There’s a lot (a massive amount, in fact) of coverage of “summer reading,” which is always interesting to me. Why? I don’t necessarily read more in the summer than in any other season. In fact, I’m more apt to read more in the winter, because it’s cold and I want blankets and books if I’m not snowboarding.
But I do love, love, LOVE looking at vacation reading suggestions, beach reading suggestions, and, though my kids hate them, summer reading lists. I am charmed by the idea that summer is designated somehow as a time for reading – and certainly, when I go on vacation like I did last week, my agenda was “sit, read, drink, eat, go somewhere else and repeat.”
Is ‘summer reading’ a thing for you?
Elyse: My reading doesn’t differ in summer, but when people say “summer reading” I tend to think they mean “vacation reading.” Wisconsin is beautiful in the summer, so most of my vacations happen in the winter when I go somewhere beachy. When I’m planning for vacation reading, I usually download a series to binge. I read about a book a day on vacation, so I need a series that’s at least 5-7 books long. I often have to combine buying ebooks with library downloads to ensure I have the whole series ready to go. Planning is key.
A few of my beach-binges have included the Kate Burkholder series by Linda Castillo. This is a mystery series with a formerly Amish chief of police who has to navigate the world between the Amish and the “English” to solve her cases. I’ve also binged Louise Penny’s Chief Inspector Gamache books on vacation, which are set in Quebec. Penny’s prose is just lovely and I feel like I get to savor it when I can dedicate longer periods to reading.
Romance series are good too, although I have to find one long enough to last my trip. Most recently I’ve gone back and read Jill Shalvis’ earlier books. I’ve also revisited Lisa Kleypas’ books.
I also love seeing what my hotel or resort has in their take-a-book/leave-a-book library. I’ve found some new-to-me authors that way and some pretty epic Old Skool Romances.
I’m looking at a trip this fall, and I’m thinking Bec McMaster might be my vacation binge.
Aarya: Until very recently, my life was structured around the school year for sixteen years. My family never went to the beach, so summer reading always meant “unlimited reading time now that school/homework obligations are done.” It was the best time of the year to go the library, check out dozens of books, read them all in four days, and repeat the process.
I don’t know if every library has this, but my childhood library had reading challenges for kids and teens (honor system). Once you passed a certain milestone (e.g., ten books or twenty five books), you were eligible for prizes and bookmarks. It’s hazy in my memory, but I think I won a t-shirt one year. What I do remember is reading a bunch of romance novels one summer, but lying on the report and claiming that I read YA “age-appropriate” books instead. I was mortified by the idea that some librarian would scan my report and see that I was reading Nora Roberts or Lisa Kleypas!
This is a tangent, but I wish libraries had summer reading challenges for adults, too. I feel like they’re always geared toward kids/teens, and I would 100% participate in an adult-geared summer reading challenge in the library. Does anyone know if such a thing exists?
I never read during vacations to other places; I don’t like to laze around and read all day if I’m in a new location. I’m the type of traveler who gets up at 6 AM, follows a meticulously planned itinerary, and goes to bed at midnight. For my Grand European Adventure a few years back, my sister and I planned out every minute of every day in an Excel sheet, including where to eat and shop. The only time I read during vacations is on the way there/back, and even then I prefer watching TV on airplanes.
Re: what I read, it doesn’t change at all in the summer (vacation or no vacation). It’s always romance novels, no matter what season it is! The one exception is my strange desire for holiday novellas in July and August. I really enjoy snowy/holiday books in the summer, especially when I’m cursing the humidity (I also may listen to Christmas albums in July, don’t hurt me). However, the summer is also a good time to set goals or catch up on something that’s been in my tbr forever. For example, one of my summer reading goals this year is to catch up on the Guild Hunter series by Nalini Singh. I’m six books behind, and am determined to catch up before Archangel’s War comes out in September.
Amanda: I use my library more often during the summer.
I don’t want to go outside? I’ll just see what I can get digitally.
Have I spent three days without leaving my house? I’ll just take a stroll down the street to my local branch, which is less than a five minute walk from my apartment.
Thanks, Somerville Library!
