A few shows and films have absolutely been dominating our brains and social media this summer so to give you a break from the screens, here’s which books to read based on your binge-watching obsession!
If you loved The Summer I Turned Pretty, you’ll love…
Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth:
Lucy is stuck making an incomprehensible choice: do what is expected of her or be with the person she loves. With lots of longing and an unfortunate amount of self-denial (similar to our fave lover girl Belly Conklin), Lucy must choose her person before she loses them both. A coming-of-age love story between two childhood best friends, Sunburn is the perfect read for those of you who need more of Conrad’s yearning and complicated love triangles – but make it gay!
Small Words by Caleb Azumah Nelson:
Wishing Belly could figure out who she is outside of the Fisher boys and the Cousins beach house? Intrigued by her complex relationship with Laurel? Well, Small Worlds perfectly delves into these topics. Luring you in with the promise of romance between Stephen and his longtime friend/crush Del, Nelson then expands the novel and makes it a story of self-discovery and cultural reflections, paving the gap between Stephen and his parents.
If you loved The Summer Hikaru Died, you’ll love…
Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer:
An inexplicable entity combined with horrors unknown to this world. Vandermeer creates a trippy, reality-bending universe where four unnamed women are sent to analyse and explore Area X, which has been cut off from the rest of the world for years. This perfectly encapsulates the eerie, isolated feeling in The Summer Hikaru Died and the knowledge that there is a dangerous presence among you that cannot be stopped.
Deliver Me incorporates the body horror aspects of The Summer Hikaru Died, paired with the queer undertones. Set in the claustrophobic deep American South, Dee-Dee, similarly to Yoshiki, has repressed sexual desires for her same-sex friend Sloane but instead of exploring these feelings in healthy ways, she submits to her male partner’s sadistic fetish of incorporating insects into their sex life. This is a story of how a repressed, isolated individual can be pushed into violence and destruction – sound familiar?
If you loved Love Island USA, you’ll love…
The Dirty Version by Turner Gable Kahn:
Sexy singles in the sun? Count me in! The Dirty Version is a fun and flirty romcom, but don’t let the Love Island comparison fool you, it has lots of important and deep themes to dive into. If you, like me, are watching Love Island not as a viewer but as a societal scholar, then TDV will scratch that intellectual itch. Looking at male and female power dynamics in a post-MeToo world and how to fall in love with men when being a practising misandrist, this book is a necessary read for any realistic lover girls out there.
Made for You by Jenna Satterthwaite:
More sexy singles trying to find love, but this time with a sci-fi twist. Julia is a synth, an AI humanoid created to win a dating show. When she wins and gets her fairy-tale ending, what happens after the cameras stop rolling? Don’t you wonder about the real lives of the LI contestants? Well, author Jenna Satterthwaite wrote Made for You just for that purpose.
If you loved Love Is Blind, you’ll love…
Everything’s Fine by Cecilia Rabess:
An ‘enemies-to-lovers’ romcom set in New York amidst Trump’s first presidential campaign, Everything’s Fine tackles interracial and cross-class relationships, as new graduates Jess and Josh question whether their feelings for each other can outweigh their fundamental differences. It’s sharp, satirical and sensitive – you’ll be rooting for Jess and Josh’s relationship from the very start, even while anticipating it’s crash.
Nearly Departed by Lucas Oakeley:
Almost three years after his girlfriend Beth’s sudden death, Joel is preparing to re-enter the dating world. However, just when Joel might have found a new connection, he starts to be (literally) haunted by Beth, throwing all his plans off course. A ‘love story with ghosts’, Nearly Departed is a funny and poignant examination of the baggage – and ghosts – that accompany everyone in the modern dating world.
If you loved The Assassin you’ll love…
We Solve Murders by Richard Osman:
Private bodyguard Amy’s posting on a remote island is thrust into danger after she is framed for murder and a killer sets their sights on Amy, rather than her high-profile client. Amy turns to the one person she can trust – her father-in-law, Steve, a retired cop now moonlighting as a reluctant PI. The pair jet off on a race around the world to clear Amy’s name and stay one step ahead of their enemies. A fast-paced and action-packed read with as many twists and turns as The Assassin – and a lovable but unconventional family duo at its centre.
The Nude by C Michelle Lindley:
Craving a book that transports you to a luscious Mediterranean setting – without quite so many bullets as The Assassin? Look no further than The Nude. When art historian Elizabeth journeys to a Greek island in pursuit of a found sculpture, she soon finds herself immersed in a cultural tug-of-war and a complicated love affair. It’s dark, dream-like and mysterious.
If you loved Destination X you’ll love…
Hope You Are Satisfied by Tania Malik:
It’s 1990 and twenty-five-year-old Riya works for a luxury tour guide company in Dubai, scraping to make ends meet. As political tensions run high, international arms dealers, CIA agents, corrupt bosses and wayward vacationers all compete for Riya’s attention. Will a favour from Dubai’s most notorious fixer offer Riya the chance to fulfil her financial obligations and escape to the United States? Or is it all an elaborate trap? Combining international travel with the thrill of high-stakes espionage, Hope You Are Satisfied is perfect for fans of Destination X’s deception and smart gameplay.
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie:
One of Agatha Christie’s most iconic novels, Murder on the Orient Express is a locked-room mystery that sees Hercule Poirot race to identify the murderer on board the train – before another passenger is killed. While Christie’s Orient Express lacks the mod-cons of Rob Brydon’s X Bus, it’s luxurious and packed full of passengers trying to cover up secrets of their own. You can’t go wrong with this crime classic!