Ah, summer. To me, it’s the season of reading.
My friend Bethany and I have been chatting about our summer reading lists lately — I’m naturally drawn to non-fiction, she’s naturally drawn to fiction.
But it’s always fun to shake things up!
So this summer, we’re expanding our book horizons. She’s been introducing me to wonderful new fiction books, and I’ve been sharing my non-fiction favs with her.
And today we’re sharing both with you!
(Side note: In case you haven’t seen Bethany’s Instagram and YouTube channel yet, you’ll want to check ’em out like right now. Her minimal, almost vintage aesthetic inspired me to bits and I’m sure you’ll feel the same way. Plus! She’s a petite gal and has plenty of tailoring + fit advice for fellow petite sisters.)
In this post, I’ll share five of my favorite non-fiction books, and Bethany will share five of her favorite fiction books. Between the two of us, there’s plenty to add to your summer reading list!
NON-FICTION
Recommendations by Caroline
Looking to add more compassion and peace to your life? Pick up Meditations on the Mat.
Formatted into 365 short essays, Meditations on the Mat is how I start and end my day right now. While it’s absolutely a book about yoga, it’s less about the postures themselves, and more about the philosophy behind it, so it’s appropriate for anyone who is interested in living a life of balance and compassion towards others.
Want a journaling prompt? Grab your journal and a copy of Mandela’s Way.
This book isn’t a traditional, chronological biography, but rather, it’s a fascinating portrait of Mandela and his outlook on life. It’s formatted into 15 easy-to-read life lessons. I’m currently using it as a journaling prompt, reading a chapter and then journaling out a response to that particular life lesson — it’s becoming therapeutic.
Ready to lighten up and have some fun? Spend an afternoon reading Improv Wisdom.
This book brought me to life! It isn’t a how-to book on becoming an improv artist. Rather, it invites us to apply 13 principles of improvisation to our daily life. While clearly rooted in improv, the book nods to ideas you might find in yoga — compassion, mindfulness, and being fully present in the moment — and I loved seeing those familiar ideas through a playful lens. As the author herself says, “The world of improv is a portal into mindfulness and magic!”
Need a kick in the pants? Read The Compound Effect.
The Compound Effect is based on the principle that little, everyday decisions shape your destiny. It’s all about self-discipline, taking ownership of our choices, and finding success through consistency. It was a life-changing book for me, and I reference it often when I’m lacking direction or motivation.
Learn to worry less with The Power of Now.
This fascinating book invites us to tune in to the present moment, and break the habit of worrying. Fair warning: it’s definitely on the woo-woo side. But to me, reading a book is like going into a grocery store — you don’t have to buy everything you see. I’ve happily picked up some special nuggets, I’ve happily released parts of it, but I’m absolutely glad I read it.
FICTION
Recommendations by Bethany
Need a New Book Series? Outlander will have you begging for the 9th book to be finished.
In 1945, Claire Randall is honeymooning with her husband in Scotland when she falls back in time to 1743 through a circle of stones. She can’t get back, must marry another, and adapt to a new life…and the rest is histor…ical fiction . When I first watched the TV series on Starz, I became hooked on the books as well; it is the deepest depiction of love and sacrifice I’ve ever read in a novel.
Having Downton Abbey Withdrawals? Read The Last Summer.
Quickly becoming one of my favorite authors, Judith Kinghorn seamlessly mixes Downton Abbey and The Notebook. This is the “last summer” that Clarissa Granville will spend in her sprawling estate before World War I takes away everything she loves, including the romance she shares with the housekeeper’s son, Tom. I stayed up all night with a box of tissues reading this one.
Need an escape to Provence? Read A Good Year.
Even if you have watched Russell Crowe’s depiction of Max Skinner in A Good Year circa 2006, you must read the book! He inherits a Provence estate in need of much repair to both the house and the vineyard. This book transported me to France: food, wine, beautiful houses, and friendship. An experiential read all around.
Unleash a Little Fury with Vengeance Road.
