Whimsical Ideas for the Best Summer of Reading!

Idea #1: Go on an audiobook walk!

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There’s something special about reading in the summer!

As a kid, summer meant freedom for many things … most especially freedom to choose where, when, and what I wanted to read!

Books by Judy Blume, Beverly Cleary, and Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time just naturally fit into those leisurely days that also included riding my bike around my neighborhood and occasional trips to a pool. ( Oh, the nostalgia of life before phones!)

A recent New York Times Opinion article spotlighted Brian Bannon, the chief librarian of the New York Public Library ( see the Instagram summary of it here). Bannon warned that reading for fun, especially among young people, has plummeted in America.

It’s a concerning trend because reading books is not only good for your individual wellness, but it also uplifts your community and beyond.

Bookish AF and Medium readers are already enthusiastic book lovers! But it’s always helpful to find ways to keep the bookish fun going and perhaps inspire others through your example to start their own reading habit!

So, this week I’m kicking off the “Bookish AF Summer of Reading 2026!”

Discover new ideas to bring more joy and whimsy to your reading habit this summer!

“One benefit of Summer was that each day we had more light to read by.”

― Jeannette Walls, The Glass Castle

Bookish AF Summer of Reading 2026!

Starting now in June through August, join all the **Bookish AF Summer of Reading **fun!

Each week, I’ll feature one or two of the mini-challenges of reading inspiration ideas to help you make the most of your summer reading life!

Summer Reading Mini-Challenge BINGO

Here’s a BINGO card so you can keep track of these mini-challenges and revel in the satisfaction of marking them off as you accomplish them.

You don’t have to complete every square. The goal is simple: have fun, discover great books, and create a summer full of memorable reading experiences.

Bookish AF Summer Reading Challenge #1: 🎧 Take an Audiobook Walk

I chose to start with this Summer Reading Mini-Challenge first because:

June is Audiobook Appreciation Month! I’ve recently become an audiobook fan for many reasons, most especially because listening while I’m doing other mundane tasks has doubled the number of books I’ve read!

An audiobook walk is exactly what it sounds like. Put on an audiobook, lace up your shoes, and head outside!

If you’re new to audiobook walks, here are a few quick tips:

• Choose a simple route so you can focus safely on your audiobook.
• Wear comfy headphones or earbuds that stay in securely
• Double the fun and bring a friend to walk with you!

For more audiobook tips and recs, check out:

[embed]Books That Are Better as Audiobooks! Readers recommend these books on audio!medium.com

Top 3 Books/Audiobook Recs to Celebrate Pride Month!

Here are three book recs for your next audiobook walk that also help you celebrate Pride Month!

I love the power of books, especially fiction, to provide representation and opportunity for empathy.

As a reader, you live the life of the characters in your mind. Sometimes that means you resonate with their experiences, and sometimes that means you understand others a little better.

During Pride Month, this benefit of reading takes on even greater meaning!

For the ultimate Pride Month book list, Bookshop.org asked “booksellers at local, LGBTQIA+-owned bookstores to share the books they’re recommending this Pride Month.”

Here are the top three books on their list:

View the booklist on Bookshop.org!

John of John by Douglas Stuart

Maybe because Oprah selected it as her June book club pick, or because early reader reviews rate it sooo highly, but this novel tops every Pride book list this year!

In this deeply emotional story, both father and son hold on tightly to the secret that they are both gay. They keep this secret from the world, and more importantly, from each other. (*Amazon | Bookshop.org*)

Listen to Douglas Stuart discuss (in his lovely lilting accent) his novel in this fascinating NPR interview!

We Burned So Bright by TJ Klune

You may well recognize the author, TJ Klune, from The House in the Cerulean Sea (I haven’t read it yet, but it’s high on TBR!).

In this novel, we follow Don and Rodney, who have shared a life for forty years. Sadly, time is running out as Earth is about to be gobbled up by a black hole! With unfinished business motivating them, Don and Rodney hop into a mobile home for a road trip from Maine to Washington State. (*Amazon | Bookshop.org*)

The reviews are stellar, and it may be the end of the world if I don’t read it soon!

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Let’s keep our eyes cast upward to the rainbow-filled heavens above, for another novel that is beautifully written and worthy of praise during Pride Month and all year long! Taylor Jenkins Reid rarely disappoints (why oh why haven’t I read one of her books yet?!), and Atmosphere is among her most beloved.

The story follows Joan Goodwin, who ventures into the 1980s Space Shuttle mission. While training for the mission, Joan befriends her fellow astronauts and finds an unlikely love. Then, on a mission, things go wrong.(*Amazon | Bookshop.org*)

You’d better block out time to read the ending because you won’t want to put it down!

**View the booklist on Bookshop.org! **( Save 15% off the books on this list until June 30th with code: Pride26, and know that local independent bookstores, LGBTQIA+-owned, benefit from your purchases! )

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📚Love books? I see you nodding your head (well, not really, but go with it!) Here’s your invitation to bookish bliss: ***Subscribe to the Bookish AF Newsletter!***

Originally published at https://bookishaf.substack.com.