, I wrote a few posts about the gothic novel that you might find interesting- start with this one: https://lady-bookish.ghost.io/origin-of-gothic-literature/
Don’t be afraid to look ahead to darker, chilly days if that is what gets you reading!
Well there you go- some book recommendations to keep you reading all summer long! If you are new here, welcome! I try to post 1-2 times a month but I post even more on my instagram page @ladybookishblog, which I hope you will check out! There is also a Facebook group (Lady Bookish) where I post announcements and ask questions that sometimes help me in future posts.
Happy Reading!
Lady Bookish