What to read this summer, according to our NPR colleagues
In this episode of NPR's Book of the Day, NPR colleagues share their summer reading recommendations across fiction and nonfiction. The fiction picks range from romance novels featuring unconventional relationships and cross-country adventures to contemporary works that use setting as a lens for examining gentrification, desire, and domestic life. These recommendations include modern takes on classic stories and narratives set against the backdrop of social change.
The nonfiction recommendations highlight a trend toward making academic subjects accessible through personal narrative, including Kimberle Crenshaw's memoir on intersectionality and critical race theory. The episode also features books that use environmental and geographical perspectives to explore historical and social questions, such as examining the Mississippi Delta's persistent poverty despite its agricultural richness and investigating how trees communicate and what they reveal about the natural world.
This is a preview of the Shortform summary of the Jul 3, 2026 episode of the NPR's Book of the Day
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1-Page Summary
Fiction Recommendations Spanning Romance and Contemporary Novels
A diverse set of fiction recommendations includes adventurous romance novels and contemporary works exploring relationships and social change.
Romance Novels Combine Adventure, Humor, and Unconventional Relationships
"Enemies to Lovers" by Alicia Rai features Krish, an upstanding citizen, and Sejal, a woman who cons bad men, teaming up on a cross-country road trip to solve a crime. Meanwhile, "The Missed Connection" by Tia Williams follows Sasha, who falls for her seatmate on a flight and hires a detective to reconnect, leading to a romantic adventure that showcases Williams's blend of emotion and thrilling storytelling.
Place as Character: Fiction Explores Social Change and Relationships
"Last Night in Brooklyn" by Sochil Gonzalez has been described as a modern update to "The Great Gatsby," exploring gentrification and neighborhood dynamics through glamorous parties and an alluring neighbor. "Dear Monica Lewinsky" by Julia Langbein follows a college student in 1998 who develops a relationship with her professor during a study abroad program, examining desire and perspective with Lewinsky as a sort of patron saint for the protagonist. "The Shampoo Effect" centers on a writer who joins a tight-knit friend group in Maine, exploring domestic life, parenthood, and unexpected twists.
Nonfiction Simplifying Academic Topics Via Personal Narrative and Memoir
A growing trend in nonfiction makes complex academic subjects approachable through personal storytelling. Kimberle Crenshaw's memoir "Backtalk" exemplifies this approach, transforming concepts like intersectionality and critical race theory into compelling stories through her life as a natural backtalker. According to Morning Edition host Michelle Martin, who interviewed Crenshaw, the memoir is raw, humorous, and emotionally resonant, offering an accessible entry point into these influential ideas for general readers.
Environmental Narratives: Exploring History and Society Through Nature and Geography
An increasing number of books use the environment to understand broader historical and social questions. "Darkness on the Delta" by Ralph Eubanks examines why the Mississippi Delta, despite having the richest soil in the United States, remains one of the poorest regions. Eubanks investigates the region's plantation economy legacy and what it would take for communities to break free from that history. Similarly, "In Trees" by Robert Moore approaches trees philosophically, exploring their intelligence and communication abilities while weaving together histories of bonsai and tree houses with climate activism, illustrating how studying trees enriches human understanding of the natural world.
1-Page Summary
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- The trend of simplifying complex academic topics through personal narrative and memoir, while making them more accessible, may risk oversimplifying nuanced theories or omitting important scholarly context.
- Romance novels that rely on tropes like "enemies to lovers" or "missed connections" can sometimes feel formulaic or predictable to readers seeking more originality.
- Using setting as a "character" in contemporary fiction, as in "Last Night in Brooklyn," may at times overshadow character development or plot depth.
- Memoirs like Kimberle Crenshaw's "Backtalk" that focus on personal experience may not fully represent the diversity of perspectives within academic fields such as critical race theory.
- Environmental narratives that focus on philosophical or anthropomorphic interpretations of nature, such as tree intelligence in "In Trees," may be criticized for lacking scientific rigor or for romanticizing natural phenomena.
