So there I was. Minding my own beeswax. Snoozing in the sun. With visions of Porterhouse steaks dancing in my head… What?

Well. Then She Who Must Be Obeyed asks me about summer reading plans. What do I look like, an oracle?

“C’mon, Kimmi. Time’s a-wastin’. We gotta get goin’ on our plan to conquer our summer reading list.”

Wait. We have a plan? Really? 

Cuz, hey. Mom and I? We’re pros at summer reading. Cramming our book bag with enough library books to choke a camel. Adding to our TBR pile till it resembles the leaning Tower of Pizza. (Mom: “That’s Pisa, Kimmi.” Kimber: “You eat what you want and I’ll eat what I want, okay?”

Anywho, we like to be helpful. So here, at no extra charge, is our Kimber-Tested, Mom-Approved Guide to Conquering Your Summer Reading List.

1. Get more books than you can possibly read. It’s called being prepared. What if you finish that rom-com in two hours? What if you need a heavy, 700-page thriller to block the sun? To make sure you’re prepared, pack a giant tote bag with books. If lifting said tote bag doesn’t require muscles like an Olympic weightlifter, grab some more Proust and Tolstoy.

2. Deploy the “Guilt-Free” Zone. Summer is not the time for books that require a PhD to understand. Forget the classics you were supposed to read in high school. Summer is the season for fluffy novels, breezy thrillers, and books where the main character solves their life problems by moving to a small town and opening a bakery. Or a five-star resort spa. Preferably with a dog.

3. Cultivate the “Library Love” Method. We love library summer reading programs for adults. Why? Because of the prizes! I mean, let’s be honest, Cookie. We all need a little extra motivation to put down the phone and pick up a book. So we’re all in free tote bags, discount tickets to the county fair, and a free ice cream at Baskin-Robbins. Kimber: Purple tote bags on Aisle 9!

4.  Dive Into the”Poolside Plot.” Reading at the pool is an art form. The goal is to look engaged but not too engaged, or else people will interrupt you with, “Is that a good book?”

Mom really hates that. It falls under the heading of “Reading in Progress. Interrupt at Your Own Peril; I wouldn’t risk it, ‘fize you.”

5. Skip Into the Switcheroo Approach. If you find yourself in a reading slump or your current read has you considering buying stock in No-Doze, switch to a different book. Summer is too short to read a book you’re not enjoying.

6. Move It With The  Motivation Method. If you need extra incentive to get going on your summer reading list, reward yourself. For every three books you finish, treat yourself to a treat. Mom recommends an Alaska-sized bowl of Cookies ‘n Cream ice cream. With double hot fudge. But, hey. You do you.

Our Summer Reading Goal for 2026?
To actually finish one book without falling asleep and dropping it into the pool. Or losing it at the beach. Again. (Hi, Mom.)

What’s on your summer reading list? Let us know in the comments, and tell us if you’ve actually read it yet!