What’s our summer plan at She Reads? Sun, maybe a touch of beach, and definitely a whole lot of thought-provoking reading for book club. Because what makes a perfect summer read for us is any story that ignites our minds, maybe even offers a subtle chuckle, and most importantly, gets us talking long after the final page is turned. Get ready for these anticipated literary gems!

My Friends by Fredrik Backman ( May 6)

Told in two timelines, this novel unveils the story behind three enigmatic figures in a world-famous painting, a mystery that captivates the young artist Louisa. Twenty-five years prior, on a distant pier, four lost teenagers—a fighter, a mourner, a wanderer’s daughter, and a gifted, troubled artist—find solace and share dreams in their unlikely friendship. Their summer gives birth to a transcendent artwork that unexpectedly falls into Louisa’s hands, sending her on a cross-country journey to uncover its origins and, perhaps, her own artistic spirit.

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Old School Indian by Aaron John Curtis (May 6)

Facing a grim prognosis, forty-three-year-old Abe Jacobs reluctantly returns to the Ahkwesáhsne reservation he left decades ago, seeking healing he never believed in from his great uncle Budge. Back on the Rez, Abe, a former aspiring poet now battling a rare disease, must confront the life he built away from his Mohawk roots and the reasons he never looked back.

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The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong (May 13)

On a rain-swept bridge in post-industrial Connecticut, nineteen-year-old Hai’s despair is interrupted by Grazina, an elderly widow with dementia. By becoming her caretaker, Hai forms an unexpected, life-altering bond with her, built on empathy and heartbreak. This profound connection reshapes Hai’s understanding of himself, his family, and his struggling community.

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Immaculate Conception by Ling Ling Huang (May 13)

In art school, Enka becomes captivated by the dazzlingly talented yet troubled Mathilde. Their intense bond soon veers into being codependent. As Mathilde’s fame explodes, Enka marries a billionaire funding empathy-enhancing technology, envisioning a way to absorb her friend’s trauma. The blurring lines between them ignite a disturbing sequence of events, forcing a shocking exploration of art, technology, authorship, and the hauntingly thin veil between love and possession.

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The Slip by Lucas Schaefer (June 3)

Set in the summer of 1998 in Austin, a sixteen-year-old boy finding his footing at a boxing gym suddenly disappears, leaving behind a bewildered uncle. Years later, the uncle’s desperate search unravels unexpected transformations across the city, intersecting with a young man seeking acceptance in the virtual world.

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So Far Gone by Jess Walter (June 10)

Reclusive journalist Rhys Kinnick, deliberately estranged from the modern world, is forced back when his grandchildren are kidnapped. Navigating the society he rejected, accompanied by his sharp-tongued ex-girlfriend and a bipolar retired detective, Rhys embarks on a desperate rescue mission. Jess Walter’s signature blend of sharp humor and genuine emotion shines as this unlikely crew journeys through the absurdities and brokenness of contemporary life to save the children.

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The Tiny Things Are Heavier by Esther Ifesinachi Okonkwo (June 24)

Grieving foreign exchange student Sommy arrives in the US for graduate school. The weight of her brother’s suicide attempt is heavy on her heart. Amidst the loneliness of a new country, she navigates complicated connections before finding solace in a biracial American. Despite Sommy’s hope for healing and Bryan’s search for a lost connection, a shocking event shatters Sommy’s world and redefines her identity and family.

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Slanting Towards the Sea by Lidija Hilje (July 8)

In post-war Croatia, Ivona returns home to care for her ailing father and confront the wreckage of a life shaped by loss, regret, and a long-buried secret. Reconnecting with her ex-husband and his vibrant new family, she’s drawn into unexpected tenderness and disruption. A haunting, lyrical exploration of grief, memory, and the fragile hope of starting over.

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Necessary Fiction by Eloghosa Osunde (July 22)

Set in the electric heart of Lagos, a vibrant cast navigates love, identity, and survival amid art, music, and chosen family. As connections form and fracture, they confront the emotional fictions that sustain them. Brazen, tender, and deeply human, this novel pulses with the messy beauty of desire, loss, and the stories we tell to keep going.

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People Like Us by Jason Mott (Aug 5)

In a world fractured by gun violence, two Black writers navigate the complexities of peace and belonging. Their parallel journeys, one a celebrated global tour, the other a poignant school speech, intertwine with surreal and deeply personal experiences. Expect a powerful collision of dreamlike wonder and stark reality, where laughter and sorrow dance in equal measure, leaving a profound mark on the reader’s understanding of humanity.

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