Summer Reading: All The Books I Read in June

This is my 100th post here on Substack! That feels big! Exciting! This space has truly become so special to me—an avenue for my whims that I deeply needed. It has unlocked my creativity in ways I never could have expected, bringing with it a totally unexpected sense of connection and opportunity. If there is one thing this milestone has taught me, it’s that you should never discount writing about your passions for no other reason than pure curiosity. I am thrilled to mark this milestone with what has become my favorite series to write.

For 2026, I set a goal to write a review for every book I finish. To capture what it feels like to live inside a story, the residue it leaves behind, what worked, what didn’t, and why. It’s basically a reading journal. My experience of reading each book, captured for myself and for you.

​In case you missed it, a few weeks ago I shared my summer reading list. I spend the entire year curating this list to perfectly capture summer’s distinct language—its magic, its melancholy, and, of course, its whimsy. The list is designed to maximize the “vibes” through just the right mix of pacing and subject matter. I want books that feel a little languid and sticky, paired with epic adventures and mixed with stories that sparkle.

A Whimsical World Summer Reading List

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Jun 13

​The community here has grown substantially over the last few months, mostly thanks to my Big List of Whimsical Artists. So I thought today, I would start off by introducing myself for those of you who are new here!

It’s a collection of books that capture summer as a feeling, summer as magic, and summer as adventure.

Seven books deep into this roster, and I’m happy to report that it’s going swimmingly (with a few exceptions, but it’s summer…we’re going with the flow).

For the most part, I’ve stayed true to the order I laid out. But I’ve also made some adjustments. I try to read intuitively—choosing what I crave, when I crave it. Sometimes that means skipping ahead to a book meant for August because a gloomy Tuesday in June demanded it. There is truly nothing worse than forcing yourself through a book that doesn’t match your current mood and environment.

I read for the absolute love of it—not to fulfill any grand intellectual ambitions or check boxes on a highbrow syllabus. The moment a reading list starts to feel like a chore or a slog, the magic evaporates (more on that later).

So, without further ado… because it’s summer and there is no time for lengthy introductions…Let’s get into it:

This series is technically for my paid subscribers, but because I truly believe books are the best thing in the world and sharing my love of reading with everyone is important, I leave these free for a week!