As for my reading tastes, I don’t think those change too much and vacation reading doesn’t exist for me. I’m that person who packs four books and then doesn’t touch a single one.
And Aarya, I believe my library systems do a reading challenge or bingo style thing for the summer, though the challenges aren’t necessarily book focused, like “visit a museum” and things like that.
Sarah: Sidenote, I don’t know if I can tell you how much I want to restage this photo, keep the retro suits, make it more representative of the romance readership, and also use more umbrellas. In part, yes, because I want that beach mattress.)
I’m with Amanda, too. My library usage goes WAY up during the summer, particularly because binge reading often requires deft usage of library holds and pickup schedules.
What about you? How does your reading differ during summer months? Or does it not really vary at all?
I work in the public school system, so I usually have a ten week summer hiatus (if I don’t work summer school—and, even then, I still get about four weeks free). I read more books in the summer, just by dint of having more free time—especially now all my kids are adults and I’m no longer responsible for getting them to & from summer sports, summer camp, vacation bible school, and other youth-oriented summer activities. The type of books I read does not change (mostly fiction, mostly romance), just the quantity: the volume of books I read goes way up. I don’t understand the notion of a “summer/beach read”—if a book is good, it should be readable regardless of the season.
@Aarya: My kids used to participate in the library’s summer reading challenge every year. They had so many certificates, t-shirts, and canvas bags for making their goals.
I loved those summer reading challenges! We got stamps on a piece of paper, but it was enough to fire up my competitive spirit. All through grade school summers I read like a mad woman and I read everything from children’s biographies to adult fiction. This was in the sixties, and my mom disapproved of Romance, but my older sister shared some Mary Stewart and Forever Amber, the latter NOT a romance, and like Gone With the Wind, featuring a TSTL heroine who I wanted to slap throughout. But I loved Mary Stewart. I think “summer reading” is for academics or suchlike who read hard core non fiction all academic year and want to read a light detective novel or romance while they’re on Nantucket or Cape Cod or ‘at the shore’. Most of us reading this have figured out we are a lot happier fitting it in all year!
@Kathy – Mary Stewart is my definition of “summer reading”! Even now, 25-ish years after I first read them, I usually end up re-reading at least one of her books every summer.
For me, summer reading usually doesn’t involve a change in content, but the shift in my life rhythms usually means that I have more time for reading – both work reading and recreational reading. September-June my work schedule involves a least a couple of evenings out per week, but in July and August I have only the odd evening where I have to be out which means lots of late afternoons and evenings on the swing on my deck with a book. And at the end of the summer I always resolve to keep on carving out this reading time once things shift into September mode – maybe this year it will actually happen!
My reading habits don’t change much with the seasons. If anything, I read less in summer because I’m much busier than the rest of the year. I prefer to vacation in other times of the year, but my vacations are always really busy, and I don’t have time to just sit around and read.
My local library systems have summer reading programs for kids and adults. They started it a few years ago. At first the adult program was different than the kids, but now they are the same. You can just read books to accumulate points or you can do something from the list of activities. The list includes many different types of activities so even people who aren’t necessarily into reading can participate. You get a t-shirt and a local minor league team baseball ticket for signing up, a prize pack for reaching the halfway point, and I think an entry into a drawing at the end. Each year the prize details are a little different. My daughter and I sign up every year.
My reading habits don’t change at all throughout the year, and they never really have, not even when I was in grad school. I haven’t really had a vacation since I graduated from high school, so maybe that’s why? but if I did have a vacation, I don’t think my habits would change, because I read whenever I have time to read. The time might fluctuate a little depending on how busy I am, but the habit itself doesn’t.
Totally agree with DiscoDollyDeb that I’ve never understood the “beach read” thing.
@Aarya I’m guessing my local library system is not normal in that it includes adults in the library summer reading challenges. It was really too easy (4 books… really? Four books = one week) with decent prizes. They now have (or also have) a reading bingo card, with the chance to win a book light and other things.
