96. Must-read books of the summer paired with beach-worthy backlist titles

It's that time of year, readers! Pull out your favorite book tote and get thee to pre-ordering (or library requesting) because we've got an episode full of our most anticipated reads for summer 2022. Since we can't help ourselves, we've paired each buzzy new title with a backlist pick. We're also talking about summer reading hopes (not goals), our favorite summertime genres, and what's happening in Classics Club this season.  If you're enjoying our content, please write a review on Apple Podcasts, share an episode with a friend, or shout us out on social media. Growing this show is only possible because of our lovely listeners. Thank you! A Special thank you to The Lost City for sponsoring this episode. Love these episodes? Support us on Patreon patreon.com/novelpairings and get bonus episodes full of reading recs this summer.  Follow Novel Pairings on Instagram or Twitter.  Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get updates and behind-the-scenes info. Use our Libro.fm affiliate code NOVELPAIRINGS to get an audiobook subscription and support independent bookstores. Books mentioned (thanks for supporting us by shopping our Bookshop affiliate links!): May 5/3 The Murder of Mr. Wickham by Claudia Gray Pride and Premeditation by Tirzah Price, Sense & Second Degree Murder 5/3 When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill Good and Mad by Rebecca Traister 5/17 We Were Dreamers: An Immigrant Superhero Origin Story by Simu Liu Born a Crime by Trevor Noah 5/17 Son of Elsewhere: A Memoir in Pieces by Elamin Abdelmahmoud Piccolo is Black: A Memoir of Race, Religion, and Pop Culture by Jordan Calhoun 5/24 Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward  5/31 Half-Blown Rose by Leesa Cross-Smith Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones, Half Light  June 6/7 Woman of Light by Kali Farjado-Anstine A Girl is a Body of Water by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi 6/7 Fibbed by Elizabeth Agyemang Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor 6/14 Horse by Geraldine Brooks The Son by Philip Meyer 6/28 American Royalty by Tracey Livesay The Royal We, Red, White & Royal Blue, or American Royals Like Lovers Do by Tracey Livesay July 7/5 Life Ceremony by Sayaka Murata Stranger Things Happen by Kelly Link 7/5 Night of the Living Rez by Morgan Talty There, There by Tommy Orange, The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw 7/12 The Crane Wife by C.J. Hauser The Rules Do Not Apply by Ariel Levy 7/12 Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevinn The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer 7/19 Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn