Mama & Papa Bird's Summer Reading List

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Hi everyone! Mama Bird here. 🐦

The kids’ reading list went live a couple of weeks ago — and if you missed it, Big Brother alone has enough books queued up to last most of us a year. 😄

But today it’s our turn. Mama and Papa’s summer reading list looks a little different from the kids’ — less preorders and release date countdowns, more “I finally have two hours by the pool and I am not moving.” This is my reading season and I protect it fiercely.

👉 Missed the kids’ list? Check it out here

Mama Bird's Summer Reading 💖

Kindle devotee • Romance & fantasy • Reading in stolen moments

Summer is my reading season. During normal life, I try — and I never get very far. But vacation time? Beach afternoons? That quiet hour at the pool while the kids play? That’s when I actually make progress.

I’m also a romance girl at heart. Papa Bird has been known to tease me for reading at dinner on cruises. (I was in line waiting and had my Kindle open. I regret nothing. 😄)

My Vacation Reading System

I always load more than I’ll finish — if something doesn’t grab me, I want an easy pivot. My usual mix:

•       1 comfort read

•       1 “everyone says it’s good” pick

•       1 light/funny option

•       1 different-vibe backup

This summer I actually have something to add before the list even starts — the one I already finished.

The One I Actually Finished

The Other Bennet Sister  • Historical fiction • Adult

Slow, but genuinely enjoyable — and the only book I’ve actually finished so far this year, which tells you something. I kept seeing clips of the BBC series on YouTube and it kept pulling me in until I finally decided I needed to read the book first. I’m glad I did. If you loved Pride and Prejudice and ever wondered what happened to Mary, this one is for you.

•       Get the Book

What’s Loaded on My Kindle for Summer

Here’s what’s queued up and ready to go:

Long Live the Pumpkin Queen  • Fantasy • YA

Nightmare Before Christmas is one of my all-time favorite movies. Cozy, slightly spooky energy — perfect vacation read.

•       Get the Book

Tears of the Wolf  • Fantasy / romantic fantasy

A Norse/Anglo-Saxon–inspired fantasy following a woman trapped by bloodline expectations who will do almost anything for freedom — even if it means a dangerous bargain and a life she didn’t plan. Romantic fantasy with a grounded emotional core and a high-stakes “this will cost you something” vibe. I follow Elisabeth Wheatley on YouTube, so it felt like time to finally try one of her books.

•       Get the Book

Cursed with Benefits  • Romance / paranormal rom-com

A light, funny paranormal setup where an everyday problem turns into a supernatural mess — and suddenly our heroine is tangled up with a powerful, grumpy immortal. Expect humor, romantic tension, and “how did this become my problem?” energy.

•       Get the Book

Yes, Your Serpentine Excellency  • Romance / fantasy

A clever fantasy romance where a stolen heirloom and a determined heroine collide with high-stakes magic — and a dragon-level problem she definitely didn’t ask for. Charming, twisty, and very “I’m in danger, but make it witty.”

•       Get the Book

Crown of War and Shadow: Kingdoms of the Compass  • Fantasy / romantasy

A dangerous journey, a bargain for protection, and two people forced into proximity while enemies close in. Romantic fantasy with travel tension, betrayal, and the kind of slow-build trust that happens when you can’t rely on anyone else.

•       Get the Book

Wild Reverence  • Romantic fantasy

A mythic, romantic fantasy set in a world shaped by gods and fate, following an immortal messenger and a human pulled into divine secrets and impossible choices. Atmospheric, emotional, and very “this love could change everything.”

•       Get the Book

Kindle is non-negotiable for me at this point. I can bump up the font, read in the dark, and not worry about losing my page. And mine is waterproof — which makes it perfect for poolside reading. If you’re still on the fence, summer is the best time to make the switch.

Papa Bird's Summer Reading 👨

Thrillers, detectives & epic fantasy • The heavy stuff

I don’t plan Papa’s reading the way I plan the kids’ — he has his own system. He goes straight for fast-moving thrillers or big immersive fantasy. No beach reads. No cozy vibes. Just plot.

The Lincoln Lawyer Series — Michael Connelly  • Legal thriller

Fast-paced, gripping, perfect vacation reading. Once he starts, he doesn’t stop. He got hooked after our school principal — who we somehow end up on the same cruise with almost every year 😂 — recommended it in the carpool line after a trip.

•       Start with Book 1

Mistborn Series — Brandon Sanderson  • Epic fantasy

He started The Final Empire over spring break and loved it so much he bought the rest of the series before we were even home. That’s six more books — so we’ll see if he makes it through the whole thing by fall. I’m rooting for him. 😄

•       Start with The Final Empire

The Stormlight Archive — Brandon Sanderson  • Epic fantasy

If he wants one enormous world to live in for the entire summer, this is the one. A big commitment — but perfect for a big trip.

•       Start the Series

Happy Reading! 🌞

Whether your summer looks like a beach trip, a road trip to see family, a big vacation, or just a lot of afternoons at the neighborhood pool — a good book makes all of it better.

I’ll check back in at the end of summer with what I actually finished, what surprised me, and what turned into a “why did I think this would work?” moment. There’s always at least one. 😄

Happy reading, everyone! 🐦

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