What to Read, Watch, and Eat This Summer
Books + movies + things to eat while the days are long and the sun is high.
Everyone I know (myself included) is stockpiling their summer stash of beach reads, movies to doze off to during heatwaves, and food that tastes better outside. It’s the season when everything feels better in the sun, especially the unserious things.
So instead of doing a colossal, ambitious summer reading list like I did in years past (see: Bokeh lists from 2023 and 2024), this year I’m keeping it simple. I asked a few friends of
to share the most summery books they’re reading, movies or shows they’re watching, and the snacks, recipes, and beach shacks they’re saving for the summer.
What to Read
Summer Sisters by Judy Blume
What's old is new again. I'm revisiting Judy Blume's peak popularity era and sitting down with her novel, Summer Sisters.— , writer of Bitchen
Barbarian Days by William Finnegan
A Pulitzer Prize-winning surf memoir about obsession, waves, and going a little too far, and I’m in awe of how Finnegan can describe waves in 1,000 different ways and transport us to every continent in search of the perfect one.—
, writer of BokehThe Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
[Summer, as marked by drinking, bullfights, and complicated friendships drifting through 1920s Spain and France.]— , writer of
The Wind Knows My Name by Isabel Allende
My summer go-to is always anything by Isabel Allende, I know she'll deliver an enticing generational saga with a strong female character. My latest read from her was The Wind Knows My Name, which intertwines stories of a boy who escapes Nazi-occupied Vienna and a girl who escapes military gangs in El Salvador in 2019.—Maria Mutis (Paris)
The Amelia Peabody Series by Elizabeth Peters
Currently devouring the Amelia Peabody series of historical (murder) mysteries, set in Victorian-era Egypt in and around the world of Victorian Egyptology. Exactly the fun, easy, delightful summer reads I need.—, writer of
Levels of the Game by John McPhee
I adore any narrative non-fiction by John McPhee. This one is a quintessential summer sports book about a legendary 1968 tennis match between Arthur Ashe and Clark Graebner turned into a profile of the two players. Taut, elegant, and gripping, the writing mirrors the match itself.—, writer of Bokeh
A Bite-Sized History of France by Stéphane Henaut and Jeni Mitchell
Husband and wife write about the history of France through the origins of France's most beloved foods. It’s a breeze to read, and I've never read about WWI through the eyes of the man who created "The Vache Qui Rit"/Laughing Cow!—, founder of Liberare
Winter in Sohko by Elisa Shua Dusapin
I love reading a book set in winter during summer to cool down. Winter in Sokcho is a quiet novel set at a snowy Korean guesthouse, short enough to read in a day on the beach, touching on identity, vulnerability, and a hint of ski resort desolation.—, writer of
What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown
A gripping coming-of-age thriller set in the ’90s, following Jane, a teenager raised in isolation in Montana, who escapes to San Francisco to uncover dark family secrets. I just read it and found it so fun and lovely. —Nissa Ostroff (France)
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
I’ll probably read Emily Henry’s newest book, Great Big Beautiful Life, this summer. Sometimes I just want a light page-turner that reminds me of all the best things in life and the full range of human emotions and relationships. Emily Henry reliably gives me this in a variety of summery settings. Plus, I love her dialogue so much; it feels like banter I might actually have had—, writer of Bokeh
Record Magazine
I also read so many Record magazines, which explore niche music communities around the world. Each issue covers multiple personalities, so if they’re new to me, it lets me discover and explore an entire art scene alongside reading.—, writer of
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
She’s great at world-building without spending two pages on a tomato. She uses few words well. The sex scenes drag on too long and I’m not sure about the military strategy, but I’m enjoying it.— , writer of French Tech Updates
The Dorito Effect by Mark Schatzker
A fascinating and illuminating read exploring how the dissociation of food and flavor in the 20th century has affected public health. It might sound heavy for the beach, but it’s actually a compelling page-turner.—Eleonore Buschinger, founder of Vitamin Color (Berlin)
Long Island Compromise by Taffy Brodesser-Akner
Liked it, didn’t love it, would read it again. Actually, the more I think about Long Island Compromise, a novel about a man held for ransom and the decades-long fallout for his family, the more I realize I might have liked it more than I thought.—Derek Klamerus (LA)
Bonjour, Tristesse by Françoise Sagan
My favorite summer genre is: adrift Europeans undone by complicated relationships in beautiful places. In Bonjour Tristesse, teenage Cécile idles through a sun-soaked summer on the Riviera, her carefree days upended by an unexpected guest. I’d put it alongside genre staples like Last Summer in the City and Garden by the Sea, which also capture that summer ennui too.—, writer of Bokeh
5 Types of Wealth by Sahil Bloom