My reading habits don’t change seasonally. I read a ton of books, I will always read a ton of books. And being retired and, because of that, poor, there are no vacations, but there is plenty of reading time. Audible and its return policy are my greatest joy. 🙂
There is no seasonal pattern to my reading. There is, however, an emotional pattern – I’ll read “heavier” books when I’m in a thoughtful mood & generally good spirits, but if I’m in a darker place emotionally, I turn to comfort reads – romantic comedies, cozy mysteries, humor, travel books, etc. And like @Theresa, I read a TON of books!
And on a personal note, my mother passed away this weekend (Alzheimer’s – not unexpected but still devastating), so I would very much appreciate some light & fluffy recommendations.
I remember summer reading challenges too! I loved them. It was like GoodReads for kids, only you always got stuff instead of just hoping for free books when you enter to win… I would totally do a challenge for adults, too. (Tho currently I am failing at my GR reading challenge for the year, some 13 books behind. I can’t find it in my heart to care, as tough as life has been and as long as my current book is.)
Have my doubts I read any more during the summer…certainly not lately as I end up sleeping part of most days and sitting down to read is too relaxing not to drift off.
As for vacation I probably read even less. My family goes to the beach for a week in late summer and as I do not trust anyone but myself to look after my pets (esp now that one’s special needs and barely functions sometimes without ME specifically there with her) I spend most of my vacation trying to keep three high maintenance, opinionated rabbits exercised, fed, and cool in a much smaller space than they normally have (and without access to the magic that is Asian grocery stores and all their extra-awesome veggies)–not to mention keeping the girl buns from the epic bloody battle they still clearly long to have, even after two years of smelling each other in the same space.
So I tend to read fanfic on the laptop on the little “bunny porch” and hardly get much book reading done, save for the rare times when the wabbits are snoozing and don’t need feeding or their boxes cleaned (or the floor cleaned) AND I don’t have anywhere else to be, like the actual beach or shopping (often for stuff for them.)
@aarya – Your library DOES have an adult summer reading program. It’s a raffle and you get an entry for each book read 🙂 You can also do it online.
As a teacher my habits definitely change! As in, I’m actually able to read over the summer. During the school year I maybe manage 1 book every couple months. I can easily hit over 100 in the summer!
My reading doesn’t vary by season – – except one summer when I read Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables simultaneously with the dozens of other books I read that summer. It remains notable to me because it was the first and only time I’ve read more than one book at a time. I recall that summer whenever I read of someone who is reading this book on their nightstand, that book on their daily commute and the other book on the weekend.
Our public library has an adult summer reading program, and it is fabulous. You track your time online, and you get a little prize for every five hours of reading (keychains, free drink coupons, free food coupons, etc ). Unlike the teen program, you don’t have to track the book titles, so I don’t even have to worry about someone judging my choices. My reading habits don’t really change by season, but I think this does make me more aware of how much time I read.
@Dena: I should have just asked you instead of assuming Philly doesn’t have a program! You’re the expert librarian. 🙂
@Deianira: We’re never ready, even when we’ve had a long time to prepare. Sending you hugs and more hugs. My light and fluffy reading, upon reflection, seems to be neither light nor fluffy; clearly it’s time to re-evaluate my choices. In the meantime, the Bitchery will have many good suggestions for you. Wishing you peace.
I’m currently enrolled in nine summer reading programs (well, eight, since one just finished). The hard part is coordinating bus/train day trips to pick up participation prizes at the Bay Area branches. (Yes, I realize the travel expense cancels out the prize value, but I can’t resist the books. Some places have fancier prizes, too, like gift cards and tickets to attractions.) So, yeah, my reading goes way up this time of year. (I’m perfectly proud to track romances everywhere, but I admit I only log the overt smut, like the comics and sex books, out of town…)
@Deianira ~ my sympathies on the death of your mother.
A romance I read recently that had me laughing was The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren. Julie James FBI series has also had me laughing due to witty banter – try About That Night. From the not a romance realm, I’ll recommend The Little World of Don Camillo (Don Camillo Series Book 1) by Giovanni Guareschi.
