Summer Reading Guide 2025
Coral Gables Magazine presents your Summer Reading List, a collection of nonfiction favorites from former Miami Herald publisher and chair of The Children’s Movement of Florida David Lawrence, fiction and children’s books from the Mitch Kaplan’s team at Books & Books, and, to celebrate the city’s centennial, four books that will educate you on our city’s relatively short but eventful history. Some are page-turning beach reads, some will make you cry, some will make you laugh, and some will make you smarter. We’ll let you decide which is which.
Non-Fiction
From David Lawrence
Former Miami Herald Publisher
Chair of The Children’s Movement of Florida
Mark Twain
By Ron Chernow
Is there a better biographer today? None come to mind. I loved Chernow’s books on Hamilton, Washington, and Grant. This one is a masterpiece. I’ve admired Twain for decades because he grew all his life. This one’s not a quick read – 1,039 pages – but worth it all. A complicatedman, great storyteller (especially in his earlier books), great speaker, blessed with a great marriage, perfectly awful at making money. Fascinating story.
Sister, Sinner: The Miraculous Life and Mysterious Disappearance of Aimee Semple McPherson
By Claire Hoffman
A hundred years ago, Aimee Semple McPherson was the best-known woman in America and, certainly, the best-known evangelist. A pioneer in preaching, millions followed her words. She knew how to save souls and make money. In a huge mystery of the Roaring ‘20s, she disappeared. When she came back, she said she had been kidnapped. It’s worth sorting out today.
The Last Days of Budapest: The Destruction of Europe’s Most Cosmopolitan Capital in World War II
By Adam Lebor
We’re in the Spring of 1944, the time of D-Day and Allied advances. Hitler’s generals surely knew the Nazi end was near, but he insisted that Hungary’s Jews needed to be eliminated, and so the trains ran day and night to Auschwitz. I’ve been there and seen the aftermath of evil. I’ve known the Holocaust and Hungary story for years, but never in deeper detail.
Rot: An Imperial History of the Irish Famine
By Padraic X. Scanlan
My father, whose forebears fled from famine in the 19th century, so frequently talked about his love for Ireland. Today, 10 percent of Americans come with that heritage. I didn’t know what made Ireland so special until my wife and I visited there in the ’90s. Over the years, I’ve read several books on this topic; this is the best by far.
Accidental Tyrant: The Life of Kim Il-sung
By Fyodor Tertitskiy
Until this book, I knew next to nothing as to how North Korea and its generations- long despotism came to be. Here, we have the story of the grandfather of it all. We see his rise to power, his political prowess, the brutality of one family holding onto power – all leading to a nuclear- armed pariah among nations. We ought to know these things.
Woodrow Wilson: The Light Withdrawn
By Christopher Cox
I’ve read a number of books on Woodrow Wilson. This one stands out. He did some good things – the beginnings of the Federal Reserve, the appointment of the great Louis Brandeis to the Supreme Court. But he was also a terrible racist, and his inability to compromise at the end of the Great War contributed significantly to a failed peace that eventually gave us World War II.
Dear Miss Perkins: A Story of Frances Perkins’s Efforts to Aid Refugees from Nazi Germany
By Rebecca Brenner Graham
Frances Perkins, FDR’s Labor secretary and the first female Cabinet member in U.S. history, deserves to be remembered. As the Second World War approached, she worked diligently to give Jews a haven in the United States. FDR had other priorities. Advising him was also a State Department with a distinctly antisemitic cast. Her life is patriotism and decency at its best.
The Devil at His Elbow and the Fall of a Southern Dynasty
By Valerie Bauerlein
I would have never read this book if a friend hadn’t insisted that it was superb storytelling. The author, a Wall Street Journal reporter, crafts a saga of a rural South Carolina family dispensing “justice” for generations and whose ultimate comeuppance involves murder by someone in that very family. It took a long time for justice to be served, but it was. Reporting and writing of genuine excellence.
New Fiction
From Books & Books
The Antidote
By Karen Russell
A mysterious mold threatens a community, causing fear and transformation. When a supposed cure – the “antidote” – is discovered, it brings unexpected consequences. This story blends magical realism with themes of contagion, human vulnerability, and the dangers of quick fixes. Russell explores how people react to crisis, often revealing deeper truths about identity, control, and our relationship with the unknown.
The Emperor of Gladness
By Ocean Vuong
This is the story of a Vietnamese-born college dropout who becomes caretaker to an elderly Lithuanian widow in the bleak Connecticut town of East Gladness. This new novel by Vuong (his first was “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous”) seeks to find the dignity in dead-end jobs and explores the unlikely bond that develops over the course of a year, exploring the themes of chosen family and friendship.
