Summer Reading Assignment

None of these books weigh a lot

Okay! It’s summer! Here are some books I think you should bring with you on vacation, or just to the park! No actual travel is required. You don’t even have to go to the park. All of these books offer the perfect (to me) summer reading experience of being completely immersive, that gorgeous feeling of being so inside a book that you feel like you’re on drugs. I know I’ve recommended some of these before, but listen, I can’t help it if they’re good.

Antoine Wilson, Mouth to Mouth. I just saw this book on my shelf and thought oh yeah baby. So short and so sharp. If you haven’t read a novel in a while and would like to remember the joy of doing so, read Mouth to Mouth.

Colson Whitehead, The Noble Hustle. Poker! Depression! His funniest book, easily.

Lily King, Writers and Lovers. Okay, you should go outside to read this one. You should sit outside in a pretty park where you can see ducks, and attractive young joggers.

Elaine Dundy, The Dud Avocado. You should read this one if lots of people you know went to Paris to see Taylor Swift and you’re kind of salty about it and you also love books about depressed people. Wait a minute, all of these books are about depressed people. Whoops!

Megan Abbot, Dare Me. I fucking love cheerleaders. And Megan Abbot.

Maria Semple, Where’d You Go, Bernadette. The fact that this book didn’t win every prize in the world makes you me understand that all prizes are bullshit. (Note: I did not check, maybe it did win prizes.) Here’s what it won: my love and respect. Hilarious.

Agatha Christie, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. The best one. Everyone knows it. If you haven’t yet had the pleasure, please read and report back. This is classic summer reading.

If you only read those books all summer, you would have the greatest summer reading experience of your life. I offer a money-back guarantee. (Money back on this newsletter, that is, a newsletter that is already free.)

Happy reading!