I have been low on reading bandwidth the past two months (you may have noticed a hiatus in my book club; thank you for your grace and patience!), but now that I am closing out the final few events in my book tour, I am looking forward to sinking into my TBR pile, both as a form of escape and a means of creative renewal. There are many reasons and ways to read; I am preparing to return to my fiction manuscript this summer and feel that I am a sharper and less cautious writer when I am in the grip of someone else’s writing. (Per John Cleese: “If you are going to be creative, you have to be in a state of play. You can’t play if you’re being careful. If you try not to make mistakes it destroys creativity.”) We have a couple of lowkey weekends ahead and I intend to sit on my back porch reading as much as possible.
Books to Read Right Now.
At the top of my tsundoku stack — garnering a ton of acclaim right now:
01. Tayari Jones’ Kin. So many people have raved about Jones’ crisp, evocative prose. (“A magnificent new novel from the bestselling, award-winning author of An American Marriage—Tayari Jones has written an unforgettable novel that sparkles with wit and intelligence and deep feeling about two lifelong friends whose worlds converge after many years apart in the face of a devastating tragedy.”)
02. Belle Burden’s Strangers. The way this memoir has gripped the cultural imagination at this moment! I almost couldn’t have a conversation in New York without this book coming up in some way. My publisher observed that she thinks it’s a book that gives women a unique kind of permission — and also that readers are often curious about the lives of the uber-wealthy. I’ve also heard the writing is stellar.
Next Up in the Stack: Books with a Lot of Buzz.
Books that are getting a lot of buzz among people whose reading tastes I respect, and which I will probably read purely because I want to talk with them about these titles:
01. Caro Claire Burke’s Yesteryear. UVA grad, so a lot of my fellow Wahoos have been chatting about this book, which made its way to the NYT bestseller list this week! Incredible!
02. Xochitl Gonzalez’s Last Night in Brooklyn. Learned about this from Ann Helen Petersen (one of the smartest, sharpest cultural critics out there). Ann wrote: “The first 20 pages are very vibe-y and then I promise it’ll suck you in. Also Xochitl is on tomorrow’s podcast talking about 2008 nostalgia and she’s so smart and funny and sharp about what made that time period feel the way it did.” Ann isn’t one to mince words and I found this description captivating.
03. Lena Dunham’s Famesick (memoir). Dunham is a lightning rod; I always find her perspective interesting, even if it jars or challenges something. I remember thinking Not that Kind of Girl (her first memoir) was incredibly well-written and imaginative. She has an incredible creative instinct.
04. Maria Semple’s Go Gentle. (“The bestselling author of Where’d You Go, Bernadette returns to form in her most exuberant and life-affirming novel yet with the story of one woman’s cheerful determination to live a life of the mind only to have the heart force its way in.”)
Books I’ve Pre-Ordered for Summer.
Three books I pre-ordered and will read as soon as they arrive on my doorstep:
01. Ann Patchett’s Whistler (June 2). You know that phrase “I could listen to her sing the telephone book?” I could read Patchett doing the analogous thing with writing — writing medical device copy? She’s an immediate order for me.
02. Carley Fortune’s Our Perfect Storm (May 5). For years, Elin Hilderbrand’s latest was the de rigeuer beach read book; now we have Fortune. It’s the perfect “summer has arrived” kick-off. I’ve written about this a few times, but last year, I ordered cupcakes, poured myself a glass of wine, and tucked into the book the day it arrived. It still gives me the happiest feeling: a small, offbeat way to celebrate the dawn of summer.
03. Maggie O’Farrell’s Land (June 2). You know my thoughts on Hamnet (swoon and deep sob) — I couldn’t bring myself to watch the movie because I just knew it would gut me all over again, and after my (heart-sinking) reaction to The Correspondent, I’m feeling like I don’t have the emotional strength to visit with those themes again.
Find the Perfect Beach Read.
If you’re looking for something light and easy, my top picks below. All of these are coming out in the coming months, so if you’re looking for something you can read now, you might like last year’s beach read list.
01. Carley Fortune’s Our Perfect Storm (May 5). Per my note above — THE way to kick off summer. Perfect for a lake weekend.
02. Pink Sand Summer by my new friend Chassity Evans (May 12). I received an advanced copy of this and tore through it in a few days before lending to my mom! This is a perfect book to toss into your suitcase if you’re heading somewhere beachy or tropical — or maybe if you want to feel that sense of escape. It is effervescent and transportive; I loved the hyper-local/insider’s look at Harbour Island, where the author spends a lot of her time. You can tell she is writing about real establishments and parts of the island that she loves; the details gave me the best “vacation” feeling.
03. Devon Daniels’ Star-Crossed Summer (July 7). I was hooked when I saw this Instagram post from the author explaining the backstory: this is a fictionalization of the romance between Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling while filming “The Notebook.” (Lore has it that they hated one another on set, then locked themselves into a room “to have it out” and eventually ended up dating…?!).
04. Ellie Palmer’s Married with Benefits (July 21). Love the fake dating / marriage of convenience / forced proximity tropes, and really enjoyed her novel from last summer, Anywhere with You. Funny, quirky, cinematic.
