Summer reading should feel like momentum you can’t shake. We’re German and Jacqui, and we’re bringing a stack of beach reads that are bingeable, a little unhinged, and surprisingly thoughtful, even when they’re dark. If your ideal vacation book is short chapters, high stakes, and characters making questionable choices, you’re in the right place. We start with what “summer reads” actually means to us, then trade recommendations that hit very different moods. Jacqui breaks down Good Rich People by Eliza Jane Brazier, a sharp, twisted satire about wealth, entitlement, and a tenant who refuses to be a pawn. German brings Boy’s Life by Robert McCammon, a nostalgic coming-of-age novel where childhood magic runs straight into real-world evil, plus a reminder that a long book can still be the perfect companion across slow summer afternoons. From there, we go darker and more intimate: Everyone In This Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily Austin blends anxiety, identity, and dark humor with a mystery thread, while Whalefall by Daniel Kraus turns grief and guilt into an action-packed survival thriller with an unforgettable premise. Jacqui also shares The Push by Ashley Audrain for readers who love domestic thrillers, unreliable reality, and stories that question the myth of perfect motherhood. And yes, we toss in a bonus horror pick, Maeve Fly, because summer is a great time for glamorous darkness too. Subscribe for more book recommendations, share this with a friend who needs a new beach read, and leave us a review so more readers can find the show. What’s your go-to summer genre?
Books Discussed in this episode:
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