As this issue celebrates summer, I am excited to share that mine included the best gift I could give myself: a reading retreat. I found this fabulous company out of the United Kingdom called Ladies Who Lit, where Megan, the owner and organizer, puts on incredible retreats in beautiful locations. The one I attended was in the sun-drenched hills outside Seville, Spain. Escaping to the Andalusian countryside for a few days of books, connection, and rest turned out to be an absolutely wonderful experience. From the moment I arrived at the stunning villa nestled among olive groves, I felt the stress of everyday life melt away. The retreat kicked off with a warm welcome dinner and a fun book swap as all of the ladies got to know each other. The days were blissfully unstructured, with long stretches of quiet time to read by the pool or under the shade of centuries-old olive trees or in the fabulous courtyard at the villa. For me, there was something almost magical about reading in such a peaceful place; it made the stories feel more vivid and the pages were turning quickly. Each day was full of delicious food, animated conversation, and recommendations that quickly added to my to-be-read list. One of the most memorable nights was the Murder Mystery Dinner Party. We dressed up, adopted new personas, and dove into an evening of intrigue, laughter, and lively conversation over a beautifully prepared meal. Throughout the retreat, we gathered for a sangria tasting, an Iberico ham tasting, and a flamenco performance and class. Our final evening was spent discussing the book of the trip, The Wedding People by Alison Espach. I left with a tote bag of bookish goodies, a head full of stories, a Kindle with a few less books to-be-read, and a heart that felt lighter and more connected. This wasn’t just a vacation – it was a reminder of how powerful books can be in bringing people together and creating joy in unexpected places.
- The Eighth Detective by Alex Pavesi
This inventive mystery follows Grant McAllister, a mathematician turned mystery writer who once published a series of short detective stories based on his theory of murder fiction. Years later, editor Julia Hart visits him on a remote island to republish the stories, but soon realizes that something doesn’t add up. As fiction and reality blur, secrets from the past begin to surface in this layered, cerebral whodunit. - The Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohamed
In this dark, folkloric novella, a mother is forced to venture into a haunted forest to rescue two royal children. The forest is alive with ancient terrors, and what awaits her is far more personal and horrifying than she expected. It’s a haunting tale of resilience, fear, and the price of survival. - The Original by Nell Stevens
Grace has grown up as an outsider in her uncle’s crumbling Oxfordshire estate, finding solace in painting, and eventually in forging artworks by candlelight to fund her escape. Her quiet world is disrupted when a man claiming to be her long-lost cousin Charles returns, threatening to unravel the household and stirring suspicions of fraud and ambition. Set against a backdrop of deception and shifting identities, this richly atmospheric novel explores the nature of authenticity in art, in family, and in ourselves. - A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck by Sophie Elmhirst
This narrative nonfiction account follows a newly married British couple who decide to live out their dream by sailing around the world in a small boat. What begins as a romantic adventure quickly becomes a test of endurance, relationship, and reality. It’s a tender, strange, and deeply human portrait of love in extreme circumstances. - Ballerina by Patrick Modiano, translated by Mark Polizzotti
This dreamy, nostalgic novella by Nobel laureate Patrick Modiano traces the fleeting memories of a former dancer and her connection with a narrator trying to make sense of her past. Told in his signature impressionistic style, the story meanders through time, memory, and emotion. It evokes the feeling of trying to hold on to someone, or maybe something, that has already slipped away. - Casual by Koji A. Dae
In a near-future society, Valya relies on a neural implant called CASUAL to manage her depression, anxiety, and fertility struggles. When new laws ban caregivers from using such devices, she is forced to choose between her mental stability and her ability to care for her newborn. Exploring themes of bodily autonomy, technology, and motherhood, Casual is a chilling, emotionally resonant look at the pressures women face in a world that treats mental health as a liability.
- How to Dodge a Cannonball by Dennard Doyle
This razor-sharp satire follows Anders, a teenage idealist who joins the Union army to help shape America’s future, though he’s not exactly sure what that means. Through absurd twists of fate, he cycles through roles in the Union, the Confederacy, and a Black regiment, all while questioning the logic of war, loyalty, and national identity. Seriously funny and brutally insightful, the novel skewers Civil War mythology and probes what it really means to fight for America. - These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean
Alice Storm returns to her family’s private island for the first time in five years after the unexpected death of her powerful and manipulative father. What was meant to be a brief farewell becomes an emotional battleground when her father’s will forces the fractured family to stay and complete a weeklong inheritance challenge. With old wounds, buried secrets, and new sparks rising, this lush, character-driven novel explores the tangled bonds of family, love, and the storms, both literal and emotional, that reshape us. - Big Fan by Alexandra Romanoff
In this fun romance, Maya’s political career is on the rebound after her ex-husband’s scandal, and she lands a gubernatorial candidate as a fresh start. But when Charlie, the former lead singer of her teenage favorite boy band, reaches out for help with his comeback, old obsessions and new feelings collide. Torn between ambition and nostalgia, Maya must decide how much of her past she is willing to embrace. - Square Waves by Alexandra Romanoff
In a follow-up set in the world of Big Fan, Cassidy returns to her hometown after years of working on anti-bullying initiatives, hoping to reset her life and escape past mistakes. A chance encounter with her high school nemesis, Leon, turns into something more as they support a mutual friend’s new ceramics studio. As she reevaluates her judgments and expectations, Cassidy discovers unexpected possibilities in both love and life. - O Sinners! by Nicole Cuffy
After the death of his father, journalist Faruq Zaidi embeds himself in a cult known as “the nameless” in the redwoods of California, led by a charismatic Vietnam veteran named Odo. Through dual timelines, including flashbacks to the war, the novel explores how trauma, belief systems, and the need for belonging can shape and warp reality. Immersive and unsettling, it raises powerful questions about identity, memory, and what we seek in others. - The Wedding People by Alison Espach – the book of the trip
At an extravagant wedding filled with secrets and tension, guests are forced to confront their pasts, their desires, and the roles they have chosen or been assigned in life. As the weekend unfolds, relationships unravel, new connections form, and nothing goes quite as planned. This emotional, insightful novel dives deep into human connection and the masks we wear.
Happy Reading!
Featured in the September 6, 2025 issue of The Independent
