All the Hot Girls Will Be Reading John Steinbeck This Summer

by

It always seems like every summer, there’s one book everyone is reading – a book you somehow missed the memo about. While you’re diligently working through older, perhaps lesser-known novels, everyone else has already finished the latest popular title. Sometimes the book is a real doorstopper, but even when it’s a more reasonable length, like John Williams’s Stoner a few years ago, it’s the same story. With Memorial Day approaching and the promise of good weather in New York, it’s time to join the summer reading trend – and this year, that means picking up a John Steinbeck novel.

With Zoe Kazan’s adaptation of East of Eden coming to Netflix this fall, now is the perfect time to dive into Steinbeck’s masterpiece. Widely considered his greatest work, the roughly 650-page novel is substantial but manageable—easy enough to bring along on a trip. The story follows the intertwined fates of the Hamilton and Trask families, drawing inspiration from Steinbeck’s own family history and biblical themes. The adaptation also features Florence Pugh as Cathy, a complex and compelling character who has some of the book’s most memorable moments. Expect to see a lot of discussion about Cathy in 2026—and this is a different Cathy than the one you might be thinking of! Plus, East of Eden is already generating a lot of buzz on BookTok, and while their opinions aren’t always spot-on, they’ve proven to have good taste in books like The Secret History and, it seems, in Steinbeck as well.

If you enjoyed East of Eden, there’s plenty more Steinbeck to explore, and his books seem particularly fitting for the mood of this year. You could get lost in the touching and sometimes heartbreaking story of The Red Pony, or revisit a classic with Of Mice and Men. I especially love The Grapes of Wrath, which is being adapted for the screen. Considering its themes of climate change, economic struggles, and hardship, it feels surprisingly timely – and might even lead to interesting conversations! If you need something a little lighter, try Travels With Charley, Steinbeck’s account of a road trip with his dog. Ultimately, a summer of reading Steinbeck feels right for the times. Plus, you’ll have something to talk about if you happen to run into Mike Faist!

Read More

2026-05-15 22:55