Summer Reading

6/2/23

Do you remember when you were assigned books to read over the summer? Did you enjoy tackling the summer reading list or need reminders to complete the assignment? I remember liking some books (The Lilies of the Field) and struggling with others. I read these assigned books on the beach while vacationing with my family.

The summer allows adults and kids more time to read. Take advantage of that time to create a fun summer reading list for you and your family. It’s fun to talk about books with friends and family. So take a break from streaming, get outside, and read a book.

Join a Reading Program or Challenge

For kids: The Scholastic Summer Reading program offers kids an exciting, free, and safe summer reading experience, while helping to provide books to kids with limited or no access over the summer, keeping every child reading.

From the Boston Public Library: Youth Summer Reading

Child bingo: https://www.bpl.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2023/05/BPL-CHILD-BINGO-2023.pdf. This is my favorite square –

Count the number
of dogs you see on
the street over the
course of a day

Teen bingo: https://www.bpl.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2023/05/BPL-TEEN-BINGO-2023.pdf

For Adults: At the Boston Public Library – Adult Summer Reading

Adult Summer Reading at the Boston Public Library is a bingo card of 24 challenges to complete between June 1 and August 31. Fill out your Adult Summer Reading Bingo Card with what you read and did between Thursday, June 1, 2023, and Thursday, August 31, 2023. 

You can also create your own bingo board. Here is a board I made:

Some of My Favorite Reads

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

I attended an online event with the author of this book in March. Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel, Remarkably Bright Creatures, was a Read With Jenna pick and an instant New York Times bestseller. I enjoyed reading this book. One of the main characters is an octopus with some fun insights into human behavior. 

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

This book was made into a series premiering in the fall on Apple TV+.

Between the outrageous sexism and the bitter misfortune that thwart our heroine at every turn, this may not sound like a comic novel, but it is. Full of charm, energy and hope–and featuring a really great dog–it’s one to savor.People Magazine

Favorite Series: The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

These books take place in Cooper’s Chase retirement village in England. A group of residents works together to solve crimes. The characters are lovable and fun, and they bring the reader along in their adventures.

Book 1: The Thursday Murder Club

Soon to be a major motion picture from Steven Spielberg at Amblin Entertainment

Book 2: The Bullet That Missed: A Thursday Murder Club Mystery

Book 3: The Man Who Died Twice: A Thursday Murder Club Mystery

Coming in the fall, book 4: The Last Devil to Die: A Thursday Murder Club Mystery

Lists and New Releases

From the Boston Globe, The best new books for summer 2023.

From The New York Times, 47 books, 47 adventures: Here’s something to read for every creature you know.

Featured on both lists: Rogue Justice: A Thriller by Stacey Abrams

From Reader’s Digest, 32 Best Beach Reads for the Perfect Escape

From Boston, 24 books that you should read this summer, according to local experts. We asked staff members at Trident Booksellers & Café, Frugal Bookstore, Harvard Book Store, Brookline Booksmith, and Porter Square Books for the titles they’re most excited to pick up.

Some books in my to be read pile:

Small Mercies
Yellowface
The Last Word

The Senator’s Wife by Liv Constantine

Written by sisters who wrote another fun summer read, The Last Mrs. Parrish