As summer slowly winds down, we have a last-minute summer reading list for your last long weekend at the beach, afternoon in the garden, or morning at your favorite coffee shop.
Don’t Let Me Be Lonely by Claudia Rankine is an American Lyric book written in the style of a series of short essays strung into a story that explores the struggles and concepts of isolation, race and identity in modern day America. Unlike a traditional novel, Don’t Let Me Be Lonely is a unique blend of poetry, prose, and small pictures, which mirror Rankine’s oddly pieced-together life, comprising her experiences as a Black woman in America. The book, with its themes of emotional resonance and the loneliness of alienation, is thought-provoking, and the unconventional blend of literary forms keeps the reader intrigued and curious, making it hard to put the book down.
– Julia Key
Emily Henry—the reigning queen of the contemporary romance scene—strikes comedic gold once again with her latest novel Funny Story (2024). Equal parts hilarious and heartwarming, Funny Story follows children’s librarian Daphne Vincent. After uprooting her entire life in Richmond, Virginia to move to Waning Bay, Michigan with her fiancé Peter, Daphne is heartbroken when Peter returns home from his bachelor party and dumps her for his childhood best friend Petra. Newly single and stranded in Peter’s lakeside hometown, Daphne moves in with the only other local she knows: Petra’s ex-boyfriend Miles Nowak. As they help one another pick up the pieces following their respective break-ups, Daphne and Miles forge an unlikely connection that takes both by surprise in the best way possible. Complete with lovable characters, satisfying emotional arcs, and Henry’s signature laugh-out-loud dialogue, Funny Story certainly lives up to its name.
– Hailey Wharram
There are a handful of authors whose novels I always pre-order the second I hear the release date. Emily Giffin is one of those authors. Her newest, The Summer Pact, tells the tale of four college friends: Lainey, Tyson, Hannah and Summer. After a tragedy happens just before they graduate, they vow to make a pact to be there for each other, no matter what happens in their lives. A decade passes by, and Hannah takes everyone up on that pact, leading to an adventure of self-discovery sprinkled with romance and fun. Giffin’s latest is deeper than other beachier reads, but is still light enough it’s perfect for a sun-soaked and sandy late summer vacation.
– Kate Oczypok
Tom Ripley is both a con-artist and a psychopath. The Talented Mr. Ripley follows Tom in the summer of 1958 as he travels from New York City to Mongibello, Italy where he is enlisted by a wealthy family to aid in the return of their son, Dickie. Patricia Highsmith documents Tom’s crimes throughout Europe and somehow, she expertly convinces her audience to root for the bad guy. The Talented Mr. Ripley is the perfect summer read if you are looking for a classic psychological thriller with an unreliable narrator.
– Forbes Dudley
BaddieHub This was beautiful Admin. Thank you for your reflections.