Summering
What I'm doing when it's hot, hot, hot (books, recipes, and more!)
Before I launch into all things summer, an FYI for any of you that might be NetGalley or Edelweiss reviewers! My upcoming novel, THE HAPPINESS COLLECTOR (available in bookstores, December 2), is available for request! Early reviews are SUPER helpful for authors, and help publishers determine how much energy they should put into promoting the book, so if you are interested in a novel about ancient Greek gods stealing happiness from the world, then it’s a book for you!
You might have noticed my little two-week hiatus. I took a much-needed break to do mostly nothing, which I’ve not really done in a long time. Wait, I lied. I didn’t do nothing. I’m on a mad writing streak with my latest novel, my most ambitious so far, and in the last two weeks, I’ve laid 13,000 words onto the page. While writing is work, it’s work I love beyond anything, so it didn’t feel like workish work. Not really. I also read many books. I listened to a lot of music. I ate good food. Went to some museums. Took long walks among beautiful scenery. Spent time with dear friends. Played way too many hours of video games. For my own sanity, I mostly tried to avoid the news, which is absolutely exhausting.
Books
Currently reading some biggies:
The Road to Tender Hearts - Annie Hartnett - I adore her books, and this one may be her best yet!
The Antidote - Karen Russell
The Emperor of Gladness - Ocean Vuong
Bury Our Bones In The Midnight Soil - V.E. Schwab - I will read anything she writes. An absolute masterful story teller.
Recently Read:
The Afterlife Project - Tim Weed
Tim has crafted something extraordinary with The Afterlife Project—a novel that operates simultaneously as hard science fiction, intimate character study, and philosophical meditation on humanity's place in the natural world. This is climate fiction at its most sophisticated, avoiding didactic preaching to deliver something far more powerful: a story that honors both our species' capacity for destruction and its profound determination to endure.The Master Jeweler - Weina Dei Randall
Weina Randel's The Master Jeweler delivers a compelling portrait of 1920s Shanghai's jewelry trade, following one young woman's determined fight to establish herself in a world where artistry and commerce collide with brutal force. With precise prose and mounting tension, the novel examines the true cost of genius and the relentless drive required to endure. This is historical fiction that trusts its story to captivate without relying on excess flourish—a gripping read that lingers long after the final page.Beasts of Carnaval - Rosalia Rodrigo
Rodrigo crafts a stunning, unputdownable tale of illusion and truth, weaving Caribbean mythology and colonial reckoning into a story that is both breathtaking and brutal. A novel that seduces, startles, and refuses to let go.Aphrodite - Phoenicia Rogerson
Forget everything you think you know about the goddess of love—Phoenicia Rogerson's Aphrodite is a revelation that's part divine comedy, part epic drama, and entirely addictive.
The Glass Library Series (Books 1-6) - C.J. Archer
A Court of Thorns and Roses (Books1-5) - Sarah J. Maas
I also read two series, wildly different from each other. C.J. Archer’s The Glass Library is a wonderful post-World War I story of a world where magicians are skilled craftsmen in a generally ordinary London. It’s a tame, very slow-build romance detective story with incredible historical detail. I highly recommend listening to the audiobooks, which the extremely talented Marian Hussey narrates. I have no idea how she does all the voices!
Also, I had to see what the fuss is about regarding the A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) series. I really enjoyed the books, which are the polar opposite of The Glass Library when it comes to romance and sex (warning: LOTS of GRAPHIC sex in these for those on the more prudish side). I wasn’t a fan of the POV shift in the last book, but there are some complex plotlines and great characters you’re bound to love. And for me, a writer seeking to understand how to capture a reader’s attention, they were also a valuable study.
Food
Summer means ice cream, and New England eats the most ice cream in the country! If you are in the Boston area and jonesing for some, my 🍨🍦🍧recommendations are:
Boston - Toscanini wins hands down. And normally, I’m not a fan of chains, but I have to say, Van Leeuwen is pretty darn good.
Burbs - Kimball Farm (I prefer the Carlisle location, but if you have kids, take them to the pseudo amusement park in Westford) and up north, Holy Cow gives Toscanini’s a run for its money.
A few summer recipes have become staples for me as well:
My favorite, especially if there are guests, is this wonderful summer fruit terrine from Epicurious. I’ve been making it for nearly twenty years now. You need a terrine pan, or you may need to futz with the liquid volume to get it right. I also really adore the recipe that Molly at Yes to Yolks blog developed for a cherry caprese salad. And the final photo isn’t the prettiest, but omfg is that cherry rose pie the tastiest. I could eat that pie every day for the rest of my life. It’s a recipe I created for In The Garden of Monsters, a riff off of various Renaissance era pies. You can get the recipe for it in my free downloadable companion cookbook.
Summer Entertainment
Some photos of my last two weeks
Music
Tom Smith from my fave band, Editors, has a solo album coming up and he’s just released the first single.
Video Games
Still playing a lot of Fallout 76 (because it’s good to bone up on all things apocalyptic the way things are headed in RL), but also loving this calming puzzle game, Blue Prince.
Thanks for Joining Me
If you love food and love Italy, and haven’t read IN THE GARDEN OF MONSTERS, THE CHEF’S SECRET or FEAST OF SORROW, click the links to learn where to buy your copy! And now you can pre-order my latest, THE HAPPINESS COLLECTOR!
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Thanks for mention of Kimball Farms i e cream …it was a part of my growing up, a weekly ritual for the family …my Dad always got the huge banana split
Great newsletter as always. Looking forward to the latest novel.