I have to admit that summer is not my favourite season. I’m of Scottish and British stock, you see, so I become a rather disgruntled tomato very quickly upon exposure to even the slightest hint of sun, having completely skipped that nice golden, sun-kissed stage. I find heat uncomfortable, even when I live in a part of the world that really isn’t that hot. On top of that, as of a couple of years ago, I seem to have developed some weird kind of asthma that only comes along in the summer, but means about half the summer I feel physically ill when I’ve been outside at all. If there are any forest fires (which these days seems to be inevitable and worsening) I spend days sleeping on the floor, using two inhalers and not taking off my N95 mask. This summer, thanks to this pesky coronavirus, I won’t even have new N95 masks and I’m not supposed to use one of my inhalers, so I have no clue what I’m going to do. So yeah, summers I grit my teeth and begin an early countdown to fall. But there are books that evoke what summer used to mean, back when I was healthy and summers were fun. Here are a few that bring it back:
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
I just finished re-reading this one. It’s more about spring than summer, but as one leads into the other and technically the book ends as summer is finishing, I think it counts. Plus it has all the things I love best about books set at this time of year.
Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes and A Year In Provence by Peter Mayle
Both of these are multi-seasonal, but at least part of each does have a wonderfully summery feel, and it’s made better by being set in Italy and France.
The Trouble with Goats and Sheep by Joanna Cannon
Set during the summer heat wave of 1976, this book is very much a summer book. Not only does it have the actual heat, but it has the pressure cooker of a neighbourhood of people who know way too much about one another’s business, and unabashedly get their noses all up in it.
Raising Demons by Shirley Jackson
There are some great depictions of family life during summer vacation in this book, and in a time when kids spent their summers romping around outside and playing actual games.
The Corfu Trilogy by Gerald Durrell
I am not sure what season these books predominantly take place in, as I think they actually span a few years, but with how much time he spends out in nature, it feels like how summer ought to feel.
This One Summer by Mariko and Jillian Tamaki
All about a young girl’s summer vacation on a lake when she’s just old enough to start picking up on more adult things going on around her, but not yet old enough to have the maturity to properly understand or engage with them. That in between stage that is so intensely uncomfortable and unsettling is one I strongly recollect (mine lasted most of high school) and this book evokes it perfectly.
Free Days with George by Colin Campbell
I loved the carefree feeling of freedom this book evokes. And at one point George (the dog) does learn to surf in California, so it totally counts.
The Vacationers by Emma Straub
I didn’t love the book, but it is quite summery.
Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome
This is one of the ultimate summer stories for me. It’s about two families of kids who spend the summer on small sail boats and making camp on an island off the coast of where their family’s summer home is. They have all kinds of adventures, and a healthy rivalry going on (hence the title). I love how self-sufficient the kids are, how much freedom they have, and how much the enjoy nature and camping.
In A Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson
Because Australia.
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
It’s possible this one just took place in the south, so my mind made it feel warm. It’s been a couple of decades since I read it (it’s on my re-read list, though), so you tell me – are there summer vibes in this one??
I know there are others, probably lots of them, but that’s all I can remember for now! If you have any good recommendations – fiction or memoir equally loved – please drop them in the comments!
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All of these definitely lend themselves to summer vibes!
Yay! I managed to pull it off! 😉
Oh, A Year In Provence – I almost forgot that book altogether. Loved it (and then they made a TV series out of it as well.)
I adore the TV series! One of my favourites to re-watch when I’m feeling a bit the worse for wear!
Under the Tuscan Sun sounds good. I’m so sorry that summers are so rough for you! Perhaps summery vibes to you would be dark dystopians where everybody is miserable.
Hahahaha! Maybe. Nothing wrong with a little schadenfreude!
The Corfu Trilogy is one of my favorites.
Thanks for sharing!
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Me too, though I have read 2 of the 3 so far. I kind of don’t want it to be over! Love the TV series as well. One of my faves.
Swallows and Amazons sounds really interesting. Raising Demons added to the TBR as well!
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Love both of those! Swallows and Amazons is an older book, so requires a bit of work to get into. Once you’re in it though, it’s magical! I love Shirley Jackson’s memoirs because she’s got the best deadpan humour ever, and so many of her issues as a mom are still relatable over half a century later.
Great list. I would never have guessed to put The Secret Garden on the list.
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I nearly didn’t! But I had just finished it and was still feeling the vibes, so on it went!
Oh, no wonder you dislike summer! That sounds very uncomfortable.
It sounds like my skin is a couple of shades darker than yours (my ancestry is German), but I still need to limit my sunlight exposure for medical reasons. So summer can be frustrating at times.
And I love the idea of a dog named George learning how to surf.
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Yeah, I have vitiligo too so sun requires full sun block! I felt like I’d gone on long enough listing ailments and complaints so I skipped that one, but definitely another reason to dislike the summer experience! I really enjoyed George. I’d recommend the book if you enjoy heart-warming animal stories!
The Secret Garden, I didn’t even think of that one. I still have to let my daughter read that one. I think we just got it on the kindle.
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I just read the Kindle In Motion version which was kind of cool. Little moving images scattered throughout the book. Was an interesting element for sure! I can’t wait to read it with my kid, but she’s too young yet, plus since it starts with the parents dying of cholera, it feels a little close to home at the moment!
I have to admit I’m not a massive summer lover either (English and Scottish, so I also bake in the heat), I definitely prefer being wrapped up in my cosy winter clothes!
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Oh god, me too. I live for scarves and woolly socks and cold noses. I don’t like being too cold, but as long as I’ve got a warm home to curl up in, I’ll take the cold over the heat any day! I mean it’s not like you can un-bundle past a certain point when it’s hot. You’re just stuck with it. That’s the problem. Cold you can remedy.
Under the Tuscan Sun was a great choice!
I loved that book when I first read it back in high school. One of the first travel memoirs I read, and I felt completely transported by it. Have been dreaming of Tuscany ever since!
To Kill a Mockingbird is a great choice. I feel like parts of it took place during the summer, too? (It’s been many years since I read it).
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Me too! I feel like it was set during a summer vacation and that’s how it could centre on two kids roaming free in their neighbourhood. But who knows. Could be complete fabrication on my part!
I’ve seen This One Summer on a few lists today. It looks really interesting. Can’t wait to read it.
It was interesting – not exactly what I expected, but definitely worth a try. I tend to have a harder time with graphic novels so it wasn’t a favourite of mine, but I’ve heard a lot of rave reviews from other readers!
I agree on To Kill A Mockingbird! I think coming-of-age novels generally remind me of summer, for some reason. Perhaps because summers are so memorable when you’re growing up?
You know what, I hadn’t thought of it that way but I totally agree! Also I feel like the type of summer books that involve adults going to a summer house or “summmering” somewhere aren’t relatable to normal folk. That’s not an experience I can bring up memories of, whereas romping around outdoors as a kid I totally can!
As a fellow Brit, I share your summer pain! This June is too hot especially with lockdown!
Great list and I had To Kill A Mockingbird on mine too. Thanks for sharing!
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I was not built for global warming. Lockdown isn’t so bad, but I miss easy access to masks for sure! I really need to read TKAM again – it’s been over 20 years and I barely remember anything anymore except that it made a huge impression at the time!