While summer is’t officially over here in Aotearoa New Zealand, my PhD studies and the general populace’s back-to-work schedule give the feel of it being near its end. We have also had a wet summer at that too, so for those addicted to the sunshine and beach-going weather, it may have been a bit of a disappointing season this time around. I, quite frankly, feel the opposite. My summer was made better by the fact that it rained more than usual. I was able to read a lot sooner than usual, be more immersed in my books on the slightly cooler days, and overall felt like I wasn’t dragging myself through the hot reading weather.

This may sound strange to some, but I don’t like summer. I don’t like the heat, the constant sun, the humidity we get here in Auckland, or the packed beaches. I am someone who would much rather stay in the shade and enjoy my peace. But this doesn’t always translate to being able to read in the shade. I often struggle to read in summer because of the heat, humidity, and general sweatiness of the season. What’s more, I read slower than usual, too, and this can mess with my head. It is pretty safe to say I don’t like summer.

But here we are at the end of the summer holiday, with PhD research lined up and general schedules returning for many. As such, I feel now is the best time to do my Summer Reading Debrief. I won’t be going into too much detail regarding specific reads, stats, and so on. This is largely going to be a discussion about my feelings towards this summer’s reading. So, let’s get into it!

I naturally gravitated to shorter reads this summer, be it graphic novels or short stories, both individual reads and collections. This helped me keep my reading going, and it allowed me to read for fun and enjoyment in a more meaningful way. I tend to pick up anything at any time, but these don’t always work well in a hot, clammy environment. As amazing as a historical fiction like Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien will be, I didn’t want to diminish the reading experience by reading it when I knew I wouldn’t be getting as immersed as I usually would. I am reading it this weekend, and while that still slips into the summer season, we have been getting some quite windy and stormy weather over the last week, so it feels more like early autumn temperature-wise to me.

Another thing I have found myself reading more of is non-fiction memoirs like Ivor Popovich’s A Dim Prognosis and reflective non-fiction like Dr Hinemoa Elder’s Ara. I don’t tend to read non-fiction, often finding myself skimming text rather than absorbing what is being said. This has not been the case over the last few weeks. I have enjoyed these reads, requested more like them, and found myself interested in reading more, even when I get back into the groove of reading larger, more complex stories. Marie Kondo’s Letter from Japan is another example of something I didn’t know I needed to read, but I am enjoying the journey so much, and I will likely reread it later this year.

One thing I didn’t realise this summer reading season would give me is an open space for whatever chose to come my way. I don’t feel the need to plan my reads months in advance as I have done over the past few years. This was in part due to feeling the need to plan my reads and reviews to ensure there was an even spread of genres and discussions. Now I am just going with the flow and seeing what books take my fancy.

There isn’t really a conclusion to this, more so an acknowledgement that 2026 may be different for me in terms of the books I read and what I get out of the reading journey. Maybe it is because I know that so many different kinds of reads will be coming out of my library requests over the next two months that I find it easier to read things when they arrive and not fuss over whether or not it is too similar to something I read last week. My post schedule doesn’t need to be perfect, and it likely won’t be. So long as I am reading for pleasure and enjoying it, I will take whatever books come my way. The summer reading season may not be officially over, but my summer slump certainly feels like it has ended.