One of my favorite things to talk about is books! Summer is a great time to sit at the beach, by the lake, in the woods, or on your back porch and dive into a great novel or some interesting self-help.
This year’s list is a mix of historical fiction, literary drama, and one absolutely heartbreaking story about a river. I’ve got my personal favorites highlighted below, plus a peek at what’s currently stacked on my nightstand.
Books I’ve Loved—and You Will Too
Theo of Golden by Allen Levi – I heard about this book from 5 people before I finally bought it. Wow. Wow. Wow. You know how some books just sit with you? This was one of them. I finished it and immediately wanted to hand it to someone I love. Rich, layered, the kind of story that makes you think about your own life long after you’ve closed the cover. Learn more
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon – This one I already told you about in my holiday roundup, but I’ll say it again because it’s that good. A riveting historical mystery set in 1790s Maine. Heroic midwife. Dead man in a river. I inhaled it in three days flat, and over 94,000 online reviews back me up. (No, that is not a typo.) Learn more
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans – All of my “adoptionland” friends raved about this book and I agree with them 100%. Gorgeous, atmospheric, devastating and hopeful. If you’ve ever wondered what it means to communicate across distance—physical, emotional, generational—this book will get under your skin in the best possible way. I discovered that I really love an epistolary novel. Who knew? Learn more
Go As a River by Shelley Read – Oh, this book. Set in rural Colorado, it follows a young woman whose life is upended by love, loss, and the kind of grief that reshapes everything. Quirky characters, gorgeous scenery, devastating turns. The writing is luminous. I cried hard at the end. Learn more
Family Family by Laurie Frankel – I adored This is How It Always Is so when I learned she had written a book centering adoption, I knew I had to read it. If adoption is anywhere in your family story—or in the story of someone you love—this one belongs on your list. Frankel writes about family with so much warmth and complexity, and this novel is no exception. It’s funny, it’s tender, and it takes the hard questions seriously without losing its heart. Even though it’s fiction, I would not have believed the plot until I met someone in real life who had a similar story. Learn more
My TBR pile
I’ve got a stack of books I’m itching to get to before summer’s end:
- The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner – Historical fiction with a secret shop, a female apothecary dispensing… let’s say unconventional remedies, and a modern-day mystery that ties it all together. Yes, please. Learn more
- The Women by Kristin Hannah – Enough said. (If you’ve read The Nightingale, you know what I mean. She’s one of my favorite authors.) Learn more
- The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick – My book club is reading this next so I can’t wait to dive in! Learn more
One More Thing—Over on Substack
I’ve been putting together a deeper list of books I recommend around adoption, reunion, identity, and belonging—and it’s over on my Substack. If those topics live close to your heart, please check out the recommendations and then share some of your own.
Last But Not Least—Sacred Celebrations
I know I’m a bit biased, but if you haven’t read it yet, I’d LOVE for you to read MY book this summer! Three awards in—Literary Titan, The NYC Big Book Award and the Independent Press Book Award—and I’m still pinching myself that it’s been so well received!
Every reader who reaches out to tell me they enjoyed it can share a specific story about how the book reminded them of a powerful ritual in their lives OR how it helped them design the perfect sacred celebration for an important transition in their life.
I’m actually doing an in-person book club in Vancouver, BC in July. How fun is THAT? And a virtual one with a group in Seattle (details coming soon) If you have a book club, I’d LOVE to do a virtual visit with your group or in person if that works too. Comment and tell me.
Happy reading, friends. May you find a hammock, lose track of time, and fall into a story that reminds you why books are one of the great graces of this life.
And now I want to hear from you—what are you reading this summer? Comment and tell me. I read every single response, and honestly, some of my best book discoveries have come straight from your recommendations.