My 2021 Summer Reading List
When I was a kid, I despised summer reading lists - but not because of the ‘reading’ bit. I just hated being told what to read. As someone who’s always been a big reader, I wanted summer to be the time where I could read whatever I wanted! The rest of the year I was already restricted by the required reading of English classes, so I was mad that summer was more of the same.
As an adult, I still read a lot! So I wanted to share with y’all some amazing books I’ve read, and what’s on my own curated list for this summer.
Finished Reading:
The Guest List by Lucy Foley: This was such a fun read! I think I finished it in just two days. I’m a big fan of thriller and suspense, and I loved how this one kept you guessing - not only about ‘whodunit’, but about who the actual victim was! It felt very Agatha Christie-esque (but I won’t say anything more- no spoilers!)
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia: I have to admit, it took me a little bit to get into this one. The beginning is a bit of a slow burn, but once it gets going it leaves you gripping the edge of your seat, and often whispering ‘what the f***?!’ to yourself. As the title suggests; this novel is an intriguing and fantastical horror story set in Mexico.
Educated by Tara Westover: This memoir broke my heart. I tend to generally lean towards fiction and suspense (hello, the rest of my list), but this true story was beyond words. I cannot even describe how wonderful and necessary of a read this book is, so I will just provide part of a quote from Refinery29 with which I wholeheartedly agree: “[Educated] left me speechless with wonder. [Westover’s] lyrical prose is mesmerizing, as is her personal story, growing up in a family in which girls were supposed to aspire only to become wives—and in which coveting an education was considered sinful. Her journey will surprise and inspire men and women alike.”
The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse: And now back to your reguarly scheduled programming: thriller novels. This was recommended by Reese Witherspoon, and I finished it in less than 3 days while on inter island planes on our honeymoon! Yeah - it’s so good I couldn’t put it down while in Hawaii. Between that and Reese’s seal of approval, I’m not sure what else you need to know this is an excellent book.
The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley: the second of Lucy’s books on this list - it has a similar Agatha Christie feeling. I literally finished this book several minutes before finishing writing this post (I actually had to edit it to move the book from the ‘currently reading’ section! I can’t emphasize enough how great Lucy’s books are, and how you won’t be disappointed with these twists.
The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon: I’ve read every single one of Jennifer McMahon’s books, and she just keeps getting better and better. I love how there’s always a small element of the supernatural - but in such a way that you’re left questioning the book’s and your own reality like: is there actually a supernatural element? Is this real? Could it be real outside of the realm of the novel?
Currently Reading:
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins: I love the Hunger Games. I even feel a slight ownership over the series, as I ‘discovered’ it myself the day it came out. My mom just happened to take us to Borders (RIP), and it was on a table with a handwritten sign “new today!”. I picked it up, read the inside flap and immediately bought it. I read each of the books of the series the moment they came out… with the exception of this one. Truly, I’m kicking myself that it’s taken me this long to pick up!
Up Next:
The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova: I just got this as my August Book of the Month pick, and it’s up next on my to be read pile! The tagline is: “Alternating between Orquídea’s past and her descendants’ present, The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina is an enchanting novel about what we knowingly and unknowingly inherit from our ancestors, the ties that bind, and reclaiming your power.”
The Push by Ashley Audrain: This has been on my list since Troian Bellisario recommended it a couple years ago - but I’ve only just now borrowed it from my mother-in-law. The tagline for this one is juicy: “A tense, page-turning psychological drama about the making and breaking of a family—and a woman whose experience of motherhood is nothing at all what she hoped for—and everything she feared”.
Stay tuned on instagram for my thoughts when I finish The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and when I read & complete these two novels on my ‘To Be Read’ list!
What are some of your favorite books and genres? Do you enjoy reading? Let me know in the comments below!
xx, Sarah