Great Black Hope
By Rob Franklin
Follow Smith, a queer Black Stanford graduate, who faces turmoil after a cocaine possession arrest in New York. Weeks after his roommate Elle’s mysterious death, Smith returns to Atlanta, burdened by his family’s expectations. In New York, he delves into the city’s underworld, seeking answers that may jeopardize his future. This novel explores themes of race, class, identity, and the search for hope amid adversity.
Great Big Beautiful Life
By Emily Henry
In this novel, two journalists, Alice Scott and Hayden Anderson, vie for the opportunity to write the biography of reclusive heiress Margaret Ives. Set on Little Crescent Island, the story unfolds over a month-long trial period where both writers must navigate professional rivalry, personal attraction, and the enigmatic history of the Ives family. Themes of ambition, love, and storytelling intertwine in this compelling narrative.
Twist
By Colum McCann
Irish journalist Anthony Fennell embarks on a journey aboard a cable-laying ship off the coast of Africa to write about undersea fiber-optic cable repairs. During the voyage, he becomes entangled in the life of John Conway, a charismatic engineer with a complex personal history. The novel explores themes of global connectivity, human relationships, and the fragility of both technology and emotion.
Namaste Club
By Asha Elias
A new bunch of South Florida burnouts arrive for Transcendence Week at the Namaste Club yoga center, just inland from Florida’s sun-drenched Treasure Cost. An exclusive oasis of palms, lakes, and adorable guest villas, it’s a perfect getaway where Shakti, a serenely blond Instagram influencer, holds yoga retreats for wellheeled Miami ladies. The Namaste Club is a place of reflection, release and redemption… or at least, that’s the sales pitch.
Atmosphere
By Taylor Jenkins Reid
Joan Goodwin, an astronomy professor, is selected to train for NASA’s Space Shuttle program in the 1980s. Amidst rigorous training, she forms deep connections with fellow astronaut candidates, including a transformative romance with Vanessa Ford. Set against the backdrop of space exploration, the novel explores themes of ambition, identity, and the profound impact of love and loss – and the lengths we go to live beyond our limits.
Vera, Or Faith
By Gary Shteyngart
Told through the eyes of 10-year-old Vera, this novel follows a multicultural family’s struggles in a fractured America. Vera seeks to reunite her parents and uncover the truth about her birth mother, all while navigating a world in turmoil. Shteyngart blends humor and poignancy to explore identity, love, and societal collapse. A sharply observant and bitterly funny story.
Old School Indian
By Aaron Curtis
This raucously witty novel delves into the life of a young man grappling with his heritage and identity. Set against the contemporary backdrop of Mohawk Indian tribe, it explores themes of tradition, modernity, and personal growth. Curtis crafts a narrative that examines the complexities of cultural expectations and self-discovery. Says the Boston Globe: “Aaron John Curtis will be your new literary obsession.”
Fever Beach
By Carl Hiaasen
In this laugh-our-loud satirical novel, Dale Figgo, a failed Capitol rioter, forms a Florida white-supremacist group to regain relevance. Entangled with a corrupt congressman and environmental crimes, he faces opposition from eco-vigilante Twilly Spree. Hiaasen critiques political extremism and corruption with humor and sharp commentary in this latest exploration of madness in the polarized heat of Florida.
My Friends
By Fredrik Backman
A group of four teenagers find solace in each other’s company during a transformative summer. Years later, one of them inherits a famous painting of the group on a pier and embarks on a journey to uncover its origins. This funny, deeply moving novel explores friendship, art, loss, and the impact of shared experiences on our future lives.
My Name is Emilia Del Valle
By Isabel Allende
In 1866 San Francisco, Emilia, born to an Irish nun and a Chilean aristocrat, becomes a journalist. She travels to Chile to cover the civil war, uncovering her father’s identity and confronting her heritage. Allende, the niece of Chile’s first Marxist president, weaves a tale of self-discovery, love, and historical upheaval.
Katabasis
By R.F. Kuang
A dark and captivating fantasy novel set in a world where magic, war, and politics intersect. The story follows a young soldier facing external and internal battles who embarks on a harrowing journey through treacherous lands. The term “katabasis,” meaning a descent into the underworld, is a key motif, symbolizing the protagonist’s emotional and physical journey into dangerous and morally ambiguous territory.
Never Flinch
By Stephen King
Detective Izzy Jaynes investigates a cryptic letter threatening mass murder, leading her to enlist famed King character Holly Gibney. Simultaneously, women’s rights activist Kate McKay faces a stalker. King intertwines these narratives in a gripping tale of justice and retribution that draws on both new and beloved old characters. A crime novel from the master of horror.
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil
By V.E. Schwab
Set over 500 years, this novel tells the tales of three sapphic women in stories about hunger, love rage and the ways in which women are told to be satiated even when they aren’t. Three women from different eras and different worlds – 1532 Santo Domingo, 1827 London, and 2019 Boston – are connected by shared themes of legacy, identity, and the passage of time, blending historical and contemporary elements in a fantasy setting.
The Bewitching
By Silvia Moreno-Garcia
A dark, atmospheric novel following three generations of women, The Bewitching tells the tale of Minerva, a graduate student who becomes obsessed with a decades-long mystery of a missing woman accused of being a witch. The more Minerva learns, the more she becomes convinced that the missing girl still walks the halls of her campus. Moreno-Garcia delivers a haunting tale rich in cultural detail.
Children’s & Intermediate Fiction
From Books & Books
Children
Cranky, Crabby Crow
By Corey R. Tabor
Crow is a solitary bird with a secret mission: to save the world from an impending asteroid. While other animals invite him to play, Crow remains focused, revealing his true identity as a secret agent. The story combines humor and adventure, with Crow’s single-word responses and a hidden code for readers to decipher.
First Day Around the World
By Ibi Zoboi
This picture book offers a global perspective on the first day of school, showcasing diverse traditions and routines. From eating akara in Nigeria to learning names in Argentina, the narrative highlights the universal excitement of starting school. The lyrical text and vibrant illustrations celebrate cultural differences and shared experiences.
Fireworks
By Matthew Burgess
Set on a hot July day, two siblings in the city eagerly anticipate the Fourth of July fireworks. The story captures their day filled with playful moments, from jumping through a fire hydrant’s spray to enjoying watermelon. As night falls, they watch the sky light up with fireworks, experiencing the magic of the holiday.
Ellie Has a Secret
By Amelia Bothe
Ellie discovers a peculiar shell with a mysterious creature inside during recess. She keeps it a secret, but as the creature grows, it becomes heavy to bear. The story explores the weight of secrets and the relief found in honesty, with enchanting illustrations bringing the tale to life.
Intermediate Fiction
Another
By Paul Tremblay
In this middle-grade horror novel, Casey Wilson, ostracized after a traumatic incident, is visited by a strange boy named Morel during a sleepover. Morel’s unsettling presence and the growing distance between Casey and his parents lead him to question the nature of his new “friend.” Tremblay crafts a chilling tale of isolation and the eerie dynamics of an uninvited guest.
Dreamslinger
By Graci Kim
Fourteen-year-old Aria Loveridge, a Dreamslinger with the ability to enter a magical realm through sleep, joins a global competition to infiltrate the Royal League of Dreamslingers. Amidst trials and newfound friendships, Aria uncovers dark secrets about her past and the true nature of her powers. This fantasy novel blends adventure with themes of identity and self-discovery.
The Tear Collector
By Rm Romero
In a world where emotions manifest as tears, a young girl discovers her ability to collect and preserve them. As she navigates a society that commodifies emotions, she learns about the power of empathy, the value of feelings, and the importance of human connection. Romero’s novel delves into themes of emotional depth and societal norms.
One Crazy Summer
By Rita Williams-Garcia & Sharee Miller
In 1968, sisters Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern travel from Brooklyn to Oakland to spend the summer with their estranged mother, Cecile, a Black Panther activist. Instead of a vacation, they are sent to a day camp where they learn about activism, identity, and family. This graphic novel adaptation brings to life the original’s themes of empowerment and reconciliation.
Coral Gables History
Coral Gables: The First 100 Years
By Patrick Alexander
This comprehensive history chronicles Coral Gables’ evolution from its 1920s inception to its centennial celebration. Alexander delves into the city’s founding, development, and transformation, highlighting key events and figures that shaped its identity. The book offers insights into the architectural, cultural, and social milestones that define Coral Gables today.
George Merrick, Son of the South Wind: Visionary Creator of Coral Gables
By Arva Moore Parks
Parks’ biography illuminates the life of George Merrick, the mastermind behind the City of Coral Gables. Drawing from personal letters and documents, the book explores Merrick’s vision, challenges, and contributions to urban planning. It paints the portrait of a man whose ideals and determination left an indelible mark on South Florida’s landscape.
Coral Gables: Miami Riviera: An Architectural Guide
By Aristides J. Millas
Millas’ guide offers a detailed exploration of Coral Gables’ architectural heritage. The book provides historical context, development patterns, and self-guided tours, showcasing the Mediterranean Revival style and other influences that characterize the city’s design. It’s an essential resource for architecture enthusiasts and those interested in urban planning.
Coral Gables
By José Gelabert-Navia
Gelabert-Navia’s work presents a visual and analytical study of Coral Gables’ architecture. Through drawings and texts, the book examines the city’s design principles, highlighting its Mediterranean-inspired structures and urban planning. It’s a scholarly resource for understanding the aesthetic and functional aspects of Coral Gables’ unique built environment.