Earlier on in the season, I wrote a long newsletter detailing my list of books that I planned to read over the summer. Well, fast forward three months, and I’ve finally worked my way through the entire list, and I’m ready to share my first-hand reviews with you in case you’re looking to pick up any of these titles. We’ve got a pretty good mix of new books and old ones, lighthearted “beach” reads, and more serious stories to talk through. Let’s dive into the list, shall we?
My Summer Reading List Book Reviews:
- Slightly South of Simple, by Kristy Woodson Harvey: Even though I only included one physical title from this series on my summer reading list, I actually read all three books in the collection. They’re each told from a different point of view between three sisters, and I love the jumping back and forth between past and present. It’s a great series to binge if you love following along with family drama and especially sisterly relationships.
- Whispers Underground, by Ben Aaronovitch: As I mentioned in my newsletter, my brother-in-(common)-law gave me this series for Christmas, and I’ve been slowing working my way through all year. I’m technically not finished with this one yet, but I’m well on my way, and am absolutely absorbed in the supernatural tale of ghosts, goddesses, and the British police force that has to manage them.
- Swan Song, by Elin Hilderbrand: I wouldn’t call this my favorite of Elin Hilderbrand’s books, but it still completely delivered in the essentials: intricate social dynamics, gorgeous Nantucket vistas, and quick dialogue that kept me enthralled the whole way through. The murder mystery angle was really gripping, too.
- Tower of Dawn, by Sarah J. Maas: And just like that…I’ve finished the Throne of Glass books. What a wild ride! This one I’m mentioning in my list from summer is technically the second-to-last book, but I went ahead and read the finale right afterward. Hands down, the best fantasy series I’ve read thus far.
- Food Saved Me, by Danielle Walker: Since being diagnosed with UC last fall, I’ve been anxious to find testimonials from other people who suffer from the same autoimmune disease. This memoir by Danielle Walker felt so relatable to me, and helped make me feel less alone. I wouldn’t say that she and I agree on how to manage UC, but it was still a book that I’d recommend to sufferers just to get that valuable alternative perspective.
- The Power, by Naomi Alderman: Wow. This one was so unexpectedly awesome. I picked it up from a Little Free Library box while at the beach last year without knowing anything about it, but I loved the dystopian angle. It shows what could happen if women were given a special power that made them “top dog” in society, and I loved every minute of it. The last line made me smile in such a sinister way (if you know, you know). Flawless finish.
- The Invisible Life Of Addie LaRue, by V.E. Schwab: What a beautifully written novel! The storyline is a little bit fantasy, a little bit drama, some romance. I think it deserves all of the heavy praise it has been getting lately, and I already can’t wait to reread it.
- The Wedding People, by Alison Espach: My friend Nikki and I read this one for our 2-person book club, and I gave it four out of five stars, which is actually pretty high praise in my way of rating. I love how honest and fast-paced the dialogue was. When there was a conversation, I flew through the pages. Trigger warning, though, that suicide is regularly discussed.
Truth be told, I read quite a bit more than just these eight books over the summer. So, as an aside, I’d love to retrospectively add the following to my summer reading list, including my star rating in case you’re curious: By My Hands: A Potter’s Apprenticeship (5 stars), The Unmaking of June Farrow (4 stars), Severance (3 stars), Divine Rivals (4 stars), Ruthless Vows (5 stars), and The Rook (5 stars).
What was on your summer reading list this year? Did you get through all of the titles you wanted to? If you’d like to see what’s next on my list, hop over to my Home Matters newsletter here because yesterday I shared a linked list of all my planned fall time reads, plus my reasons for picking each one. Let me know in the comments here or over on Substack what you think I should add to future reading lists, and feel free to join me in reading these next titles so you can be part of the conversation when I publish my next round of reviews this winter!
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