There’s no better summer accessory than the perfect book under a beach umbrella or AC shutter. But with so many new releases and all-time favorites, choosing just one (or two, or three) to take with you is a big ask. That’s why we’ve curated a list of must-read books for the perfect summer day just for you.

FICTION-

#1- Klara and the Sun, Kazuo Ishiguro. A humanoid AI designed to be a human friend spends time in the storefront where it’s displayed for bypassers to see until it is bought up by a human. Ishiguro’s novel is an interesting take on AI and the possible compassion between humans and machines.

You can find a copy on Amazon.

#2- What we talk about when we talk about relationships, Belal Alaa. This Arabic language novel revolves around the musings of the unnamed speaker who ponders relationships and its impact during different stages of his life. Alaa posits several existentialist questions in an interesting manner. One such question is when do we declare that someone is a friend? What drives us to need friends in our lives? Alongside several other questions that he succeeded at presenting it in a manner that invites the reader to experience his sentimentalities.

You can get a copy at Diwan.

#3- The Cemetery of Untold Stories, Julia Alvarez. Alma Cruz is a renowned author who returns to the Dominican Republic to bury her unpublished books. Her plan goes awry when her characters come to life and start telling their own stories, rewriting their tales with the local groundskeeper as their audience. Alvarez blends modern prose with folklore and magical realism, creating a rich, emotional exploration of storytelling.

You can find a copy on Amazon.

#4- The Lady of Zamalek, Ashraf El Ashmawi. The tale opens with the real-life 1927 murder of Cairo businessman Solomon Cicurel, blending historical events with fiction. The story follows Abbas, a fifth accomplice in the crime, who escapes with stolen documents he believes will lead him to hidden wealth. He involves his sister Zeinab, who infiltrates Cicurel’s household. Spanning the 1920s to the 1990s, El Ashmawi weaves a rags-to-riches tale through key moments in modern Egyptian history.

You can get a copy from the AUC Press.

MEMOIRS

#1- Mapping My Return, Salman Abu Sitta. This is the poignant memoir of Abu Sitta’s life as a Palestinian forced from his home at the age of ten during the 1948 Nakba. He recounts his family’s expulsion from Beersheba and his enduring desire to return home. He vividly describes his early life in Palestine, exile in Gaza, and formative years in Egypt, London, Canada, and Kuwait. Through his personal narrative, Abu Sitta captures the broader Palestinian experience, emphasizing justice and his work in mapping his homeland.

You can get your copy on Amazon.

#2- I Want to Die But I Want to Eat Tteokbokki by Baek Se-hee. A candid account of the author’s struggle with anxiety and depression, the book features Baek’s conversations with a psychiatrist and reflective essays on her past and Korean culture. Mixing raw emotion with humor, Baek offers relatable insights for those facing similar issues.

You can get your copy on Amazon.

HISTORICAL FICTION

#1- Circe by Madeline Miller. In this retelling of the ancient Greek myth of Circe, daughter of Helios. Miller refashions the enigmatic goddess known from Homer’s Odyssey into a complex and empowered protagonist. Born into the court of the Sun God Helios, Circe is banished to the remote island of Aeaea, where she discovers her own strengths amid gods and heroes who dictate her fate.

You can get your copy on Amazon.

#2- A Persian Requiem by Simin Danishvar. This one unfolds in the tumultuous southern Persian town of Shiraz during World War II, under British occupation. The novel centers on Zari, a traditional and anxious woman married to the idealistic landlord Yusef. Amidst political intrigue and tribal rebellions, Zari strives to maintain normalcy within her home’s serene courtyard while shielding her family from external chaos stirred by corruption and colonialism.

You can get your copy on Amazon.

MYSTERY

#1- The Secret History, Donna Tartt. Credited with sparking the dark academia genre, Tartt’s novel follows Richard, a misfit at an elite New England college, who finds camaraderie with five eccentric students under the influence of their charismatic classics professor. They delve into a unique way of thinking and living, which gradually leads them from obsession to corruption and betrayal, culminating in evil. It’s an atmospheric, suspenseful tale that explores the boundaries of morality and the haunting allure of the past — though it may feel pretentious and slow-paced at times.

