Can reading coexist with summer festivities? Over the summer, while Royals were at the beach, with friends, or even abroad, many still found time to crack open a book and discover new worlds. Whether they were traveling the ship of Odysseus or exploring the American dream, Royals expanded their horizons with this year’s summer reading selections.
However, I’m more interested in what students read from their own TBR (To Be Read). What did Royals read while on summer break? To answer my question, I reached out to some fellow Royals and asked them what books they read during break:
Celine Asido ’25 gives insight on a book she read over the summer that had a profound impact on her: “Crying in H Mart” by Michelle Zauner.
On what she thought about the book, Celine shares: “I personally felt nostalgia, emotionally moved, and inspired. As a food lover myself, it was immensely relatable to read about her connection with food and family. Additionally, because the author who wrote it was half Asian, I resonated with some of her personal anecdotes and experiences about her life. Definitely a 10/10 for me, and I highly recommend this book!”
Moving books like “Crying in H Mart” are what make a fun and breezy summer also thought-provoking.
During summer break, Kate Piper ’25 lets us in on a book she read in between outings with friends: “Never Let Me Go” by Kazuo Ishiguro.
Kate shares: “I really liked this book because it was a slow build, and the story was really beautiful! I loved the relationships portrayed throughout, and I like British people.”
I think we can all relate to having a fascination with British people and/or media. I sometimes can’t help the gasp of awe that escapes me when I see the Union Jack fly.
Adding to the list of summer reads, Natalie Dampf ’27 shares a series that she enjoyed reading over the summer: the “Percy Jackson” series. Natalie describes, “I thought it captured the energy of being a teenager (especially a neurodivergent one) really well, and the characters themselves felt alive.”
Personally, a favorite book of mine that I read this summer was “Ariadne” by Jennifer Saint. “Ariadne” is a modern retelling of the novels namesake Ariadne that perfectly captures the life of the Princess of Crete. If you’re a fan of modern Greek literature (a niche genre, I know), then definitely give this book a read.
Whatever you read this summer, don’t let it stop there. If you read a book you like, look into the author or delve more into that genre. Let this school year be a year where you can finally check off books from your TBR.
