22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Books and TV series to enjoy from home this summer
Whether you're cooling down from the blaring sun or seeking refuge from seasonal allergies, there are plenty of ways to channel chill summer vibes from home with these literary and onscreen recommendations.
'A Marriage at Sea' by Sophie Elmhirst
Already a bestseller in the U.K. and the winner of the Nero Gold prize for book of the year, ' A Marriage at Sea ' is an exceptional true tale of one couple's fight to survive after their sailboat capsizes in the distant South Pacific. Told with beautiful insight into the state of a marriage under tremendous stress, this propulsive, page-turning tale of survival could be the best book of the summer.
— Urban Waite
'The Dry Season' by Melissa Febos
National Book Critics Circle Award winner Melissa Febos ('Girlhood') returns with a profound account of what she learned from a year of self-imposed celibacy in ' The Dry Season: A Memoir of Pleasure in a Year Without Sex.' Hear Febos is scheduled to discuss her new work with acclaimed writer Carvell Wallace at a free event at San Francisco's Booksmith on June 17.
'The Emperor of Gladness' by Ocean Vuong
The latest from poet and novelist Ocean Vuong ('On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous') is a veritable epic, tackling everything from dementia to capitalism in a story of unlikely bonds and the fire within us to survive. Vuong will be in town to discuss his new novel ' The Emperor of Gladness ' on May 30 at San Francisco's Calvary Presbyterian Church ($11.49) and the following night at Book Passage in Corte Madera ($33, includes book).
— Zack Ruskin
'The Bear' Season 4
In what has become a June tradition, the FX-on-Hulu series drops in like clockwork on June 25, with 10 episodes exploring the further adventures and frustrations of Carmen 'Carmy' Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White), a young chef from the fine dining world who comes home to Chicago to run his family sandwich shop. Small-business ownership is not for the faint of heart. With White and fellow cast members Ayo Edebiri and Ebon Moss-Bachrach now full-blown movie stars, how much longer will the series last? Enjoy it while you can.
— G. Allen Johnson
'Squid Game' Season 3
The final season of Netflix's surprise hit from South Korea drops on June 27. Plot details of the dystopian survivalist thriller are being kept under wraps, but it was filmed back-to-back with Season 2, which debuted in December. Once again, Lee Jung-jae leads an ensemble cast clad in green tracksuits through the paces in this anti-capitalist allegory.
— G. Allen Johnson
