For this week’s Top Ten hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, we are supposed to share the top 10 books on our TBR list for summer. My reading seems to have slowed to a crawl, so I’m sure I will be lucky to get through half of these. I’m also typically terrible at sticking to a reading plan, tending to read things on a whim or according to my mood. That’s also how I have typically approached running in the past, but sticking with a plan this summer has actually been quite gratifying, so why why not try to stick for a plan for reading?
So following are the books I’ve selected. I chose some newer books (The Truth about Harry Quebert, The Enchanted), some books that have been on my TBR for a while (Corpus Christi, The Gods of Gotham), a book outside my wheelhouse (Blackbirds), and one I started and got about halfway through but never finished (The Blind Assassin). In addition to these I have a couple of ARCs from NetGalley, in particular Lucky Us by Amy Bloom, that I will also pick up this summer. For links or more details, you can click through the graphic to my Pinterest site where I’ve pinned my list.
- We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves, Karen Joy Fowler
- The Truth about the Harry Quebert Affair, Jöel Dicker
- Bark, Lorrie Moore
- Blackbirds, Chuck Wendig
- Corpus Christi, Bret Anthony Johnson
- The Blind Assassin, Margaret Atwood
- A Man Came Out of the Door in the Mountain, Adrianne Harun
- The Gods of Gotham, Lindsay Faye
- The Care and Feeding of Exotic Pets, Diana Wagman
- The Enchanted, Rene Denfeld
The Evening Reader 
Blackbirds’ cover caught my attention at a bookstore, and it’s on my TBR list, somewhere. It’s one of those books that might or might not actually appeal, which means it may have to wait a while.
Hooray to We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves. I think you will really like it! It’s one of my favorite books from last year — actually, I should reread it! It has been a while.
The Enchanted is very dark, gorgeously written….one of my favorite books this year.I haven’t read any of the others on your list, but they all sound good….
I absolutely LOVED A Man Came Out of the Door in the Mountain, I keep waiting for it to get the attention is deserves. It is probably my favorite read this year!
Oh The Blind Assassin is so wonderful, enjoy!
Caitlin, I follow Chuck Wendig on Twitter and read his blog. He gives such great writing advice I am curious about reading his work.
Jenny, you and Ana convinced me to read it next!
Lisa, I am really excited about reading The Enchanted. I’ve heard nothing but good things about it. So many people are saying it’s one of their favorites so far this year. I tend to like darker books.
Rory, I am so glad to hear that. I expected to see it on more people’s lists, but it seems to be a bit of a sleeper.
Cathy, I love Margaret Atwood. I own two of her books I haven’t read, that one and Alias Grace. It would have been a toss-up except that I read about half of The Blind Assassin five years ago and have always meant to go back and finish it.
What variety! I have been wanting to read Blackbirds for a while too. It is also outside my comfort zone.
I’ve had my eye on a number of those! I have read the Fowler and was quite impressed with it. I hope you are too 😀
I have an ARC of the second Lyndsay Faye Books Seven for a Secret, but it has turned into a total book blogger fail — I thought is sounded so great, but failed to realize it was the second in a series, Gods of Gotham being the first
Keep meaning to pick up the first book in preparation, but other books (and review books) seem to call my name instead!
Happy reading this summer 🙂
I want to know how Bark is! I am hearing mixed reviews so far, and I am on the fence. I do want to read more short stories though…. Enjoy your summer reading!!
Gillian, I have read all of Lorrie Moore’s books except this last one. I pre-ordered it and it arrived on pub day and has been sitting on the shelf ever since. I wasn’t nuts about The Gate at the Stairs, and even though I think stories are where she shines, I still find myself afraid to read it. I am hoping for relief!
Christine, whoops! I completely understand what you mean about other books getting in the way. I bought Gods of Gotham in 2012 and I only put it on the summer list because I saw she had a second one! I’ve actually read the first 50 pages or so and it’s actually quite good, so I am looking forward to returning to it.
Jennifer, I feel like that’s three votes for reading the Fowler as my next book!
Laura, I do like a mix of books. It keeps me from getting too restless (or at least that’s what I tell myself).
I don’t know much about the books on your list, but you can’t go wrong with Atwood! Interesting mix of books you’ve chosen. I hear Fowler is really good. Have a great summer!
Curlygeek, you definitely cannot! It’s a goal for me to read all her novels. This will be my eighth.