Summer Reading (& Game) List from Team Lo & Behold…and Our Community!

It's summertime, which means a lot of us (myself included) are taking a break from quilting to spend more time outdoors, with family, or doing other hobbies. So today on the blog, we’re doing the same thing!

To get in the summer spirit, we’re sharing book and game recommendations from our Lo & Behold Stitchery team and our community. We’ve got novels for your beach bag, audiobooks for sewing to, and games to play on the porch. There are so many great finds on this list…you’ll be busy all summer long!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Book recommendations from the community
• Book recommendations from Team Lo & Behold
• Game recommendations from Team Lo & Behold
• You may also like…

Book recs from the community

In past newsletters, I’ve asked for reading recommendations…especially for my favorite, historical fiction. And let me tell you, y’all delivered! 

We’ve shared a few of your favorites in past newsletters, and today we’re sharing a lot more! Whether you want a standalone historical novel (like me!) or you’re reading to dig into a series, this is what the Lo & Behold community recommends:

SERIES

• The Elm Creek Quilts by Jennifer Chiaverini
• Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai
• Kate Daniels Series by Ilona Andrews
• Maggie Hope Series by Susan Elia MacNeal
• Maisie Dobbs Series by Jacquiline Winspear
• Royal Spyness Mysteries by Rhys Bowen
• Veronica Speedwell Series by Deanna Raybourn

WW2 HISTORICAL FICTION

• All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
• Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan
• The Boys in the Light by Nina Willner
• The Last Lifeboat by Hazel Gaynor
• Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
• Under the Java Moon by Heather B. Moore

OTHER HISTORICAL FICTION

• Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
• The Boleyn Traitor by Philippa Gregory
• The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
• Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
• The Invisible Miss Cust by Penny Haw
• The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell
• The Miniature’s Assistant by Katherine Scott Crawford
• Shadow of the Mountains by Lynn Morris
• Sonora by Jenni L. Walsh
• The Stars for a Light by Lynn Morris
• The Wife, the Maid, and the Mistress by Ariel Lawhon
• The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley

OTHER FICTION

• The Maidens by Alex Michaelides
• Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier
• The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb
• The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett

NONFICTION

• Forty Autumns by Nina Willner

Books recs from Team Lo & Behold

After getting so many good recommendations from the Lo & Behold community, I decided to ask Team Lo & Behold for their top summer reads too! Here’s what they said:

HISTORICAL FICTION

Four members of Team Lo & Behold immediately recommended The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion (by Beth Brower)...and a fifth person is already reading it! They give this series (set in 1880s London) rave reviews. In fact, Michelle has read the entire series three times(!) since December! While everyone agrees the book start a little slow, “the characters become so endearing and funny. Keep going!” I’ll have to read this one myself to see what all the fuss is about. 👀

Kara and Liz both suggested Lessons in Chemistry (by Bonnie Garmus), the story of a 1960s chemist-turned-cooking star. Kara says, “I always love to re-read a favorite book in the summer & this year it is Lessons in Chemistry! I love reading a book that also has had a show made after it!” 

Our final historical fiction recommendation comes from Molly, who recommends The Calamity Club (by Kathryn Stockett), a Depression-era story of three women who become friends. Molly says it’s an excellent audio listen…perfect when you’re settling in to cut a huge pile of scraps!

GENERAL FICTION

Molly also suggests picking up The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife (by Anna Johnston) about a wholesome mixup involving a kind older gentleman. She reports that “it’s funny, heartwarming, and engaging,” which sounds like just what you'd want while reading in a hammock!

Liz recommends How to Read a Book (by Monica Wood), a novel about a bookstore and the people who meet there.

NONFICTION

If you liked Lessons in Chemistry, Liz thinks you'll love Julie and Julia (by Julie Powell). She says this cooking-themed memoir is a perfect summer read...and she can't wait to read it again!

Chloe likes to cool off in the summer by reading about cold places, and she recommends Barrow’s Boys (by Fergus Fleming) for exciting 19th-century Arctic adventures.

Game recommendations

During summer, I find myself reaching for more books…and for more games too! Pete and I love to unwind on the porch with a simple game. Here’s what we (and the team) suggest:

CARD GAMES

Michelle and her family love playing Rummy, which just takes a deck of cards! Kara and her boys are more into Spoons, which also takes (you guessed it!) some spoons.

You probably already have a deck of cards laying around your house…but did you know you can get some gorgeous quilt-themed playing cards? I’m eyeing some from Bonnie K. Hunter or Lori Holt, or even these ones inspired by the Elm Creek Quilts series (recommended above!).

DOMINOS AND MORE

Both Molly and Dorathy love a classic game of Mexican Train, which you can play with any dominos you already have on hand (but it's fun to have actual train tokens!).

Pete and I are completely hooked on Triominos right now. Think dominos…but a triangle! It’s a simple variation, but it adds a ton of fun.

KID GAMES

Kara’s been playing classics like Candyland and Monopoly Junior with her boys. Some things never got out of style!

Chloe’s family enjoys Animal Upon Animal, which has the cutest little animal shaped pieces!

OTHER GAMES

Liz's family just loves Clue, another absolute classic. You probably already have a copy, and now's a great time to pull it out!

Erin says Shut the Box is very easy and fun, and this version looks great for a porch or camping trip!

Chloe loves Set for a highly portable game or the quilt-themed Patchwork if there’s enough space to play.

As for me, I have several favorites including Dutch Blitz, a fast paced card game that I learned how to play back in college. As well as Monopoly Deal which is such a great (slightly cut-throat) card version of the Monopoly board game. I also learned that one in college and I've successfully introduced our families to the game and everyone's hooked!

And how about you? Are there any other books or games you’d recommend this season?

Happy summer, whether it finds you quilting, reading, gaming…or all three!

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This post contains affiliate links meaning I may receive a small commission from each sell. Rest assured, I only share my favorite items with you!