Summertime Reading
Here in the Midwest it’s been hot, hot, hot recently. I know that’s been true in a lot of other areas as well. With the triple digit heat indexes making it uncomfortable outside, I find myself saying to people, “It’s great weather to stay inside and read!”
But then I realized I say the same thing when we have two feet of snow and a twenty-below wind chill as well. “It’s great weather to stay inside and read!”
Or rainy and stormy outside. Also…you guessed it…great for staying in and reading.
So I guess for me, any season (winter, spring, summer, or fall) is a wonderful season for reading.
However, there’s a lot of buzz right now about “Summer Reads” with all sorts of list to help us pick books to pack in our beach bag, read on the plane, or curl up with on the couch.
And there are some fun lists out there like:
The 2025 Goodreads Guide to Summer Reading
Summer Reads 2025 from Publisher’s Weekly
NPR’s What to Read This Summer
AARP’s 35 Summer Books to Add to Your 2025 Reading List
An article in the Guardian by Daisy Buchanan, caught my eye and proposes we should “Choose comfort, ditch boring, and prioritize pleasure” to find the perfect beach read. In researching her book “Read Yourself Happy,” Ms. Buchanan investigates the positive impact that reading has on our wellbeing. In fact, a study published by the National Library of Medicine in 2020, indicated that reading wards off cognitive decline. But she posits that we only experience the benefits of books if we are enjoying what we’re reading.
So what books would you recommend for enjoyable reading?
I’ll start with this list of wonderful books by Stiletto Gang blog members here: The Stiletto Gang Books
What titles would you add? What books are you looking forward to reading this summer? Do you perhaps have a book you’ve been saving to read on your vacation?
I can’t wait to hear your suggestions so please share!
Mary Lee Ashford is the author of the Sugar & Spice mystery series from Oliver Heber Books and also half of the Sparkle Abbey writing team. She is a lifelong bibliophile, an avid reader, and public library champion. Prior to publishing Mary Lee won the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. She is the founding president of Sisters in Crime – Iowa as well as a member of Mystery Writers of America and Novelists, Inc. She lives in the Midwest with her family and her feline coworker.
She loves to hear from other readers and can be found on Facebook, Instagram, BlueSky and BookBub.
Also, of special note:
Game of Scones, the first book in the Sugar & Spice series is currently free in all ebook formats.
And the latest release, Night of the Living Bread, was a Barnes & Noble Top 5 Indie Fave.
Plus Oliver Heber Books is offering a “direct from the publisher” set of all four books for 50% off: Sugar & Spice Mysteries Set
Like you, I find all seasons, all weather conditions, all comfy places perfect for reading! Thanks for the book ideas!
Saralyn, there’s no bad time to read, right? I’m hoping we get a little relief from the heat soon as it’s been so hot. However, with the blessing of air-conditioning I can still find a comfy spot for reading.
So many books, so little time! Thanks for reminding me. I have to get busy on my TBR list!
Gay, I need to be reminded myself. I just resorted as I read both on my Kindle and in hardback/paperback which I find makes it harder for me to remember which one I’d planned to read next. 🙂
Mary Lee, love this. There’s always a season for reading 🙂 Thanks for the shout out to The Stiletto Gang authors