Buzzy Summer Books and Backlist Favorites
Hello, listeners!
Today’s episode is all about summer reading! We know you’re all well into your summer reading season now, but we wanted to topple your TBRs with some of our favorite backlist gems that we think you should add to your beach bags. Since we love making connections between books, we decided to take some of the buzziest books of summer 2020 and pair them with easier-to-get, now-in-paperback backlist reads. We had so much fun putting this list together and we know you’re going to find a book or two to give you that perfect summer reading vibe!
Here are a few other summer reading links to browse:
Find all of the books mentioned in this episode in our Bookshop.org shop.
Check out LitHub’s Ultimate 2020 Reading List.
The New York Times always has great summer reading selections for all kinds of readers and includes everything from cookbooks to thrillers to travel.
I love this highly curated list of books to read for Pride 2020.
Some of these links are Bookshop affiliate links. We earn a small commission when you make a purchase using these links (plus, you support independent bookstores).
Coming Up:
Next week we’ll be dropping our our episode on The Odyssey. Our conversation was so fun; if you think ancient Greek epics are dry and boring, we’re ready to change your mind! On July 14th, we’re releasing another episode of what we call “Short Story Club” on “All Summer in a Day” by Ray Bradbury. Read along and join us for a science fiction deep dive. Then on July 21st, we’ll be sharing our episode on Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. I haven’t revisited this book since high school, and I’m really looking forward to discussing it with Chelsey.
Currently Reading:
I’m still slowly making my way through Stamped from the Beginning (which is on sale at Libro.fm* right now) and am also reading and loving Real Life by Brandon Taylor. I’d started Real Life on audio but switched to reading it on paper, and I’m so glad I made that change. I can’t quite articulate why, but the language and style of Taylor’s writing (which is gorgeous) is working better for me on the page. I’m also serving on the selection committee for the Aspen Words Literary Prize, which is easily one of the coolest bookish things that’s every happened to me. I’ve been making my way through the submissions and weirdly enjoying going into these books blind and not having to think about what to read next.
*Listeners, we’re excited to be partnering with Libro.fm to offer you two audiobooks for the price of one. Just click this link to get two audiobooks for $15 all while supporting the pod and independent bookstores!
Where to find us:
Download episodes of Novel Pairings wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. Find me at @fictionmatters and my newsletter. Find Chelsey at @chelseyreads or @hereadsheread. We love hearing what you’re reading so feel free to tag us!
We declare after all, there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book!
Have a lovely week, everyone!
-Sara