Lord have mercy! The temperatures yesterday were getting too close to 100 degrees for me.
When it’s too hot to go outside, what’s a person to do? Read.
Since the 4th of July is upon us, I thought I’d suggest an even dozen books for your summer reading list. Lately, I’ve read several memoirs, some outstanding novels, and a couple of thought provoking non-fiction books about activism. Seven of the titles are books we read in my book club (26+ years and going strong).
We know that readers are leaders. And, after 10 years of coaching leaders, I’ve modified this to “Consumers of the written word are leaders.” I evolved this phrase because I know plenty of brilliant people who consume books through audio. And, for many, many people with reading struggles, it’s the only way they can both consume books and enjoy them. Many of my clients have dyslexia and audio books have given their reading life new impetus.
So, in no particular order, here we go!
James by Percival Everett. Fiction. This 2025 Pulitzer Prize winner is firmly ensconced in my top 10 best books of all time. Everett creates an alternate story for the character Jim from Huckleberry Finn. The book also has a touch of magical realism It’s compelling reading with flashes of humor and interesting twists for both James and Huck. I read it in one sitting because I could not put it down.
The Women by Kristin Hannah. Historical Fiction. This novel about women who served as Army nurses in Vietnam is a must read. It’s a timely reminder of the struggles women encountered in the Armed Services in the 60’s and 70’s and how some of those struggles are rearing their ugly heads now. I particularly relished Hannah’s unflinching look at the world surrounding the women both inside and outside of the war. It reminded me of the importance of my girlfriends – all of them. Read with a box of tissues at hand. It’s moving, even gutting at some points.
Becoming Madam Secretary by Stephanie Dray. Historical Fiction. In this highly researched novel about the first woman to serve in the Cabinet, Frances Perkins, Dray shows us Perkins’s savvy, power, and determination as the woman who insisted on, facilitated, and administered the creation of both Social Security and Medicare. I particularly enjoyed the stories of how Perkins developed her political savvy, maneuvered around the political bosses of the day, and was called on by FDR to be a key advisor as he worked to create the New Deal to pull the United States out of the Great Depression.
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry. Fiction. This is a great story about professional drive, families, and secrets. I always enjoy Henry’s books. Her facility with character development has created a riveting story. I particularly enjoyed this one because of the many layers of the story, plus, the twist at the end is fabulous.
Cher: The Memoir, Part One by Cher. Memoir. Y’all. I can’t even. It’s Cher and it reads like Cher. Talk about a wild upbringing! From being left in an orphanage a couple of different times by her mother, to her daredevil activities from the time she could walk, to her mom’s multiple marriages, and her own marriage to Sonny, Cher shares it all – with photos. I loved it. Fun fact: One of her aunts created Elvis’s sequined bodysuit. Yep. Cher was going to always end up loving clothes and partnering with Bob Mackie. I read the book and listened to the audio. As Cher, who has severe dyslexia, explains in the introduction to the audio book, reading out loud is torture for her, so she reads only the beginning of each chapter. Then, Stephanie J. Block, who won a Tony for portraying Cher on Broadway, reads the rest. It’s uncanny how much Block sounds like Cher. Cher: The Memoir, Part Two will be available in November. I cannot wait.
Ina Garten: Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten. Memoir. While you may know Ina Garten from her tv show The Barefoot Contessa, you may not know about her careers and her journey to serendipitously purchase the iconic store, The Barefoot Contessa. While I knew a lot about Garten’s history before I read the book, I didn’t realize what an entrepreneur and savvy businesswoman she truly is. I have recommended this book to Book Club and a couple of clients. If you’re a fan of Garten, I guarantee you’ll hear her voice in your head as you read it.
Hope in the Dark: Untold Histories, Wild Possibilities by Rebecca Solnit. Non-fiction. Originally published in 2009, and re-published in 2014 with a new foreword and afterward, I read the third edition, published in 2016, also with a new foreword and afterward. I kept seeing excerpts from this book in my social media and what I read resonated with me. Hope informed by reality. Hope with full recognition of the dark. Solnit is a historian who writes about maintaining hope in times of despair. She shines a light on political movements, large and small, that have shifted our world. I strongly suggest this book to every person in my circle (okay, I insist that they read it) and encourage folks to buy the book so it can be passed on. I was struck by her descriptions of how movements stall and can fail to recognize that even partial success is success. This echoes what I learned from Loretta J. Ross (Calling In) when I attended her lecture at Agnes Scott College where Ross referenced Solnit’s work.
Calling In: How to Start Making Change with Those You’d Rather Cancel by Loretta J. Ross. Non-fiction. As I mentioned above, I heard Ross speak at Agnes Scott College in February. In her book, which is “part memoir and part manifesto,” Ross encourages us to re-assess the way we communicate during conflicts with others. Her personal story echoes with the importance of understanding both all sides of an issue to deliver change that works for the most people. Her suggestions for how to communicate with people that agree and disagree with you at different intensities resonated with me. Ross also shares the stories of movements and victories lost because of an inability to recognize success when it looks us in the face – and doesn’t look exactly like we want it to. Another book that I recommend to my friends, family, and clients.
The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters by Balli Kaur Jaswal. Fiction. Jaswals’ previous book, Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows was a Reese’s Book Club pick (which I also read and loved). This is the story of three sisters who have lost their connection to each other, and their mother’s dying wish that they go on a pilgrimage to India to reclaim their sisterhood. Jaswal submerges us in the sisters’ discovery of each other’s misunderstood pasts and their struggle to return to each other. It’s a beautiful story with fully realized characters and a setting that serves as a character in the novel.
The 100 Years of Lenni and Margo by Marianne Cronin. Fiction. I loved loved loved this book. Its premise is original, the characters are stunning, and the deliver of the story is just stunning. Cronin has created two characters, one 17 and one 83, who jump from the page. The poignant story takes place in the Terminal Ward at a hospital in Glasgow. Lenni and Margo become a duo who bring unlikely spirit, practicality, and pathos to the hospital where they live. Cronin thoughtfully depicts the atmosphere of the hospital, the characters that surround Lenni and Margo, and Lenni and Margo’s determination to find joy and keep going. In my opinion, it’s a tour de force. After writing this, I think I’m going to read it again this week.
For the record, I started out with a list of 5 books to share and ended up with this dozen. I could have done 30!
Keep the faith, and,
Happy Reading!
Becky