Summer Is Knocking. And With It Comes Rest.
Beach holidays, mountain getaways, weekend escapes to the countryside—or just a few lazy afternoons on your city balcony with your feet up. Whether you’re hustling, parenting, or simply trying to survive the daily chaos, you deserve a break.
And what pairs perfectly with a slower pace? A book. The kind you can get lost in, even just for a while.
Here are four reads I’d recommend for your summer list—some local, some global, all of them perfect for that in-between space where you finally get to breathe.
Sheila Heti – Alphabetical Diaries
You’ve probably already heard whispers about this one—it’s one of the summer’s most talked-about releases. Sheila Heti, best known for Motherhood, is back with something lighter, but just as sharp.
Alphabetical Diaries is a collection of personal journal entries, arranged alphabetically (yes, really). It sounds chaotic—but it works.
The result is a raw, deeply human book that touches on authorship, love, friendship, intimacy, family, and even awkwardness.
It’s refreshingly honest—so honest, in fact, I wouldn’t show my own diary to my best friend. But Sheila did. And it’s beautiful. You’ll find pieces of yourself in it, even if you don’t want to admit it.
Photo credit: Book Therapy
Martin Váša – Chtěl bych, ale nechce se mi
If I had to name one book that smells like summer, it would be this one.
Martin has a house in Sicily (yes, I’m a little jealous—who wouldn’t be?), and that Mediterranean setting often appears in his writing. The book is structured as a diary, full of everyday observations where dry humor, gentle melancholy, and unexpected tenderness trade places.
Martin, an editor at Cosmopolitan, clearly has a gift for writing—the text is sharp, sarcastic, and deeply personal. I especially love the parts about his dog Agnes, his grandmother, and, of course, Sicily.
And if the book leaves you wanting more, you can dive deeper into his writing on HeroHero, where he shares a kind of digital diary.
Photo credit: Anastasia Romaniv for W Prague Hotel
Joan Didion – Play It As It Lays
Time for a classic—and one that truly earns its spot. Play It As It Lays was named one of the top 100 English novels of the last century by Time magazine, and for good reason.
The story follows Maria, a 31-year-old actress living in LA, drifting through the glitter and gloom of the city while coping with the collapse of her marriage and the ghosts of her past. But it’s not just bleak—there’s a haunting beauty in the parties, the sun-drenched streets, and the stardust of the '60s. Maria is one of those fading stars—and
Didion makes you feel every flicker.
This book isn’t here for easy laughs, but it’s perfect for a wine-soaked evening when you want to feel something.
Didion doesn’t write just for the sake of it—there’s always a message, always a sharp social lens. In this novel, she dissects how the so-called freedom of the sexual revolution often masked deep-rooted inequality. It’s a quiet, brutal masterpiece.
Jessie Cave – Sunset
My latest bookshelf crush—and a summer must-read. I first spotted this gem thanks to Teri Hodanová on Aura, and I immediately ran to the nearest bookstore. Zero regrets.
Sunset is the debut novel by actress and writer Jessie Cave (yes, she played Lavender Brown in Harry Potter).
As Cosmopolitan puts it:
“A thoughtful debut that’ll make you laugh and break your heart.”
And they weren’t wrong.
The story follows two sisters—Ruth, a chaotic mess trying to figure out life, and Hannah, her total opposite, with the flat, the job, and the structured relationships to match. Every year, they take a holiday together—Hannah plans and pays, Ruth just… shows up. They eat ice cream, sunbathe, bicker, and love each other fiercely. Until one summer changes everything.
It’s funny, raw, and full of feeling. If you want something honest—with both laughter and heartbreak—Sunset is it.
Whatever you choose to read this summer, I hope it brings you stories that warm, sting, and stay with you.
Because let’s be honest—those are the ones worth reading.