It’s been a wonderful summer of reading. Early summer brought me three great reads, and I continued through my list and beyond this July, especially in Rhode Island, the perfect place to relax and be swept away by captivating stories. Here are the eight books I’ve read over the past month, all of which I enjoyed.
The Guest by Emma Cline
Wow, once I started, I could not stop reading this one. It’s quick and so intriguing, filled with mystery and unease. I kept wondering, what next? This book is about Alex, an escort who is staying with a wealthy older man on Long Island, and after being so intentional and careful with her behavior, makes a mistake at a party that has her sent away from his home. She wanders through Long Island over the next week, an outsider trying to blend in among the groups of beach vacationers, finding places to sleep and people to be with — and causing disorder and self-destruction as she goes — holding onto hope that the man will take her back. The whole time, I was rooting for this very unlikeable main character, and I’m still thinking about the ending. This book is perfect for those who enjoy thrillers, immersive and unsettling stories, and captivating writing. Can be read in a day or two.
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
I was not super interested in reading this one, but people have continued to sing its praises, so I decided to finally give it a go. And it was all fantastic — the characters, story, and writing. This book is about Sam and Sadie, childhood friends and gamers who decide to start making video games together. It goes through the ups and downs of starting a company with your very best friend, the successes and failures and challenges, plus their own personal trials. I loved Sam, Sadie, and their third business partner (after being Sam’s college roommate), Marx. It’s a story about work and life and love — love between people who are really close, whatever that may mean, and love for what you make — and of course, video games. I’ve never read a story quite like this one.
Yellowface by R. F. Kuang
A wild ride of a book, Yellowface is about two young authors and (sort of) friends — the successful, talented, and beautiful Athena Liu, and June Hayward, the unreliable narrator of this story whose debut novel flopped. When Athena suddenly dies, June steals Athena’s unpublished manuscript about the Chinese laborers of World War I, and becomes the ethnically ambiguous Juniper Song. June finally finds the success she has always dreamed of, but of course, this is not going to work out as planned. This novel explores privilege, competition, loneliness, racism, the toxicity of Twitter, the challenges of the publishing world, and more. Super interesting story, well-written, and so fast to read.
A Perfect Vintage by Chelsea Fagan
I loved this swoon-worthy romance set in the French countryside. This book is about Lea, a highly organized and esteemed American consultant who transforms old estates and vineyards into high-end boutique hotels in France — her latest project being for the Lévesque family in the Loire Valley. Lea brings along her best friend and cousin, Stephanie, who is preparing to go through an unpleasant divorce, and her daughter, Maya — their presence already potentially complicating things for Lea. Lea takes her job very seriously, and things become further tangled when she falls for her boss’s younger son. A Perfect Vintage has everything for a dreamy summer romance — rich details of the idyllic scenery, château, gatherings, and food, a secret affair, family drama, and more. Wonderful escapism, and the sweetness of loosening and allowing for joy.
Happy Place by Emily Henry
My favorite Emily Henry read yet. This book is about Harriet and Wyn, a very much in-love couple since college — until they broke up without telling their best friends. It’s time for their annual vacation with everyone at a coastal cottage in Maine — a place that has been magical, restful, and special to them all for years. Harriet knows she needs to come clean, but once she learns that this will be the very last trip, as the cottage is for sale, she and Wyn decide to fake it and pretend they’re still together for this one week, for the sake of the group. They struggle through pretending, while still having feelings for each other, as they try to navigate what is normally a relaxing and dreamy week. It was a joy to read this story while in my own happy place; I related to the characters’ experience, returning to a New England home that brings such contentment. I loved the characters, and actually cried when the book ended; it was so sweet. There’s humor and friendship and summertime bliss and romance. A perfect beachside read.
Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan
A very cute and quick-to-read summer romance! This book is about Sam and Wyatt, childhood friends who grew up playing together, wild and free, on Long Island during summers by the beach — their houses right next door to each other. After a magical summer in which they become one another’s first love, an unfortunate incident tears them apart from each other, and from the beach they’ve always loved. In the present day, Sam is engaged to someone else, and somewhat reluctantly returns to Long Island with her fiancé to consider getting married there. It turns out Wyatt’s back, too, and feelings are going to resurface. This was a sweet story, perfect to read on the New England coast, and reminded me a little of The Notebook — a first summer love coming back. As with Happy Place, it was fun to read about the characters’ own summer place in the Northeast that they love. Read for some easy & charming escapism.
Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune
Yet another cute summer romance. This book is about Fern and Will, who met and spent one magical day together at age twenty-two. They were supposed to meet up one year later, at Fern’s mom’s lakeside resort, but he never showed. Now at thirty-two, Fern’s mother has passed away, and she’s back home running the resort, even though it’s what she never wanted. And to her shock, Will shows up — nine years too late — to help. The book goes between the past, recounting their one day together in the city, and the present, as they figure things out at the lake. I really enjoying the writing, and the story for the most part, though I wasn’t a big fan of Will, have to admit I was Team Jamie (her ex who works at the resort), and didn’t love how we got to the resolution. But still, there’s sweet summertime nostalgia, what-ifs and longing, family, and second chances.
The Beach at Summerly by Beatriz Williams
I always love historical fiction by Beatriz Williams, so I snagged this as soon as I saw it on the shelves. This book is both a dreamy summer romance and Cold War drama. The story goes between two periods of time. In May 1946, the war is over and everyone has returned to fictional Winthrop Island in New England for the summer, where Emilia “Cricket” Winthrop lives with her parents and sister as the caretakers of Summerly, the wealthy Peabodys’ family estate. Emilia reunites with the Peabody sons Amory and Shep, bringing romantic feelings to the surface. And there’s a newcomer as well — Olive Rainsford, the boys’ aunt and a woman with a reputation, who has come to stay in the guest cottage with her children. Meanwhile, an FBI agent named Sumner Fox arrives and seeks Emilia’s help in catching a Soviet agent secretly transmitting information from the island. In April 1954, Emilia is working in Wellesley when she is asked to meet with the spy she helped capture, who has a mysterious request. As always, the writing and storytelling were excellent. Read if you love historical fiction and particularly if you have an interest in the Cold War, complex, multilayered stories, and swoony New England summer places.
What summer reads have you enjoyed this July?
