What We’re Reading: June 2026
When my children were young, summer was not a time for relaxation and reading. Rather, it was time for me to put on my cruise director hat and keep the kids occupied with swimming, library visits, museum exploration, and play dates. Now that my youngest is driving himself, summer is finally a time for me to read for fun.
My fellow members of the Literary Mama staff are also finding time to read this summer.
Creative nonfiction editor Shellie Kalinsky has been reading the true crime chronicle The Secret History of the Rape Kit by Pagan Kennedy and says, “The author weaves the story of Martha Goddard, the woman who developed the first sexual assault evidence-gathering protocols, with social history, political corruption, and the rise of feminism to explain how the rape kit became part of a standard sexual assault investigation in the US. Kennedy shares personal experiences, investigative roadblocks, and surprising revelations throughout the book.”
Senior editor Katherine Murray has also been reading true crime, but her selection is a thriller based on Ted Bundy’s serial crimes titled Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll. Murray says, “Women find power after experiencing tremendous trauma. Unlike a lot of true crime media, this centers the experience of survivors without glorifying violence.”
Ty Mcleod, profiles editor, has been reading Audition by Katie Kitamura, and says, “Kitamura envelops us in this delicious internal world of a woman who shares her vulnerability, her power, and her shame. The author buffers us from dialogue with others—leaving us walled in with an actress who moves and acts based on the desires, needs, and reactions of others. This book quietly asks me, ‘Am I performing or living in the scenes of my life?’”
Profiles editorial assistant Danielle Maggiacomo has been reading Sarah Damoff’s The Burning Side, which comes after her debut, titled The Bright Years, and shares some similarities. Maggiacomo says, “Just like in The Bright Years, the characters here are flawed, lovable, and realistic. The family dynamics are insightful and relatable. Everything is so tender, without being overdone. I especially enjoyed this book’s examination on caretaking.