Hello, friends. I've spend some time this past week thinking about my summer reading plans. I usually put together monthly TBR (to be read) lists but, since summer feels so short and is packed with activities, I've opted for a seasonal approach this year.
My plan includes book club selections, an Austen in August line-up, and new releases I'm excited about. Plus the yearlong slow read of War and Peace is still in progress. We hit the halfway mark today!
BOOK CLUB SELECTIONS
Sisters of a Halved Heart by Nayantara Roy
AUSTEN IN AUGUST
Jane Austen at Home by Lucy Worsley
The Other Bennett Sister by Janice Hadlow
NEW RELEASE PRIORITIES
Whistler by Ann Patchett
John of John by Douglas Stuart
Villa Coco by Andrew Sean Greer
Summerland Cove by Ellen Baker
ONGOING GROUP READ
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Will I stick to the plan? Who knows, but I do enjoy making a list! I'll revisit this one after Labor Day and let you know how I did. Have you made a summer reading list?
No list, but currently I'm reading John of John (loving it) and The Beheading Game and have Maggie O'Farrell's latest next up. Hang in there on War and Peace! It's worth it!
ReplyDeleteAmy - Glad to hear you're loving John of John! Fingers crossed my library hold arrives next month. I've got O'Farrell's The Marriage Portrait here, but won't get to it this summer. Hard to believe we're halfway through W&P. I'm really loving the slow read experience!
DeleteCan't wait to hear what you think of the Ann Patchett book. I added John of John, Summerland Cove and Villa Coco to my Goodreads. I admire you sticking with War and Peace! That's a project on it's own.
ReplyDeleteI am enjoying the Allegra Goodman book, confusing at first with so many characters but I have them sorted now and am over halfway finished. Next week I have to see a podiatrist and if I end up with that dreaded thick boot then guess what, I am in a LOT and will read. And probably complain, lol. But not about reading, just inactivity. We will see. Thanks for some good suggestions,
Tina - I just finished Whistler last night (which is why I haven't answered your email yet!) and it's so, so good. I like Ann Patchett almost as much as Elizabeth Strout!
DeleteI loved This is Not About Us, but actually had to take a picture of the family tree, print it out, and referred to ti frequently until I figured out who everyone was! Glad you've got them all sorted out now.
Good luck with the podiatrist and I hope you can avoid the dreaded boot!
Ah, but JoAnn, summer is exceptionally long this year since Memorial Day came early and Labor Day falls late. :) I want to read a few from your list: Whistler, John of John, and Villa Coco. Like you, I love making lists, and I'm pretty good about sticking to them during the summer months. Just about to finish Long Bright River (Liz Moore), which is outstanding. Reminds me a bit of Dennis Lehane's Small Mercies.
ReplyDeleteLes - You're right, Memorial Day was SO early this year! But we are expecting our first grandchild Labor Day weekend (ha ha) and it feels like that will be here before we know it!
DeleteI haven't read Long Bright River, but have Small Mercies waiting on my kindle. I actually read the first chapter or so and know I'm going to like it, but it got pushed to the back burner when a library hold came in...
So exciting that you're going to become grandparents!!
DeleteLes - Thanks, we can't wait!
DeleteWhat a great group of books you have lined up! I chose about 15 for the summer and have already veered off the list and June isn't even over yet.
ReplyDeleteHelen - I really want to get to most of these and thought that by keeping the list short, I might actually do it. We'll see though... I'm already being tempted by a new group read.
DeleteWonderful line up for the summer! I did a P&P annotated many years ago and enjoyed it. The new Ann Patchett is also on my list, and I've heard good things about The Other Bennet Sister. Enjoy your reading and other summer activities.
ReplyDeleteJaneGS - I've read an annotated Austen novel in August the past couple of years and enjoyed the experience. It's been too long since I last read P&P, so I'm looking forward to it!
DeleteI like your list. Nice! Good diverse genres. I have just started John of John on ebook and I'm liking it so far. Early on still. And I might start Whistler soon on audio. My summer reading list is here : https://www.thecuecard.com/books/summer-reading-list-2026/#comments not sure if you saw it. Enjoy your reads & have a nice week!
ReplyDeleteSusan - I read Whistler in print, but understand Ann Patchett narrates the audio herself. Meryl Streep (Tom Lake) might be a tough act to follow, but I'm sure Ann is up to it! Glad John of John is off to a good starts, and thanks for the link!
DeleteI like your plan and thanks for sharing it with us! Good luck with reading what you'd like. I'm on a 'comfort read' summer and we'll see what my reading looks like after the summer and actually what 'comfort reads' look like when we get to fall. I have been going through what I have on my Kindle and I have so, so many books. Many that I had forgotten about. Maybe I will see if I'd like to have a 'spooky' fall and then a 'holiday' reading time and then....ha!
ReplyDeleteKay - You are certainly entitled to a comfort read summer with all you have going on! Enjoy your selections and I hope your in-law's move is progressing smoothly. I'm thinking about a clean-out-my-kindle fall or winter... so many books seems to accumulate there and then get forgotten.
DeleteI have Jane Austen at Home on my TBR. I really enjoy Lucy Worsley's books. Her biography of Agatha Christie was fantastic. Dolly All the Time is next up on audio and I'm really looking forward to reading it. I have Whistler on my TBR as well. Enjoy your summer reading and have a nice week!
ReplyDeleteKatherine - I'm glad to know you've enjoyed Lucy Worsley, this will be my first time reading her. I thought Jane Austen at Home would be fun to read alongside P&P. Going all in on Austen this year! I started listening to Dolly All the Time on my walk yesterday and like it already. Hoping to get the ebook from the library soon, too. Have a good week!
DeleteI like the idea of looking so far ahead rather than taking it a month or a week at a time. But it probably wouldn’t work well for me because I have a hard enough problem just sticking with my weekly plans. I am, though, starting to put some light mystery books aside for a road trip for mid-September. I have a really hard time sleeping in hotels, and the books are meant to entertain me in the middle of the night before they finally lull me to sleep.
ReplyDeleteSam - I haven't made a seasonal list in years, but it somehow felt more appropriate this summer. That being said, I'm already being tempted by new buddy read opportunities and suddenly-irresistible backlist titles on my shelves... sigh. A September road trip sound exciting! Plus it's the perfect time to go - summer vacations over and kids back in school.
DeleteI haven’t made lists for years because I’m always behind.
ReplyDeleteMystica - I can certainly understand that!!
DeleteI've heard John of John is very good. I loved Whistler. Hope you enjoy it. I want to read The Other Bennet Daughter. We have a lot of books in common. Good luck with your summer reading.
ReplyDeleteAnne -I keep seeing great reviews of John of John and am really looking forward to it. Hope you enjoy your summer reading!
DeleteI have a couple of these including Villa Coco and Whistler on my list for the summer. I'm just not sure when they will arrive for me from the library.
ReplyDeleteDeb - I just finished Whistler and thought it was great - classic Ann Patchett!
DeleteI enjoyed Whistler. Hope you do, too.
ReplyDeleteVintage Reading - Whistler was wonderful and I just loved Eddie Triplett!
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