@Deianira: I’m so sorry about your mom! Sometimes a long buildup makes it harder. My comfort read is HOLLYWOOD HI-FI by George Gimarc and Pat Reeder, a guide to singles and albums various movie and TV stars have recorded over the years. The truly terrible records get hilariously snarky skewerings (yes, the Fabio chapter is gold), but the authors also champion the obscure recordings that are apparently good (and there are surprisingly many). There’s supposed to be a new edition sometime, but if you get the current one you might want to check the authors’ note on the Amazon review page to finish the Herve Villachaize and Danny Bonaduce entries that got cut off in the original edition. Anyway, it still makes me giggle uncontrollably after all these years…
My reading habits don’t change a lot seasonally, but I do read a lot more when I travel (since I will be reading approximately the entire transit time if I’m not the one driving, plus I tend to be less online chatting with friends and more curling up with a book in the evenings, or over meals.)
After inhaling all of the books in the Rivers of London series (that were out at that point) when I was in London in 2015, I have been leaning toward picking something to enjoy (series wise) that has some connection to the trip, if I can. Or else saving up a series that I’ve been putting off where I’ll enjoy reading them all right after each other.
@Aarya – my local library does summer reading challenges for adults, too. This year’s is space themed, and there’s a 2 sided bingo sheet (5×5 each side, so 50 total items) that includes everything from watching meteor showers, listening to podcasts or watching documentaries or checking out websites about space related topics to a number of environmental things (try an evening without the lights on, recycle wear sunblock to protect yourself from solar radiation…)
And of course reading books of many different types related to space. The squares include “read a YA book featuring teens in outer space”, “a book with stars on the cover”, “read a space opera”, “read a futuristic novel with diverse characters”, and “read a science fiction subgenre you’ve never read before”, “read a biography about a scientist from a minority group”, and “a non-fiction book about space achievements and/or possibilities.” I love how wide-ranging it is. (It would be hard to complete a row or column without reading some kind of book.) You don’t have to tell them which books, though.
For each individual item, you get an entry in a prize raffle, for completing a row, you get 5 bonus entries, and there’s an additional bonus for doing an entire sheet. The prizes are all space themed (a telescope, a planetarium visit, plus some other fun ones.)
I recommend Laura Florand’s chocolate series; especially The Chocolate Temptation. Low angst, mucho love and chocolate!
My daughter loved the summer reading program where we lived until she was eleven. There were frequent prizes along the way, and at 128 books read there was a medal, a city council meeting, and the opportunity to shake hands with the mayor. Books over 100 pages counted as two books, and participants would chat with librarians from time to time about one or more of their books.
My library has an adult reading program (along with those for children and teens). In prior years it was a bingo which I enjoyed as it would have me reading books outside my usual genre (i.e., Read a classic or a biography or something from the Dewey decimal 500s). One would be entered into a drawing for each Bingo. Prizes might be gift certificates to local restaurants, the Parks department, etc. Currently the adult program offers a free book after reading five books (sparse selection) and, with reading time logged, entry into drawings as noted above.
@Deianira: so sorry for your loss. My mom also has Alzheimer’s and is under hospice care right now. It doesn’t matter how old we are, it’s so hard to see our mothers declining and fading away.
Unfortunately, I really like dark and/or angsty books—even my comfort reads feature plenty of emotional upheaval and conflict, so I really don’t have any “lighter” reads to recommend. I’m sure other members of the Bitchery will have some good recommendations though. Take care.
For a couple of years my local library had a multi-level summer reading program that included adults. For each book you read, you got a raffle ticket. There was only one prize per age group though. (There were prizes for hitting your reading goal in the below adult age groups.)
Unfortunately, they’ve eliminated the teen and adult groups. I assume their wasn’t enough participation, but I don’t think they really did much to promote it to adults. (I noticed completely by accident.) Even without the raffle, I’d probably sign up. It was a reason to go to the library regularly and an outside goal, which I found motivating.
As for general summer reading, I usually go into summer with a goal of reading more. I think I just associate it with more free time, even though it’s been a long time since that was true. Some years it even happens.
I used to read more in the summer until my mid-twenties because I was still a student and had more free time then. Over the past few years, as I’ve developed a group of authors whose new books I read annually around release date, summer has meant fewer library books and more time with the stack of to-be-read books I own. The authors I love most seem to release everything between January and April/May or between October and December. There are usually a couple of new releases I plan for in summer, but otherwise I go for the books I own and haven’t read or browse library and bookstore shelves for something new. Or re-read stuff while I try to decide what new thing to start. This June I finally started the Kate Daniels series. Definitely a good choice.
