There’s something undeniably magical about reading outdoors in summer. The way sunlight flickers through the trees onto your pages, the hum of bees in the distance, the scent of warm grass or sea salt — it all makes every sentence feel like it belongs to the season.
Whether you’re tucked into a shady corner of your garden, perched on a park bench, or stretched out on a beach towel with sand between your toes, reading becomes more than just a pastime. It becomes a state of being — relaxed, open, alive.
Even if you’re stuck working in the city, stealing a few pages on your lunch break or while commuting can feel like a mini escape. And if you’re lucky enough to be on holiday, what better companion is there than a good book and a gentle breeze?
This summer, I’m revisiting some of my favorite books — timeless stories that have stayed with me through the years — and I’m excited to share them with you as all-time classics worthy of your summer reading list.
📘 The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
This is a philosophical and sensual novel, probably the most famous book by Kundera. It explores love, identity, and freedom in Soviet-era Prague. It asks what it means to live lightly — or with depth — and whether either can truly protect us from pain. It’s a perfect summer read if you’re in the mood for introspection beneath the surface of a beautiful narrative.
📕 Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck
This classic American road trip memoir is pure joy. With his poodle Charley as his companion, Steinbeck sets out to rediscover the U.S. — its people, landscapes, and spirit. Warm, funny, and deeply human, it’s one of my favorite books that I am rereading now 🙂
📗 The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende
A deeply romantic, multi-generational novel set between WWII and modern-day San Francisco, this is a story about memory, exile, and forbidden love. Allende’s typical lyrical storytelling shines here, making it a beautiful, sweeping summer read — perfect for long afternoons under the trees.
📕 A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki
Blending past and present, East and West, this novel follows a Japanese teenager’s diary as it washes up on the shores of a Canadian island and into the hands of a writer. It’s a deeply moving story about identity, memory, and the invisible threads that connect us. The book talks about Zen philosophy, climate awareness, and emotional vulnerability into a narrative that feels both intimate and expansive.
Whether you’re reading for escape, for connection, or simply to breathe deeper in the summer air, these books are companions worth spending time with.
And while we’re savoring the stillness of summer, we’re also busy preparing something special: our Autumn Reading Retreat in Cyprus. When the heat softens and the skies turn golden, we’ll gather by the sea with books, wine, and stories that stay with you long after the pages are closed.
