10 Sizzling Summer Reads
Whimsical tales, fiery feminism, queer love, and a goose romance—your ultimate bookish escape starts here.
Dear Scribblers,
It was a pleasure to see so many readers at Sheena Kalayil’s launch for literary historical romance ‘The Others’ at Blackwell’s Manchester! We were treated to a gorgeous musical performance by Sheena and her partner—an atmosphere rich with love and longing that transported us straight to 1989. That’s where we meet Lolita, a trainee medic from India; Armando, a factory worker from Mozambique; and Theo, a wannabe writer from East Germany. Their lives become inextricably tangled in love, envy, and the seismic rumblings of the Berlin Wall. The Others is out now—available from all good bookshops and direct from our shop here.
Now, it’s that time of year when my brain goes a bit... fuzzy—thanks to the heat of my flat (26°C), the city (29°C), and the season in general. It’s also the time of year when not spending at least half an hour in something green, with a book in one hand and possibly an ice lolly in the other, should be a criminal offence.
So, in honour of long days and melting thoughts, I present the official Fly on the Wall Press Summer Reading List—plus some non-FOTW favourites I’ve been loving lately. All of books are available from our Bookshop.org page here! Let me know if you’ve read any, and what you would add in the comments!
Let’s start whimsical, transportive and endearingly strange, shall we?
The Ones Who Flew the Nest – A short story collection for fans of the unexpected. In Katie Hale’s tale, a grieving student falls into a violent love/lust (you decide) affair with a goose. She migrates with him to escape her pain… but what happens when she must confront the idea of motherhood—of a mute, hybrid child?
There are four stories in total, all from northern short story writers exploring flight, fight, and self-discovery. You might just find something of yourself here.
If you like your summer reads with a side of scandal and history, don’t miss our first ever feminist cosy crime, The Devil’s Draper by Donna Moore. Set in 1920s Glasgow, it’s a gripping tale of corruption, courage, and women refusing to be silenced. When Mabel, a policewoman with more guts than patience, catches wind of abuse at Arrol’s department store, she teams up with a clever thief and a businesswoman who knows how the world really works. What unfolds is equal parts thrilling, devastating and darkly satisfying. Moore fans will know to expect a sharp, feminist edge – and once you get hooked, you can read linked book ‘The Unpicking’ as a sweetener.
Next up, a novella—because compact, soul-searching fiction just feels right for summer reflection.
Lying Perfectly Still by the late, great Dr. Laura Fish.
We travel to 1990s Eswatini, where up to 70% of young women are living with HIV. On the cusp of reinventing herself after her father’s shocking suicide (in a culture which does not recognise mental health, to avoid damning a soul to hell), young Koliwe joins British Aid and travels from Oxford to the Kingdom of Swaziland, where she discovers that Aid work is often rooted in something other than kindness….
Talking of Summer heat…
Disobedient Women by Sangeeta Mulay
Set in sizzling Pune, this novel crackles with female voices fighting to be heard. Two families collide: Hari, rising star of the Hindu right, and Aparna, a feminist and anti-superstition campaigner silenced by those most afraid of her voice. But can their daughters find common ground? The LGBTQ+ march scene alone will stay with me forever.
Now Summer IS for love, but I don’t just want to offer you girl meets boy. So here’s some quick-fire tales to kick your love boxes…
‘The Others’ by Sheena Kalayil - in which Theo and Armando both fall in love with the same woman, but only one of the three has the right to stay in East Germany, after the wall falls…
‘Hello Beautiful’ by Ann Napolitano - in which four best friends and sisters, the Padavano girls grow up, fall in love, grow away from each other - and somehow, despite huge rifts, try to find their way back to each other. Really beautiful commentary on male depression here, and I loved the fierce but flawed mother.
‘The Truth Has Arms and Legs’ by Alice Fowler - in which family love, friendship and perhaps most importantly, self love, all feature! A short story bestseller. Jenny, whose life is defined by small disasters, discovers a bigger, more generous version of herself. A widow, cut off in a riverside backwater, opens her heart to a stranger.
‘The No Show’ by Beth O’Leary - this surprised me because I’m not usually one for a commercial romance. I listened on audiobook, which was perhaps part of the reason I really rooted for these women - and the guy wasn’t demonised, which I particularly enjoyed. Siobhan is a quick-tempered life coach with way too much on her plate. Miranda is a tree surgeon used to being treated as just one of the guys on the job. Jane is a soft-spoken volunteer for the local charity shop with zero sense of self-worth. And they’re all dating the same guy (but not necessarily in the same time zone…) A story of female strength and friendship, and people just trying to figure out how to love again, after trauma.
Your Sons and Your Daughters are Beyond by Rosie Garland - love which defies gender norms and boundaries. In one of my favourite stories, a woman protects her lover, and stalks her as her lover goes on dates with men. We think it is to catch her out on her infidelity, or perhaps to protect her from strangers and possible harm, but we readers find her lover turns out to be far more than she seems. Fierce, queer, and unforgettable.
Lastly, I offer you a poetry collection to inspire you to get outdoors, with a furry friend if you have one, and feel the crunch of leaf underfoot - ‘The Soul We Share’ by Ricky Ray. Here, we experience the world through the nose of loving service dog Addie. As we travel with Ricky and his soul dog, Addie, through the scenic woodlands of New England, the concrete jungle of Manhattan, and the swamps of the Deep South, the lines between humans, animals and nature begin to blur and move in concert.
As Publisher’s Weekly puts it:
"These poems are built to aid survival, recovery, and endurance in a life where 'everyone sips from his own flask of hurt.'"
Hope there will be something in this list for you! And hope to see some of you at our Summer Party in Manchester Fri 25th of July - authors, book bloggers, booksellers, academics and many more book lovers will gather for food, drinks, performances and fun. Tickets
Happy reading, and don’t forget to leave your own recommendations!
With warmth (and a very melted ice lolly),
Isabelle x
P.s. can you share this post to help us reach new readers? Much appreciated!