Your Summer Soundtrack (& book stack)

If you’ve been playing these songs on repeat, here’s what to read next.

Hi book lovelies,

As we’re getting to know each other, I figured I'd share one of my beige flags: when I discover a song I love, I hit repeat on that sucker until I’m sick of it. Yes, I am that person. My kids have inherited this trait too. Every time we get in the car, I hold my breath and hope my son doesn’t remember “Wheels on the Bus” exists.

Since it’s summertime — peak season for catchy tunes — I thought it’d be fun to do a summer soundtrack and book pairing. A “if you like this song, then you should read this book” kind of thing. Because who doesn’t love a semi-personalized book rec?

Here are a few songs that I have been playing on repeat all summer long, and my corresponding book recommendations:

1. Manchild, Sabrina Carpenter

   Vibe: A sassy pop anthem calling out emotional immaturity and reclaiming self-worth. Yess.
   Book Rec: Good Material, Dolly Alderton
   Told from the perspective of Andy, a heartbroken comedian still reeling after a breakup, this novel is full of emotional spirals, denial, and self-sabotage. Alderton nails the male “manchild” archetype while somehow making you root for him anyway. Equal parts funny and vulnerable, it’s a clever portrait of modern relationships — and one of my favorite reads of last year.
   

2. Sally, When the Wine Runs Out, ROLE MODEL
   Vibe: A deceptively upbeat indie-pop song about dreading the moment the magic fades. But also a bop.
   Book Rec: The Paper Palace, Miranda Cowley Heller
   Set over the course of one summer day, Elle finds herself torn between her husband and the childhood love she’s never quite let go of. With vivid atmosphere and layered emotion, this novel explores past choices, present loyalties, and the fragile space between longing and regret.
   

3. DAISIES, Justin Bieber
   Vibe: A laid-back, romantic anthem that feels like a hazy summer afternoon—vibey and nostalgic.
   Book Rec: Thirst for Salt, Madelaine Lucas
   Set on the isolated Australian coast, we follow a young woman’s intense relationship with an older man—and all the messy, quiet heartbreak that comes with it. It’s sharp, slow-burning, and full of that uneasy tension that leaves her questioning the life she has and the life she wants. Perfect for fans of slow burns with emotional depth.
   

4. Messy, Lola Young
   Vibe: A raw, soul-pop confession about the relentless push-and-pull of expectations inside ourselves and from others—too messy one moment, too perfect the next, never quite fitting cleanly into anyone’s idea of “right”.
   Book Rec: Worry, Alexandra Tanner
   Centered on two sisters living in Brooklyn, Worry captures the creative angst, family tension, and floundering ambition that comes with trying to figure out adulthood. This book doesn’t tie things up with a bow — it’s chaotic, prickly, and yes, a little messy. But it’s also sharp, observant, and weirdly satisfying if you’re in the mood for something real.

Let me know in the comments if you liked this little crossover experiment. I’ve got plenty more songs (and books) where these came from.

Your smitten bookworm,

Emily

p.s. Share this post with your friend who loves music just as much as books

p.p.s. If you’re loving these song-meets-book vibes, you’ll adore my curated list of Books I Can’t Stop Talking About. It’s packed with the stories that stuck with me long after turning the last page, and it’s free for subscribers.