Compiled by Nicole Tomassi
After one of the more brutal winters in recent memory, spring in the Northeast US has been downright tempermental, alternating between blazing hot days to ones where the temperatures barely reach 50 degrees. To say that we are craving seasonable, sunny days where we can sit outside and read a good book is an understatement.
As the Westchester team looks forward to summer, we’re once again sharing some of the books we’re excited to read. The selections like our colleagues, reflect a wide range of interests and perspectives. Alongside their summer picks, several employees are also highlighting a favorite independent bookstore, embracing the local shops and community spaces that help connect readers with new discoveries. Taken together, we hope these titles offer inspiration for anyone looking to build a summer reading list while supporting independent booksellers along the way.
Title: Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI
Author: Ethan Mollick
Publisher: WH Allen
Why I want to read this book: I recently attended a seminar where this title was among five books recommended as a foundation for AI literacy. It caught my attention because this book specifically discusses working alongside AI as a collaborator rather than just as a tool. This approach resonates with me, and I’m hoping the book gives me more to think about and reflect on as I become a more informed participant in how this technology shapes the way I work.
Selected by: JodieAnne Sclafani, Director, Central Services
Vacation independent bookstore: Sea Howl Bookshop in Orleans, MA
Title: The Last Invasion of England
Author: Arthur Weduwen
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Why I want to read this book: It’s about William of Orange’s unopposed invasion/landing at Brixham, Torbay in 1688 – approx. 20 miles or so from where I live. William, a Protestant, became William III, deposing the Catholic James II. The book charts his journey and ascension to the throne, and although an academic title, it is written in an accessible style that should attract the general reader. It has been very hard not to actually read it while managing the editorial and production!
Selected by: Julie Willis, Director, Editorial and Production (UK)
Title: Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life
Author: Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles
Publisher: PRH
Why I want to read this book: I am so excited to get my hands on this book, because I’ve heard about the concept of ikigai but haven’t done any true research into its deeper meanings. I love learning about how different people and cultures view the world, especially in spiritual and philosophical ways, so this one really excites me. According to this particular philosophy, having a strong sense of ikigai- “where/what you love, what you’re good at, what you can get paid for, and what the world needs” will help you pinpoint your true purpose and the meaning you take from your life. As a young professional, understanding my strengths and weaknesses is vital to my success in the workplace, as well as my broader success as a human being. I’m excited to learning something new, become more in touch with myself, and learn about Japanese culture through this book!
Selected by: Alli DeMan, Account Manager
Title: The Odyssey – Norton Critical Edition
Author: Homer
Publisher: W.W. Norton – a Westchester client, and also employee-owned!
Why I want to read this book: While I’ve read The Odyssey a few times in high school and college classes, I want to revisit it due to the upcoming Christopher Nolan movie. Norton Critical Editions bring expert commentary to academically significant titles, and I look forward to reading this epic classic, again.
Selected by: Tyler M. Carey, Chief Revenue Officer
Vacation independent bookstore: Famous Children’s author Jeff Kinney (Diary of a Wimpy Kid) owns the amazing An Unlikely Story bookshop in Plainville, Massachusetts. If you’re headed to the Cape, Rhode Island, or Boston, check it out. It’s well curated, for both kids and adults.
Book Title: Boleyn Traitor
Author: Philippa Gregory
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
In the summer, I like to shift gears and lose myself in a good piece of fiction—something I can enjoy at the beach, on my deck, or on a rainy weekend afternoon. I’ve always been drawn to stories of the Tudors, and Boleyn Traitor by Philippa Gregory sounds like it has all the intrigue and drama that make those tales so irresistible. It feels like the perfect indulgence for the season.
Selected by: Deb Taylor, CEO
Title: All Fours
Author: Miranda July
Publisher: Riverhead Books
Why I want to read this book: I am on the final chapter of this book, and the entire time I’ve been reading it, I’ve been resisting the urge to start from the beginning and read more slowly in order to relish every genius, one-of-a-kind sentence, so I may break my habit of never rereading books (my to-read pile is massive already!) and return to this one over the summer. It is a phenomenal—and phenomenally strange—look at a woman’s experience in middle age, touching on obsession, sex, menopause, and motherhood with so much truth and relatability that I have barely come up for a breath in my first reading of it. Truly in a class of its own.
Selected by: Ashley Moore, Copyeditor
Vacation independent bookstore: Powell’s City of Books (Portland, OR)
Title: The Finest Hotel in Kabul
Author: Lyse Doucet
Publisher: Penguin
Why I want to read this book: Lyse Doucet is a familiar voice to me as a lifelong BBC Radio 4 listener (thanks, Mum and Dad!), and her telling of the history of Afghanistan through the story of the Hotel Inter-Continental Kabul sounds like a fascinating way to get behind the headlines of this country. I sense it will be full of surprises and enlightenment about a country that is often in news and yet very unfamiliar.
Selected by: Estelle Lloyd, Senior Project Manager
Title: Remarkably Bright Creatures
Author: Shelby Van Pelt
Publisher: ECCO (An Imprint of Harper Collins)
Why I want to read this book:
After watching the beautifully moving film, starring Sally Field and Lewis Pullman, it inspired me to want to read the novel. While the film captures the heart of the story, the novel delves deeper into the character’s lives and expands on the story which touches on grief and loneliness and healing through connections with people and a very bright octopus.
Selected by: Tina Morrissette, Production Supervisor, Customer Service & Administration
Vacation Independent Bookstore: Purchased this book in Sherman’s Maine Coast Book Shop which is known as the oldest Bookstore in Maine (Bar Harbor)
Title: Be Ready When the Luck Happens
Author: Ina Garten
Publisher: Crown (Penguin Random House)
Why I want to read this book: I’ve enjoyed watching Ina’s various shows on Food Network for years, and I want to learn more about how her path through life brought her to the success that she has achieved. The title seems to be a good hint but I’m guessing quite a bit of hard work was also part of making her ready for the luck.
Selected by: Nicole Tomassi, Marketing & Conference Manager
In addition to our selections above, these lists may surface more books to consider reading:
Literary Hub: 19 Novels You Need to Read This Summer
Bookclubs.com: Best Beach Reads of 2026
Trillmag: 5 Indie Books for your 2026 Beach Reads List
Buzzfeed: 21 Best Vacation Books for Summer 2026
For a slightly different take on the summer read, consider:
New York Public Library Big Summer Book Club (article courtesy of Publishers Weekly)
Literary tourism, visiting the real-world locations from your favorite books. Read this USA Today article, featured in the Publishing Trends Newsletter.
