summer tbr
12 books I want to read this season
Summer time in Australia! My favourite time of the year. I love summer - Christmas holidays, going to the beach, the warm weather, pool parties. Itβs amazing!
January is also probably my favourite month of the whole year. I love the feeling of a fresh start and how relaxing and peaceful January is after the chaos of December.
Iβve picked out twelve books I think might be on the radar to read this summer, though I also think many from my Spring TBR also still stand.
Sheβs Always Hungry, Eliza Clark
Eliza Clark is one of my favourite recent authors I discovered. I thought her debut novel Boy Parts was excellent, and the follow-up Penance was very timely and on the pulse. Iβm not a huge reader of short stories, but for miss Clark I will definitely do it.
This is her newest release, a short story collection on the theme of hunger. There is lots that can be done with this theme and being familiar with Clarkβs writing, I think this theme is right in her wheelhouse, so Iβm expecting some really good stories.
Evenings & Weekends, OisΓn McKenna
This book recently came onto my radar, after hearing a lot of positive reviews from people whose takes on books I typically agree with. I believe itβs set over a long, hot summer in London - I love books where the atmosphere and the season plays a part. Plus it feels fitting to read this in summer. I believe it follows a complex web of relationships between a group of young people.
There is also a whale in the Thames, which is an additional aspect of this novel I find really intriguing.
Just Kids, Patti Smith
Iβve owned this book for some time, and recently was reinvigorated to read it. My sister read this book while we were in Paris together, consequently I heard a few stories from this book regarding the locations in Paris which was a nice thing. So Iβd like to read this while the memory of my Paris summer is still fresh.
Kitchen Confidential, Anthony Bourdain
Iβve recently been rewatching old runs of Anthony Bourdain: Part Unknown and itβs really reminded me this book is languishing on my TBR. I also loved Down and Out in Paris and London in 2024 and I know Bourdain took some inspiration from it so I want to check out that connection. Also, I love summer and cooking in summer and having late dinners so it feels seasonally correct to read this.
Goodbye to Berlin, Christopher Isherwood
I bought this as a present to myself on my birthday, and since my new book rule is when I buy I should read in a timely manner, hoping to get to this one promptly. I think Iβm having a Berlin eraβ¦ Iβve just read a lot of good books/seen good movies about or set in Berlin lately and since I visited Iβve really wanted to learn more about it outside of World War Two history. Although this one does touch on World War Two (itβs set in the waning period of the Weirmar Republic) this is a time period Iβve not delved into (outside of an essay in school) so Iβm really excited for this one.
A Room of Ones Own, Virginia Woolf
Another birthday buy, though I havenβt actually read this book. I read this is University for a gender studies class, but I barely remember a thing (outside of the famous Shakespheareβs sister metaphor). A book I read this year (Who Gets To Be Smart) talked about this essay a lot so itβs given me the urge to go back and read it properly. From memory, I initially read this in the form of pirated epub on my macbook and that just isntβ what Woolf intended.
Slow Days, Fast Company, Eve Babitz
Babitz has been on my list for a while, especially since I started reading more Didion. There is a newer book out about both Babitz and Didion I want to read, but before I do that I do want to read some of Babitzβs work to get a taste of it. This seems to be her most popular and well-known novel so it feels like a good place to start.
The Season, Helen Garner
Helen Garner is a prolific Australian writer. Her book Monkey Grip is one of my all-time favourite Australian novels. This is her newest book, and itβs a totally different thing. Itβs a sort of memoir/reflective collection about Garner as she follows her grandsons under-16βs AFL team season. AFL is my favourite sport and it doesnβt come back until March so I usually have to tide myself over by doing some AFL related media in the off-season and this is just absolutely perfect. I cannot believe THEE Helen Garner has written a book about AFL. Itβs perfect for me.
Stasiland, Anna Funder
Iβve recently been exploring German history a little bit more, though specifically the history of East Berlin. When in Berlin I went on a really interesting walking tour about East Berlin and one thing Iβve been trying to do is let myself delve deeper into topics and explore because I miss doing that. So a lot of people told me I will probably find Stasiland really interesting. This is a series of essays about different people who lived in East Berlin from various backgrounds and their experiences before and after the rise and fall of the Berlin wall.
Cassandra in Reverse, Holly Smale
This is the January pick for the book club I am in with my friends, so I will definitely be reading it soon. I donβt know much about this book outside of it involving time travel or alternate timelines. I hope itβs a fun book! Iβll probably pick up the audiobook to accompany my runs/walks.
A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens
Iβve read quite a few Dickens, including his most popular ones like A Tale of Two Cities and Great Expectations and yet Iβve never read a Christmas Carol! Iβve bought it recently so I can crack into it this Christmas!
The Anarchy, William Dalrymple
The last book on my list has been on my TBR a long time, and for some reason I just have the feeling the time is right. This is a pretty popular non-fiction about the East India Trading Company and Iβve heard good reviews both online and from in real life friends which I always feel is a great sign. Iβve also been wanting to read more βseriousβ and history based non-fiction lately.