Summer Reads in Every Genre

General Fiction
Sunburn – Chloe Michelle Howarth
A complicated and poignant coming of age story set in the hazy summer days of 90s Ireland. This is one that will make you cry. Howarth’s gorgeous prose renders a raw and heart wrenching depiction of struggling with your sexuality in a conservative small town.

Fantasy
She Who Became the Sun – Shelley Parker-Chan
Parker-Chan delivers a stunning historical fantasy debut, with an epic, sweeping plot that follows narrator Zhu through the founding of the Ming Dynasty. It’s impossible to put down, with richly drawn characters, a compelling plot, and fascinating historical detail.

Romance
Alone With You in the Ether – Olivie Blake
This is a beautifully written literary romance that explores the connections between people and how those connections can both bolster and overwhelm us. Told in a dual narrative following our two narrators, Regan and Aldo, we are swept along on a fast-paced journey through a sweet, fiery romance striving to survive through insecurities, fear, and codependency.

Horror
Last Days – Brian Evenson
Evenson writes horror chilling enough to leave you shivering even in the depths of summer. Last Days is part gory cult horror, part hardboiled noir following our main character, the detective Kline, as he is recruited to investigate a murder within the ranks of a shadowy dismemberment cult.

Sci-Fi
This Is How You Lose the Time War
Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone
You’ve never read anything quite like this! This fun, bizarre, and touching romp through time and space is written so each chapter alternates between authors and POVs. The result is two clear and distinct voices that nevertheless mesh to create a cohesive and gripping story.

Non-fiction
The Milkwood Permaculture Living Handbook: Habits for Hope in a Changing World
Kirsten Bradley
What better way to spend the summer than by working towards a more sustainable, conscious, and community oriented lifestyle? The Milkwood Permaculture Handbook provides resources for ways to do just that, both big and small. Learn how to support your community through mutual aid, start an herb garden, or budget more efficiently, or start keeping chickens!

This summer reading list was thoughtfully curated by our friends at Reader’s World Bookstore. Located at 194 S. River Ave, this locally owned purveyor of books, magazines, and newspapers has been a valued part of the community since 1967. Be sure to stop by and discover your next great read! readersworldbooks.com