Summer

Summer Reads: a Book List for Table & Home

There are SO many wonderful escapist summer reads outside the “beach read” category! Salty, sunny, and breezy, these five books will transport you to your favorite little waterfront spot as soon as you crack that cover! (As usual, this post contains no affiliate links, nor is this a sponsored post. All opinions and enthusiasms for this summer reads book list are my own.)


The Saltwater Table by Whitney Otawkaka

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On the wild shores of Cumberland Island, Georgia, Whitney roasts whole fish over wood fires, piles low-country boil on newspaper covered tables, and delights in foraging for the feast the island offers. I am over the moon for this book! Not only do I want to cook exactly like she does, merely paging through The Saltwater Table fills me with briny longing for her way of life. This is everything you want your summer to be!

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Surf Shack by Nina Freudenberger

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Real surfers’ real homes, in all their chill glory. From a nomadic airstream to California contemporaries, all types of “surf shacks” are represented. Beautiful midcentury wood tones and artwork abound, tempered with the laid-back vibe you’d expect of a slightly sandy lifestyle. You’re sure to find a little inspiration for your home in this summer-soaked book!

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Endless Summer Cookbook by Katie Lee

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This girl knows food. And I want to be her friend. I’m not usually a star-struck type, generally dismissing celebrity as reason to NOT read a book. This one proves me wrong! I picked it up at the library on a whim and loved the food, the tone, and the sense of place. Loved it so much in fact, that I bought my own copy! Katie Lee grew up vacationing in the Hamptons, but this book is not a tour of cliches and 1% foodie fare. This is a deep dive into the casual, coastal small town that’s under all that image-crafting. The Hamptons she’s in love with, and the one you’ll fall for too, as you cook through her swordfish kababs, skillet paella, and triple coconut waffles.

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She Explores by Gale Staub

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What’s summer without a little adventure? Take it outside, friends! This collection of stories from female solo travelers will inspire you to climb that mountain, blaze that trail, and discover the boldness inside your own story. And the sweeping photography will make you swoon, by the way.

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Wild Sweetness
by Thalia Ho

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Somehow lush and minimalist all at the same time. Creative flavor combinations layer extravagantly on the taste buds, yet short ingredient lists boil it down to high quality essentials. Rich, moody photography highlights the earthiness of Thalia’s food, yet each page feels airily spacious. It is elemental. You will not find any white noise recipes here. “Wild Sweetness” offers a clean, distilled collection of desserts you won’t find anywhere else.

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So pull up a beach chair, park the pontoon in a quiet cove, or hang a hammock in the shade- whatever floats your boat- just get to some summer reading!


If you need a drink in your hand tap here, or for more fantastic books on home + food tap here!

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