A Short & Sweet Summer Reading List

Image by stenedit via Unsplash.

In my neck of the woods, we’re enjoying the height of summer. The glorious, long days. The fragrant air. The opportunity to live so much of life outside, passing the hours in a slow drift from early birdsong to the evening’s fireflies.

We’ve also dealt with waves of oppressive heat.

While this author lady loves nothing more than to curl up with a good book, I do recognize that high temperatures have a way of nudging us toward a swim or a nap instead. I’m also of the belief that there shouldn’t be any shame attached to having a shorter attention span on lazy summer afternoon.

I spend a lot of time writing about books here, but let’s set them aside for the moment.

Because a fulfilling reading life doesn’t require an all-or-nothing commitment. I’ve found that weaving shorter pieces into my day offers another element of richness, while also making me feel accomplished with far less effort. Today, I’m sharing a few (short and sweet) reads that scream summer. With less time required on your part, they conjure the summery mood we wait for all year. Promise!

Let’s start this list with the Queen of the Beach Read herself, Elin Hilderbrand. In this piece, Hilderbrand recalls her own summer memories and writes beautifully about the nostalgic power of the American summer. I’m betting that this read makes you misty-eyed for past summers, while also nudging you to make new memories now.

This poem, “Nostalgia (The Lake at Night),” by Lloyd Schwartz will give you goosebumps. Even if your summer memories aren’t of the lake life variety, this exquisite poem captures the fleeting sweetness of a summer evening.

Though this fun guide was published last summer, “The Aging Millennial’s Guide to Summer,” will still ring true even as it cracks you up.

For a new spin on a summertime classic, check out these recipes that elevate the humble watermelon into something fresh (pun intended!) and unexpected.

With this essay by Kristy Woodson Harvey, Harvey demonstrates that short reads can still resonate so powerfully. Harvey writes a heartfelt piece about her historic Beaufort, North Carolina home that was rendered “unlivable” by Hurricane Florence in 2017. She and her family were forced to rebuild as they grieved the loss of her mother-in-law as well. I valued this essay for the sense of gratitude and resilience Harvey conveyed, and I’m sure you will, too.

And finally, for the ultimate nostalgic trip, take a ride through this photo contest featuring images of amusement parks that capture the magic and thrill and timeless spirit of this summer tradition.

I hope you enjoy this roundup of short and sweet summer reads! If you’ve read a similar piece that has landed with you while conveying the bounty and bounty of the summer season, please share it with me! I’d love to take a (short) moment, to read it.