Though we all look forward to spending our days without exams lurking around the corner or constant classes that replace our typical hobbies, the summer months can be perfect for much more than beach days and lazy afternoons. In fact, it can be the ideal time to revisit old hobbies and even more importantly, the books you put off reading during the rest of the year. The Michigan Daily Arts has compiled a list of three books that together make a perfect reading list for the hotter months and will hopefully make their way onto your shelves.
“A Month in the Country” by J.L. Carr
Atmospheric reads are the perfect way to start your summer reading and there are few better options than a languid, story set in the countryside. J.L. Carr’s “A Month in the Country” follows Tom Birkin who spends a month in the fictional town of Oxgodby. Years later, Birkin reflects on these experiences and tells this story. The year is 1920. The summer is hot and sticky, and Birkin remains in town with the purpose of restoring a church mural which had been slowly fading.
This short but mighty novel is inherently temporal, existing in the confines of this one summer which inevitably has to end. However, both the reader and Birkin learn and experience a slower and less chaotic type of living that will stick with them far after the end of this novel. Filled with beautiful writing and fascinating characters, Carr spins a story that is perfect for the coming summer months.
Managing Arts Editor Archisha Pathak can be reached at archpath@umich.edu.
“Just for the Summer” by Abby Jimenez
Would you go out with someone if you thought they would help you break a curse, no matter how self-imagined it seemed to be? Justin and Emma from “Just for the Summer” would. Ironically, somehow everyone they break up with ends up finding their soulmate in the partner right after them. After Emma reads about Justin’s similar struggles on a Reddit thread gone viral on the infamous R/AmItheAsshole, her best friend Maddy convinces her to send a DM for fun.
What starts off as humorous banter soon turns into hypothetically scheming to acquire a summer fling to help both Justin and Emma fight their curses and finally live out their happily ever afters. The first hurdle for our protagonists is distance: Emma is a travel nurse who can’t seem to stay put for more than a few months, and Justin is a programmer based in Minnesota tasked with the responsibility of taking care of his family on top of work.
When the two eventually meet in Minneapolis, their interactions are light and mostly consist of witty inside jokes and cute date planning around Minnesota’s most picturesque locations. However, what the two thought would be a noncommittal summer trial turns out to be the self-discovery wake-up call they both needed for each other.
Emma learns to tackle her highly avoidant attachment style, while Justin adapts to balancing full-time work with caring for his siblings. Although the novel maintains a lighthearted tone, it also addresses our characters’ struggles in a digestible way, reminding readers that relationships aren’t always glamorous. In its uniquely wholesome way, “Just for the Summer” teaches us that romance doesn’t require two individuals to be perfect to show up for each other.
Aside from having “summer” in the name, “Just for the Summer” is the perfect read for this season, from its beautiful description of Minnesota’s nature and lake scenery, intricately woven character dynamics and an unlikely romance that’s undoubtedly going to leave you smiling with satisfaction at the end.
Daily Arts Writer Michelle Wu can be reached at michewu@umich.edu.
“Instant Karma” by Marissa Meyer
When I think of summer, I think of the beach, magic and new beginnings. A good summer read, to me, has all three of those things. Marissa Meyer’s “Instant Karma” follows Prudence Daniels, a stubborn overachiever who has to volunteer at a sea animal shelter over the summer for extra credit after Quint Erickson, her lab partner, supposedly messes up their end-of-semester project. To top it off, after bumping her head, Pru wakes up with the unexpected ability to dole out karma on those around her. The problem is, every time she tries to give bad karma to Quint, only good things happen to him.
With its rivals-to-lovers, adorable sea creatures and its environmental themes, “Instant Karma” is a cozy beach-read that’s perfect for long summer days. Quint and Pru are endearingly flawed characters who find they have a lot to learn from each other and will probably teach you a thing or two along the way. In a world of constant hustle and worry, the soft, pure romance and coastal backdrop of “Instant Karma” is a book for you to lose yourself in this summer.
Daily Arts Writer Amany Sayed can be reached at amanysay@umich.edu.
