Special Edition: Read More, Scroll Less – 13 Books for Summer

**Zibby Owens** (0:00)
But you know that with a book, it's not gonna be sensationalized just for the sake of it. Someone has spent hours, years of their lives making sure it's worth your time.

**Erica Mandy** (0:12)
Today is Saturday, July 11th. A great book can be one of the best ways to relax and reset the summer. Whether you're heading to the beach or pool, going on a trip or just trying to find a few minutes to yourself. But with so many options out there and so little time in our busy lives, it's not always easy to get started. So today, we're talking about how to fit reading into our summer schedules, why it matters for your mind and mood, and which book might be just the right one for you. We had a similar episode last summer and it was a hit, so we invited Zibby Owens back to share her updated viewpoint and book recommendations. She's a best-selling author and editor of several books herself, with a new one coming out this fall called Between Chapters. She's also the host of the Totally Booked podcast and founder of Zibby Media and Zibby's Bookshop in Santa Monica, California. She's known for spotlighting some of the most anticipated new releases and emerging authors in the book world. So today, Zibby is sharing it all with you, from what readers are looking for to what really makes a best summer read, to which specific book you might want to get into next and why. Whether you want to laugh, cry, learn, or just escape to another world.
Welcome to The NewsWorthy Special Edition Saturday. When we sit down with a different expert or celebrity, every Saturday to talk about something in the news. Don't forget to tune in every Monday through Friday for our regular episodes, where we provide all the day's news in less than 15 minutes. I'm Erica Mandy. It's now time for today's special edition Saturday.
Zibby Owens, thank you so much for joining us here on The NewsWorthy once again.

**Zibby Owens** (1:45)
Oh, I'm so delighted to be here. Thanks for asking.

**Erica Mandy** (1:47)
So first, I'm just curious what you're noticing about what readers seem to want most this summer, and is it any different than past summers?

**Zibby Owens** (1:55)
I just noticed this more and more as every summer goes by, but people want to read what everyone else is reading. So I can recommend the best book ever, but if they don't know anyone reading it, they're going to put it aside and read whatever everyone they know is already reading. They just want to be part of the mainstream conversation about books and what everybody is talking about.

**Erica Mandy** (2:16)
What do you think makes a book a truly great summer read, I guess beyond everybody else is reading it?

**Zibby Owens** (2:22)
I think it has to turn pages. I was just reading London Falling, which everybody had been recommending, and I was so engrossed. And my daughter, I have four kids, my 13-year-old kept asking me stuff and I was like, yeah, yeah, yeah. And finally she was like, mom, are you mad at me? And I was like, no, I'm just so into my book, I'm sorry.
I just wanted to know what happened next. Every chapter there was a cliffhanger. It was real life, but it felt like fiction. So I think books that have really strong narrative arcs and are really immersive, for me, that is a great summary.

**Erica Mandy** (2:58)
I love that you are bringing up specific books because my friend and I were just talking about how we love reading. I love being in a regular routine reading, and I do get there once I'm reading a really good book. But I struggle between books, I fall off the wagon. Like I have a really hard time getting back into it because I don't know what to read next. So what's your best advice for choosing the first or next book that can really pull someone back into reading regularly?

**Zibby Owens** (3:25)
I mean, all they have to do is just follow me.

**Erica Mandy** (3:27)
Yes, that's true. You have great recommendations.

**Zibby Owens** (3:30)
I am kidding. Often, I feel like if I have a whole stack of books and there's one that I'm like, I feel like I should cheat on the other ones, but I'm going to start this one first, even though I feel like maybe I should read the others, that's the one I go to. There's no deep down that maybe that's the one, whether it's the cover or where it's taking you in the world or the author who you love.