Cool enough to read

Approachable book recommendation #21

Welcome to If In Doubt, Read an approachable book recommendation newsletter from someone who simply loves reading. Subscribe to make sure I land in your inbox 💌

A stunning summer month, if you ignore soaring temperatures and potential climate doom here in the UK*. It has just about been cool enough to read, but that is all my brain has been capable of! I had two standout events; the Women’s Prize Live and Dermot Kennedy at the O2. Both blew me away! Oh and I saw Maggie O’Farrell be interviewed too. Although I’m undecided if I will actually read Land…

*if you are experiencing climate doom, I highly recommend reading this substack by Venetia La Manna: The weather is hot, climate doomism is not

Maggie O’Farrell launching LAND, selfies, coffee carts, overseas pals, dermot!, women’s prize live, wedding location revisit, perfect start to the dy

Currently reading: The Rose Code by Kate Quinn (as we are visiting Bletchley Park next month!)

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This month; four books and, in a shocking turn of events, three are written by men. I did try and get four out of four to be male but men are too hardy to write a ‘cosy & comforting’ read, god forbid they get defined as a ‘chick lit’ author. I am being glib (not all men etc.) see Nicholas Sparks and David Nicholls for example.

For those that are new here (hi, welcome!), I split my book recommendation’s into four categories and include a mix of new releases and books I’ve previously loved that feel timely. Hopefully there’s something for you.

COSY & COMFORTING

A book that has no ulterior motive and is simply a delightful time.

The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller

Published: June 2021
Summary: Is there anywhere better than Cape Cod at summer? If you can’t physically be there this year, The Paper Palace is the perfect brain passport. Spend the day with 50 year old Elle who is torn - she is deciding between her loving stable relationship vs. her soulmate and first love. This book is so much more than a relationship dilemma though, Heller really does transport you to Cape Cod, I can see the house, know the family and crave to dive into their lake.

LOVE & BEING HUMAN

Everything and anything that gives insight and exposes the true messiness of being human..

I Want You to Be Happy by Jem Calder

Published: May 2026
Summary: The marketing for this book seems to have solely relied on this single quote from Sally Rooney: “I couldn't stop reading.”
And… It worked for me! This endorsement makes absolute sense. If you enjoy reading about the intricacies of two imperfect people as they embark on a relationship, read it. It is very Sally Rooney and Dolly Alderton coded. The twist here is that this was written by a (gasp) man so it does give a different angle and approach to relationships - spoiler, there is less overthinking!

INTENSE & REWARDING

Books that can fall on the heavier side but really give you something to get stuck into.

Kala by Colin Walsh

Published: July 2023
Summary: If you want something grittier this summer Kala is the one for you:
Small town Ireland.
A friendship group torn apart by tragedy is reunited.
Flashbacks to the summer it all happened.
And the magnetic Kala at the heart of it all.
If you loved My Friends by Fredrick Backman this is a similar vibe.

PICK ‘N’ MIX

Anything that doesn’t fit into the other three (e.g. fantasy/ non-fiction) or simply something I want to recommend that fits the theme.

Diana by R.F. Delderfield

Published: March 1980
Summary: A charming love story set in The Roaring Twenties think e.g. Camomile Lawn. It’s entirely engrossing and written chronologically spanning over 20 years. You meet John and Diane in 1927 when they are just 15 years old and follow their tumultuous and engrossing love story before leaving them as the war ends in 1945.
If you are a leisurely reader and want a companion for summer this will see you through.

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A brief one this month! Happy July and here’s to a more tempered summer ☀️

And as always, let me know if you’ve read any of the above or what you’re currently reading 💌
Happy reading xo

PS: Reading is always COOL 🧊

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Or if you’d like to read more of my book recommendations on Substack, see my previous posts here:

Feels like summer | A sprinkle of magic | Season roulette | Go on, try it

Or follow me on Goodreads or the Bookshop to keep up to date with my reading:
🔗 Goodreads here 🔗 Bookshop.org here

PS. All previous books recommendations are also categorised into ‘cosy’, ‘love’, ‘intense’ and ‘pick n mix’ shelves on my bookshop.org store (if you buy through any of the links via bookshop.org I may get a tiny kick back commission).

PPS. And if you’re still here, I get an email saying “xyz has liked your post” every time one of you clicks ‘like’ and it quite literally makes my day!