Suburban Elitist Summer Reading List

Although summer is in full swing at the moment, it's never too late to start your summer reading! We have put together a quick list of recommendations for you (and for each other) of books we will/want to read during the summer. Number ones listed below are books we have read and recommend for the perfect summer read, and number twos are books that we are planning on reading within the next couple months. We hope you enjoy and would love to hear your thoughts or other recommendations!

Collective Picks:

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Shannon is begging us to read this one. There have been a flurry of casting announcements of upcoming movie adaptations and we will not be fools who witness the movie first. (We were going to make a girlboss joke, but that felt offensive to the inventor of the romantic comedy novel. Forgive us, Miss Dame Austen.) Persuasion tells the story of Anne Elliot who is persuaded to break off her engagement to the man she loves, due to him not being successful enough. Seven years later, they reunite, setting the stage for possible second chances.

Conversation with Friends by Sally Rooney

Normal People baited us all into enjoying lowkey Marxist literature (Sally Rooney is a Marxist, but writes such compelling narratives, sorry!). Famously, Caroline read Conservations with Friends years ago and hated it, because she is a hater. Yet, she is willing to reread for the good of the group. Conversation with Friends is the story about two college students and the unexpected connection they forge with a married couple.

Caroline's Recommendations:

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner is a memoir that weaves artistic ambition with her relationship with her mother, following the journey of her own grief of caring for an ill loved one. (Of course, Zauner is also the lead vocalist of the fabulous band, Japanese Breakfast.) The book is a lovely assertion of how commitment to someone can be artful and complicated in which Zauner focuses upon the importance of food as a labor of loyalty. The central idea of the book is a journeyed acceptance of mother and daughter and how one’s identity is wholly rooted in another.

Diving into the Wreck by Adrienne Rich

Rich’s seventh collection of poetry explores things untraversed, paying attention to physical and abstract wreckage again in order to learn how to better observe it. One of Caroline’s favorite professors referenced Rich in class and was met with little to no recognition, exclaiming that we must all go discover Adrienne Rich. So that we must. I picked Diving into the Wreck after reading the namesake poem and loving the mystical oceanic dive setting with the contemplation of collectivism of existence. Despite that verbose description, “Diving into the Wreck” is a really fun poem to read, so the book should be an exciting read.

Julie's Recommendations:

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante is a book I picked up during my time in Italy (did you know I went to Italy?), coincidentally also where the novel is set! It chronicles the saga of close friends and intertwined souls Elena and Lila, one the studious, dependable hard worker

determined to escape the poverty of her Naples neighborhood and the other the innately talented, brilliant, scrappy girl who takes orders from no one but herself. As they grow up during the backdrop of a tumultuous time for Italy and for women, the relationship between the two deepens and covers spaces from kinship to jealousy and hatred to genuine love. If you’re looking for a clever, piercing book about friendship and growing up, you’ll love My Brilliant Friend!

All’s Well by Mona Awad

Coming out this August, All’s Well centers around a theater professor suffering chronic pain and a mutinous cast who refuse to set All’s Well That Ends Well and instead are gunning for Macbeth. It promises to explore, in a darkly comic fashion, the deep fury of female pain and the absurdity of college theater. After reading Bunny, her insane satirical takedown of an MFA program and the candy-coated people within its world, last year, I immediately noted to myself that anything Awad writes will be consumed by me.

Shannon's Recommendations:

Beach Read by Emily Henry

Beach Read is Emily Henry’s breakout novel that is perfect for your Summer reading list, and this contemporary romance novel is your ideal enemies to lovers binge. Set in Michigan over the Summer, Beach Read follows two authors struggling with their writing and personal lives. Beach Read is a complete five star contemporary romance that feels wrong to read in any season other than Summer!

Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell

Cultish is Amanda Montell’s second book, just released on June 15th, 2021! This book takes a linguistic look at cults! After reading Montell’s WordSlut, I could not wait until she released this second collection of essays. Montell makes linguistics fun and accessible, making it the perfect summer non-fiction!

Shea's Recommendations:

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

If you are looking for a summer read that takes you on a whirlwind tour of old Hollywood, then The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid is for you! This book is about a journalist named Monique who gets chosen to write a tell-all about Evelyn Hugo, an old Hollywood icon. As the story unfolds of Evelyn’s life, you slowly see how Monique is also intertwined in this captivating story about love and self. Please read this and then tell me all your thoughts! It was such a fun ride!

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

I LOVE a good murder mystery, which is why And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie has made its way onto my summer reading list. This book is about ten strangers (each with a secret they refuse to tell) who are invited to a party by an unknown millionaire. Throughout the night, one by one, guests are being murdered and they must figure out who is the murderer and why they were chosen for the dinner party. If that doesn’t sound like a must read, then I don’t know what to tell you!