Hello and welcome to my first list of recommendations! I have forced books upon many of you before, so here I am in newsletter form to wave some more books in front of your face and implore you to read them. Whether you picked up the habit of reading during the pandemi moore (what have you been doing your entire life?) or if you’re just humoring me and will probably stop reading after this sentence, I’ve got some recs for you.
The month of May is the round of appetizers before the delicious meal of summer. Now, a delicious meal depends on what I’m craving, and how much money I want to spend. I might want greasy diner fare, a fancy overpriced brunch, an Al’s Nashville-Style Hot Chicken Sandwich, Nobu Malibu sushi (I’m lying I’ve never been), bbq in too-small portions because I live in California, a pint of ice cream for dinner; anything is a delicious meal if that’s what you want to eat in that moment.
Why am I using this elaborate extended metaphor? This is my newsletter and I’ll do what I want.
You and your friends are dining outside at the beautiful restaurant that is summer, and you’ve ordered herb-infused cocktails and glasses of rosé. There are artfully placed flowers on the open-air patio roof, which is lined with twinkle lights that glimmer against the softly fading golden hour light. You’re gossiping about people you went to high school with, or college, or your families, and it isn’t mean-spirited – you’re just checking up on what everyone who you tangentially know has been up to, because any stories are interesting to you in a GD pandemic.
You Think It, I’ll Say It By Curtis Sittenfeld
The Souvenir Museum by Elizabeth McCracken
Last night was your first night out post-vaccine, and it was transcendental. You went to your favorite club, and it was 80’s night, and they played The Promise. It is now Saturday morning. Your brain hurts and the light is too bright and you’re at your local diner and you are still incandescently happy. You’ve just ordered a stack of chocolate chip pancakes as a starter.
Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton
Pretend I’m Dead by Jen Beagin
You’ll admit, you spent a lot of time online in the past year. Probably too much time. Some things you regret, like not buying Game Stop stock early enough, but you haven’t been indoctrinated by Q yet so you are probably using the internet right. You’re sitting at a café on your laptop for the first time in 13 months, and it feels amazing. You’ve ordered a fancy coffee drink you don’t even like (you hate milk) and an assortment of pastries that cost $7 each. You’ve never felt more alive.
Fake Accounts by Lauren Oyler
No One is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood
You deserve this. You’re having an entire pint of ice cream for dinner because the past year sucked and who cares, why not. I support you.
Gold Diggers by Sanjena Sathian
All Adults Here by Emma Straub
You made it to the end! Congratulations. Now go read!!!!