My summer reading season was glorious.
I made reading a priority and, because of some travel and sick time, I was able to set aside quite a bit of time for reading. In all, I read 34 books in June, July, and August.
Here are some tips of what helped me prioritize reading in this season:
- I created a reading nook. I bought a special chair, set up a good reading lamp, and gathered a comfy blanket in a corner of my bedroom and that’s where I did most of my reading.
- I read what I wanted. I didn’t put any pressure on myself about what I would read, just that I would read. That meant I got to read whatever I felt like, including starting a new romance series, which is way outside my typical murder mystery genre.
- I put books on reserve. I used my local library a lot over the summer, which means I almost always had something to pick up from reserve that I was looking forward to. That kept me motivated to keep reading.
- I listened to books on audio. When I was traveling or running errands, I made sure I had a couple books available on audio. I realized this summer that I usually tend to listen to nonfiction and read fiction more traditionally.
- I took time off content creation. It’s no surprise to me that my highest reading month (July) was also the month I decided to take a break from producing new content for my podcasts and blog. That meant I had more time for reading.
It’s always a good reminder that prioritizing things we find important can take time and planning.
And, in case you’re interested, here’s the monthly breakdown of what I read this past summer, separated by fiction and non-fiction:
June — 13 books read
Fiction (8):
- The Good Goodbye by Carla Buckly
- Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
- George by Alex Gino (listened on audio)
- Right Behind You by Lisa Gardner
- Missing, Presumed by Susie Steiner
- Two Steps Forward by Graeme Simsion
- And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer by Fredrik Backman
- Invisible by Carla Buckly
Nonfiction (5):
- Beyond the Body Farm: A Legendary Bone Detective Explores Murders, Mysteries, and the Revolution in Forensic Science by William Bass
- The Happiness Curve by Jonathan Rauch (listened on audio)
- On Becoming a Novelist by John Gardner
- The Neuroscientist Who Lost Her Mind: My Tale of Madness and Recovery by Barbara Lipska
- Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover (listened on audio)
July — 15 books read
Fiction (9):
- Shelter Mountain by Robyn Carr
- Bones Never Lie by Kathy Reichs
- The Dark Angel by Elly Griffiths
- Virgin River by Robyn Carr
- Sulfur Springs by William Kent Krueger
- Bones of the Lost by Kathy Reichs
- Manitou Canyon by William Kent Krueger
- The Liar’s Lullaby by Meg Gardiner
- I Know a Secret by Tess Gerritsen
Nonfiction (6):
- Braving the Wilderness by Brené Brown
- Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lives I’ve Loved by Kate Bowler (listened on audio)
- First, We Make the Beast Beautiful by Sarah Wilson
- I Quit Sugar by Sarah Wilson
- The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson
- Life Work by Donald Hall
August — 6 books read
Fiction (6):
- The Story of Arthur Truluv by Elizabeth Berg
- I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh
- Don’t Let Go by Harlan Coben
- A Virgin River Christmas by Robyn Carr
- Whispering Rock by Robyn Carr
- Speaking in Bones by Kathy Reichs
I would recommend any of these reads if you are looking for something to settle in with in the coming months.
To think on:
- What did you read this summer?
- What should I add to my fall list?
