Summer is a time for fun, quirky, easy reads that you can breeze through like the ocean breeze runs through your hair. For most people, it’s a time when you can finally be free to read anything you want, from trashy romances to dictionary-length novels to funky poetry. But this article was designed specifically for those who want to emerge in a fizzy, sparkling world of luxurious intricacies, turbulent romances and, of course, secrets that come into the light when we inevitably gather together in the sun. Here are some recommendations that will cater to your bookish reads this summer:
Murder In Midsummer and Murder Takes A Holiday
Both of these short story collections have one common denominator: summer. Or, more precisely, a summer of crime. Esteemed and consecrated authors, such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Cecily Gayford, Anthony Berkley and Dorothy L. Sayers, feature their best works. You will be taken on an exotic journey through the windy beaches of Cornwall, the sunbathed shores of the South of France, the fashionable resorts littering the Mediterranean, all while trying to untangle the webs of dangerous plans, gruesome murders and complicated ploys.
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
If you crave even more suspense in the long, leisurely summer days, look no further than Lockhart’s sophisticated depiction of death in the midst of a fatalistic group of friends. A group of four friends get lost in the meanders of love, secrets and fiery teenage revolutions and it sure is a wild read! You will get fairy tale references, the personification of emotion (it makes sense if you read the book, I swear), scrumptious plot twists and a striking ending - doesn’t this sound like the ideal beach read?
Bonjour Tristesse by Françoise Sagan
You’ve heard of sad girl autumn (hello, Swifties), now get ready for sad girl summer - because who doesn’t love to gaze into the abyss of nothingness while the sun shines in their eyes and everyone laughs around them? The dolce vita of youth and leisure presented by Sagan is intoxicating and the bohemian experiences and attitudes give the work a refreshing polish, perfect for a brief summer read. It’s a controversial, amoral novel centered around a 17-year-old girl who is both astute and childish. Cecily gets swept in a tempestuous summer romance, exploring her own first sentimental and sensual adventure - a swiftly consummated romance with a handsome law student, when the unexpected arrival of an older woman, a friend of her late mother, disrupts the self-indulgent haze of high summer.
The Orchard by Kristina Gorcheva-Newberry
A real tour-de-force, loosely based on Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, Gorcheva-Newberry’s debut novel follows the story of four inseparable teenagers in a gripping coming of age story. The two girls and two boys spend their time in a luxurious dacha, lazing in the apple orchard, listening to music, discussing forbidden books and engaging in debates on history and politics. However, the idyllic time they spend together is cut short by a sudden tragedy, with which they must learn to live. Clouded by a shadow of sorrow and grief, this book paints summer in a unique, sadness-filled light, making it a beautifully written modern masterpiece.
A Sky Painted Gold by Laura Wood
What can be better for a light, funny, yet highly emotional summer read than a Gatsby-esque coming of age story set in a gorgeous mansion on the shores of Cornwall and spanning all the way to the depths of the London glamorous nightlife? Wood tells the story of Lou, a 17-year-old would-be writer, who gets swept away in the dizzying world of moonlit parties of the Cardews, a rich family that owns the villa she used to explore. Gradually, she becomes entangled in the family drama, the glitz of their lifestyle and a romance that knocks her off her feet…
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
A fabulous tale of family secrets and the haunting question of what truly matters in life, Jenkins Reid’s Malibu Rising is centered around the glorious end-of-the-summer party that the famous Riva family throws every year. But each member has secrets of their own, shrouded in lies and intricate webs, and when everything goes up in flames in the morning, all the love and the ugly parts that shaped an entire generation will come to the surface. This book is ideal for all those intrigued by the complex social dynamics of a dysfunctional family and what happens when carelessness and hubris take over.
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
Often dubbed a dark academia novel, Donna Tartt’s debauched odyssey is more rather a haunting coming-of-age story peppered with tragedy, grief and love. It’s proof of how loss and obsession can eventually lead to survival and self-invention, in spite of (or even thanks to) the obstacles met on the way. The protagonist, Theo Decker, suffers after the death of his mother in a museum bombing and is tormented by The Goldfinch, a famous painting that he stole on the day of the attack. His actions unleash a cascade of consequences, that lead him to a life in the middle of a rich family, to sunny, hazy, drug-laden days in Las Vegas in the company of a friend that would impact Theo’s life in unimaginable ways, to apprenticeship in the shop of an old friend, to navigating the stormy seas of the criminal underworld. A rather unconventional summer recommendation, it’s still a novel based on hedonism, nostalgia, existentialism and chaotic love, which makes it ideal for long, sweltering July nights.
I hope you found some new, interesting, appealing books to add to your summer tbr and that you may thoroughly enjoy your new reading material!
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