ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
Summer reading is coming up fast and furious and with that in mind, I thought it would be fun to share some of the books I’ve read lately that you could add to your own list for this coming summer!
Here we go:
“The Women” by Kristin Hannah
This book is one I checked out very recently, and I didn’t realize the absolute rollercoaster I would put myself through. The book takes place during the Vietnam War and follows Frances “Frankie” McGrath, a young woman from a wealthy California family who decides to enlist and serve as a nurse during the war after her older brother is killed in action. When she returns from serving, the atmosphere in America is hostile toward veterans and dismissive of women's contributions in the war, which only exacerbates her struggles to reassimilate. This book made me feel just about every emotion under the sun and all the description is just so, so visceral – from the hospital scenes during the war to the rare fun moments the nurses are able to snatch to Frankie’s spiral into depression/PTSD and addiction – and I could picture everything so clearly. If you’re a fan of Kristin Hannah and/or historical fiction, this one would be a good one to pick up.
“James” by Percival Everett
Another more recent read, this book is a retelling of Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” from the perspective of Huck’s sidekick, Jim, as he runs away after overhearing he is about to be sold. I really enjoyed how Jim is given way more agency from the very beginning of the story, and the writing throughout is clear and thoughtful and just solid. The pacing is also well done, and I almost didn’t want to put the book down because I just had to know what would happen next. This was my introduction to Percival Everett, and if you’re a fan of any of his other work, or spins on classic literature, this would be good to pick up.
“Switchboard Soldiers” by Jennifer Chiaverini
Going back to historical fiction, this book follows a group of women who become part of the U.S. Army Signal Corps in World War I who served and played an essential role in achieving the Allied victory. The novel goes back and forth between the viewpoints of the four main characters, and I absolutely loved following them all. The novel is well written, and there are multiple moments of humor and heartbreak throughout, and the pacing made me want to keep on reading. Again, if you’re a fan of historical fiction, this one would be a good one to pick up at the library.
“I’m Glad My Mom Died” by Jennette McCurdy
I actually had to wait a while to read this because I couldn’t find it at the library, and this book follow’s McCurdy’s career as a child actress, her difficult relationship with her abusive mother (who died in 2013), and her struggles with an eating disorder and addiction. I’d heard bits and pieces of what would be talked about in the book here and there online, but I was NOT prepared for just how harrowing McCurdy’s story would be, and there were multiple moments while reading the book when my jaw was basically on the floor. As a warning, the book does mention multiple instances of eating disorders, sexual abuse, and mental abuse, so that is something to keep in mind.
“Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister” by Gregory Maguire
I actually recently got this book as a gift from my mom, and it’s a retelling of the tale of “Cinderella” through the eyes of her "ugly stepsisters," Iris and Ruth. I’ve been a huge fan of the “Cinderella” story since I was a kid, and I loved Maguire’s reimagining of the story, which actually includes a bit of a dark undertone throughout, not entirely unlike some of his other work. If you’re a fan of fairytale retellings, or any of Maguire’s other work, this would be a good one to check out.
“Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus
I’d seen this book on the New York Times bestseller list for many, many weeks while working up the list for this page, and it was only a short time ago when I finally got the chance to read it. The novel follows Elizabeth Zott, who becomes a beloved cooking show host in 1960s Southern California after having been fired as a chemist four years earlier. This was another book I just could not put down after beginning because I liked it so much. There’s humor and heartbreak throughout, and anyone who grew up in that time period (particularly women) will probably come across at least one moment in the book where they think along the lines of ‘YEP, I remember THAT all too well!’ It’s a pretty fast-paced book, and I can’t believe this was actually Garmus’ debut novel, because it’s AMAZING. If you’re into light nostalgia and/or some light science education, this book would be a good one to check out.
These are only a few of the books I’ve read and would highly recommend, and if you happen to have any book suggestions of your own, I’m always willing to hear them, so email me at
Happy reading!
