The Books We Haven’t Been Able to Put Down This Summer
Reading as a form of self care and rejuvenation
As a reader, one of the best feelings is when a book lives up to your expectations, and especially when it surpasses them. Like me, I’m sure you’ve had plenty of books high up on your most anticipated list that fell flat. This summer, however, my most anticipated have all blown me away, and I know they’ll end up on my 2025 favorites list.
Here are my three favorite books I’ve read this summer so far:
Disappoint Me by Nicola Dinan: Thirty years old with a lifetime of dysphoria and irritating exes rattling around in her head, Max is plagued by a deep dissatisfaction. Shouldn't these be the best years of her life? Why doesn't it feel that way? Deciding to make changes, Max thinks she’s found the answer in Vincent. But he is also carrying baggage of his own and Max must decide what forgiveness really means.
I’ll Tell You When I’m Home by Hala Alyan: After a decade of yearning for parenthood, years marked by miscarriage after miscarriage, Hala Alyan makes the decision to use a surrogate. As her baby grows in the body of another woman, in another country, Hala finds her own life unraveling and turns to family stories and communal myths. Hala gathers the stories that are her legacy, setting down the ones that confine, holding close those that liberate. It is emotionally charged, painstaking work, but now the stakes are higher: how to honor ancestors and future generations alike in the midst of displacement? How to impart love for those who are no longer here, for places one can no longer touch?
The Girls Who Grew Big by Leila Mottley: Adela Woods is sixteen years old and pregnant. Her parents banish her from her comfortable upbringing in Indiana to her grandmother’s home in the small town of Padua Beach, Florida. When she arrives, Adela meets the Girls, a group of outcast young moms who raise their growing brood in the back of a red truck. The town thinks the Girls have lost their way, but really they are finding it: looking for love, making and breaking friendships, and navigating the miracle of motherhood and the paradox of girlhood.
And I have high hopes for so many new releases yet to come this year.
How do I build my list of most anticipated reads? Every few months, I take a look at forthcoming releases, noting everything from those by my favorite authors to debut novels. Working in the publishing industry, I tend to have a strong grasp of what’s upcoming, and we’ve also shared in the past ways to read more diversely beyond what is trending. But here are some of my go-to tips:
Support independent publishers
Follow a diverse range of content creators, authors, reviewers, and publishers
Visit indie bookstores and libraries without a certain book in mind
See what your favorite authors are reading
Divest from Amazon
I also want to reiterate the importance of reading backlist books. Backlist books are basically any book that is no longer on the frontlist—or what publishers are actively marketing. Sometimes a backlist book might get marketing attention if there’s a new print run, if it’s timely, if BookTok sees a surging interest (hi, Song of Achilles), or if it’s adapted into a movie or show. But for the most part, these books see very little attention from their publisher…and yet they are the backbone of the industry. Backlist books provide a more predictable stream of income for publishers, booksellers, and authors (which is why it’s hard for new publishers to take off, as they don’t have a backlist). By reading both the backlist and frontlist, we’re helping ensure the industry thrives in a variety of ways.
Other books we are reading (or hoping to read) this month
✅How We Get Free, edited by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor
✅Hope in the Dark by Rebecca Solnit
✅🎧Earl Crush by Alexandra Vasti
✅🎧The Blonde Who Came in From the Cold by Ally Carter
🗓️The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff
🗓️🎧The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Note: For books we have completed, we’ll only include here ones we recommend.
Books new to our TBR
A Truce That Is Not Peace by Miriam Toews
The 2025 ad astra Readership Challenge: “Include reading in your mental health toolkit”
Reading plays a variety of roles for me: it’s inspiration, a way to build knowledge and inform my activism, a way to connect with others, and, especially these days, a form of self care. I’ve found myself getting into bed earlier and earlier, reading for a handful of hours before I sleep. My audiobook walks have been growing longer. Canceled plans? That’s okay, I’ll go to a coffee shop or park and read.
And reading has been found to decrease stress by up to 68%. Many of us—most of us—are holding far too much stress, fear, anger, and sadness these days. Between the Trump administration's ongoing attacks on immigrants, education, the climate, DEI, LGBTQIA+ rights, and basically everything else; a genocide in Palestine and Sudan; and every day life issues we’re facing, the world is overwhelming right now. It’s a lot to hold, a lot to process, a lot to react to, and sitting in that tension for too long is not only harmful to our bodies, but to our ability to care for others and take strategic action. And, of course, we can’t forget that rest can often be resistance, particularly for those from systemically and historically excluded communities.
Like every plane safety message says: You have to put on your own oxygen mask first before you help others, no matter how contradictory that feels. And adding reading to your mental health toolkit is a proven way to care for ourselves just a little bit more.
About the challenge
Folks who complete all the prompts by EOY will be entered to win a $100 gift card to their indie bookstore of choice. Those who finish at least six of the prompts will receive an exclusive ad astra sticker. In December, we'll share a submission link to complete as proof of participation. (Our downloadable tracker will be helpful for this!)
Want to participate? Join our Broadcast Channel on Instagram, follow our newsletter, and get your friends to join!
Other publishing updates
It’s Women in Translation Month. Check out these books by Palestinian and Sudanese women in translation.
As Palestinian journalists continue to be murdered and targeted by the Israeli government, take action and pick up a copy of One Day Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This and The Message.
Thanks so much for taking the time to read! If you enjoyed this newsletter, please share with friends, and consider subscribing if you have not yet already. Also, in case you missed it, we have prints! Learn more and place an order here.
We’ll be back in a few weeks with the latest publishing updates.
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