“One of two newsletters I pay for.” “A refreshing alt to doomscrolling.” “Always a good mix of serious content and frivolity.” Real reviews from readers who support Downtime with a paid subscription ($5/month). 🩴 There’s a summer sale happening now! Won’t you join in? 🩴
Hi! I hope you’re getting ready to get a bit of sunshine and R&R this weekend. Today, I’m offering you a pre-holiday gift in the form of book recs: reads to help you escape. By a “transportive” read, I mean one that whisks you away—mentally, emotionally, atmospherically. It immerses you so fully in its world that you forget where you are. Think: reading under a beach umbrella but feeling like you’re wandering the Italian countryside, tangled in a 19th-century affair, or navigating the terrain of a faraway planet. These are books less about plot-driven thrills and more about lingering in a mood, a setting, or a character’s inner world. Below are ten book recommendations along these lines from friends of Downtime to pack with you, whether you’re traveling to Puglia or simply to your local park for a lazy day in the sun. I asked people whose reading tastes I know vary widely from one another to present you with a smorgasbord of options, no matter your vibe. I’m pleased with how eclectic the picks are. Enjoy! What are you picking up to feel whisked away? Would love to hear your rec(s) for transportive summer reads, in the comments. —Alisha P.S. There’s a special book giveaway at the bottom of this post! P.P.S. I’m running a 20% off summer sale to celebrate two years of Downtime. That means it’s just $4/month right now. If you’ve been thinking about upgrading, now’s the time—come join us. Nine recommendations from guests and myself…
If you’re into a multigenerational saga that blends genres… Real Americans by Rachel Khong “Not only will this book take you across the country (and the world), it will take you across decades and generations. Plus, there's a bit of magical realism in it, which I can never resist!” — Morgan Pager, author of the just-released The Art of Vanishing If you’re a romance reader craving a more layered story… Just Last Night by Mhairi McFarlane “I love rom-com-type books, but it's hard to find ones where the writing feels sharp and the plot isn't overly formulaic. This novel, set in England, handily checks both of those boxes—it begins as a breezy, funny story about a tight-knit friend group and a long-simmering crush, then pivots into something deeper and more emotional after an unexpected twist.” — Harling Ross Anton, writer of theGumshoe newsletter If you’re a history nerd craving a mystery… “Post-WWI London may not exude ‘summer vibes,’ but each time I set this book down, I couldn’t wait to get back to its perfectly crafted world. In this absorbing historical mystery-romance, a buttoned-up detective sergeant teams up with a handsome graphologist to solve a murder that cuts to the heart of corruption in the Metropolitan Police Department. The novel's strong theme of justice felt like a balm, and the longing and banter between Aaron and Joel made me swoon. I am always chasing that feeling of tearing through three Nancy Drew novels a day, and this delivered. History nerds: do not miss the author's note!” — Chelsey Feder, writer of the The Eclectic Reader newsletter
If you’re craving an enchanting seaside adventure… Upon A Starlit Tide by Kell Woods “Far and away the most enchanting and unique book I've picked up this year, and I wish I could read it again for the first time! This novel is a mix of historical fiction and magical realism that pulls on some of the classic fairytale threads you remember from childhood— The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, and others— but told in an entirely fresh way, and set behind the high walls of a sea fortress in Brittany's Saint-Malo in 1758. This one's for the girls who collect seashells, who spent hours in the pool as a kid wistfully wishing their legs would become a mermaid tail, who stayed up late reading a book with a flashlight under the covers, or whose love for animals and sea creatures knows no bounds!” — Azora Zoe Paknad, writer of the First Rodeo newsletter If you’re seeking a moving debut novel about love… Slanting Towards the Sea by Lidija Hilje *out on July 8th “Lidija is a Croatian lawyer turned American writer, and this dual timeline love story about the kind of love that both shakes us and breaks us apart is one of the most gorgeous reads I have finished all year. I could taste the crisp salt air of the Croatian coast the entire time I was reading it.” — Jo Piazza , author of the forthcoming novel Everyone Is Lying To You and The Sicilian Inheritance If you’re looking for something offbeat and literary… Cassandra at the Wedding by Dorothy Baker “Set over one strange, shimmering summer weekend in California, it’s a novelette (love any excuse for that word) about identity, but told through so many exquisite details: outfit choices, cocktail orders, silk driving gloves, Bösendorfer pianos, citrus farms, and the existential horror of your twin’s deeply mediocre fiancé.” —Leigh Patterson, creative director and writer of The Moon Lists newsletter If you’re looking to embroil yourself in family drama in the English countryside…
The Light Years by Elizabeth Jane Howard “This epic family saga will transport you to the English countryside with the four grown Cazalet siblings who have descended on their family's estate with their partners, children, and emotional baggage in tow. Over the course of their annual summer holiday, enthralling secrets and staggering betrayals emerge, but it is the small moments between family members that make this book soar, coalescing into a rare novel that feels simultaneously cozy and juicy. Right now, I'm finding books that span decades to be deeply satisfying, and as The Light Years begins Howard's five book series, The Cazalet Chronicles, there's an entire world to get lost in if you, like me, fall in love with this family.” — Sara Hildreth, writer of the Fiction Matters newsletter If you’re into a historical multi-generational saga… “This is a highly transportive, gorgeously written novel that follows several generations of a Korean family in Japan. Jin Lee writes scenes so vivid that I felt completely immersed in them, tasting the salty kimchi and feeling the seasons change through the page. It's the perfect summer read—you'll feel like you've traveled to a foreign land without buying a plane ticket.” — Bella Darden, writer of the Mindholiday newsletter If you’re an art lover who wants to sunbathe in the Italian countryside…
“This book is set in 1944 Italy against the backdrop of the war and follows the lives of an English soldier and a middle-aged art historian whose stories intimately connect. It’s a slow, languorous read that’s in no hurry to move things along. Instead, you get to savor the gorgeous descriptions of Tuscan hill towns and Florentine piazzas and glimpse inside the relationships between the (often zany, very lovable) inhabitants. There is a parrot involved. It’s a book that has stuck with me over the years.” —Alisha Ramos, writer of Downtime
A book giveaway!
I’ve been waiting eagerly for The Art of Vanishing by Morgan Pager¹ to hit shelves, and it’s finally arrived. This is an enchanting book about a museum employee, Claire, who steps into a painting one night…
Doesn’t it sound dreamy? I’m choosing five winners to receive a copy in the mail. To enter:
Puglia photo by Maria Bobrova via Unsplash. Further escapist reading from Downtime…
If you like book recs, culture news and reads, and the occasional small delight in link or visual form, you might like Downtime if you’re not subscribed already. Hit the button below: 1 Better known on Bookstagram as @nycbookgirl! You’re currently a free subscriber to Downtime. For the full experience, upgrade your subscription. Paying subscribers get the good stuff: weekly recs and links sent every Friday, access to our reader chat, and entry into giveaways. You can upgrade for $5/month. If you have a moment, please tap the heart button, a free way to show appreciation. ❤️ It helps others find my work. Also: refer a friend, get free months! This newsletter may contain affiliate links, which means when you buy something through my link, I may receive a cut of the purchase at no cost to you. Any gifted items from brands are denoted as “gifted.” I occasionally work with highly-vetted sponsors, who help me keep some of my content free, and these are clearly noted as “sponsored.” Thanks for your support of Downtime.
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srijeda, 2. srpnja 2025.
Summer escapism, in novel form
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