Whether you’re planning a beach vacation or in need of a good story to help get through your long commute, there’s no better time to crack open a good book than over the summer. Now that your schedule isn’t jammed packed with classes and course readings, consider picking up one of these five books to add a little bit of productivity to your summer.
Monsters by Emerald Fennell
Packed with violence, mystery and unlikely friendships, “Monsters” tells the story of two emotionally disturbed preteens spending their summer on the Cornish coast of England. “Saltburn” director Emerald Fennell, takes readers through a fast-past dark comedy, where dead bodies begin to pile up on the coastal shore leaving two psychopathic children to solve the crimes. “Monsters” unpacks themes of abuse, adolescence and moral ambiguity and makes for great beach reach for those wanting a little more edge to their stories.
Play it as it Lays by Joan Didion
A literary classic—Joan Didion’s “Play it as it Lays” dissects the life of Maria Wyeth, a former model as she slips further into depression and dissociation. Set in the backdrop of 1960’s Hollywood, Didion’s cutthroat depiction of the spurious glamour of the rich and famous grabs you and never lets out until the novel’s bitter end. Packed with rich prose, realized characters and alluring mystery, “Play it as it Lays” is the perfect book to pick up this summer if you’re looking for an easy to read classic with a bit more narrative depth.
Yellowface by RF Kuang
RF Kuang’s thought-provoking satire of the publishing industry makes for an incredibly suspenseful summer thriller. Juniper Hayward and Athena Liu are two young authors from the same alma mater, but as Athena grows into literary stardom, Juniper finds herself to be a nobody within the industry. After Athena dies in a freak accident, Juniper takes it upon herself to publish the writer’s unfinished masterpiece—and claims it as her own. As Juniper skyrockets into success for her stolen novel she finds herself haunted by the ghost of Athena Liu. “Yellowface,” offers a sharply funny critique of race, class and the writing industry itself, and makes for a stirring summer read.
Beach Read by Emily Henry
Praised for cracking the modern romance genre, Emily Henry’s mix between witty banter and emotional depth make “Beach Read” the quintessential summer romance. Acclaimed authors January Andrews and Augustus Everett couldn’t be more different. While Everett is a master of the literary fiction genre, Andrews writes bestselling romance. After the pair hit a bout of writer’s block they find themselves living next door to each other in neighboring beach houses and make a pact to swap genres for the entire summer. Funny, flirty and at times heartwrenching, “Beach Read” by Emily Henry is a great choice for readers looking to escape into a summer romance.
Phoebe Berman’s Gonna Lose It by Brooke Averick
This debut novel from podcaster and comedian Brooke Averick is the perfect summer romantic-comedy. Phoebe Berman is a chronically single grade school teacher riddled with anxiety, as she approaches her 30th birthday, she makes a pact with herself to finally get into her first relationship. In the span of a few weeks she goes from having a nonexistent dating life to balancing three different dating projects. A funny and deeply relatable story for those who struggle with anxiety, “Phoebe Berman’s Gonna Lose It,” is the perfect coming of age story for adults, and makes for a great summer read.
This article was written by Allison Scherquist, she can be contacted at [email protected]
