summer reading recap !
i read 11 books this summer and, honestly, wasn’t overly impressed by any of them. there were some i enjoyed for sure, but none that really wowed me or that i’m still thinking about. i don’t know if i’m just not choosing the right books for me, or i’ve just become a harsher critic. it’s been months since i’ve rated a book over four stars.
but, i’m hoping to change that this fall! my current read feels promising so far. fall to be read at the end of this post.
my summer reads were a mix of contemporary fiction, romance, psychological thrillers, and a memoir.
books i read this summer
fever dream by elsie silver - 2.5⭐️
the first in a new series by elsie silver. it had great potential from the start, although i didn’t love the dating show premise, i did like the characters. if you’re familiar with the chestnut spring series, this book follows theo’s little sister, julia, and his bull riding rival, emmett. theo was my favorite in that series, so i was excited for this one. unfortunately, i got bored. i fear nothing will compare to the chestnut springs series for me. given it’s the first in the series, i will still give the next one a chance.
billy summers by stephen king - 3⭐️
this was my first stephen king novel and was underwhelmed to be honest. it was an interesting enough story, billy summers is a hitman completing his last job before falling off the grid. there’s two parts to the story, before and after the hit. i found the first part to be more interesting, the second dragged on for me. well written, of course, but probably just wasn’t the book for me.
yesteryear by caro claire burke - 3.5⭐️
i have conflicting feelings about this one. i was drawn in by the concept; natalie, a tradwife influencer, wakes up one day living in the 19th century. everything is familiar, but not at the same time. slowed down a bit for me in the middle, but i do love a good plot twist that i didn’t see coming. generally enjoyed, just felt a bit messy at times.
into the blue by emma brodie - 2.75⭐️
did not live up to the hype for me. a decades long love store, following aj graves, an aspiring comedy writer, and noah drew, the heir of an acting dynasty. it started off strong, there was great chemistry between the two of them. ultimately, it felt too long, repetitive, and a bit childish. i expected more character growth for a story spanning over 15 years. there’s a bit of a sci fi element as well that i just wasn’t super interested in.
famesick by lena dunham - 3.75⭐️
a memoir by writer, director, and actor, lena dunham that explores the overlap of sudden celebrity and chronic illness. did enjoy this one! great writing and insight into a public persona managing fame, relationships, and illness.
my husband’s wife by alice feeney - 2.5⭐️
also did not live up to the hype for me, but i was definitely hooked. eden fox’s life is completely erased when a stranger takes over her home and her husband claims she’s his real wife. just didn’t make a ton of sense to me. plot twists with no logic and very repetitive writing. still enjoyed enough to read in one day, i guess.
the five star weekend by elin hilderbrand - 3⭐️
simply fine. a nice summer read. after her husband tragically dies, hollis shaw, a food blogger, invites five friends from different eras of her life to spend a weekend on nantucket. relatively light and fun given the premise. really sucks you into the island of nantucket. just didn’t feel like anything special or memorable to me.
intermezzo by sally rooney - 3⭐️
typical sally rooney, just sad people being sad. two brothers, peter and ivan, navigate grief, love, and family in the wake of their father’s death. i really did enjoy the different relationship dynamics in this story, and, as always, love sally’s writing. just fell a little flat for me. not one that will stick with me, necessarily.
weyward by emilia hart - 3.5⭐️
for the most part, i did enjoy this. it follows three women — altha, violet, and kate — from the same family across five centuries. for me, it just felt like the same story told in three different ways at different points in time. and maybe that was kind of the point? it just felt a bit repetitive to me. overall, did enjoy the female empowerment and resilience theme throughout the book.
phoebe berman’s gonna lose it by brooke averick - 3⭐️
read a little to young adult for my liking, but it was cute. phoebe, who has extreme intimacy anxiety, is turning 30 in 30 days, and writes a list of things to do in order to lose her virginity before then. good anxious girl representation, just felt a bit juvenile at times.
remarkably bright creatures by shelby van pelt - 4⭐️
a heartwarming friendship between a widow and a giant pacific octopus. cameron is a bit of an insufferable man child. a somewhat integral part of the story but could have done without him. otherwise enjoyed the uncovering of the mystery in the story.
the final rating was a bit generous, i think i was just desperate for at least one four star rating on the summer. overall, pretty neutral feelings towards most of these books. again, that’s not to say i didn’t enjoy them, just didn’t love them.
fall to be read
- sunburn by chloe michelle howarth (current read)
- swimming in the dark by tomasz jedrowski
- east of eden by john steinbeck
- the only one left by riley sager
- atonement by ian mcewan
- the bright years by sarah damoff
- talking at night by claire daverley
- the alice network by kate quinn
- us against you by fredrik backman
- a court of splintered harmony by sarah j mass
open to any more fall recommendations! i’m really in need of a good fall romance.