This is what you want to read this summer
It's Been a Minute
NPR
4.7 • 9.2K Ratings
🗓️ 2 June 2026
⏱️ 49 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
That means Brittany’s back for It’s Been a Minute’s annual summer books episode! This time around authors Sasha Bonét (The Waterbearers) and Cindy Pham (The Secret World of Briar Rose) join the show to give their summer reading recommendations. From wanderlust to first time love - there’s something for everyone.
Want more summer book recommendations?
Sexy & Spiteful: the best books to read this summer
Simmering over summer books
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | A warning. |
| 0:01.1 | This segment contains a mention of suicide. |
| 0:04.6 | I love a slow burn. |
| 0:05.6 | I love to get to like 150 pages in. |
| 0:08.0 | And then I'm screaming because they've brushed hands and the tension has been building. |
| 0:13.0 | I like to be edged while reading. |
| 0:16.2 | Sometimes less is more. |
| 0:18.5 | Cindy's speaking my language. |
| 0:20.0 | All of these are great wrecks. |
| 0:21.4 | I can't wait to read all of these books. |
| 0:23.9 | Hello, hello. |
| 0:25.4 | I'm Brittany Luce, |
| 0:26.3 | and you're listening to It's Been a Minute from NPR, |
| 0:29.1 | a show about what's going on in culture |
| 0:31.3 | and why it doesn't happen by accident. |
| 0:34.4 | Every year on It's Been a Minute, |
| 0:35.9 | we dedicate an episode to summer book recommendations. |
| 0:39.7 | From the pool side to the airlines, we have something that can get you through any summer |
| 0:44.1 | day. This year, I'm joined by Sasha Bonnet, author of The Water Bearers, and Cindy Pham, author |
| 0:50.6 | of The Secret World of Briar Rose. Sasha and Cindy gave me some absolutely juicy recommendations, and I am so excited for you all to hear them. |
| 1:00.9 | Let's get into it. |
| 1:03.7 | Oh my God, we're so happy to have you both. |
... |
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