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I used to share monthly book recaps on Instagram, only to come to the realization that I was starting to feel self-inflicted pressure to read at least 3-4 books I loved and wanted to share each month. And this meant starting more than 3-4 books each month given that for every book I read I probably abandon another 2-3 titles based on my belief that life's too short to slog through a book you aren’t enjoying. (You’d be amazed by the number of bestselling, must-read books I have abandoned.)
That said, I am, by nature, an information sharer (and also love receiving recommendations) and love encouraging folks to make space for reading. Earlier this year I decided to incorporate book roundups via my Mini Edit series on Edit Your Life, but at an intentionally irregular pace whenever I had a critical mass of titles to share about. Sharing book recommendations this was has been so fun, and I know that not everyone listens to podcasts and I don’t think one could ever amplify talented writers enough, so I thought it would be fun to share my very favorites, of the 15 books I have read so far this year.
I hope this list inspires you to enjoy some reading this summer, and if you have any favorite reads of late, I would love to hear about them in the comments!
1. James by Percival Everett
James by Percival Everett is masterful. This book is a reimagining of Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” and is told from the lens of Jim, a runaway slave. I’m not sure I have ever rooted so hard for a character to make it to the other side (repeatedly) as I did for Jim. Somehow, despite this grim era of history, Everett manages to bring moments of light and wit to the storytelling, and deep and reflective intelligence to its main character. I don’t think I have ever read a depiction of code switching in the way it was written by Everett. I cannot recommend this book enough.
2. Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
I can’t count the number of times I have recommended Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano to people. This book is breathtaking in arc and style. It pulled me in from page 1 and was the kind of book I looked for any pockets of time to read. I finished it in a weekend. This is a story whose backbone is about adverse childhood adversity (ACEs), the tragedy and multifaceted impact of neglect, sisterhood, the complexity of family bonds and conventions, the impact of an adult who pays attention and cares, the family you create, and loss, grief, and forgiveness. This book is both heartbreaking and hopeful.
3. Funny Story by Emily Henry
Emily Henry has a great ear for dialog and she does not disappoint in Funny Story. I loved the relationship development between the central characters Miles and Daphne. It’s a story about the beauty of finding friendship, somewhere you belong, and of accepting people for their whole and imperfect selves. This was a book I was delighted to turn to and I was sad when it ended.
4. Just for the Summer by Abby Jiminez
I sure did love Just for the Summer by Abby Jiminez. The premise of this contemporary romance is funny and unique and Jiminez manages to balance witty, engaging dialog against the serious character development threads of adverse childhood experiences and how that impacts trust, belonging, and relationships. I actually got teary when this one ended!
5. The Five Year Lie by Sarina Bowen
I shared about The Five Year Lie by Sarina Bowen in this post on end of day work transitions. This book propelled me out of a very dire book slump! This is Sarina Bowen’s first turn at suspense and she crushed it. I was pulled along by the storyline—both fascinated and disturbed by the security cam/scam premise—and definitely went through the roller coaster of feelings when one of the characters disappeared.
6. The Women by Kristin Hannah
Like probably a million other people, I awaited Kristin Hannah’s new book, The Women, with great anticipation. She is an incredible storyteller and titles such as The Great Alone, The Nightingale, and The Four Winds were compelling page turners for me. The Women tells the little known story of female nurses in the Vietnam war. I feel like the best historical fiction tells a story in such a way that you then feel compelled to Google the actual historical events to learn more. The Women did that for me. I carried this book around everywhere, eager for snatches of time to read.
The amazing no-bake dessert
The 19th anniversary of my dad’s death was last week, and on Sunday my family met up at my mom’s house for naengmyeon, which was my dad’s favorite summer dish. I always bring dessert to this annual gathering and am always looking to try new recipes. My main search parameter was a dessert to feed a crowd (I literally Googled “desserts you can make in a 9 x 13 pan”) and I also wanted to make something that felt a little lighter given the absurd heat and humidity. Violet and I made this no-bake blueberry cheesecake and it was DIVINE—less dense and less sweet than a regular cheesecake, with a mix of blueberry compote and fresh blueberries to further lighten things up. I think this would also work well in individual muffin tin cups and I’m not sure I will ever go back to regular baked cheesecake after making this recipe!
Ok I agree with the first 4 books! I haven't read 5 and 6 yet. I'm on the fence about The Women.
So many of the buzzy must-read books are just not good. The Five Year Lie was not even on my radar, and it sounds incredible. Thank you.