Editors’ Picks: Summer Reads and Watches

Before syllabi and problem sets take over your brain, why not allow yourself one last summer favorite? From page-turners to film-favorites, we’ve rounded up a few standout reads and watches that kept our editors hooked this summer. 

Books 

“All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me” by Patrick Bringley

I devoured this autobiographical story about Patrick Bringley’s decade working as a security guard at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It is filled with reflections on art, museum goers, human nature, and the best floor material to stand on for long periods. Sweet book, both reflective and hopeful!

— Managing Features Editor Mira Wilde ’28

“The Blade Itself” by Joe Abercrombie

“The Blade Itself” explores the encounter of three very distinct individuals amidst a bloody war set in an alternative, gruesome fantasy world. As they set off on a mysterious, risky journey to the Edge of the World, the morally gray characters and their curiously dark world couldn’t help but make me feel excited and nervous.

— Managing Photo Editor Claire Beougher ’26

“Daisy Jones and the Six” by Taylor Jenkins Reid

As someone who tends to be a bit of a snob when it comes to my books, I must admit I was a bit skeptical when my sister offered me her copy of “Daisy Jones and the Six” when I ran out of books to read during our vacation. I like reading critically acclaimed novels in my spare time; they help me to stay in the loop of the literary world, but surely “Daisy Jones and the Six” wouldn’t help me in that respect. I was so wrong. Jenkins Reid’s work was a page turner, and I finished it within the day. Inspired by Fleetwood Mac’s interpersonal dynamics, the novel follows isolated, beautiful Daisy Jones and her complicated relationship with Billy Dunne, the lead singer of the Six. Written in the style of an oral history, it is a fast and compelling read, perfect for a pleasure read during the busy semester!

— Editor-in-Chief June Dorsch

“The Best Minds: A Story of Friendship, Madness, and the Tragedy of Good Intentions” by Jonathan Rosen 

Spanning 576 pages, “The Best Minds” tracks the promising rise and disappointing fall of his brilliant childhood best friend, Michael Laudor. Rosen’s book is a sweeping meditation on genius, schizophrenia, and the failures of our mental health system. It is haunting, meticulously detailed, and, more so than anything, sublime.

— Managing Sports Editor Toby Rosewater ’28

“The Pale King” by David Foster Wallace

“The Pale King” is David Foster Wallace ’85’s final novel, published around three years after the late author's passing. With various false starts and a myriad of unexplained plot hijinks, the novel can be aptly described as a series of setups for big things that never happen. It’s a deep meditation on boredom through the lives of fictional IRS agents that, ironically, isn’t so boring. I’m not sure if this was what Wallace intended, but one point of the novel seems to be how we can construct meaning out of the soulless, bureaucratic, corporate, and often disappointing adult life that waits for us after graduation.

— Senior Manager Editor Edwyn Choi ’27

“The Nix” by Nathan Hill

This novel tells the story of a man forced to confront his estranged mother as she’s accused of being a dangerous radical 60’s activist. Spanning a variety of decades and perspectives, the book is both laugh-out-loud hilarious and deeply thought-provoking. If you’re looking for acute political satire, addictive drama, historical commentary, and heartwarming reflections familial relationships, then this book is for you!

—Senior Managing Editor Lauren Siegel ’27

“If Cats Disappeared from the World” by Genki Kawamura

What would the world be like without music? What about life with no phones or cars? How much would you be willing to give up in order to stay alive? This is Kawamura’s work: a contemplation on the beauty of life and what it really means to exist. If you are someone who struggles with the concept of death or the idea of dying (like me), then this might just be for you. Full of emotion, funny moments, and difficult but valuable lessons, “If Cats Disappeared from the World” was a lovely summer read. 

— Managing Arts and Living Editor Mila Gomes ’27

Movies

“Jane Austen Wrecked My Life” (2024)

Any writer, reader, or person with a dream should watch this movie. This romantic tale featuring a bold female protagonist working through imposter syndrome as a writer is heartfelt, awkward at times, and altogether incredibly inspiring. The film, set in beautiful England, is a timeless piece about feeling lost, insecure, and ultimately confident in your own abilities.

— Managing Puzzles Editor Madeline Gold ’28

“KPop Demon Hunters” (2025)

The music is so good, guys.

— Managing Photo Editor Claire Beougher ’26

“Memories of Murder” (2003)

A crime thriller film based on the true story of South Korea’s first serial killer, Bong Joon Ho’s Memories of Murder (살인의 추억) centers its narrative on a team of detectives that goes through extreme lengths to catch the killer — what’s particularly haunting about this film was that the real-life killer wouldn’t be caught until 2019, 16 years after Memories of Murder was released and 33 years after the first official killing. The film manages to keep you ensnared in its narrative from the very start and pulls absolutely no punches. In signature Bong Joon Ho style, the film rapidly switches between moments of black humor and utter terror, a balance that keeps the audience invested.

— Senior Managing Editor Edwyn Choi ’27

“Y2K” (2024)

Just a blast of a movie to watch with friends. Is it perfect — no, but it filled me with joy.

— Managing Sports Editor Toby Rosewater ’28