Summer escapism, in novel form
10 transportive books for summer reading pleasure
Hi! I hope you’re getting ready to get a bit of sunshine and R&R this weekend. Today, I’m offering you a pre-holiday gift in the form of book recs: reads to help you escape.
By a “transportive” read, I mean one that whisks you away—mentally, emotionally, atmospherically. It immerses you so fully in its world that you forget where you are. Think: reading under a beach umbrella but feeling like you’re wandering the Italian countryside, tangled in a 19th-century affair, or navigating the terrain of a faraway planet. These are books less about plot-driven thrills and more about lingering in a mood, a setting, or a character’s inner world.
Below are ten book recommendations along these lines from friends of Downtime to pack with you, whether you’re traveling to Puglia or simply to your local park for a lazy day in the sun.
I asked people whose reading tastes I know vary widely from one another to present you with a smorgasbord of options, no matter your vibe. I’m pleased with how eclectic the picks are. Enjoy!
What are you picking up to feel whisked away? Would love to hear your rec(s) for transportive summer reads, in the comments.
—Alisha
P.S. There’s a special book giveaway at the bottom of this post!
P.P.S. I’m running a 20% off summer sale to celebrate two years of Downtime. That means it’s just $4/month right now. If you’ve been thinking about upgrading, now’s the time—come join us.
Nine recommendations from guests and myself…
If you’re into a multigenerational saga that blends genres…
Real Americans by Rachel Khong
“Not only will this book take you across the country (and the world), it will take you across decades and generations. Plus, there's a bit of magical realism in it, which I can never resist!” —
, author of the just-released The Art of VanishingIf you’re a romance reader craving a more layered story…
Just Last Night by Mhairi McFarlane
“I love rom-com-type books, but it's hard to find ones where the writing feels sharp and the plot isn't overly formulaic. This novel, set in England, handily checks both of those boxes—it begins as a breezy, funny story about a tight-knit friend group and a long-simmering crush, then pivots into something deeper and more emotional after an unexpected twist.” —
, writer of the newsletterIf you’re a history nerd craving a mystery…
“Post-WWI London may not exude ‘summer vibes,’ but each time I set this book down, I couldn’t wait to get back to its perfectly crafted world. In this absorbing historical mystery-romance, a buttoned-up detective sergeant teams up with a handsome graphologist to solve a murder that cuts to the heart of corruption in the Metropolitan Police Department. The novel's strong theme of justice felt like a balm, and the longing and banter between Aaron and Joel made me swoon. I am always chasing that feeling of tearing through three Nancy Drew novels a day, and this delivered. History nerds: do not miss the author's note!” —
, writer of the newsletter
If you’re craving an enchanting seaside adventure…
Upon A Starlit Tide by Kell Woods
“Far and away the most enchanting and unique book I've picked up this year, and I wish I could read it again for the first time! This novel is a mix of historical fiction and magical realism that pulls on some of the classic fairytale threads you remember from childhood— The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, and others— but told in an entirely fresh way, and set behind the high walls of a sea fortress in Brittany's Saint-Malo in 1758. This one's for the girls who collect seashells, who spent hours in the pool as a kid wistfully wishing their legs would become a mermaid tail, who stayed up late reading a book with a flashlight under the covers, or whose love for animals and sea creatures knows no bounds!” —
, writer of the newsletterIf you’re seeking a moving debut novel about love…
Slanting Towards the Sea by Lidija Hilje *out on July 8th
“Lidija is a Croatian lawyer turned American writer, and this dual timeline love story about the kind of love that both shakes us and breaks us apart is one of the most gorgeous reads I have finished all year. I could taste the crisp salt air of the Croatian coast the entire time I was reading it.” —
, author of the forthcoming novel Everyone Is Lying To You and The Sicilian InheritanceIf you’re looking for something offbeat and literary…
Cassandra at the Wedding by Dorothy Baker
“Set over one strange, shimmering summer weekend in California, it’s a novelette (love any excuse for that word) about identity, but told through so many exquisite details: outfit choices, cocktail orders, silk driving gloves, Bösendorfer pianos, citrus farms, and the existential horror of your twin’s deeply mediocre fiancé.” —Leigh Patterson, creative director and writer of newsletter
