5 books I want to read before the end of summer

A classic novel, some new releases, and a buzzy pick to distract from the heat

For many readers, summer is synonymous with book lists, beach reads, and library challenges that promise a cheeky memento upon completion. I started my summer reading a bit late but luckily (or maybe not) for me, Texas won’t be under the blanket of “fake fall” anytime soon. It still very much feels like summer around here.

However, time is fleeting and I can sense that fall is peeking its head around the corner, just waiting to make its grand entrance to thunderous applause. Before that happens though, here’s a list of books I want to read under the last rays of summer.

Evenings and Weekends by Oisín McKenna (2024) | 344 pages

We’re starting this list with an Irish author, which shouldn’t come as any surprise to anyone given my reading taste this year. Evenings and Weekends follows a multi-generational cast of characters as they confront the beautiful but sometimes harsh complexities of life, all set against the backdrop of a stifling London heatwave. It discusses queer identity Said to be for fans of Sally Rooney (I’ve read and love) and Torrey Peters (haven’t read yet), this debut novel is one I think I’ll really enjoy.

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante (2012) | 331 pages | translated by Ann Goldstein

This coming-of-age title has been at the tip of everyone’s tongue after The New York Times recently declared it as the best book of the 21st century. My Brilliant Friend is the first book in the Neapolitan quartet and details the lives of two young girls growing up in a challenging and lively neighborhood on the outskirts of postwar Naples, Italy. According to the New York Times, “Reading this uncompromising, unforgettable novel is like riding a bike on gravel: It’s gritty and slippery and nerve-racking, all at the same time.” If that doesn’t pique your curiosity, this review from John Freeman might: “Imagine if Jane Austen got angry and you’ll have some idea of how explosive these works are.” Say less, John.

Deb, one of my go-to sources for literary reviews, mentioned that My Brilliant Friend can be a bit rough to engage with but the titles that follow it make the set-up in the first novel that much more rewarding.

Oh, one last thing - it’s widely speculated that Elena Ferrante is actually a pseudonym, largely due to the fact that Ferrante has lived an extremely private life despite her international success. Even her American publisher, Europa Editions, and translator of nearly 20 years, Ann Goldstein, have yet to meet her or know her true identity.

State of Paradise by Laura van den Berg (2024) | 224 pages

Here’s our equation: the blurring of reality and fiction + a Florida summer + the somewhat dark, unsettling aspects of life = State of Paradise. I haven’t seen a lot of talk about this novel, but it’s shorter length and intriguing premise have me very curious as to what exactly it might explore. Plus, I love literary stories set in the American South that promise a slightly unsettling time (see: Southern gothic).

The Fortnight in September by R. C. Sherriff (1931) | 326 pages

I’ve been meaning to read this summer classic for a couple years and dang it, this year will finally be my year. Published almost a century ago, The Fortnight in September is the story of the Stevens family on their annual summer holiday to the coast of England. Kazuo Ishiguro called it, “the most uplifting, life-affirming novel that [he] can think of,” and praised its ability to capture and delicately illustrate the simple pleasures of everyday life. StoryGraph reviewers say that the story moves at a slower pace and feels reflective, lighthearted, and relaxing - a perfect summer read.

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (2024) | 478 pages

This atmospheric thriller piqued my interest earlier this year, and I’m pleased to say that my intuition was right because this has been one of the buzziest books of the summer. I can’t open up Instagram without seeing it somewhere, often alongside an admission that the poster “read it in two sittings” or “cancelled their plans” to reach the end. Described as a layered mystery with complex family drama that trickles into the confines of a community, The God of the Woods sounds like a perfect story to usher in the final weeks of summer.

Have you read any of the books on this list? Are there any books you’d recommend that, for one reason or another, feel like summer? I’d love to know for next year.

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