The Great Women Artists

The Great Women Artists

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The Great Women Artists
The Great Women Artists
My Summer Reading List

My Summer Reading List

My summer reads and recommendations

Katy Hessel's avatar
Katy Hessel
Jul 02, 2025
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The Great Women Artists
The Great Women Artists
My Summer Reading List
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Dear Readers,

It’s the beginning of July, which means it’s officially summer holiday season: time to clock off – whether you’re abroad or at home – and lie in the heat with a brilliant book. From new novels to classic novellas, pop memoirs to explorations into 2000s culture – I have got you covered for what to bring with you this summer.

This newsletter is divided into (1) novels; (2) short books; (3) excellent non-fiction & (4) memoirs (a genre I’ve been loving more than ever this year).

Read on! Love Katy. Xoxo


(1) Novels


“We Do Not Part” by Han Kang

We Do Not Part: The instant Sunday Times bestseller and winner of the 2024  Nobel Prize in Literature : Kang, Han, yaewon, e., Morris, Paige: ...

"Stag Dance” by Torrey Peters

Stag Dance by Torrey Peters | Goodreads

"Consider Yourself Kissed” by Jessica Stanley

Consider Yourself Kissed: The must-read love story of the summer : Stanley,  Jessica: Amazon.co.uk: Books

“Slags” by Emma Jane Unsworth

Slags

"Cool for You” by Eileen Myles

Cool for You: A Novel: Amazon.co.uk: Myles, Eileen, Kraus, Chris:  9781619029170: Books

(Their cover reminds me of Sarah Lucas’s Self-Portrait with Fried Eggs!)


"James” by Percival Everett

Percival Everett, James, reviewed by Joseph Hunter - The Manchester  ReviewThe Manchester Review

“Hot Milk” by Deborah Levy

Hot Milk: Now a major motion picture starring Emma Mackey and Fiona Shaw:  Amazon.co.uk: Levy, Deborah: 9780241968031: Books

(I’m rereading this ahead of the film adaptation)


"Happiness and Love” by Zoe Dubno

Happiness and Love by Zoe Dubno | Goodreads

(I adored this hilarious book, and will be interviewing Zoe at BookBar, Chelsea, London, on 28 July. Tickets here!)


“You Are Here” by David Nicholls

You Are Here: The Instant Number 1 Sunday Times Bestseller, from the author  of One Day: Amazon.co.uk: Nicholls, David: 9781444715453: Books

(2) Short books


"I Feel Bad About My Neck” by Nora Ephron

I Feel Bad About My Neck: with a new introduction from Dolly Alderton:  Amazon.co.uk: Ephron, Nora, Alderton, Dolly: 9780857526939: Books

“The Summer Book” by Tove Jansson

The Summer Book: A Novel: Amazon.co.uk: Tove Jansson: 9780954221713: Books

“So in the Spruce Forest” by Ali Smith

So in the Spruce Forest - ACC Art Books UK

"Giovanni’s Room” by James Baldwin

Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin - Penguin Books Australia

(3) Non-fiction


“Is a River Alive?” by Robert Macfarlane

Is a River Alive?: The Instant Number One Sunday Times Bestseller :  Macfarlane, Robert: Amazon.co.uk: Books

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