If you’re looking to embroil yourself in family drama in the English countryside…
The Light Years by Elizabeth Jane Howard
“This epic family saga will transport you to the English countryside with the four grown Cazalet siblings who have descended on their family's estate with their partners, children, and emotional baggage in tow. Over the course of their annual summer holiday, enthralling secrets and staggering betrayals emerge, but it is the small moments between family members that make this book soar, coalescing into a rare novel that feels simultaneously cozy and juicy. Right now, I'm finding books that span decades to be deeply satisfying, and as The Light Years begins Howard's five book series, The Cazalet Chronicles, there's an entire world to get lost in if you, like me, fall in love with this family.” — , writer of the Fiction Matters newsletter
If you’re into a historical multi-generational saga…
“This is a highly transportive, gorgeously written novel that follows several generations of a Korean family in Japan. Jin Lee writes scenes so vivid that I felt completely immersed in them, tasting the salty kimchi and feeling the seasons change through the page. It's the perfect summer read—you'll feel like you've traveled to a foreign land without buying a plane ticket.” — , writer of the newsletter
If you’re an art lover who wants to sunbathe in the Italian countryside…
“This book is set in 1944 Italy against the backdrop of the war and follows the lives of an English soldier and a middle-aged art historian whose stories intimately connect. It’s a slow, languorous read that’s in no hurry to move things along. Instead, you get to savor the gorgeous descriptions of Tuscan hill towns and Florentine piazzas and glimpse inside the relationships between the (often zany, very lovable) inhabitants. There is a parrot involved. It’s a book that has stuck with me over the years.” —Alisha Ramos, writer of Downtime
A book giveaway!
I’ve been waiting eagerly for The Art of Vanishing by Morgan Pager1 to hit shelves, and it’s finally arrived. This is an enchanting book about a museum employee, Claire, who steps into a painting one night…
“Night after night, Claire moves through the gallery where Jean’s painting hangs, mopping the floors, talking softly to herself to stem her loneliness, and gazing admiringly at the masterpieces above. The alluring man in the corner of the Matisse—is he watching her? Why does she feel a deepening pull to him, like he can see her truest self, her most profound secrets? Did he just move?
In an extraordinary twist of fate, Claire discovers she can step through the frame of Jean’s painting and into a bygone era, a lush, verdant snapshot of family life in France in the throes of the First World War. She and Jean begin a seemingly impossible affair, falling in love against the backdrop of the gallery’s other paintings come to life—glittering parties, exhilarating horse races, and windswept beach bluffs—which they can move through together and where Claire is seemingly the only outside visitor, alone in possession of this gift.”
Doesn’t it sound dreamy? I’m choosing five winners to receive a copy in the mail.
To enter:
Subscribe to Downtime and make sure you’re a paid subscriber if you’re not already—giveaways are exclusive to my paid subs as a way to thank you for your support.
Leave a comment below with a book you’d enthusiastically recommend as a summer read. I’ll select the winners next Thursday (7/10) morning. Bonne chance!
Puglia photo by Maria Bobrova via Unsplash.
Further escapist reading from Downtime…
Book Chat: 'Tartufo' is the book we all need right now
It seems we might all be searching for some positive escapist reads these days, and who can blame us? There’s one type of book I’m drawn to again and again when this feeling hits: a book set in Italy.
Weekend Recs #43: Big Sicilian Energy and Cannolis For All
This is the Friday post, a weekly roundup of recommendations and delightful distractions. If the email cuts off, you can view it on the web by clicking the title ^.
The books on my summer reading list and an escape to the South of France
This post is long and might cut off - click the title above to see the web version.
If you like book recs, culture news and reads, and the occasional small delight in link or visual form, you might like Downtime if you’re not subscribed already. Hit the button below:
Better known on Bookstagram as @nycbookgirl!
It's so fun to see what everyone's definition of "escapist" is via your recs! Keep 'em coming!
If you haven’t read God of the Woods or Wedding People, you’re sorely missing out. Those books scoop you up and swallow you whole!!