You don’t have to leave home for a seasonal escape. Whenever you feel the need for a brief distraction, you can pick up a new book or stream the latest TV series.
Not all summer reading has to be on the light side. In fact, I often feel that the right book tends to find me at the right time, even with heavier stories that hit the heart. That was the case for “The Women: A Novel” by Kristin Hannah (St. Martin’s Press; $30) about a woman who serves in the Army Nurse Corps during the Vietnam War. This book club pick held my attention from start to finish.
Another read I thoroughly enjoyed was “Everything I Know About Love: A Memoir” by Dolly Alderton (Harper Perennial; $18.99). My daughter first told me about this title after it went viral online. She got a copy that she let me borrow when she came home for spring break, which meant I had to read 50 pages a day to finish it before she took it back to school. The memoir grapples with failed relationships, highlights special friendships and shares many life lessons along the way. It even includes some recipes.
I like what my current read has to share so far. “Burn Book: A Tech Love Story” by Kara Swisher (Simon & Schuster; $30) features an award-winning journalist who takes readers behind the scenes in Silicon Valley.
When I want some inspirational visuals, I often turn to coffee table books, like an impulse buy called “On Display” by Geraldine James (Cico Books; $30) that caught my eye at a local shop. The photos already have me rethinking my collections and other accents. I later learned the same author also wrote “Cool Dogs, Cool Homes” (Cico Books; $45), a personal favorite filled with special pets and unique decor.
I even bought two cookbooks, which might be a first for me. After reading about Yumna Jawad, I wanted to support the local influencer who creates simple and healthy recipes in “The Feel Good Foodie Cookbook” (Rodale Books; $32.50) that looks equally doable and delicious to me. The other one, “Nourish” by Gisele Bundchen (Clarkson Potter; $35) also features simple and nutritious recipes.
Whenever I want to switch it up and watch some TV, I often find limited options. Then my husband and I saw commercials for “Under the Bridge” on Hulu. The true crime drama miniseries has completely swept us away so far. Like the books I mentioned, it may not be for everyone, but the compelling storytelling appeals to me on many levels. Waiting for the latest episode to become available each week has been the hardest part. I don’t know how we did that before streaming came along.
This summer, my standards will remain the same, whether the books and series I select are hopeful, heartbreaking or inspirational, they must take me to another place without all the hassles that come with traditional travel. Happy reading and streaming this season. Please feel free to share your favorites with me.
Jeanine Matlow is a Metro Detroit interior decorator turned freelance writer specializing in stories about interior design. You can reach her at jeaninematlow@earthlink.net.