If you’re feeling a bit angry at the moment, you might take on Vengeance Road. Kate Thompson is tracking down a group of men who killed her father and burned her home in search of a gold mine. She teams up with a young Apache girl and two brothers to follow the trail across Arizona. The inside is just as lively as the cover, which looks gorgeous on display.
Feel the Magic Up Close with The Night Circus.
Cloaked in black and white, The Night Circus surprises towns by popping up as if by magic under the night sky. Celia and Marco have special gifts that allow them to act as illusionists in the circus. They find out they are pawns in a game and one must win. It’s a love story that reminds me of Water for Elephants and The Hunger Games set in the early 1900s.
• • •
And there you have it!
Your turn! Read any books recently that are just too good not to share? I’d love to hear about them — and I’d love to hear what’s on your summer reading list! Share away in the comments. And please join me in thanking Bethany for contributing to this post — she’s a ray of sunshine!
See you next Thursday! :)
xo,
My recommendation for Downton Abbey withdrawals is Belgravia by Julian Fellowes (the writer of Downton Abbey). I’m reading it now and I wish they would make a Masterpiece drama out of it.
ooooh Thanks for the Rec!
Oh wow, thanks for sharing this happy little tidbit!
JUST started Belgravia! I’m shocked at the transition from the first chapter to the second, but so so excited to keep going!
I’m glad you’re enjoying it, Kate. I’m finding all the characters to be very interesting.
Cool, new books for my “to-read” list! Thanks Caroline! xo
Melodie
http://www.happymelodie.com
Morning! So with you on taking the time to read. It’s life changing. Having nooks to curl up inside our homes and gardens is essential. Have to comment on how the bandana completes your simple ensemble. Like in decor, it’s that last little thing that makes the perfect LBD!-Laurel Bledsoe
Oh my gosh, I loved Vengeance Road!
I myself don’t read non-fiction. They just don’t hold my interest. I love fiction and my current favorite author is Mary Kay Andrews. I’m reading my way through her collection. They make great summer reads. If you are looking for light, fun, easy reads, check her out!
The Night Circus was one of my favorites a couple years ago. Such a great debut from the author! I’m desperately awaiting a sophomore novel from her.
Xx
http://www.TheActiveSpirit.com
I *loved* reading as a child, but by the time I finished college my passion for it dried up after having to read all those textbooks. Trying to spark the flame again, my 2016 New Years Resolution was to finish a book list. I chose Esquire’s “30 Books Every Man Should Read by 30” list (despite not being a man and with a couple years remaining before 30!)
http://www.esquire.co.uk/culture/books/news/g4898/30-books-every-man-should-read-by-30/?thumbnails&slide=1. By the end of the year, I found myself fatigued from the pressure of a list, but the end result was what I wanted – rediscovering the joy in an escape to a faraway place without leaving my home.
Right now I’m reading “How to be Married” by Jo Piazza (http://howtobemarried.us/). I’m only a chapter in, but I can tell it’s going to be a great read! I’m looking forward to trying the Outlander series that you’ve listed here. I loved Peter Mayle’s writing set in Provence; it gave me new context before visiting the south of France!
Thanks Caroline and Bethany for the list. I am like you Caroline more of a non-fiction reader but love hearing some recommendations for some good fiction books. I just finished The Kaizen Way: One Small Step Can Change Your Life, sounds similar to the Compound Effect. Must add it to my Pinterest Book To Read List – it’s getting longer and longer by the day. :) Just started Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. Have a few other books on my summer list horizon – Option B by Sheryl Sandberg, Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach, The Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela (although Mandela’s Way sounds right up my ally) and so many more! Will have to start mixing it up with some more fiction though. Although some non-fiction I adored – The Book Thief and Us by David Nicholls.
Thank you, Caroline & Bethany! Amazing lists!
I can feel the alive & fresh joyful jolt in this post! And— I have been looking for the right tee & neckerchief just this past week! Thank YOU?
Will for sure venture into these reads soon! Exciting to see non & fiction! Love your descriptions!
