Whether you’re soaking up some sun at the beach or pool or staying inside where it’s nice and cool, summer is the perfect time to slow down and savor a great book. Roxanne Baker is a bookseller at Bookstore1, an illustrious independent bookstore in downtown Sarasota, and she put together a list of some of her favorite recommendations for readers to enjoy. As a bonus, all these titles are available in paperback so they’re perfectly portable.
Big Swiss by Jen Beagin
“Big Swiss is about a woman who has her heart broken and moves across the country from California to Hudson Valley in New York which has a very interesting mix of artsy people and well-to-do people,” says Baker. “She becomes a transcriptionist for a sex therapist and it’s laugh-out-loud funny.” If you like Big Swiss, Baker also recommends Vacuum in the Dark by the same author.
Hotel Silence by Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir
“Hotel Silence isn’t your typical frothy beach read, but Baker appreciates it for its thought-provoking qualities. The novel centers around a middle-aged man who feels lost and alone and moves from Iceland to a war-torn country planning to commit suicide. At his rundown hotel though, his handyman skills come in handy and he finds an unexpected sense of purpose and community.”
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
“Chances are you’ve heard of the wildly popular Lessons in Chemistry. It was the most borrowed book of the year in public libraries all over the country in 2023 and 2024, and was adapted into a miniseries starring Brie Larson. Set in 1960s Southern California, this feminist tragicomic novel tells the story of chemist Elizabeth Zott who becomes a beloved cooking show host. ”
Love Like That by Emma Duffy-Comparone
“Love Like That is a short story collection about imperfect women wrestling with complicated relationships, whether they are familial or romantic in nature. Baker compares author Emma Duffy-Comparone to George Saunders in that she’s not afraid to get real with characters, but she’s not dark like Saunders.”
The Pole by J.M. Coetzee
“The story centers around Witold, a 72-year old Polish pianist and Beatriz, a middle-aged Spanish woman who responds to his devotion with a polite detachment. The novella explores themes of desire, aging, loneliness, cultural difference, and the difficulty of truly connecting with another person. ”
