A Summer Reading Report

Spoiler: I'm reading way more romance than I expected to...

Jul 19, 2023

Surely after reading all of these romance novels for Recipe for a Summer Romance I’ll want a steady diet of nonfiction and literary fiction all summer long, I thought.

I was wrong. Romance is, after all, my comfort genre—and I needed comfort this summer as my grandmother passed away from pancreatic cancer and my spouse traveled for an extended work trip. After spending much of my time solo parenting and tending to family needs, I had a renewed respect for caregivers and community, but I didn’t have much energy left for reading.

And yet, a few buzzy books made their way to my audiobook queue, and ever-reliable romance novels filled in the gaps. Here are short reviews of some standout titles.

Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah: Ambitious, incisive, and intense, this dystopian novel (or not-so-fictionalized version of reality) explores the psychological, social, and ancestral pain inflicted by the U.S. prison industrial complex. Told in alternating perspectives and propulsive prose, the plot primarily follows Loretta Thurwar and Hamara “Hurricane” Staxxx as they fight for their lives and freedom in televised gladiator games. I appreciated the scope of this debut novel, but sometimes wished I could stay with a few characters for more depth of development and backstory.

The Odyssey by Homer, translated by Emily Wilson: I taught The Odyssey four years in a row but never read the text from beginning to end (this is more common than you’d expect with time constraints, but I still loved teaching it and believe I taught it well). Emily Wilson’s translation is, dare I say, a must-read? That is, if you’ve always wanted to read The Odyssey, if you need to read The Odyssey for class, or if you adore Greek mythology. I had an absolute blast discussing each episode with Sara for our recap series, which you can access any time for $8 in our Novel Pairings Patreon community. Our final book club discussion will take place next week Wednesday, and I’m eager to hear from everyone!

Zorrie by Laird Hunt: If you enjoy quiet, character-driven, slice-of-life stories, this short novel is for you. Reminiscent of Willa Cather or Laura Ingalls Wilder, Hunt’s story follows a tough Midwestern woman through tumultuous life and world events, exposing her soft soul and introducing a close-knit community along the way.

Quietly Hostile by Samantha Irby: With my penchant for humorous essay collections, you’d think I’d have read Irby’s entire catalog by now, but no. This was my first—but not my last. I listened to her narration and highly recommend this mode for grasping every ounce of her sarcastic wit.

Lone Women by Victor Lavalle: I am not a horror reader—not even a little bit—so this book was a big risk for me, and I’m glad I took the plunge. Lavalle mixes Southern Gothic, classic Western, and magical suspense to great effect while exploring the impacts of Western expansion and women’s history. The book opens as Adelaide Henry flees her burning California home where her dead parents remain inside, for the cold, harsh land of Montana. She carries with her a heavy, locked steamer trunk that emits an occasional rumble, but what’s in the trunk may prove to be even tamer than the demons she finds in her new home town.

Knockout by Sarah Maclean: Out on August 22nd, Maclean’s third novel in her Helle’s Belles series did not make my summer romance list, but it is a new favorite. Curly-haired, curvy, and chaotic Imogen Loveless excels in chemistry, but when did the London Ton ever care about that? She’s expected to marry, settle down, and procreate—not study and create explosives…or swoon over a handsome, protective police detective. Thrown together by fate and by felony, Tommy and Imogen must come to terms with their combustible chemistry while chasing justice for society’s most vulnerable.

The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue: Tales of college friendship are so hit or miss for me—the characters can be catty and immature in a way that immediately turns me off. This, however, was a fresh take on the trope. I thoroughly enjoyed O’Donoghue’s humor and her narrator’s self-aware reminiscences. It read like a thrilling domestic suspense, and in another author’s hands may have relied on cheap thrills, but instead stayed grounded and realistic in a satisfying way. I hesitate to share any plot points—just jump in if you enjoy page-turners with tense relationship dynamics.

You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith: After listening to this audiobook, I texted my husband “please, please don’t have a midlife crisis and wreck our marriage and, in turn, wreck me” because oof, this lyrical memoir ripped my heart open. It wasn’t all sad, though. In addition to the dissolution of her marriage, Smith shares lovely parenting moments and hopeful notes. I’m ready to read more of her poetry ASAP.

Almost every night, I listen to a Regency romance to help me drift off to sleep. I love when I find a new-to-me, complete series so I don’t need to decide what to read next. I tore through two series over the last two months, and while they won’t land on my favorites list, they did provide the Regency romance beats and relaxation I needed.

The Duke Hunt series by Sophie Jordan

Small town—Class clashes—Feisty heroines

The Duke Goes Down
The Rake Gets Ravished
The Scoundrel Falls Hard
The Duke Starts a Scandal (out Oct. 24, 2023)

Duke Dynasty series by Sabrina Jeffries

Romantic Suspense—Sibling drama—Bridgerton vibes

Project Duchess
The Bachelor
Who Wants to Marry a Duke
Undercover Duke

Have you read any of this summer’s buzziest books? Did they live up to your expectations? I would love to hear all about your recent reads in the comments.

The Eclectic Reader

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