Summer goes hand in hand with books. It’s the time of light reads, mysteries, summer romance novels, and insightful biographies. Reading, unlike watching Netflix or listening to a podcast, requires your full attention, so it’s easy to spend the long hot summer days buried in a book – but going to your local book shop can feel overwhelming with all the options and no direction. There’s nothing like finding a page-turner that you can’t seem to put down or get completely lost in a story filled with love, deception, mystery, and history, depending on which book you choose. StoryTerrace, the UK’s leading biography service has put together a perfect summer reads list, compiling the books that should be on your shelves this summer.
Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Be sure to read the novel before you head out to the cinemas to see the new film adaptation with Daisy Edgar Jones. It’s a romantic coming of age thriller that genuinely keeps you guessing from the moment you step into the setting of the North Carolina marsh.
Why Didn’t You Tell Me by Carmen Rita Wong
Carmen Rita Wong is an American radio, television, and online journalist. In her memoir, Why Didn’t You Tell Me, she reveals her search for her identity after discovering her mother’s hidden history, completely uprooting and transforming her life as she finds revelations along the way.
The Italian Escape by Catherine Mangan
For a Joyful and romantic read that takes you to an escape in the south of Italy, this is the perfect holiday beach read. After breaking up with her boyfriend and boss, Niamh agrees to go on a spontaneous vacation to Italy with her sister, a trip filled with romance, adventure, and joy.
The Vacation by John Marrs
For readers looking for a little more thrill in their holiday read, The Vacation is a perfect murder mystery to pick up. Set in a Los Angeles hostel, eight strangers ae thrown together in a rollercoaster of twists and turns to figure out there is more going on than just a vacation in Hollywood.
Mean Baby by Selma Blair
Actress Selma Blair, known for her roles in Legally Blonde, Cruel Intentions, The Sweetest Thing, and Hellboy released her first book, a candid memoir called Mean Baby. The book focuses her time in Hollywood and her struggles living a life with Multiple Sclerosis.
Love, Wine, and other Highs by Lauren Rae
If you’re in the market for a memoir that gives off Sex and the City vibes, look no further than British writer and journalist, Lauren Rae’s comedic memoir of sorts, Love, Wine, and other Highs. Filled with anecdotal stories and advice about dating, careers, and relationships, it’s filled with nostalgia – especially for those in their 20s right now.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
One of Matt Haig’s must reads, The Midnight Library is a fantasy novel that explores the themes of life and death in an imaginative and self-contemplating manner, both inspiring and unsettling at once. The Sunday Times labelled it as: “A beguiling read, filled with warmth and humour, and a vibrant celebration of the power of books to change lives”.
Love from the Pink Palace by Jill Naldar
The woman who inspired one of the characters in Channel 4’s hit It’s a Sin, Jill Naldar, has come out with her own memoir, touching on the story of her life through the AIDS crisis, and that of friends, colleagues, activists, doctors, and fundraisers. She shines a light on those that were stigmatised and shamed and remembers her friends that were lost too soon.
Rutger Bruining, Founder of StoryTerrace, shares his thoughts on summer reading and the boom of people wanting to have their life stories written:
“Summertime is a great time to pick up a few extra books, lie in the sun, and get lost in stories. I believe that more people choosing to read is one of the most cherished outcomes from such a challenging two years, but what I was really keen to see is if it would persist into 2022 – and clearly it has. We are delighted to see the plethora of people coming to StoryTerrace who are keen to have their stories written, shared and passed down – from all walks of life. Some heartbreaking, some hilarious but all of them inspirational. We think here at StoryTerrace that the next 10 years of autobiographies will be the most interesting society has ever seen.
“At StoryTerrace, our writers come from a wide variety of backgrounds, but all share the same fundamental passion for helping people to capture their stories. We have now built a network of over 750 incredible writers and only hope to expand in the future.”
