lou's library

As summer is coming to an end (in the northern hemisphere, anyway) and I’m slowly making a list of the books I do really want to still get around to this year, I thought it might be a good idea to take a look back and see what I’ve been reading this summer. There have been some absolute bangers in there, alongside a bunch of okay books. I’d say there’s a good mix of everything in there, so let’s get stuck in, shall we?

Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas

Over the summer, I’ve been slowly but surely making my way through Sarah J. Maas’ Throne of Glass series. I recently finished Tower of Dawn, which is the second to last book and has been my favourite of the entire series so far!! In case you’ve been living under a rock, Throne of Glass is a fantasy series focusing on fae and an assassin who has to face multiple threats to her safety. At least that’s where the series begins, but trust me when I say that you’ll be going on quite an adventure with these characters. It’s not as addictive as Sarah J. Maas’ A Court of Thorns and Roses series, but makes up for that with a plot that isn’t full of holes and just way more layered! There are so many turns and twists in this series, and it’s meaty enough to really get lost in its world. Highly recommend!! (But bear in mind I haven’t read the last book yet so all might still go horribly wrong).

You Are Here by David Nicholls

As I’m sure you’re well aware (seeing as how I never shut up about it), I read One Day by David Nicholls earlier that summer. I’ll spare you the details, but let’s just say that book ruined me. Naturally, I then had to get the author’s new book!! It’s been a goal of mine to not to this thing where I love a book by an author and then never pick up another book by them again. So this was me not doing this!! Unfortunately, I didn’t love You Are Here nearly as much as One Day. Maybe it’s unfair to compare the two, because One Day is just outstanding and also because the premise of the two books is very different. You Are Here follows two middle-aged protagonists (are you middle-aged if you’re in your late thirties??), walking from coast to coast through England. There’s more to it than that, obviously, but that’s the gist of it. That sounded very promising to me because I love walking, I love England, and I love One Day by David Nicholls. And while the writing was at times almost as good as in One Day, I just didn’t connect with the characters that much. And that’s kind of crucial with such a character-driven book. I’d still recommend it though as it is funny and entertaining and well-written, and I realise someone else might find it easier to connect to the characters.

Poyums by Len Pennie

Uffffff. This gorgeous poetry collection was kindly gifted to me for my birthday by a dear, dear friend. It’s partly written in Scots, but I’d say you’d be fine reading this even without a good grasp of the dialect. Most of the time, you should be able to at least understand the gist of what’s going on, even if you don’t understand every word. I do understand that when it comes to poetry, every word does matter, though, so perhaps check out Len Pennie’s Youtube channel first if you’re unsure. She reads some of her poems aloud, which is a wonderful way of experiencing them in my opinion. This collection touches on subjects such as physical abuse and growing up as a woman, so do make sure you’re comfortable with these subject matters before diving in.

Narziss und Goldmund by Hermann Hesse

This is a German classic that has been translated into numerous languages (the English title is Narcissus and Goldmund). I didn’t know what to expect diving into it, as I’d never read a book by Hermann Hesse before. Safe to say I ADORED this. The writing is unique and beautiful, and yet so accessible and precise. It centres on our two protagonists Narziss and Goldmund, who grow up at a monastery together. One of them leaves in search for adventures (and boy does he find them) and we follow him as he changes and adapts his worldview and challenges his preconceived notions. It’s so full of wisdom and immersive and has quickly become one of my favourite classics!! Someone hand me all of Hesse’s novels please!!

Free Therapy by Rebecca Ivory

I saw this book everywhere on Instagram and so had to buy it. It also ticked off two of the books I want to read more of: short stories and books by Irish authors. Win win, I’d say. The stories centre around women in their twenties, who do not have their lives figured out, and I felt very seen because hello, that’s me!! I often find short story collections to be quite hit and miss, and I would say that is the case here to some extent. I didn’t enjoy the first story much, but then they improved with each one until I found myself really enjoying them! They’re all around 25 to 30 pages long, so it’s really easy to read the collection in small installments. I particularly liked the little observations of modern life that were sprinkled in these stories and would definitely like to read more by Rebecca Ivory!

Kala by Colin Walsh

Set in a small Irish town, revolving around a murder mystery that happened a decade ago, Kala is atmospheric and enticing. We follow a group of adults who used to be best friends until one of them was murdered, and see them trying to keep their shit together as new proof emerges. I loved the premise, the characters and the feel of the story, but the author did lose me a bit in the last third. I guess the conclusion just wasn’t what I had been expecting (which needn’t be a bad thing!), and I though it all a bit random in the end. Maybe my hopes were up a bit too high because it all started off so promising, but now I’m sort of undecided about this book. Would love to know your thoughts if anyone else has read this!!

So there you go, these are some of the books I read this summer!! Any of them sound good to you? Let me know if you give one of these a try!