My Recent Reads:
Ann Voscamp’s “The Broken Way”woke my heart to a place so deep I never knew existed! Nonfiction. Want to read it again soon. Her writing hits truth about living the humble life that leads to abundant life.
“At Home in the World” by Tsh Oxenreider takes us around the world as she, her hubby, & 3kids journey to several continents (1backpack each), over a nine month time; they sold their home, put all in storage and took off to discover cultures and insights about themselves she never expected.Her reflections make me feel like I am with them!
The Glass Castle, The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto, The Moth Presents All These Wonders: True Stories about Facing the Unknown, The Nightingale, The Kitchen House, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Love this post so much, I hope you’ll do more in the future! Which is your favorite of Bethany’s recommendations, Caroline?
So excited by these recommendations! I just sent 9 samples to my kindle to decide which to delve into first. Also in the 3d book of Outlander and loving every minute of it. I’ve read a lot of your recommendations so far – The Art of Happiness the most influential one – and I’m very excited to pick up more!
As far as books I’d recommend, they’re kinda old, but The Time Travelers Wife and Memoirs of a Geisha are my favorite fictions. Non-fiction fav: We should all be feminists
Happy Summer Reading!
Haha Kimberley, I do the same thing with samples on my Kindle! It’s nice to get a feel for the book before buying. :)
Just read and was engrossed by Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl by Carrie Brownstein about her early life and the evolution of her band Sleater-Kinney. While I like their music, I wouldn’t consider myself a huge fan, but I felt myself relating so much to her discussion of being a fan of other bands, the emotion of music, what it’s like to be a teen feeling lost, etc. It was extremely good and I would recommend it to anyone who is passionate about music, regardless of if you listened to hers or not.
I also just devoured It’s Okay to Laugh (Crying is Cool, Too) by Nora Purmont. It discusses her coping with her father and husband’s death from cancer within weeks of each other, and her miscarriage near the same time. She’s from Minnesota (as am I, so I might relate a lot to this) and she tackled a really hard topic in an approachable way. She made me feel like it’s okay to laugh during inappropriate times (which I have done too often, coping mechanism!), so while I don’t have a specific experience mirroring hers, it was truly a humbling read at tackling what life throws at you.
For fiction readers, 4 3 2 1 is a big book to tackle, but if you enjoy the nuances of people, it was fascinating. I’m about to go on a big Paul Auster kick after that one. Completely fell in love and can’t believe I haven’t read any of his books prior to now!
I couldn’t get into the Power of Now because I just didn’t like Eckhart Tolle’s writing voice. It came off a little arrogant and preach-y to me, personally. But if you want a helpful book that incorporates Buddhist philosophy (basically all his book is), without being too woo-woo, I would recommend “The Places that Scare you: A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times” by Pema Chodron. It has a more down-to-earth, humorous approach that I found more appealing.
I’m currently reading (and would recommend) Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes–it’s not remotely new, but I only just discovered it. And in case you are wondering, it shares about 1% of the premise with the movie based on it! Beautifully written.
Oh and I loved Outlander! Also got into it through the Starz series. Could do without the erotic bits, but it doesn’t overshadow the fact that it is good historical fiction.
Finally someone else who would love it if they just cut those parts out!
Thank you for the lists! I appreciate the thoughtfulness of including, both fiction and non fiction. I just finished, the hour I first believed by Wally lamb. It is brilliant. A well developed and complex character that goes through all of the deep struggles of life; loss and despair and hope. A really beautiful book. And then, the power of habit by Charles duhigg. A really interesting anecdotal and scientific look at how habits and even a title tweak of a habit can change ones whole life.
Ooooh, I loooved The Night Circus. Gonna look into these.
