Hello, Summer 2025
What I’m consuming this summer
Growing up, summer was my favorite season. It is the obvious choice of youth. No real responsibility to be had—just simply exist. As I grew older, I filled it with summer jobs and summer school. The boundaries between seasons blurred. Now, in adulthood, seasons are defined by something else entirely.
I still cling to the idea of every summer being idyllic, the time to simply exist. This most likely explains my annual compulsion to create a summer playlist, read the best books, and see all the blockbusters. Preoccupying myself with the things I love in hopes of briefly forgetting the responsibilities of adulthood.
I like my books long during summer. It can be fiction or nonfiction. I only want to be completely immersed in whatever story I’m reading. Here are a few favorites I’ve read over the years:
Blonde by Joyce Carole Oates
God of the Woods by Liz Moore
Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space by Adam Higginbotham
Empire of Pain: The Secret of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
Movies and summer are synonymous in my mind. I could easily create a lengthy list of recommendations. Instead, I will share some that I plan on revisiting this summer:
Licorice Pizza (Paul Thomas Anderson, 2021)
Midsommar (Ari Aster, 2019)
La Dolce Vita (Federico Fellini, 1960)
Eve’s Bayou (Kasi Lemmons, 1997)
The Swimmer (Frank Perry, 1968)
Le Bonheur (Agnes Varda, 1965)
One of the greatest pleasures in life is an excellently curated playlist that evokes a vibe consistently throughout. I aspire to create such. Here’s the link to the one I’ve made this year:
Hope you have a wonderful summer.
Xoxo
Lauren