Actionables
- you can turn your next routine errand or commute into a mini adventure by inventing a playful backstory or mystery to solve along the way, adding humor and a sense of unconventional connection with people you encounter, like imagining you and a stranger are unlikely allies on a secret mission.
- a practical way to deepen your understanding of your neighborhood’s changes is to keep a weekly photo journal of local places, noting shifts in businesses, architecture, or community events, and reflecting on how these changes affect your sense of belonging and connection.
- you can make complex nonfiction topics more relatable by writing a short personal story or diary entry that connects a big idea (like intersectionality or environmental change) to a moment in your own life, focusing on how it made you feel or changed your perspective.
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Fiction Recommendations Spanning Romance and Contemporary Novels
A diverse set of fiction recommendations ranges from adventurous romance rom-coms to contemporary novels exploring relationships and social change.
Romance Novels Combine Adventure, Humor, and Unconventional Relationships
"Enemies to Lovers" by Alicia Rai: A Man and Woman With Contrasting Backgrounds Take a Road Trip to Solve a Crime
"Enemies to Lovers" by Alicia Rai is an adventure romantic comedy featuring Krish, an upstanding citizen, and Sejal, a woman who makes her living conning bad men. This unlikely duo teams up to solve a crime, and their partnership plays out during a cross-country road trip, blending romance, humor, and action.
"Missed Connection": Woman Meets Someone on Plane, Hires Detective to Track Them, Leads To Romantic Adventure
"The Missed Connection" by Tia Williams, a celebrated contemporary romance author, follows Sasha, a woman who falls for her seatmate during a flight but fails to get any contact information. Determined to reconnect, she enlists the help of a detective she knows. This search transforms into another romantic adventure, highlighting Williams's blend of relatable emotion and thrilling storytelling.
Place as Character: Fiction Explores Social Change and Relationships
"Last Night in Brooklyn" by Sochil Gonzalez Echoes "the Great Gatsby" Themes in Gentrification and Escapism
"Last Night in Brooklyn" by Sochil Gonzalez is set during a sticky summer in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. The novel has been described as a modern update to "The Great Gatsby," centering on gentrification and shifting neighborhood dynamics. The protagonist navigates a world of glamorous parties and an alluring neighbor, examining escapism against a changing social backdrop.
"Dear Monica Lewinsky" by Julia Langbein: College Student's Relationship With Professor Explores Desire and Perspective
"Dear Monica Lewinsky" by Julia ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Fiction Recommendations Spanning Romance and Contemporary Novels
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- The "Enemies to Lovers" trope, while popular, can sometimes feel formulaic or predictable, potentially limiting the originality of the story.
- The premise of "The Missed Connection" relies on a somewhat implausible scenario, which may challenge readers' suspension of disbelief.
- "Last Night in Brooklyn" drawing parallels to "The Great Gatsby" could be seen as derivative or overly reliant on established literary themes rather than offering a wholly original perspective.
- "Dear Monica Lewinsky" uses a real-life public figure as a symbolic device, which some readers mi ...
Actionables
- you can plan a themed day trip with someone whose background or interests differ from yours to tackle a shared challenge, like navigating a new city or solving a local puzzle, blending adventure, teamwork, and humor to build connection.
- a practical way to explore shifting neighborhood dynamics is to take a self-guided walk in your area during different times of day, jotting down observations about changes in businesses, people, and atmosphere, then reflecting on how these shifts affect your sense of belonging and com ...
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Nonfiction Simplifying Academic Topics Via Personal Narrative and Memoir
Academic Memoirs Transform Intimidating Subjects Into Relatable Stories
A significant trend in nonfiction is taking intimidating, complex subjects and making them approachable through personal narrative. Kimberle Crenshaw’s memoir, "Backtalk," exemplifies this approach. As a law professor whose work led to the development of the critically important—and politically debated—concepts of intersectionality and critical race theory, Crenshaw has long been at the center of academic discourse.
