Books I’ve Added to My Wishlist pt.1

In 2023 Senior Data Journalist David Montgomery wrote an article about how many books Americans own. He reported: ‘At least 69% of Americans own no more than 100 books.’ I looked at my jam-packed shelves and began to count. I made it to 108 before I remembered I had double-stacked some of my shelves and had to start counting over again.

My book collection is hanging out somewhere between the 200-300 book range, so I’m not quite near the top 3% of Americans who own 1000+ volumes. Honestly, I’m shocked only 3% of Americans own that many books. With the rise of bookish communities on social media, such as booktok, bookstagram, and booktube, we encounter more book recommendations than ever before. As a bookworm, I find it an inspiring community to be a part of because I’m constantly adding new books to my tbr (to be read) list. Today, I want to share the five books I’ve recently added to my wishlist after seeing other book-loving people rave about them. Consider this to be part 1 of many.

Who knows, if I keep buying all the books on my wishlist, I might have my own 1000-volume library in no time!

The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston

Clementine’s aunt had always said her apartment was a pinch in time, a place where moments blended together like watercolor. But Clementine never thought much about it until she moves into her late aunt’s apartment and finds a strange man with kind eyes and a Southern drawl standing in the kitchen. It turns out her aunt had agreed for him to stay in the apartment for the summer…except that agreement was made seven years in the past.

The Seven Year Slip comes highly recommended by Megan Aruta from @the_spines. She gave it a five-star rating and wrote on the IG caption, ‘highly recommend, especially for people who loved or wanted to love In Five Years // Rebecca Serle.’ In Five Years happens to be one of my favorite reads from 2020, so I instantly added The Seven Year Slip to my wishlist per Megan’s recommendation.

Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson

Pineapple Street tells the tale of three women who are in some way connected to the wealthy Stockton family. There is Darley, the eldest Stockton daughter. Sasha, a middle-class New England girl, who married into the family, and Georgiana, the baby of the family. The story follows the three women and the challenges they face as they navigate their family, their relationships, and their place in the world.

My irl book-loving friend, Victoria, raved about Pineapple Street at our last monthly book and pizza date. And since Victoria always has the best book recommendations, I immediately added it to my wishlist.

The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young

In the small mountain town of Jasper, North Carolina, The Farrow women are not only known for their thriving flower farm but the mysterious curse that has plagued their family for centuries. The whole town remembers the madness that led to Susanna Farrow’s disappearance, leaving June to be raised by her grandmother and haunted by rumors. After her grandmother’s death, June discovers a series of cryptic clues regarding her mother’s decades-old disappearance. Soon June embarks on a journey that will not only change both the past and the future, but also uncover the lingering mysteries of her small town and entangle her heart in an epic star-crossed love.

The Unmaking of June Farrow has been on my wishlist ever since it was released last year, and Heather, from the Youtube Channel Bookables, review it. In her video review, she said ‘it’s best to go into it not knowing [the plot] because I don’t think you would expect it.’ Later in the video, she does give away a few spoilers, but I stopped watching as soon as the spoilers for plot heading popped up. I ended up adding on The Unmaking of June Farrow to my BOTM order earlier this year and have been waiting for the fall time to read it (I am a mood reader, after all). Heather mentioned this book has some witchy vibes, so October seems like the perfect time to crack it open.

The Hurting Kind by Ada Limón

a collection of poetry about interconnectedness –between the human and nonhuman, ancestors and ourselves–from the 24th U.S. Poet Laureate, Ada Limón.

The Hurting Kind has been on my wishlist ever since I saw Gregory Cowles, the poetry editor of the NYT Book Review, recommend it in a reel called 4 Books That Will Make You Fall in Love with Poetry on @nytbooks‘s instagram. Gregory praised Ada’s work saying, “she’s an observer and she brings a depth of feeling and sincerity to her work.” The poetry section on my bookshelves only consists of works by Mary Oliver, so I’m looking forward to expanding my mini poetry collection with more poets’ work.

One Last Summer by Kate Spencer

Clara Millen’s life is spiraling out of control: her job is a nightmare, she’s single, and she desperately needs a break. She heads to Pine Lake Camp for a summer escape with friends, only to discover the camp is being sold. The news turns her plans for revelry into a night of reminiscing… and prompts a surprise heart-to-heart between Clara and Mack, her old camp rival. As they share passionate nights together, Clara starts to rethink her future. But when her boss offers her the dream job she’s worked so hard for, Clara must choose between her career ambitions and what truly makes her happy.

Even though I decided to transition The Chapman Chronicles from a Substack newsletter to its own website (I might return to writing my newsletter one day, but right now I’m enjoying building castles in this sandbox), I still spend a lot of time on Substack consuming posts by some fabulous writers. One of my favorite newsletters to read is Literary Leanings by Michelle Martin. I’ve found a ton of book recommendations through her. She highly recommended One Last Summer and even dedicated an entire newsletter to it. She summed it up as a “sweet, nostalgic, fun and quick read full of all the summer vibes.”

Thanks for reading!

Now I want to hear from you! What books are currently on your wishlist? And who are your favorite bookworms to follow on social?