It’s been an unusually soggy spring in Houston—the kind that makes hot summer days feel far away, even though I know those 101-degree scorchers are looming right around the corner. I could do without the heat and humidity of the South, but one thing I can’t do without is plunging into a pool of great summer reads.
There's just something about them.
Even without a beach nearby, I’ve spent summer days on the sand in Nantucket, Lake Michigan, Greece, and beyond—without ever leaving the comfort of my back patio.
I love the kind of book you bring to the beach or read in little pockets of time between sunscreen reapplications, while wondering how you'll keep your kids busy all summer.
The kind of book where you're not trying to learn anything or improve yourself; you're just... there.
Weirdly, that might be exactly why it feels so good.
Your brain gets a break, finally! Most of us spend a lot of time in the highest gear we can muster, but with a summer read, there’s no pressure, no self-improvement, and no judgment of what you did or didn't check off your to-do list.
Just a story.
When you pick up a light, feel-good book—especially a summer romance or an easy escape read—your brain gets to step out of the cycle of thinking about how to keep all the balls in the air, what on earth to make for dinner, and the other million tasks we put on our personal checklists.
This might be groundbreaking, but... your brain doesn't need intensity all the time.
In fact, reading something light and hopeful can reduce anxiety because your brain isn't bracing for impact. Increased feelings of connection—even fictional ones—give you a sense of closure, which real life doesn't always offer. In other words, that easy book is doing more for your mental health than you think.
I’ve made the mistake of ‘qualifying’ my book, Trusting Tuscany, to others as “just a summer read,” like it’s not worthy of a serious reader. But here’s the thing: feel-good books aren't fluff—they're doing something for your mental health.
A reader recently wrote to me, “Loving what I’ve read. The last two books I’ve read have been so depressing. This is just what my brain needs.”
That shift alone can lower stress and help your nervous system reset.
According to Dr. Ariel Starr, a psychologist and assistant professor at the University of Washington (Go Huskies!), “Reading encourages you to disconnect from the world and become immersed in the world on the page, whether that is an imaginative world in a fictional novel or a different time or place in a nonfiction book,” says Starr.
"Giving your brain permission to disconnect from your real-life experiences helps to ease muscle tension and causes your blood pressure and heart rate to decrease", Starr says. She notes that reading before bed can help you relax so that you can fall asleep more easily and sleep more soundly.
So... if you need a little reset (and really, who doesn’t?), you don't need to start a Tai-Chi practice, or cut out sugar (unless you want to, of course). Simply pick up a book. Sitting outside with a book, letting yourself get pulled into a story, finishing a chapter, and realizing you aren't clenching your teeth anymore, that's a reset.
If you're building your summer reading list or just need something that feels easy, good, and a little bit like an escape, go for it—those are the books your brain is asking for, and honestly, they count.
If you're looking for a sun-drenched, slow-burn romance with a little bit of tension and a lot of heart, my novel, Trusting Tuscany, might be your kind of escape. Whatever your summer plans are, I hope you find yourself in the relaxing waters of a great "Summer Read".... your brain will thank you.