Ever since I was a child, I always saw summer as this time of endless possibilities—mostly endless reads. It seemed inevitable at the time: no school, hours on end either at my grandma’s or silently following my mom around a work….what better way to pass the time than with a good book?
One of my mother’s clients, Linda, recently congratulated me on a major change in my life. She started reminiscing on how she’s known me for nearly two decades now and started telling me a funny story about her boyfriend, who I’ve met plenty of times already, asking her about how I was as a child.
To put it quite plainly, Linda said “She was very weird….always reading on my couch.”
As a child, I saw Linda the most during the summers, so it makes sense that that’s how she remembers me: quiet with my nose always in a book.
This summer, I wanted to get back into that. It’s already July and it’s safe to say that I’m more than a bit behind on my reading goal for the year but here are the top 10 books I plan on reading this summer.
“The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” by Suzanne Collins
This was actually my first summer book and I finished it last month. I was a major fan of The Hunger Games Trilogy when I was 12 and so a return to Panem felt inevitable. I actually wasn’t super interested in reading this one until I started seeing clips from the film adaptation all over TikTok.
I’m glad I got all caught up on this one, though, since Suzanne Collins announced “Sunrise on the Reaping” shortly after I started reading “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes”—I’m tapped in and ready.
“House of Flame and Shadow” by Sarah J. Maas
For the third year in a row, Sarah J. Maas is occupying my summer. While these books don’t have the best writing, I won’t pretend that the plot doesn’t pull me in. The books are dense, though, and have some points where the story is a bit….lackluster so it always takes me a while to finish.
I’m about halfway through this book already but I always take breaks to read other things when the plot just isn’t holding me.
“Vilest Things” by Chloe Gong
Perhaps my most-anticipated book of 2024—you all know how much I love Gong’s writing. This book is the sequel to Immortal Longings, Gong’s foray into new adult lit.
The Flesh and False Gods series will be 3 books, all based on Anthony and Cleopatra. Immortal Longings held me in a chokehold and I’ve already got Vilest Things preordered from my local bookshop, Astoria Bookshop, so I can get it as soon as it comes out.
“Children of Blood and Bone” by Toni Adeyemi
I know I’m really late to the party here but this book has been on my TBR for years now—especially since my best friend read it and had nothing but great things to say.
I was mostly spurred to read this by the third and final installment, “Children of Anguish and Anarchy” coming out recently—I can’t not be a part of the conversation here. PLUS a film adaptation is on the way? I have no choice but to tap in, it’s time.
“The Waning” by Wunmi Aramiji
I came across the author on tiktok and, as a young aspiring Black author myself, I simply have to support. After hearing her talk about her book, it as an immediate add to cart for my kindle and its all downloaded and waiting for me to get into it. I mean, just read the description:
Meera is one of five women who each hold a part of the defeated goddess of death and chaos within them. When the group’s high priestess is murdered, Meera and her three remaining spirit sisters must undergo the Waning ceremony for the second time.
Only one of them will be chosen to serve as a vessel for the goddess again. She will become high priestess and mother of witches. The other three women will die trying.
As Meera strives to survive the ceremony, she must also contend with the greed of the noble class and the faith her fellow Endzone laborers have put in her. Will she be able to kill the king and end his oppressive regime or will the king be successful in his quest to birth a new evil into the world? With only three months left until the Waning, time is not on Meera’s side.
Please support Black authors as much as you support any other—there’s so many stories that can still be told and they’re fresh and exciting—I already know this book is going to be exactly what I need to reinvigorate my love for fantasy.
“Lady Tan’s Circle of Women” by Lisa See
I started a Book of The Month subscription about 2 years ago and have had the pleasure of getting some exposure to some really great books from authors I haven’t heard of before. Unfortunately (or fortunately?), I have now amassed a huge TBR pile with a diverse amount of books that I need to get started on.
See’s “Lady Tan’s Circle of Women” is at the very top of my BOTM TBR list (because, yes, I had to separate my TBR’s). I love books about women who break the standards of their society and See’s Yunxian is just that!
“The Storm We Made” by Vanessa Chan
Another BOTM pick that I’ve been dying to get to: the synopsis of this book grabbed me in immediately. Anyone who knows me knows I’m not much of a fan of media (whether it be books, TV shows, or movies) that uses real-life wars as either the background or the focal point but I had to ignore that dislike for this book.
Cecily Alcantara is already a complicated character before you even get to the first page and I’m here for it. I’m most excited to read from the perspectives of her family members as well, and how her choices have impacted them all.
“Anita De Monte Laughs Last” by Xochitl Gonzalez
My last BOTM pick for this summer (and I’ll probably continue this in the fall and winter as well since I have so…so many that have amassed over the last two years), “Anita De Monte Laughs Last” strikes a little close to home as a first gen college grad myself.
I’ve heard a lot of mixed reviews about this book, particular Gonzalez’ use of Ana Mendieta’s story to inspire her own. I’m still excited to read but hoping that I don’t walk away with an equally as sour/disappointed view of the author.
“Happy Place” and “Funny Story” by Emily Henry
I’m also really late to the party on “Happy Place”—it’s been on my shelf since it was published and I’ve barely given it a second glance. Imagine preordering a book from a repeat author and not even reading it? I’ve got to fix that.
So, this summer, I’ve got to read Henry’s two latest books so I can be fully caught up. My team at work consists of a lot of Emily Henry lovers so I’ve got to join in and get caught up.
Could this list be considered ambitious? With about 70 days until the official start of fall, I think I can get it done!! Wish me luck and happy reading!
Aliyah and Words 