Other Classics to Consider Reading Right Now.
+Tom Lake by Ann Patchett — a deep summer feeling to this book, and the writing is (unsurprisingly) first-rate. No one writes about complex family dynamics and intricate relationship back stories like Patchett. Something about her voice gives me a deep sense of wellbeing.
+God of the Woods by Liz Moore — another great early summer read: a literary thriller set in a summer camp in the Adirondacks. Complex, gripping; a page-turner that makes you think.
What about you? What are you reading as we head into summer?
Shopping Break.
+In New York, my publisher told me she ordered my Rue de Verneuil crossbody bag (the size, shape, function are all PERFECT — love in this stripe AND IT’S 15% OFF, AS IS THE ENTIRE SITE, with code MOTHERSDAY) and Spanx set (bottoms, top) on the spot after seeing me style them together in a post. I was so flattered, and so excited because these pieces are, in fact, perfect.
+Staud sample sale alert! Insane prices, and you can get an extra 30% off $350+ with SAVE30 or extra 35% off $450+ with SAVE35. Don’t miss the Romy dress in navy! Such a gorgeous, ladylike, elegant style — runs TTS. Also adore this easy striped caftan mini and you know my thoughts on the Wells dress — insanely flattering on, and so fun to have in a bold color. The shoes are also worth a gander: these barely there mules (also available in a gorgeous satin pink) that will go with everything and these woven flats!
+Rhoback just released a super-cute athletic skirt in great colors. I know how many of you ordered their fitness dress (fit is perfect and I love the collar!) — this is another great buy for athletic wear this summer.
+These fantastic utility pants were just restocked — they always fly off the shelves! I own in the army green and love love love. The red is fab for summer. Run a tad big, but I’d still take your true size.
+Great sale happening at Asha — I love their caftans (strong contender for family photos!) and their jewelry.
+Jelly sandals are big (again, and always!) for summer — I found these great $60 looks-for-less for the Loeffler Randall jelly sandals. Another option I love and always get compliments on at the pool: these rubber Eleftheria sandals from Ancient Greek.
+Mi Golondrina is offering 20% off with code FAMILIA. How gorgeous is this gingham maxi? This embroidered style is also a forever piece.
+H&M has some great, inexpensive outdoor throw pillows — these green stripes! This bolster! Go high-low by pairing with this elegant outdoor umbrella.
+Perfect spindle side table / bed side table in great colors.
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Go Gentle is currently waiting for me at the library – yay! I ran out of time to read The God of the Woods last summer and then forgot about it, so thanks for the reminder to put it back on my tbr. I just finished Once and Again, which I liked enough to finish but was ultimately kinda meh for me (same feeling I had about One Italian Summer). Maybe the protagonists are just not likable enough for me? On my summer reading list – Mansion Beach, Theo of Golden, My Friends, The Sicilian Inheritance, A Quiet Life in the Country. If Emory is looking for a summery read, I’m in the middle of reading The Penderwicks aloud with my 8yo. It’s so sweet and we both enjoy it!
LOVE – these are great recs. Theo of Golden is also on my TBR; I’d forgotten to add. I feel like I’m the last person on earth to read it (well, I guess the two of us are, lol). A friend of mine said that when you give someone that book it’s like giving them a big, huge hug. I thought that was so sweet and compelling! Right up my alley…
xx
I second the Penderwicks for a great summer read aloud!
I third the Penderwicks!
Considering that the husband in Strangers is a relative of mine (!! but rest be assured I am #teambelle all the way) I devoured it in one sitting. It’s a very careful, restrained book- there’s not a stray word out of place, which makes the story all the more powerful IMO. I highly recommend following it up with a similar book called It Happens All the Time by Isabel Gillies. Another story of a sudden husband disappearance, but the style is the exact opposite of Strangers. Free-wheeling, stream of consciousness, written with abandon.
O.M.G. — wow! So interesting for you to witness the inside and outside of the story. “Careful and restrained” hits the nail on the head. I just started this yesterday afternoon and feel a coursing kind of carefulness and watchfulness in the way she writes. I think this works well (at least in the first few pages) because you have this sense that something really bad is about to happen from the minute the book opens. It reads like a held breath.
xx
I just finished two
fantastic books: Same As It Ever Was, and The Wedding People- I think both would be GREAT for the book club!! Xo
Thank you, Jessica!! I started by DNF “The Wedding People” — I think I went into it expecting something lighter/frothier and was startled by the heavy subject matter. Maybe need to go in with different expectations. I know so many people loved this! xx
I agree, I was startled by the beginning, but it quickly turned into a very funny, very sweet love story:) I gulped it down in two days! Xo
I felt like I was super late to The Wedding People – it was a bit heavier especially in the beginning than I originally expected, but I’m glad I kept up with it – it was unexpectedly unique and dare I say, delightful, read!
Love this! Thank you!
Yes agreed! I didn’t want it to end! Also, I think it could be a great movie if handled well! Xo