And finally, summer

Plus, all the books I bought on tour.

June was such a crazy month with my book launch that I honestly never thought this day would come. But here I am. Writing this dispatch from the front porch of the little beach cottage we bought several years ago on eastern Long Island. I love this house. It’s not big enough to be a headache to clean, and we sort of bump into each other in every little room. Still, it’s the epitome of cozy: low ceilings and gleaming wood floors, windows with bright sunshine pouring through, white couches and armchairs and crisp trim the color of sugar sand beaches.

I love it here, and I’m so grateful to transition out of the hectic weeks of June, when I was spending so much time promoting All the Summers in Between. It was incredible to visit bookshops around the country and talk all about these two friends I’ve imagined up, but I’m also craving some time by myself with my own thoughts. With my husband and kids. I want to be at the beach with a notebook scribbling ideas. Yesterday I dove into the shimmering Bay and floated in the cool sea. We ate dinner outside. We made plans to have coffee in the porch the following morning. A sense of ease settling in.

My kids told me that my goal for the summer is to play tag and swim more, and I agreed to it. But we also made a family bucket list of things we want to do together, like travel by kayak to a local preserve with its stunning (and empty) beach, take a boat to Bug Lighthouse, eat dinner on the beach, go off-roading in the beach truck, snack on fruits and veggies only from local farmstands and play games in the porch as the fireflies alight . I have another goal I’m adding to the list: Read a book a week. Alas, let’s talk about Dear Fiction’s Summer Book Club picks!

The Books I Bought on Tour + My Summer Book Club

Whenever I give a talk at a bookshop, I end up leaving with a book. Sometimes it’s at the bookseller’s recommendation, sometimes it’s just a book I plan to read. I like to write the name of the bookstore where I bought it inside, and it becomes a memento of my time there. Now I plan to use these books as the first five novels in Dear Fiction’s Summer Book Club series.

I just finished Catherine Newman’s Sandwich, purchased at the Barnes and Noble in Bridgehampton, and I’ll talk about that one next Tuesday as the first summer book club pick, if you want to read along. I’m currently devouring Beatriz Williams’ latest Husbands & Lovers, which I’ll discuss on July 16, and I’m listening to The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley, which I’ll talk about that same day.

At the lovely M. Judson Booksellers in Greenville, SC, I picked up:
The Unwedding by Ally Condie. I’ll talk about this one on 7/23.

At the small but well-curated Cleary’s Books in Mount Holly, NC, I picked up:
The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl. Summer book club discussion on 7/30.

At the bookstore that could, A Bookplace Boutique, in Riverhead, NY, I had to buy:
Shelterwood by Lisa Wingate. Let’s talk about this one on 8/1.

The other books I purchased on tour:

James by Percival Everett, as purchased at Browseabout Books in Rehoboth Beach, DE.

True North by Andrew J. Graff, as purchased at The Little Point Bookshop in Point Pleasant, NJ.

The Last Twelve Miles by Erika Robuck, as purchased at Barnes and Noble in Myrtle Beach, SC.

There are several others, too, but I’m forgetting a few as I write this! I also included some of my faves from this year and last since they’re here with me at the beach house!

Plans For the Fourth

I just have to share that we’re taking the kids to their first concert this week. We’re going to see Jason Mraz, and I couldn’t be more excited for it. Woot! I love his music, but my little one got really into him after his turn on Dancing With the Stars. We LOVE DWTS in my house. Kind of embarrassing but true. I even longed to take dance lessons again myself after watching it!

We plan to walk down to the water and watch fireworks for the Fourth. On eastern Long Island, people set them off along the water all weekend. But there’s a really big display over the oyster ponds in Orient Point, the northern tip of Long Island, on Saturday night, and we’re going to try to go to that, too.

Lastly, I’ve been dying to make this corn salad for our barbecue this week. I eat pretty much corn everything in summer. I’ve already picked up most of the ingredients at the farmstand, and I’ll make it fresh that afternoon. I’ve been thinking about summer sides lately because I feel like warm weather opens up all these new possibilities on the plate. I may have to bring back the watermelon and feta salad we couldn’t get enough of last summer, and some of these other goodies on this Delish list. But I’m looking for new ideas, too. Does anyone have a go-to summer side that kids devour as much as the adults?

Sunsets

Last night’s was absolutely incredible. Had to share!

What are you doing for the fourth? And will you read along with me this summer? I hope so! Don’t forget to press the heart if you enjoy this, AND please leave a comment. I love hearing from you all!!! xo