Eight slim novels for the end of summer

Lazy afternoon reading

Sometimes I want a chunker in the summer, a big, floppy paperback that I can cram into a tote bag and risk injuring my wrists with the effort of holding it aloft. (My version of living on the edge.) But sometimes what I want is a novel capable of fitting in my smallest purse, the kind that can be read in the course of one sun-drenched park afternoon. So I’ve pulled together a few of my go-to recommendations for books you can squeeze into the last few days of summer in between beaches and barbecues, a handful of perfect companions whether you’re on the road or at home for the long weekend.

Don’t Look at Me Like That by Diana Athill

Set in 1950’s London, this story of a young woman’s coming of age and affair with a friend’s husband is sharp, unflinching, and startlingly modern. There’s a shocking precision to Athill’s prose and while I didn’t always like our narrator Meg, I found her fascinating. If you like modern sad girl lit and its messy protagonists, I think you might really enjoy this one.

To Be Taught, if Fortunate by Becky Chambers

A sci-fi novella about astronauts on a mission to ecologically survey four habitable worlds and the way that Earth transforms as they journey further away from it. Wonderfully imaginative, warm, and compassionate, this book asks big questions, brings alien worlds to life, and contains characters that I adored almost instantly. Chambers’ writing brings me such joy and this would be a perfect place to start.

Meet the Benedettos by Katie Cotugno

A Pride and Prejudice retelling that reimagines the Bennet sisters as a Kardashian-esque  brood still hanging on to the last pieces of their former reality show fame. I generally prefer my romances to be at least 300 pages but I’ve found that I like this more and more as the year goes on, drawn in by the nuanced sister relationships, the crackling tension between Lilly and Will, and how smartly it reimagines the classic Pride and Prejudice plot beats. (Open door, medium steam.)

Pearl by Sian Hughes

A poetic exploration of grief, storytelling, and art inspired by a medieval poem from last year’s Booker longlist that I still maintain should have made it to the shortlist. The prose is straightforward yet powerful, the kind that makes the reader stop to just breathe and take it in, and Hughes incorporates childhood rhymes and folk tales in a way that feels both timeless and modern. If you’d prefer to be sad in the summer, this might be the book for you.

Invitation to the Waltz by Rosamond Lehmann

A vividly drawn portrait of a young girl on the verge of adulthood and her first dance, and all the daydreams and heartbreaks that come along with it. I got swept up by Lehmann’s impressionistic writing and felt every single one of Olivia’s hopes and disappointments along with her. I love a sprawling book but I also love one that perfectly captures a tiny world and Lehmann makes one evening feel monumental.

The Women in Black by Madeleine St John

A comedy of manners and story of female friendship set in a department store in 1950’s Australia that’s funny, fizzy, clever, and keenly aware of the transformative power of the right dress. St. John has a keen eye for detail, setting, and the tiniest social nuances and I was absolutely charmed by her writing when I read it a few years ago.

The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo

A dazzling retelling of The Great Gatsby centered around Jordan Baker, here reimagined as a queer Vietnamese adoptee, and a magical Roaring 20’s of dark bargains, paper that comes to life, and demon’s blood that’s been banned right along with alcohol. One of my favorites from last year, this is the best kind of retelling: creative, daring, and fresh in a way that’s utterly enthralling.

Diary of a Void by Emi Yagi

Weird in the best ways, this Japanese novel centers on a woman who fakes a pregnancy to get out of the many menial tasks she’s expected to do as the only woman in her office and discovers a new sense of both community and isolation along the way. I was fascinated by the window this provided onto contemporary Japanese society, savored its pointed feminist commentary, and found its portrayal of loneliness incredibly poignant.

Let me know your ideal end-of-summer reads in the comments!

---

Currently reading: How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin. Although the narrator reads a little young, I love the setup and am really curious to see how Perrin slots all the puzzle pieces together.

Recommendations, miscellany, and little bits of joy:

• The funny, bawdy, surprisingly wistful new Sabrina Carpenter album, which I’ve had on repeat all week.

• My trip out to Northern California to see family and friends, eat all the good Mexican food, and stare at some redwoods with awe. My boyfriend and I also drove up the coast to Mendocino and Fort Bragg, where we visited the botanical gardens, a Wizard of Oz-themed restaurant, and a bookstore with the very best cat.

• These adorable SF-themed candles that I stock up on every time I go home, from one of my favorite stores on Polk Street.