I never truly noticed how quickly time passes until I had kids. Now, even days and months feel significant. The chapter on time wealth puts a lot into perspective.—Daniela Velasco Goldberg, co-founder of Demasa
Tender Is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Because I love going to Antibes and Juan-les-Pins in the summer, I always return to this. A perfect summer book.— , writer of
The Bauhaus Building in Dessau by Christin Irrgang & Ingolf Kern
I recently enjoyed this book my friend Gusto lent me. It’s a bit boring if you're not into architecture or art movements, but it’s great for the lore.— , writer of
The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami
Easy, interesting sci-fi book about a woman arrested for her dreams in a high-tech surveillance state. Maybe our scary future.—Derek Klamerus (LA)
The Wedding People by Alison Espach
I thought it would be light but ended up weeping through much of it. Still, I finished feeling clear, hopeful, and able to laugh at wedding tropes and the intense life pressure that forges people into diamonds or makes them implode. I love the way friendship and grief are examined here, and the coastal Newport, Rhode Island setting feels so vivid. —, writer of Bokeh
What to Watch
Before Sunrise
I recently rewatched it and I can’t think of a more summery movie. It involves meeting someone on a train, wandering the streets of Vienna, and falling in love, which sounds like a perfect European summer to me.—Maria Mutis (Paris)
The Pitt
A new medical TV drama worth a binge this summer.—Jake Goren (LA)
Now and Then
It's an oldie but a goodie and no movie screams summer more. Plus, it has one of the best movie soundtracks of all time.— Down, writer of Ciao Down
Talented Mr. Ripley
Deception and beautiful people traipsing about Italy on hot summer days. The undercurrent of duplicity makes the twinkling sea and sweaty nights out feel that much more vivid.—, writer of Bokeh
Dirty Dancing
This season is all about nostalgia for me, so I’m rewinding to the ’80s and putting Dirty Dancing on repeat. I’m also hoping to capture some of the movie’s magic at a few hotels in North Carolina, including High Hampton and the Lake Lure Inn—where the cast stayed during filming. Lake Lure was also the backdrop for Baby’s iconic dance practice on the stairs scene.— , writer of Bitchen
Call Me By Your Name
— , writer of Streetbeat
Midnight in Paris
— , writer of
Sinners
I recently watched Sinners at a very lux cinema in Montparnasse with La-Z-Boy recliners. The movie was a bit bloody for my taste (haha, vampire humor), but the music was incredible.— Gunther, writer of
(Paris)
La Piscine/A Bigger Splash
Two sides of the same story: idyllic summer getaways that unravel when new characters arrive in the French Riviera and Pantelleria, respectively. Sexy, tense, and beautifully shot; you can almost feel the chlorine and sun—, writer of Bokeh
Ken Burns’ The Vietnam War
Not exactly “summery,” but it’s at the top of my watch list right now.— Gunther, writer of
Sirens
A Netflix show that has Megann Fahy from the second season of White Lotus and it’s also a little bit dark.— of French Tech Updates (Paris)
Endless Summer
On my to-watch list for the summer. I love nostalgia and sun this time of year, and it’s time for me to watch this canonical documentary about 1950s and 1960s surfers.—
, writer of Bokeh
Do the Right Thing
— , writer of Streetbeat
Along the Coast (Du côté de la côte)
The short film that summarizes summer for me is Along the coast (du cote de la cote) by Agnes Varda (1958) [, a travelogue and documentary about Cote d'Azur summer tourism]— , writer of
The Four Seasons
Reviews panned it as “for viewers 45+,” but… I’m in my 30s and found it had Tina Fey’s signature sharp wit and humanity, as well as lovely performances from Steve Carell and Colman Domingo. I binged it in just a few days and it made me laugh out loud while it tackled some of life’s tougher questions—, writer of Bokeh
The Andromeda Strain + The X-Files
I like apocalyptic sci fi in the summer. I find The Andromeda Strain so relaxing, and maybe the X-Files too. — , writer of
The Swimmer (1968)
On my list for a movie night soon. Burt Lancaster swims home pool by pool, confronting his past along the way. It’s a fever dream of suburban summer melancholy, and I can’t wait to watch.—, writer of Bokeh
The Parent Trap
Is there a more summer movie?—Nissa Ostroff (France)
Wet Hot American Summer
— , writer of Streetbeat
What to Eat
Black Sesame and Soba Noodles Otsu
Otsu from 101 Cookbooks is a summer staple.— Down, writer of Ciao Down
Simple Spanish-Style Tuna and Tomato Salad
Our summer go-to is: a tin/jar of very nice Spanish or Italian tuna tossed with ripe tomato, drizzles of olive oil and red wine vinegar, finished with plenty of Maldon salt. Parsley is optional. Serve with baguette or other crusty fresh bread to sop up the juice. We ate this several times a day last summer in San Sebastian, so we make it all the time to pretend we're still on holiday!—, writer of
Marinated Summer Cherries
I’m recreating the Summer Cherries that I first had at Shukette last summer in NYC. Simply marinate ripe cherries with chiles or hot sauce of your choice, garlic, salt and lime juice, then garnish with cilantro when you serve.— , writer of
Pasta with Gin & Sungold Tomatoes
New fave recipe from Molly Baz, just in time for our backyard tomatoes to start ripening—Jake Goren (LA)
Mangoes (& Tajín)