I don’t have a single book recommendation, but for the past year or so I’ve been getting daily emails from Book Bub that let me know what Amazon Kindle sales are going on for my favorite genres or authors. The books in my daily round up are usually $0.00 – $2.99. I’ll be honest, I mostly stick to the freebies. They’re not all amazing, and I don’t finish ALL the ones I start, but they’re super cheap entertainment, and I’ve found a couple of pretty great reads from it! It’s definitely worth signing up if you’re an e-reader kind of person.
https://everydayjoys.blog/
I have just finished re reading Harry Potter (basically to relive my childhood!) but definitely need something née to read now. Thanks for the suggestions
Thanks for the book recommendations. I have just finished girl on the train by Paula Hawkins. This summer I have the biography of Henning Mankell on my reading list. I also very much enjoyed Big Magic (non-fiction) and the time travellers wife (fiction) that have already been mentioned.
Anything by Liane Moriarty! And, it’s worth checking out The Wild Woman’ Guide to Traveling the World for a fun summer read!
That’s my sister’s favorite Author. I read The Husband’s Secret and I did enjoy that one.
About to finish Salt Houses by Hala Alyan and it’s a must and will even speak to your non-fiction-oriented mind.
The Outlander series was fabulous! Give me a good historical fiction novel where the author has done intensive research on all of historical bits, interwoven with characters that come alive and a compelling story line and I’m a happy camper. Outlander ticked all of the boxes.
For fun summer reading, I recommend Jim Butcher’s series “The Dresden Files”. I thought the show was terrible and was quite disappointed as I had enjoyed the books so much.
Love Louder – 33 ways to amplify your life, by preston smiles really.
What I know for sure – oprah winfry
both audio books as I love being read to by the authors – makes it more authentic to me.
I’m a non-fiction fan myself, especially if it’s history (currently reading: The Black Prince of Florence, about Alessandro Medici, and another on the general Medici family). 1776, and John Adams, both by David McCollough (?).
I started reading Outlander way back in 2006 and haven’t looked back. It’s the series of books I never ever get tired of rereading. I’m also working on finishing book 3 (of 4) of Wars of the Roses by Conn Iggulden. Fictionalized version of the time period and fight for the crown before Henry VIII. Also good (and now 2 television series) Phillipa Gregory’s Tudor series (it starts with The Lady of The Rivers, all are good). I also enjoyed her 3 Queens 3 Sisters.
I could go on and on. Books make me ridiculously happy!
A great summer series to indulge in is Carol Drinkwater’s Olive Farm series. It transports you right to the South of France.
I love this list!!!
My suggestions are:
1. Mr. Penumbra’s 24 hour bookstore — A bookstore that is more than meets the eye
2. Kite Runner — a story of children, regret, and redemption in Afghanistan. You won’t be the same after it.
3. Big Little Lies — I couldn’t put it down and it was so much better than the TV series.
4. Handmade’s Tale — if you want to get real angry about the state of the world we’re in as women, and then realize it’s gone on for a VERY long time. Fiction based on truth.
5. Dear Mr. You (Mary Louise Parker) OR Me so Far in Song (Sara Baraeilles) — both are memoirs in short essay form that are pure perfection in writing. I listened to both on audible, both read by the authors, and WOWSA are each of them a treat for your ears!
yeeeessss for book suggestions! Love this!
here are some of my faves:
* Lab Girl by Hope Jahren – a story about falling in love with science, the beauty of our world and what it means to be a woman in a STEM field. Jahren writes in stunningly beautiful prose but light-hearted and endeavoring enough for a summer read
* I am in love with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Americanah, Half the sun)
I had such high hopes for Mr Penumbra’s Book Store, because I love book stores, so what could be better than a book about book stores? :D but I was not into that particular novel… I felt the book had this long buildup, but then the end fell flat. I found that Dave Eggers’ book The Circle collected many of the same thoughts but told a more cohesive, more compelling story. At least I enjoyed that one more.
Also Dave Eggers might be appealing to both fiction and non-fiction lovers because it is a fictional story, but also a parable for our current world.
I love nonfiction! I will look into these suggestions! Thanks, Xo!
Ellese
Rock.Paper.Glam.
Highly, highly recommend The Night Circus!!
Just finished The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. As a mom, the part in Las Vegas is hard to read, but overall, it’s a fantastic book.
