Summer is in full swing, and now that students have more time to do the one thing that they all love most — read, obviously. Luckily, I have plenty of seasonal reading recommendations for your next beach trip.
“He’s The Devil” by Tobi Coventry
With perhaps one of the most relatable premises known to humankind, this psychedelic horror novel is an unexpected but compelling summer read. Set in a lovely little flat in London, this novel follows Simon, a tidy, goody-two-shoes, whose new roommate might just be possessed by the devil.
Strange noises from Massimo’s room, foul smells and generally disturbing events are all solid pieces of evidence. As a string of murders begins occurring across the city and Simon grapples with his own increasingly dark compulsions, this novel becomes an examination of obsession, desire, identity and devilish roommates. A particularly relatable tale for college kids everywhere. For fans of the perverse and disturbing, this book is perfect to cool off on a hot summer’s day.
“The Odyssey” by Homer
For some light summer reading, look no further. With Christopher Nolan’s expected massive release of the cinematic rendition of “The Odyssey”, there is no better time than now to read one of humanity’s oldest tales. For the unaware, “The Odyssey” follows the decade-long journey of Ithaca’s king, Odysseus, as he endeavors to defy the divine and return home to his wife and son.
It’s a scholar’s summer, and this is the perfect poolside read to be the ever-cool academic on vacation in Italy.
“Pool House: A Novel” by Mary H.K. Choi
Stevie Moon wants nothing more than to escape her mother. After abandoning college to pursue dead-end jobs, her days are nothing short of purgatory. You see, the Moon family is big in Hollywood, and she can’t wait to leave Los Angeles. in the dust and start over on her own terms. The Moon matriarch, Delilah, is an out-of-work actress, a former alcoholic and a widow.
The mother-daughter duo, unable to pay for their home, rent it out and live in their glass pool house. But when Adam, Delilah’s on-screen son and Stevie’s crush, attends the funeral, the three are pulled into one another’s messy orbit. A contemplation on navigating class dynamics, familial conflicts, burgeoning sexuality and grief.
“Project Hail Mary” by Andy Weir
After the blockbuster movie starring Ryan Gosling, this science-fiction favorite is back on the charts. Ryland Grace wakes up alone aboard a spacecraft with no memory of who he is or what he’s supposed to be doing. As his memory slowly returns, Grace realizes that the salvation of Earth rests squarely on his shoulders: Or does it?
What follows is a thrilling adventure packed with humor and heart, featuring one of the most gripping friendships in literary history. Project Hail Mary is perfect for anyone who needs a little vacay into the great beyond to restore their faith in humanity.
“Salty” by Kate Myers
Following the misadventures of estranged sisters Denise and Helen, this comedic mystery unfolds aboard a luxury yacht in a tropical marina. Denise, a seasoned captain, is a bit rough around the edges, and Helen is a “walking HR violation” whose latest firing sends her sailing back into her sister’s orbit.
The duo find themselves employed by the Falcons, shady real estate developers who demolished their childhood home, and old grudges resurface. But vengeance takes a back seat when a suspicious death and a collapsing real estate empire pull them into a page-turning investigation. Filled with larger-than-life characters, sharp humor and plenty of nautical chaos, this is the perfect novel to throw in your beach bag.
“Valley of the Moms: A Novel” by Hannah Selinger
In the rich town of Hamilton, Massachusetts, Anna Plummer sits in her nice house, with her nice family, in her nice town. She is incredibly bored. After discovering that her daughter can’t attend a dance because Plummer didn’t pay a premium fee, Plummer sends out an email to the horrifying PTO president that sets off a chain reaction that shakes the entire community.
A year later, Plummer is dead. And her husband, Denny Plummer, is the prime suspect. But he refuses to let the mystery of his wife’s death go unsolved. Told through the couples alternating perspectives a year apart, this gripping mystery has a sharp, witty voice that will have you turning pages long after your day of fun in the sun is done.
“We’re a Bad Idea, Right?” by K. L. Walther
Audrey Barbour is sick of following the rules. A lifetime of being the perfect daughter with perfect grades, Ivy League admissions and a completely normal love life all has Barbour at her wit’s end. But what finally pushes her over the edge is when her parents won’t let her pursue her passion, glassblowing, on a prestigious fellowship. Barbour decides enough is enough, that it’s time to be adventurous and live life on her terms.
Thankfully, her friend Henry proposes a fake-dating scheme to win back his ex-girlfriend, which completes step one of shaking up her life. Step two? Rent out her family’s Connecticut mansion online to pay for her fellowship. But when life comes a-knockin’, Barbour has to reckon with what it means to make decisions for herself, a relatable experience for college students. This fake-dating, trope-ridden novel delivers everything one wants from a good old beach read. Perfect for if you’re finally ready to warm up from the hockey romance craze.