You can get your copy on Amazon.

#2- In Cold Blood, Truman Capote. This crime classic recounts the brutal 1959 murder of the Clutter family in Holcomb, Kansas, and the gripping investigation that followed, culminating in the capture and execution of the killers. Blending suspense with deep empathy, and with meticulous research to back it up, Capote’s narrative transcends its genre, offering profound insights into American violence and justice. Truman himself called In Cold Blood a “nonfiction novel” and an “experiment in journalistic writing.”

You can get your copy on Amazon.

#3- Crime in the University by Ezz El Din Shukri Fashier. This Arabic-language novel revolves around an investigation into the death of a popular and respected university professor. Alongside her murder investigation, several secrets are unveiled discussing the connection between different key characters in the novel and the struggles that they face.

You can get it from Diwan, Shorouk Bookstores, and Al Masriah Bookstores.

NON-FICTION

#1- Mind Shift: It Doesn’t Take a Genius to Think Like One, Erwin Raphael McManus. Drawing on thirty years as a ‘mindset expert’ and leadership coach, McManus presents twelve transformative principles — from embracing uniqueness over affirmation addiction to redefining success through disciplined effort.

You can find it on Amazon.

#2- Humankind, Rutger Bregman. Bregman’s hot take here — not without a thorough examination of historical evidence — is that humans are inherently good. Taking a multidisciplinary approach, Bregman dismantles negative stereotypes and proposes that embracing our innate goodness can foster a more compassionate and cooperative society.

You can find it on Amazon.

CLASSICS

#1- Palace Walk, Naguib Mahfouz. Having evolved into the ultimate Egyptian classic since being penned in 1956, Palace Walk immerses readers in a Cairo family’s life during Egypt’s British occupation in the early 1900s. Stern patriarch Ahmad Abdel gawad rules his household while seeking pleasure outside, his wife Amina navigates strict societal constraints, and their son Fahmy becomes entangled in the political turbulence of a nation striving for independence. Mahfouz’s vivid portrayal captures the complexities of family dynamics amidst historical upheaval in Cairo’s vibrant streets.

You can find it on Amazon.

#2- Middlemarch, George Eliot. A sweeping portrayal of lives and fates entwined in a provincial community, this classic features Dorothea Brooke’s idealistic quest for intellectual fulfillment marred by disastrous marriage, Dr Lydgate’s medical innovations compromised by a reckless union, and the hypocritical Bulstrode concealing his scandalous past. The book has gotten from Virginia Woolf herself as “one of the few English novels written for grown-up people.”

You can find it on Amazon.

HUMOR

#1- Remarkably Bright Creatures, Shelby Van Pelt. Protagonist Tova, grappling with her son’s disappearance, finds solace in a friendship with an octopus named Marcellus at the aquarium where she works — the latter, despite his aversion to humans, helps Tova uncover the truth about her son’s disappearance. Van Pelt’s narrative blends humanity and charm, portraying complex characters and exploring themes of acceptance and everyday struggles in a touching and introspective manner.

You can find it on Amazon.

#2- He has guests: Environmentally Friendly Stories, Omar Taher. As with Taher’s usual writing, this Arabic language book is a collection of articles written over different points of time: Between talking about his childhood, teenage years, and his musings that he shares with society and the current generation. It is a light, easy read that one can finish in one sitting.

You can find it in Shorouk Bookstores, Diwan, Al Masriah Bookstores, and Virgin MegaStores.

#3- Buddha of Suburbia, Hanif Kurieshi. Humor, adventure, and sexual exploration abound in this vivid portrayal of one Karim Amir’s teenage life in suburban London. Karim’s Indian father embraces spirituality — donning the cap of the so-called Buddha of Suburbia — which leads to a series of encounters with would-be mystics, punk rockers, and romantic entanglements. Kureishi’s novel captivates with its witty exploration of the vibrant subcultures of 1970s Britain.

You can find it on Amazon.

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