With summer just around the corner and vacation planning in full swing, you’ll need some good books to keep you company. But instead of the popular BookTok recommendations, why not check out some fresh indie books? With authors testing uncommon styles and out-of-the-box genres, indie spaces are hiding tons of hidden gems from the mainstream. This list explores a few amazing indie titles that will make for a totally original summer reading experience.
What makes a book Indie?
Indie books don’t necessarily fit into one box; they can be whatever an author wants. To be “indie,” the book has to come from an independent publishing house, like Two Dollar Radio or Milkweed Press. These publishing houses exist outside of the control of the Big Five publishers (Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Hachette, and Macmillan). They also often have values that help them stand out, such as low-waste printing practices or a pact to prioritize diverse voices. They make an effort to grant their authors and readers more power in establishing what a strong literary community looks like.
Many of these companies began to find mainstream success in the mid-2000s, when digital reading was new. Now, you can find indie books all around, from local bookstores to big chains and online sites.
So, what does this mean for readers? Often, indie books tell non-linear, diverse, and experimental stories that don’t follow a cut-and-paste story order. Authors prioritize advertising their stories to people who connect with them, rather than selling out on shelves. So while the books may be more niche, they are super unique and could change your whole perspective.
In an age where everyone wants media tailored to their authentic self, indie books are an amazing way to find a story that’s super special to you.
Heart The Lover by Lily King
“Of course it’s a tragedy. A very silly one. The absurdity is as great as the despair.” –Lily King, Heart the Lover
While romance books aren’t everyone’s thing, this is a love story you won’t want to skip. In Heart the Lover, the narrator, Jordan, retells the story of her 1980s college love triangle with Sam and Yash, two boys in her English program. The story follows the trio’s confusing relationship decades after college to show that good love stories never really end. It’s a dramatic, tension-filled read that hooks you from the very beginning.
The main character Jordan is super intriguing. Her story contains a similar vibe to young adult dramas like We Were Liars or They Both Die at the End but feels more grown-up. If you’re looking to break away from young adult but still enjoy the drama, this book would be a great fit.
With its wild ups and downs, the book is also made for long afternoons sunbathing on the beach. For drama lovers and romance readers alike, Heart the Lover is a great story to dive into this summer.
What We Fed to the Manticore by Talia Lakshmi Kolluri
“My spirit is the flight that lives in my body. It is the restless thing that lifts me.” –Talia Lakshmi Kolluri, What We Fed to the Manticore
For readers who are looking for something out of the ordinary, this genre-bending story would be a match. In What We Fed to the Manticore, author Talia Lakshmi Kolluri uses nine short stories to explore connections among animals. From pigeons to sled dogs, Kolluri speaks for the animals we don’t often see in mainstream media to highlight the effects of environmental action, family bonds, and self-discovery.
Offbeat and dark at times, this book is highly creative and never boring. Kolluri uses a non-linear storytelling style, and each story is independent of the others within the collection. This makes it a great book to pick up and put down during the busier times of summer.
It can be a challenging read, but it’s definitely an experience you won’t get from any other author. Kolluri uses her animal narrators to push her readers to think about their relationships to the animal kingdom. It’s a story you’ll be thinking about long after it’s over.
If you’re looking for a book that has a little bit of everything this summer, What We Fed to the Manticore is sure to satisfy you.
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
“Because the relationship between self and the world is reciprocal, it is not a question of first getting enlightened or saved and then acting. As we work to heal the earth, the earth heals us.” –Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass
If you’re looking for a more serious read, Braiding Sweetgrass is truly amazing. In this nonfiction title, Native American activist Robin Wall Kimmerer shares wonderful stories from her ancestors, community, and interactions with nature. She uses this book both to inspire environmental action and to share the magic of her mind and culture with her readers.
For anyone hoping to be more climate-conscious this summer, this book offers a ton of inspiration. Kimmerer’s stories about environmental connection encourage her audience to take better care of the earth. Things like composting or at-home gardening will feel more meaningful after reading.
And, for non-fiction fans, this book is packed with Native American history. Kimmerer uses both a personal lens and a historical one to emphasize how the past bleeds into the present. It’s written to broaden your perspective of history and culture beyond what you may already know.
Braiding Sweetgrass helps readers learn more about the people and ecosystems that make our planet so special.
My Volcano by John Elizabeth Stintzi
“That was the day that the mountain that was growing in Central Park was determined, with a very small margin for error, to be a volcano.” –John Elizabeth Stintzi, My Volcano
For some intensely experimental fiction, My Volcano is definitely the title to check out. The premise: One day, in June of 2016, a mysterious volcano found growing in Central Park manages to bring together characters from across the globe. Described in many reviews as a “tapestry” or “menagerie,” My Volcano draws on a wide array of stories, moments, and experiences to build its larger narrative. It’s a non-linear piece, and while it can feel disjointed at times, it fits together beautifully by the end.
For lovers of summer thunderstorms and beach sunsets, this book will capture the intensity of those breathtaking moments.
My Volcano is a unique reminder that humans interact with humans in wacky and important ways every single day. It shows readers how we are constantly intertwined in our actions and thoughts, even when we don’t realize it.
Margaret and the Mystery of the Missing Body by Megan Milks
“If adolescence is a passageway, a twilight zone or liminal space, it’s also the time when, like thick blobs of gummy dough, we get poured into shape and rise.” –Megan Milks, Margaret and the Mystery of the Missing Body
If you’re seeking a twisted mystery, this book will blow you away. Margaret and the Mystery of the Missing Body follows high school freshman Margaret, the previous leader of the Girls Can Do Anything mystery club. While they once solved preteen crimes during sleepovers, the club has since disbanded. But Margaret doesn’t want to face the truth of growing up, and she tries her best to keep the action going.
This book deals with some pretty sensitive topics; however, it’s a special read. It takes a more critical look at teenage tropes by centering on the tough but realistic experiences of high schoolers rather than the nostalgic ones. Over the course of the book, Milks reimagines elements of The Babysitters Club through a more introspective and adult lens. It feels like a Veronica Mars mystery, one where you’re always waiting to see what’s next.
If you’re a fan of summer movie marathons and campfire stories, this book will be right up your alley. It mixes the fun and the drama of a classic mystery with dark introspection.
A summer full of fresh finds
Hopefully, one of the books on this list will make it onto your summer reading list. Indie titles keep literary spaces diverse, and their experimental nature challenges our perception of what a book can be.
If you’re craving more indie titles, you should check out the indie bookstores in your area! Local places allow you to find the new and niche titles you may not hear about online, pushing you to be creative with your reading and break away from the “top ten” lists.
Happy summer, and happy reading!