Weather doesn’t usually have anything to do with what I choose to read. It has more of an effect on TV and movie choices. Lots of The Glades and Death In Paradise as background noise during the summer just because it’s hot out.
I do read more in the summer, but it’s a function of just having more time. My job slows down a bit in the summer months, so I have that, and I don’t take classes in the summer months, so I’m not buried under homework, and my kids’ activities slow down, so I’m not running them all over the place and dealing with their school stuff. As a result, more reading. Plus, I’m staying with my in-laws at the moment while my house is being rebuilt from Hurricane Michael, and they have very different tastes in entertainment than my husband and I do, so I am often hanging out in the room that my husband and I stay in. I also tend to go kind of mystery and suspense happy in the summers. Again, with the slowdown at work, and not wrangling homework and classwork, so my brain is more able to focus on those kinds of stories.
@Deianira, I’m so very sorry about your mom. I tend to go historical romance when I need comfort and read Devil’s Daughter by Lisa Kleypas earlier this year during a week when I was both sick and under considerable stress. It’s sweet and funny, and pretty low-angst. It might be just what you need.
Multnomah County (Portland, Oregon) does summer reading for adults every year: https://multcolib.org/read-4-life-adult-summer-reading is this year’s link.
@Deianira, I’m so sorry for your loss. For light and fluffy, I go to Terry Pratchet — Going Postal and Guards! Guards! are favs, but also love the Tiffany Aching books. All are very funny and light without being simple. For romance, maybe Mr. Impossible by Loretta Chase? That whole series is good, but that one is also goofy. I also find Kate Daniels books by Ilona Andrews oddly relaxing, though they are very violent. For some reason a world with magic lets me remove myself emotionally.
I tend to read less in the summer because of adding outside work to my day.
I use two different libraries, one for free in my county and one I have to pay for (and is more conveniently located) outside of my county. And both of them have reading programs that include adults. I always participate, but have never won any of the prizes. I have noticed that as the years have gone by that they are getting less and less involved with their program content.
I am the Adult Programmer at my Library and instead of doing Summer Reading for adults, we do Winter Reading. Many of our adult patrons are so busy in the summer with kid involved activities, that we felt it would be easier for them to read during the winter. We offer a small prize for reading 5 books and then a ticket for each book you read up to 25. Readers use their tickets to vie for 5-6 prize baskets (Ice Cream Basket, Camping Basket, Technology Basket, Adult Coloring Basket, Local Wares Basket, etc.). They can scatter their tickets throughout the baskets or they can place all of them towards one basket for a better chance to win. We had 150+ adults participate last winter.
Like others in this comment thread, I am a teacher. I’m also lucky enough to not have to teach summer school, and to have childcare (my youngest has to pay anyways so we don’t lose it during the year, and my oldest adores summer school. ADORES.).
I read…a lot. I mean, I think I read 2-5 books a week during the school year (primarily romance with a heavy dusting of UF and some SF/F and SpecFic), between Audible and a long commute & the fact that anxiety makes me read in order to quiet my brain.
This summer I’m participating in my school’s reading challenge, which means I’ll be able to pick a book for the library’s collection. Our librarians are rockstars.
This is the first time I’m full-on tracking what I read. Since June 1, I’ve hit 56 books. A handful are rereads.
I also have finally fallen face-first into Julie Kagawa. LOVE. I cannot squee about SHADOW OF THE FOX and, especially, SOUL OF THE SWORD loudly enough.
In short? Summer rocks. (And I tend to buy my books as ebooks because I’m an inveterate rereader and am lucky enough to be able to do so. I also like being able to support authors in some way.)
My library also gives raffle tickets for completing time sheets for reading. Kids too, although theirs are in 15 minute blocks and adults are in 60. It’s nice incentive to work through my TBR.
My summer reading has been about 1:3 rereads : new to me books, my brain space is not great right now so sometimes I’m just reading something where I exactly know what to expect.
