Here’s what to read this summer: A list of favorites from Raleigh area booksellers

In case you missed it by the record-breaking heat, summer is here.

Maybe you’re planning a beach getaway, and you need something to read.

Or if there’s no vacation in sight for you, you could still use something to read. A good book can take you anywhere.

Either way, now’s as good a time as any to visit one of the Triangle’s local booksellers and pick your next escape. And if you’re not sure where to start, or if the thought of browsing shelf after shelf of literature is just too much, The News & Observer’s Summer Desk is here to help.

We reached out to independent bookstores in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill to ask for summer reading recommendations. Here’s what they had to say.

(P.S. If you don’t see your favorite Triangle bookseller here, use the “Ask the North Carolina Service Journalism Team” form at the bottom of this article to let us know.)

What to read this summer, according to Chapel Hill’s Flyleaf Books

Maggie Robe, the marketing and events manager at Flyleaf, shared with The News & Observer five book recommendations in an email:

• “Sandwich” by Catherine Newman: This “hilarious and heartbreaking” book is great for fans of “Tom Lake.”
• “The Other Half” by Charlotte Vassell: “These bright young Millennial aristocrats and wannabes have it all, except when they wind up dead on Hampstead Heath. Was it bad drugs from the black-tie party at the local McDonalds, or murder? The investigation, led by the capable & relatable Detective Beauchamp, uncovers the dirty secrets, delusional behavior, & wicked lies of the triple-barreled elite of contemporary London.”
• “The Ministry of Time” by Kaliane Bradley: “My new favorite romance, I didn’t EVER want to leave this world. Perfect for Outlander fans, I adored all the characters in this charming and imaginative story. If you dig history, time-travel, and star-crossed lovers, you’ll love this one.”
• “This Summer Will Be Different” by Carley Fortune: Robe said this ode to Prince Edward Island made her want to re-read the “Anne of Green Gables” books and “plan a summertime pilgrimage involving lots of cute sundresses, braids, and flowers.”
• “Wellness” by Nathan Hill: This was one of Robe’s favorite reads from last year, “a send-up of modern marriage, middle-aged malaise, youthful idealism, parental failings, social media echo chambers and the pop science wellness industry.”

Flyleaf Books is located at 752 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Open 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday.

What to read this summer, according to Raleigh’s Blackbird Books & Coffee

Bre Brunswick, a co-owner of downtown Raleigh’s Blackbird Books & Coffee, provided five book recommendations:

• “The Midnight Feast” by Lucy Foley: “We are so excited about Lucy Foley’s newest release that takes place during the summer solstice at a manor in the woods. The local folklore surrounding the woods is eerie and immersive and the story is full of her signature twists and turns. This murder mystery takes you on a puzzle-like quest challenging you to fit the pieces together before the end!”
• “That Summer Feeling” by Bridget Morrissey: “Taking place in the Blue Ridge Mountains at an adult summer camp-this story is a beautiful and gentle love story emphasizing the importance of chosen family, being able to change your mind, and, of course, love.”
  
  
• “The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder” by C. L. Miller: “An unlikely duo of an antiques expert and her aunt take on the challenge of solving the mystery behind one of the biggest tragedies to shadow their life and find themselves deep in the dark side of antiquities and collecting. A murder mystery full of humor and eccentric characters makes this an excellent and satisfying summer read.”
  
  
• “Gwen & Art Are Not in Love” by Lex Croucher: “Laugh out loud funny and so very charming — this queer, young adult, Arthurian historical romance will give you all of the warm and fuzzies with enough action to make this a story you won’t want to put down.”
• “A Psalm for the Wild-Built” by Becky Chambers: “At only 160 pages this small book has enough charm and wisdom to stick with you long after reading. This cozy sci-fi story is about a non-binary monk and a robot who find themselves on an unlikely adventure searching for meaning and purpose. It is a warm hug and a reminder that it is all going to turn out just fine.”

Blackbird Books & Coffee is at 323 Blake St. Open 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday and Tuesday.

What to read this summer, according to Raleigh’s Quail Ridge Books

Staff at Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh provided recommendations for both children and adults.

