Personally, this hasn’t been an easy summer. And not just because of the mosquitoes, the heat, and the humidity of the Po Valley. I had to deal with some health issues, both my own and within my family, and found myself rushing between three different regional hospitals more times than I would have liked. Saying this summer wasn’t exactly a paradise of beach days, mountain walks, and sugary ice cream would be an understatement.
If it weren’t for the books that kept me company, this would be a summer to erase entirely, to exorcise with a lighter and some incense. Because — and this isn’t just a cliché — it was the stories I read that kept me company through hospital hours and beyond, giving me a breath of fresh air on days when I didn’t even have the energy to run a load of laundry. Were they all perfect reads? No, but I’m not complaining, especially since I found a new classic to love — dare I say, my new favorite classic.
Enough chatter, let’s get into it.
My DNFs
I’m not afraid to abandon a book I’m not enjoying, not even with 150 pages left to go. That’s what happened with Bomarzo by Manuel Mujica Lainez, a book I’d been dying to read for ages. Too bad that, at a certain point, all the names and courtly intrigue became too much for me. I found them more of a distraction than an addition, so much so that I lost the dark, moody vibe I loved so much and that was the whole reason I wanted to read Bomarzo in the first place. I’m sure that if the story had been less sprawling, this would have been one of my favorite books of summer 2026.
Two other books I couldn’t finish, though for different reasons, were The Minds of Billy Milligan by Daniel Keyes and Flowers in the Attic by V. C. Andrews. The first felt too clinical and cold, as detached as a medical report, while the second never really took off, not even after 100 pages. Of the three DNFs, the one I might pick back up someday is Bomarzo, because in its good moments, that dark atmosphere really worked.
Best audiobooks
Two completely different stories that, coincidentally, both happen to be by American authors. The first audiobook that deserves a special mention is Cold Moon Over Babylon by Michael McDowell, which is, for now, my favorite by this author. It’s a true horror-thriller, full of suspense and mystery, the kind of read that keeps you glued (whether to the page or the headphones) from the very first line to the last. And that first line really is a knockout.
The second audiobook I’ll never get tired of talking about is Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell, a story I didn’t see coming, one that swept me up completely, right up until the avalanche of that final chapter hit me. There are a thousand reasons to read this classic and to love it. I’ll give you just one, to convince you to pick it up: Scarlett is the bravest, most infuriating, most compelling protagonist there’s ever been.
My favorite read
Without further ado, drumroll please, for a title that by now will surprise absolutely no one. Gone with the Wind is my favorite book of this cursed summer, so much so that I’m planning to read it in English soon too. Though I doubt Scarlett will be any less maddening in another language.
Special mentions
Three titles that turned my stomach inside out, in the best way:
- Tattoo by Earl Thompson, brutal and raw;
- My Tender Matador by Pedro Lemebel, true and heartbreaking;
- Warlock by Oakley Hall, a western that goes way beyond the stereotypes.
One last thing I want to add. This summer, between one intense read and the next, I also discovered the world of romance novels, which helped me switch off, to dream of worlds where the biggest worry is how to shake off a hangover. I’d say that every now and then, you need some good, easy, pleasurable reads too. And I can’t wait to tell you all about them.
All in all, a positive reading recap, despite a difficult season. Here’s hoping autumn brings good energy, marshmallows over the fire, and chestnuts with mulled wine.
How did your summer reading go?
My honest and visceral review..
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