The Books That Team Frenshe Is Reading This Summer

Crying in H Mart resonated with me because as a Korean American myself, this is the first text I’ve read that truly captures the Korean immigrant family experience. It’s a story of grief, family, food, and the complexities of belonging to both cultures while simultaneously feeling like you belong to neither. While I wait for the film version to wrap up, I’m revisiting this book to heal and feel seen. —Stephanie Park, social media director

Currently reading 4,000 Weeks by Oliver Burkeman and it’s been a game changing one for me! I’ve struggled with always keeping busy yet feeling burnout by a never-ending task list. I’ve also could never actually unplug and relax without the guilt of feeling like I could be getting more productive things done. This book challenges these traditional notions around the scarcity mindset of time and productivity culture. He blends philosophical insights and relatable anecdotes together to make it an easily digestible read that hasn’t felt overwhelming to me (I often find this an issue with self-help style books!) This book isn’t about rigid frameworks or quick fixes—it’s about aligning our everyday actions with our values and finding balance in a culture obsessed with wearing busyness as a badge of honor. It’s an amazing, realistic take on making the most of your limited, approximately 4,000 weeks on this planet! —Sam Fazz, creative director

This novel has it all: a shipwreck, bootleggers, World War II, Hollywood! The story follows Marian Graves, a legendary aviator who disappears during an attempt to fly around the North and South Poles in the 1950s. A parallel story follows Hadley Baxter, a modern-day actress aiming for career reinvention through playing Marian in a biopic (and learning more about the pilot than she’d expected). One of those books that, by page three, you know you’re going to love forever. —Annie Tomlin, executive editor

I picked this book up at a friend’s suggestion (yay for friends that know you well), and it’s such a fun read! A Romeo and Juliet-inspired story woven with crime, Russian folklore, and magical realism, it hooked me immediately. I found the characters so compelling, I was recommending it to people before I even finished. —Luiza Bargo, writer

This science fiction novel is heartbreaking yet emotionally expansive as it follows a group of friends who unravel the secrets of their unique upbringing in a picturesque English boarding school. It touches on friendship, love, forgiveness, and the necessity of accepting the cards you’re dealt. It’s the kind of book that lingers long after you finish reading it. Pro tip: have a box of tissue handy! —Brittany Beringer-Tobing, astrology writer

Non-fiction isn’t usually something I can get through very quickly, so I’m still making my way through this one, but I’ve found it such a fascinating read. English is not my first language, so it’s also been interesting to see how some of these things are very universal, particularly in gendered languages. —LB

One of my favorite books I’ll always recommend is Little Weirds by Jenny Slate. I’ve admired Jenny for years, not only as a comedian, but even more so for the honest, vulnerable human that she is. She injects her usual witty humor into a whimsical collection of essays around growing up, being a modern woman, loss and her healing journey. This book is such a good reminder to find joy in small things and appreciate the weird, unexpected journeys we’ll all take in life. I always come back to this book when I need to feel a warm hug or child-like wonder about life. It’s my favorite big-sister type of comfort read! —SF