Kimberle Crenshaw's Memoir "Backtalk" Offers a Raw, Humorous, and Emotionally Affecting Account Of how Her Life Shaped Intersectionality and Critical Race Theory, Making These Concepts Approachable for General Readers
"Backtalk" transforms terms that sound strictly academic into compelling stories by detailing Crenshaw’s life as a natural backtalker. According to Morning Edition host Michelle Martin, who interviewed ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Nonfiction Simplifying Academic Topics Via Personal Narrative and Memoir
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- While personal narratives can make academic concepts more relatable, they may oversimplify or omit important theoretical nuances, potentially leading to misunderstandings of the original ideas.
- Relying on memoir and storytelling may prioritize emotional resonance over rigorous analysis, which could undermine the complexity and depth of academic subjects like intersectionality and critical race theory.
- Some readers may prefer direct engagement with primary academic texts rather than mediated interpretations through personal stories, as memoirs can introduce subjective bias.
- The approach of using personal narrative to explain controversial topics may not satisfy readers seeking ...
Actionables
- you can write a short personal story about a time you noticed overlapping aspects of your identity affecting how you were treated, then swap out any academic terms for everyday language to make your experience easy for anyone to understand; for example, instead of using terms like intersectionality, describe how being both a woman and a person of color shaped a specific moment in your life.
- a practical way to make complex ideas more relatable is to share a funny or emotional anecdote with a friend or family member, then ask them to explain what they took away from your story in their own words; this helps you see if your storytelling makes the concept accessible and emotionally reson ...
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Environmental Narratives: Exploring History and Society Through Nature and Geography
A growing number of books use the environment as a lens to better understand broader historical, social, and philosophical questions.
Books Explore Links Between Geography, History, and Economics
"Darkness on the Delta" by Ralph Eubanks is one such example. The book examines the Mississippi Delta, an area with some of the richest soil in the United States. Despite its fertile land, the Delta remains one of the poorest regions in the country. Eubanks investigates this paradox by looking at the region’s landscape and its impact on history. He traces the legacy of the Delta's plantation economy and explores what it would take for its communities to break free from that history. Eubanks highlights how the land once held great promise for Black farmers and considers the persistent economic and social challenges that stem from this legacy.
Nature's Philosophy: Enriching Human Understanding
Another book in this environmental narrative tradition is "In Trees" by Robert Moore. Moore approaches trees from a philosophical per ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Environmental Narratives: Exploring History and Society Through Nature and Geography
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- While the environment can provide valuable insights into history and society, focusing primarily on environmental factors may risk underemphasizing the roles of political, cultural, or technological influences in shaping historical outcomes.
- The persistent poverty of the Mississippi Delta may also be attributed to broader systemic issues such as policy decisions, educational disparities, and economic shifts, not solely the legacy of the plantation economy or the region's geography.
- The idea that the land "once offered great promise for Black farmers" may overlook the significant structural barriers, such as discriminatory lending practices and violence, that limited Black farmers' opportunities regardless of the land's fertility.
- The assertion that trees are "smart" and communicate may anthropomorphize plant behavior; while trees exhibit complex biological processes, equating these with intelligence or communication in the human sense can ...
Actionables
- you can use your local environment as a prompt for personal reflection by journaling about how your neighborhood’s landscape shapes your daily experiences, relationships, and opportunities, helping you see connections between place and personal history
- (for example, write about how a nearby river, park, or industrial area influences your community’s culture, economy, or sense of belonging).
- a practical way to explore the relationship between land and opportunity is to map out the history of a single plot of land in your area, noting who has owned or used it over time and how its use has changed, to better understand how legacies of ownership and access affect present-day communities
- (for example, research a local farm, vacant lot, or public space and trace its transitions, then reflect on who benefited or lost out at each stage).
- you can observe trees in your neighborhood and r ...
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