Here are the picks for kids:

• “Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden” by Christy Mandin (picture book)
• “Sheepwrecked” by Ashley Belote (picture book)
• “Sunny the Shark” by Remy Lai (early chapter book)
• “Ferris” by Kate DiCamillo (middle grade)
• “Lei and the Invisible Island” by Malia Maunakea (middle grade)
• “Looking for Smoke” by K.A. Cobell (young adult thriller)
• “Of Cages and Crowns” by Joy Crump (young adult fantasy)
• “Of Princes and Poisons” by Joy Crump (young adult fantasy)

Here are the selections for adults, along with summaries and thoughts from Quail Ridge Books staff members:

• “The Husbands: A Novel” by Holly Gramazio: “A single woman’s attic supplies her with endless husbands. An amusing take on modern dating (and dating apps) which begs the question, ‘With an infinite number of possible mates, how does one choose?’”
• “Margo’s Got Money Troubles” by Rufi Thorpe: “So: a professional wrestler, an unemployed teen mom, and a sex worker walk into a bar........ But this isn’t a setup for a long-winded joke — it’s the premise of ‘Margo’s Got Money Troubles.’ By turns tender, bold, and comical, Thorpe’s tale of a teen-mom-turned-OnlyFans-personality is a thought-provoking exploration of what it means to survive and own one’s story in the face of unfavorable odds and an unsympathetic culture.”
• “I Hope This Finds You Well: A Novel” by Natalie Sue: “I simply could not stop reading this! Jolene captured my heart in this funny and surprisingly heartfelt workplace drama. Perfect for fans of ‘The Office’ and anyone who cheers for the underdog!”
• “Late Bloomer: A Novel” by Mazey Eddings: “When Opal wins the lottery, she buys a flower farm sight unseen. However, the seller neglected to mention that it wasn’t doing too hot financially, or that there was someone already living there. Pepper refuses to leave, and Opal bought the farm fair and square, so what else can they do but move in together? This sweet book has a classic grumpy x sunshine trope with neurodivergent rep, and it made me laugh out loud. A great Sapphic romance from an NC author!”
• “Long Island” by Colm Tóibín: “In Colm Tóibín’s new book, ‘Long Island,’ his masterful language and ability to draw quietly engaging characters is on full display. When a stranger knocks on Eilis Lacey’s door with an alarming message, her life and that of her family is thrown into disarray. After receiving the news, she returns to her hometown of Enniscorthy, where she confronts her past.”
  
  

Quail Ridge Books is located at 4209 Lassiter Mill Road in Raleigh’s North Hills. The store is open 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday.

What to read this summer, according to Golden Fig Books

David Bradley, the owner of Golden Fig Books, shared recommendations collected from staff at the bookstore:

• “Death Valley” by Melissa Broder: “A staff-favorite author at the Fig, Melissa Broder turns her shrewd eye to a woman seeking to escape her existential malaise by hiking through the California desert. When she stumbles upon — and into — an impossibly large cactus with an opening in its side, she’s catapulted into a journey both psychedelic and desolate, not unlike a particularly delirious episode of heat stroke.”
• “Big Swiss” by Jen Beagin: “Hilarious and bringing on full-body cringe, ‘Big Swiss’ is an excellent summer read. Our protagonist transcribes therapy sessions for an unlicensed New Age therapist and ends up falling in love with one of the clients – who she calls ‘Big Swiss.’ Because this occurs in a relatively small town and our protagonist is a messy character, her life begins to overlap with Big Swiss’s in more ways than one…”
• “The Bear and the Nightingale” by Katherine Arden: “Can’t take this awful summer heat? Escape to a colder realm with the first book in this Russian-inspired series that pits its fierce heroine against a host of fantasy-favorite villains including an evil stepmother, a corrupt clergyman, and the demon king of winter himself.”
• “Thirsty” by Jas Hammonds: “‘Thirsty’ follows Blake Brenner during the summer before college as she works hard to ensure her spot in the elusive Serena Society, a sorority focused on uplifting women of color. This book is fast paced and all-consuming as you follow Blake along for the ups and downs of this tumultuous summer. Between her own inner turmoil and the crushing opinions of those around her, watching Blake persevere and grow as she challenges the truth she used to trust is one heck of a ride.”
• “When We Were Birds” by Ayanna Lloyd Banwo: “It feels like a tropical forest outside, so why not slip into a lyrically lush tale of a young man, Darwin, who rejects his Rastafarian upbringing in order to provide for his sick mother by digging graves in the city? His journey away from his childhood home not only brings him closer to the unclean dead he’s been taught to avoid, but closer to Yejide, a young, newly orphaned woman burdened with the power to see the dead. ‘When We Were Birds’ is a leaving home story, ghost story, and romance all beautifully wrapped in one tender package.”

Golden Fig Books has two Triangle locations. The Durham store, at 2706 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd., is open 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, and closed Monday. The Carrboro store, located at 200 N. Greensboro St., is open 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.

This story was originally published July 17, 2024 at 10:23 AM with the headline "Here’s what to read this summer: A list of favorites from Raleigh area booksellers."

Renee Umsted

The News & Observer

202-383-6008

Renee Umsted is a service journalism reporter for The News & Observer. She has a degree in journalism from the Bob Schieffer College of Communication at TCU.