I read LESS in the summer. During the school year, I go to the gym after I drop my #2 at school — and I read on the treadmill with the kindle app made large on my MS surface screen. I go farther the more I like the book! In the summer, our schedule gets too erratic and I don’t make it to the gym very often. I mostly read paper in the summer. I just don’t have a rhythm.
And Seattle Public Library also does a nice book bingo for adults. I’m reading “Circe” by Madeline Miller for the square that is “big book.” I bought it in hardback awhile ago, and I after a winter of ebooks I had really forgotten how BIG a hardback can feel.
Good question! I guess some people don’t read for pleasure year-round and only have time to indulge on vacation. But, luckily, that’s not me. I like what I like. The amount of reading I do and the types of books don’t change for me just because of the season.
My local library has summer reading for adults. If you read 5 books you get entered into a drawing for a giftcard.
When I was a child, I was a constant reader, but I read even more in the summer, because I didn’t have to go to school. We didn’t have any challenges or prizes to read books-I did it for free!
Once I became a working adult, my reading habits became pretty much the same all year round. I do take extra books with me on vacation, but I often don’t get around to reading them, except on the plane.
Thanks everyone for the kind words & helpful suggestions. I’m snuggling in this week (after getting the grant billings out the door – government agencies wait for nothing, & our non-profit really needs the money), so I’ll be diving into some of these novels.
@Big K: I can’t believe I forgot about Terry Pratchett! Excellent choice for raising anyone’s spirits.
For me summer reading is definitely a thing, but unlike the more traditional view of summer reading as light or “beach reads” I tend to read a couple of more serious books during the summer. I think it’s because I have more time off and my brain can handle it, combined with the fact that I encourage my kids to read more widely in the summer and I feel like I should be leading by example. During the school year we are so busy, and reading is my escape/reward at the end of a busy day, so I tend to read almost exclusively romance with some romantic fantasy and UF sprinkled in. In the summer I will still read all that but will add some non-fiction if I find the topic interesting, or I’ll pick up some literary fiction that my book club recommended or whatever. It’s like during the school year, I might only have 30 minutes to an hour a day to read, so I’m going to read romance because that’s what truly makes me happy, but during the summer I get some extra reading hours so I can branch out a little! However when we go on vacation, I am strictly romance or GTFO, and I tend to plan ahead and bring either a series I want to plow through or a giant book I’ve been saving. We are heading out in early Aug. and I’ve got The Savior by JR Ward and Lisa Kleypas’ Hathaways series on deck for the trip!
@Deianira I am so sorry for your loss. Sending love and good thoughts. I think someone else recommended this as well, but if I am looking for something fun and light I often look to Christina Lauren. Specifically I would recommend Josh & Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating or Dating You/Hating You.
The library system I work for has a great adult summer reading program. If you (the adult) read for 10 hours you get a prize. If you read for 100 hours you get a bigger prize.
Deianira-I’m so very sorry for you loss. I lost my mother 6 years ago, and one thing I learned-grief comes in stages, and can blindside you. I wish we could wear the black armbands-so people know to tread carefully. I wish I didn’t have to say this, but I hope you know any way you are feeling is absolutely what you should be feeling. I got some very weird comments after my mother died, like I should buck up, I hadn’t lived close to her for years-the list goes on. Grief is HARD, and my thoughts are with you.
You asked for light reads, and I don’t know if you are interested in animals, but James Herriot books are wonderful. He was a vet in the Yorkshire Dales, and I have always found great comfort in his books. Not a romance book, by any means-but full of wonderful descriptive language that may take you to a different place and a different time.
As to the SBTB question-my reading is very different during the summer. Like @DiscoDollyDeb-I work for the school district-so I am off for the summer. I read lots of books during the school year, but I am going nuts this year reading books. I’m also an empty nester, so I am basically reverting to my childhood, where my parents would kick me out of the house to get some fresh air, because I spent all my time reading on my bed. I have to make deals with myself, “I will water the flowers after the end of this chapter.”.
My reading doesn’t change in type or in volume in the summer. Around the end of the year, I am inclined to read Holiday Romance Anthologies – so it lightens up then, but otherwise – my habits don’t change seasonally.