The ‘Power of Now’ changed my life. You can’t hold on to judgment, anger, fear, or resentment if you only live in this moment right Now. ❤️❤️❤️
I definitely want to try ALL of those nonfiction books. A really good fiction option is any book by Jodi Picoult, especially Nineteen Minutes!
http://www.brownvelvetdoll.com
A Good Year was fun but anything by Peter Mayle is a good solid summer/beach read!
Thanks Rachel! I took your advice and now I’m reading A Year in Provence. Love it so far :)
Love this! Totally agree! There’s nothing better then laying outside in the sun with a good book!
Oooh, thanks for the suggestions! Library, here I come!
I really enjoyed Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing.
Some books on my summer reading list:
– The Art of Racing in the Rain
– Cutting for Stone
– The Highly Sensitive Person
– Unprocessed
– Wuthering Heights (reread)
Just to name a few… Will definitely check out your suggestions!
Oh, I am definitely going to take a look at the Compound Effect. I love both fiction and non-fiction. I’m currently reading Codependent No More by Melody Beattie. It’s a great read! Thanks for this list.
Natalie | Holistic Health, Lifestyle, & Travel
http://nataliesalchemy.wordpress.com
Some of these are already on my list, but great suggestions. I mostly read fiction, but interchange with non-fiction. I read all year round, really when I can with children! I have an ongoing pile of books to read and downloads on my kindle.
On a completely different note, I am definitely doing the knotted top thing. It makes a looser top into a more fitted one instantly and gives me more options. Also, much cooler in the hotter weather than a fitted t-shirt. Thanks for the inspiration.
I was only saying to my other half yesterday I need a good book to get into!
Thanks for the amazing suggestions, I’ll be sure to check them out :)
Aesthetic Mind | Fashion & Personal Style Blog
http://aestheticmind.co
reading a murder mystery- murder is easy by agatha christie and i am hooked!
http://www.thestyletune.com
Ooooh, I love these non-fiction reccomendations! Meditations From the Mat sounds dope.
http://www.insearchofsheila.com
I enjoy both fiction and non-fiction and tend to have one of each type going simultaneously. Sometimes, I feel like I need a break from an intense fictional plot or sometimes I just don’t feel like learning anything at the moment or having to think really hard! So my two I have going at the moment are Dragonfly in Amber (from the Outlander series) and Let’s Play Math by Denise Gaskin. I homeschool my 3 children and having been “mathematically traumatized” as a child I don’t wish for them to struggle as I did. I am trying to retrain my own brain to think of math differently and introduce it to my children differently as well!
Jumping back to Outlander really quick: after I finish Dragonfly in Amber I’m going to take a short break and read Kindred by Octavia Butler. It’s another time travel novel centered around a modern black woman who is “summoned” back to the antebellum south to save the son of a plantation owner who will someday become one of her ancestors. I think it looks fascinating!
I have been a reading FIEND this year so far, and it is making me so happy. I randomly picked up the book, Prep, from a Little Free Library in my neighborhood and am LOVING IT. It is so great, especially for anyone who has dealt with social anxiety, extreme shyness, and being an introvert.
Happy reading! :)
http://www.wonderlandsam.com
Love this topic!
Recent great books I read were One of Us Is Lying, a mystery where five teens end up in detention and one suddenly dies; The Wangs Vs. The World, a very funny book about a rich Taiwanese-American patriarch that loses all his money and takes his family on the road; The Madwoman Upstairs, a gothicy modern-day tale about a descendent of the Brontes; and Eligible, a “remake” of Pride and Prejudice set in Cleveland.
Gone With the Wind always seems like the quintessential summer read to me. It feels like a slow, sweltering summer–spinning the tale without haste or apology.
I have the beautiful leather-bound edition from the Southern Classics Library of 1982. It was a summer tradition when I was growing up. The story mixed with the texture and scent of the pages, and the solemn weight of the book lying open in my lap. You can’t rush a book like that, snatching bits of it here and there; you must put everything aside & commit yourself to it for a time. Perfect for a long, lazy summer.
