10 books to enjoy this summer
Summer is the perfect time to slow down, breathe, gaze at the sea (or at least the shade of a bougainvillaea), and get lost in a good story. It’s a season that invites stillness and presence—a chance to escape the rush of routines, deadlines and notifications. Whether under a parasol, on a quiet terrace with a cold drink, or in bed behind closed blinds while the fan hums gently, these days offer a rare invitation: to rediscover the quiet joy of slow, intentional reading.
Books become not just a form of entertainment, but a way of travelling, of thinking, of inhabiting new worlds without leaving the hammock. They help us reflect, dream, laugh, cry, and sometimes, better understand the world around us—or simply take a break from it.
That’s why at CC/magazine, we’ve curated a selection of books that, in one way or another, speak to our present moment. Luminous chronicles, gripping novels, uncomfortable essays, and stories that make us think, laugh or simply enjoy.
Here are our recommendations for this summer:
1. “What about men?” – Caitlin Moran (Anagrama) With her sharp and playful style, the British journalist asks a necessary question: what’s going on with men in the age of feminism? Moran offers a witty and empathetic reflection on masculinity in crisis, with the humour and insight that defines her work.
2. “Notes to John” – Joan Didion (Random House) This posthumous book by the legendary American writer is an emotional testament. It gathers notes, intimate reflections, and unpublished texts dedicated to her husband, John Gregory Dunne. A moving portrait of love, loss, and memory, written with Didion’s trademark precision.
3. “A little line?” – David López Canales (Anagrama) An unfiltered dive into cocaine consumption in Spain, told through multiple voices: users, dealers, psychiatrists, police officers. A raw and necessary portrait of a widespread yet silenced reality. Brave, direct, and brilliantly written journalism.
4. “Possession” – A. S. Byatt (Anagrama) A novel for lovers of literature within literature. Two researchers uncover a secret correspondence between two Victorian poets, and what begins as an academic inquiry turns into a tale of love, obsession, and beauty. Fascinating and ambitious.
5. “Limonov” – Emmanuel Carrère (Anagrama) Carrère delves into the contradictory and excessive life of Eduard Limonov: poet, punk, soldier, politician. A biographical novel that reads like an existential adventure through the 20th century, power, and madness. Brutal and brilliant.
6. “Non-Things: The collapse of the modern world “ – Byung-Chul Han (Taurus) The South Korean philosopher explores how we’ve shifted from a world of tangible objects to one of data, likes, and screens. A brief but profound essay on the dematerialisation of life and its effects on our attention, memory, and relationships.
7. “That idiot is going to write a novel” – Juan José Millás (Alfaguara) A metafictional story as delirious as it is insightful, where the author dialogues with his own neuroses and a character that slips out of his hands. Ironic, intelligent, and tinged with the absurd humour only Millás can deliver.
8. “I want to, but I can’t” – Raquel Peláez (Blackie Books) A fierce, autobiographical essay on the contradictions of desire, feminism, and motherhood. Peláez writes with rage, tenderness, and irony about what is expected of women and what they truly want. Uncomfortable yet liberating.
9. “Miguel Milá: Pre-Industrial Designer” – Claudio Oliva & Gonzalo Milà (La Fábrica) A visual and narrative journey through the life and work of one of the great designers of the 20th century. This book celebrates the simplicity, functionality, and timeless beauty of Milá’s design. A gem for lovers of aesthetics.
10. “Seven years in Tibet” – Heinrich Harrer (Libros del Asteroide) An autobiography and spiritual adventure. Harrer recounts his escape from a British camp in India during WWII and his arrival in a near-inaccessible Tibet. A fascinating insight into Tibetan culture and his bond with the young Dalai Lama. Moving and transformative.
This summer, more than ever, is a time for reading. For diving into stories that make us think, feel, or simply be. Because in the midst of this infernal heat, books remain a refuge. Choose one (or several), switch off your phone, turn on the fan or air conditioning, and let yourself drift away.
(*) Photo: Tirachard Kumtanom.