Handpicked mangos from my mom’s backyard [in Mexico] and eaten as a snack at the beach. I love them freshly picked off the tree, sun-dried, cubed with Tajín, or even made into jam.—Daniela Velasco Goldberg, cofounder of Demasa
New England Clam Chowder + Vanilla Soft Serve with Rainbow Sprinkles
I cannot wait to eat New England Clam Chowder this summer—but I will not be in New England, but Long Beach Island. We go to this little chowder hut where it's served in bread bowls, piping hot and peppery with the meatiest clams at Country Kettle Chowda. My mouth is watering as I type. Also, I want a vanilla soft serve with rainbow sprinkles on a cake cone.— Gunther, writer of
Fennel-Chile-Garlic Oil on Pizza
Summertime is pizza time, which means I’ll be making an unreasonable amount of my favorite condiment. I stole this look from Ken’s, which makes some of the best pizza in Portland—high praise given the strength of the local scene. The non-recipe recipe is: combine thinly sliced garlic, fennel seeds and chile flakes in a saucepan, and cover with a generous amount of olive oil. Bring to a boil and then immediately remove from heat to let cool. Drizzle on pizzas as they come out of the oven. It’s a great way to add a bit of sweet/savory/spicy personality to a simple pie, or any morsel of food, really. It doesn’t last very long at my house, but as with any homemade garlic oil, you should refrigerate and use within four days to minimize botulism risk.—, writer of Let Him Cook
Watermelon—all the ways
Watermelon & sumac: Make watermelon cubes or whatever shape you want and dip them in sumac. The combo is perfection.—Eleonore Buschinger, founder of Vitamin Color
Watermelon & feta: I know watermelon feta salad is old news...but, hear me out: I've been eating it for breakfast during the heat wave. It's been such a refreshing way to start the day. I might try it with cottage cheese instead of feta next for more protein? — Down, writer of Ciao Down
Cold Blueberries and Cream
I like to eat blueberries with cold heavy cream with a spoon like cereal.—, writer of
Point Lookout Clam Bar
Here’s the address in New York.— , writer of Streetbeat
Kale Pesto Pasta
So easy. So yum. Maybe would be good cold too?—Derek Klamerus (LA)
Homemade Lemonade (with or without Espresso)
The citronnade from Cafe de L’Industrie is a life-saver but so is any citronnade fait maison in Paris in the summer. Pro tip (and a lot of people scoff at this) but I love ordering an espresso on the side and pouring the espresso into the citronnade. It is the ideal caffeinated summer beverage and a great alternative to MILK in an iced coffee on a very hot day. — , writer of
Sesame Cucumber and Avocado Salad
This NYT Cooking recipe takes 10 minutes to make and is so refreshing (especially in the heat wave!). It's the perfect summer salad for people like me who can't eat another arugula or kale salad without feeling sad.—, founder of Liberare
Seafood Shacks by the Beach
All I dream about is a fish shack by the beach. This summer, you can find me at Kalypso in Bretagne, where I will be ordering peel-and-eat langoustines that will be painful and prickly on the fingers but delightful for the soul—, writer of Bokeh
Asian cucumber salad + Magnum ice creams
I love a really simple Asian cucumber salad, Magnum ice creams, and watermelon!! As a bonus, here’s a playlist of the music that soundtracks my summer.—, writer of
Tomato & Cottage Cheese Salad
I just tried this tomato and cottage cheese salad and it was FIRE. Also: Donut peaches. Wow.—Nissa Ostroff (France)
Seafood Rolls + Pasta Salad
I'm stoked to indulge in chef Ricky Moore's deliciously toasted North Carolina seafood rolls at Saltbox Seafood Joint in Durham. I'm also on a pasta salad kick. I'm biased but think my pasta salad is the best and I'll be sharing a recipe soon on Bitchen!— , writer of Bitchen
Freestyle Umami++++
I've been freestyle cooking with what I call Borderless UmamiMAXXing. What excites me most is how different ancient cultures had used similar methods of food preservation (lacto-fermentation, salt-fermentation, spicing, sun-drying, microbial-fermentation, maillard reaction) to prevent food spoiling. Despite separate cuisines, borders and passports, we’ve all sought similar shades of UmamiMAXXing. For example, I’ve recently made:
French omelettes with white miso,
Brown butter banana bread with white miso
Scallion shao bing with taramasalata
Ma po spaghetti bolognese
Pho ga with ancho and arbol chile
Pea shoots anchovy caesar salad
Addictive cabbage salad with umeboshi and tahini dressing
Smokey pu er tea ice cream with milk chocolate
This treats influence as less of a melting pot or “East-meets-West” “fusion” and more of a flavor multiverse with no main character.—Carolyn Yim, founder of Ply—Knits and Dreyden
Lamb Scottadito + Greek Salad
I make this old Bon Appetit recipe for barbecues whenever I can find lamb chops. I marinate the chops in some olive oil, garlic, and fresh rosemary 20-30 minutes before throwing them on the grill. I serve them alongside my homemade tzatziki and Greek salad, so it makes us feel like we’re in the Cyclades, but scales for a crowd with little extra effort. It has never failed me.—, writer of
Also final shoutout and special thanks to all my delightful friends who contributed here!
And please drop anything we may have missed in the comments 🏄♀️
"Barbarian Days," total classic 🏄