I will read almost anything, except horror, political nor sappy romances. Outlander is on my list, as now is Belgravia. Right now, I’m working on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes books, and loving them. They’re so well written and thought out. I’m in love with Judy Blume. Summer Sisters is a beautiful story, also Deenie is really encouraging. (Deenie was my mom’s nickname by her father when she was young.) I love the classics, as well as newer writers. Let me know of any good stories to read!!
I found Outlander both horrific, and a sappy romance. I know I’m pretty much alone in not liking, but I found the drama predictable, the violence gratuitous and the whole premise silly. And the writing just bad.
Two favorites this summer have been, “If We Were Villains,” by M.L. Rio, and “A Garden of Small Beginnings,” by Abbi Waxman. Very different from each other, but equally delightful summer reads.
Last year your recommended the Mistborn trilogy by Brandon Sanderson. I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed those! I literally couldn’t put them down for weeks! I remember you said you enjoy fantasy… So if you are ever looking for another great fantasy read… I’d totally recommend the Kushiel’s legacy series…starts with Kushiel’s Dart. It has a strong female lead too…and is beautifully written…tho it’s decidedly more “adult” content just to warn you! Haha. By Jaqueline Carey.
I really enjoyed the Mistborn trilogy too, I will look up Kushiel’s legacy. Thanks.
MY recommendation for fiction: Both books by Elizabeth Kostova,
historical fiction: pretty much any book by Robert Harris ;-)
love from Austria, Maren
Thanks for these amazing recommendations! I”ll definitely be adding them to my list!
I hope you have a lovely Monday,
Michael
https://www.mileinmyglasses.co.uk
For dog lovers, Lily and the Octopus.
For those looking to change their lives for the better, The Magical Art of Tidying Up.
A historical mystery that kept me guessing, The Miniaturist. (Can’t wait to read The Muse, by same)
Between the World and Me, because everyone should read this book.
All the Light You Cannot See, historical fiction, so beautiful, will keep you up all night reading to the end.
Thanks for the book recos!! I am currently reading Wild by Cheryl Strayed and am loving it. I will definitely have to read one off your lists when I am done.
http://www.domesticgal.com
I loved The Night Circus. It’s eloquently written and magical.
Maybe there should a category called: books you should read before they become movies? Haha
I would recommend The Glass Castle.
Dancing with Life, by Phillip Moffitt
I’ve got about a million book recommendations, but I’ll stick to just two:
1) The Princess Bride, by William Goldman. Seriously, it’s about 100X better than the movie…and I love the movie.
2) Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen. There is literally no comparison to the movie. Just read the book, pretend the movie doesn’t exist.
I’m obsessed with this! I’ve been in a reading slump since I finished the Game of Thrones series and needed a new book but didn’t know where to start! I think I’ll start here :)
http://www.madsmuses.com
I’m reading “It,” by Stephen King. I know, not very “literature-y” but pretty good. DH had every Stephen King book ever written except those he lent that were not returned. DS says that “It” is the best book he’s ever read, but says it was written during SK’s “cocaine days.” Didn’t know he had cocaine days. It was published in ’86, there was a movie and TV series made, and now they are making a new movie, due in the fall, I think. DS talking about it, got me thinking, might as well…
Hey Caro,
One name, two words…Kate Morton! Any of her books but my fave is The Secret Keeper!
xx
OUTLANDER IS THE BEST! I am a little obsessed with it, my husband and I started watching it and I got hooked!
Additionally, another great book I am reading right now is called The Dirty Life. It is non-fiction, and if you are interested at all in farm-to-table or homesteading it is very worth reading. It is about a woman who was a writer living in NYC that met an organic farmer while writing a story, and long story short ended up marrying him. They live in rural New York and have established a small organic, crop share farm that runs without any power equipment; they use horses to plow and complete what tractors are normally used for. It is a great read! You’ll be making your own bread and butter by the end of it ;)