The day has finally arrived. I have finished my third semester of grad school! Just minutes ago, I emailed my last final paper to my professor while sitting at a really great coffee shop in town, and I am stoked to now be able to read “fun books.” What’s first up on the docket, you ask? Well, I may or may not have started reading “fun books” two weeks ago when I should have been focusing on schoolwork. But, hey, everything got done what got needed to be done.

Here’s what I’ll be reading this summer (hopefully):

Lights Out by Navessa Allen — Current read. (Hey… don’t knock reading a stalker romance until you try it. I will say I probably wouldn’t finish it if I were reading the physical book. But the audiobook is chefs kiss.)
Great Big Beautiful LIfe by Emily Henry — just finished this last weekend. (I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as her other books :( I really loved the beginning, it lost me in the middle when there was a story within the story, and then I was crying at the end.)
Never Let Me Go by Kazeo Ishiguro — Current read. (This is a book club read that I’m super excited about!)
My Year of Rest and Relaxation: A Novel by Ottessa Moshfegh (Yet another book club book. Yes, I am in three book clubs.)
Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors
My Friends by Fredrik Backman (I’ve only read Anxious People, and Backman is hilarious. I’ve yet to read A Man Called Ove, but I’m not exactly racing to read that one. I’m not sure why.)
The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix (I read How to Sell A Haunted House recently, and it was rough. It was considered my first haunted-puppet horror book, and it will definitely be my last.)
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang (I’ve wanted to read this book for a really long time.)

Here’s what I’ll be listening to this summer (most definitely):

Djo (Steve Harrington for life.)
Girl in Red (Always.)
Sombr (He is so tall.)
Nat & Alex Wolff (I hope and pray that they release new music SOON.)
Role Model (Am I late to the game?)
Sabrina Carpenter (I can’t stop.)
The Wallows (I’m seeing them live next week and then again this summer!!!)
Tiny Habits (So peaceful.)
Any and all new HAIM (HAIM summer is in full effect.)

The only other thing I can think to update you guys on is that I’m in therapy, and it’s going well. I have also started a creative challenge that I made up — I am challenging myself to write a song (whether it be a verse, chorus, and/or bridge) a day. I’m on day four, and I have two full songs and then part of another one! I’m honestly feeling more fulfilled by doing this. I’ve wanted to get back into songwriting for a long time, and I’m finally doing it. I am really optimistic about this summer.

Reagan Fleming