Here’s a literary hot take: are you reading that book or just carrying it around from tote bag to tote bag? Right.

Seattle Readers, it’s time for a midyear reading round up, and we’re gonna find out what books this city of readers are actually devouring (so far). Elliott Bay Book Company’s Sofia Brekkan joins us for some literary hot takes, staff pick hacks, and a round of ‘would you rather’ that reveals Sofia’s controversial reading habits.

Check out some of the books mentioned in this episode:

• I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman
• Sunrise on the Reaping (A Hunger Games Novel) by Suzanne Collins
• Katabasis by R.F. Kuang
• Big Kiss, Bye-Bye by Claire-Louise Bennett
• Self Help by Lorrie Moore
• The Prettiest Star by Carter Sickels
• Feeding Ghosts by Tessa Hulls
• Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe
• Heaven by Emerson Whitney
• Moderation by Elaine Castillo
• Horror for Weenies by Emily C Hughes

Check out all of staff picks from Elliott Bay Book Company here.

Other book-ish and artsy recommendations from this week’s episode:

• KUOW July Book Club: Lesser Known Monsters of the 21st Century by Kim Fu in conversation with Katie Campbell- July 30th, 2025
• CID Reading Block Party - August 3rd, 2025
• Teo's Durumi, Author Elaine U. Cho at Elliott Bay - August 5th, 2025
• Extinction Capital of the World, Author Mariah Rigg at Elliott Bay on August 21st, 2025
• Urban Craft Uprising at Magnuson Park Hangar 30 on Saturday & Sunday, July 26th & 27th, 2025
• Jazz Night in Pioneer Square - Tuesday, July 29th, 2025

Did we miss a must read for 2025? Got a literary hot take Seattle readers MUST know? Hey, send us an email at meetmehere@kuow.org.

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Become a KUOW member today.

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Seattle summers just make everything feel possible. You can see the silver linings a little better in the sunshine. And that makes it a little easier to enjoy some sad summer reads. Right?

If you want proof, check out Sequoia Nagamatsu’s How High We Go in the Dark, a speculative fiction masterpiece published in 2022 that still has Meet Me Here co-host Katie Campbell reeling.

No one is feeding our desire for escapism fantasy on a hot summer day quite like Sequoia. And the guy has hot takes to match the heat. He joined us this week for a special bonus episode to talk about them.

If you need some help filling the void after reading “How High We Go in the Dark,” check out Sequoia and Katie’s RIYL:

• We Lived on the Horizon by Erika Swyler

• Light from Other Stars by Erika Swyler

• Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

• The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel

• Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel

• The Changeling by Victor LaValle

• Anything by J.G. Ballard

• The Complete Cosmicomics by Italo Calvino

• Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino

• Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

• Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

• Wayfarers series by Becky Chambers

• Noumenon trilogy by Marina J. Lostetter

• Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton

• The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton

• A House Between Earth and the Moon by Rebecca Scherm

Event recommendation:

• Sequoia Nagamatsu and Aram Mrjoian talk about the latter author’s debut novel, Waterline, at Elliott Bay Book Company on July 15, 2025

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Art friends make life richer, according to arts community leader Leilani Lewis.

She says art friends can help you “deepen your understanding of yourself and the people around you.”

If you want to make art friends, Leilani says take initiative and be willing to be vulnerable.

“Go to the openings. Go to the programs. Go to Remix. Go to Wa Na Wari artist talks. Go and just dig yourself in and you’ll meet people. I guarantee it.”

Leilani says there are people in town she’s known for 20 years, that she met at art openings and whom she only ever sees at art events.

“We give each other a hug when we see each other at the space. Then we carry on.”

Leilani says there are plenty of cool things you can do with your art friends. Including creating your own art walk, starting at Arte Noir in the Central District and exploring the restaurants Communion and Marjorie.

Or hitting up free museums like The Frye and The Henry.

Leilani also has a few tips for enjoying the Seattle Art Fair that happens July 17-20 at the Lumen Field Event Center. For example: Dress comfortably, if not a little stylishly. Leilani is a fan of comfortable shoes with arch support.

And she says because the Seattle Art Fair is so massive, a little game might be in order. Her recommendation: creating a simple art fair bingo card for you and your art friends. You can populate the card with questions like, Which piece of art scared you? Which piece of art made you want to cry? What was the most colorful piece you saw?

She says the bingo cards can be a fantastic way to dive into conversations with your art friends while you're hanging out at or after the event.

Other event recommendations from this week’s episode:

• The Grown-Ups, Dacha Theatre, June 28-Aug 3
• Sandsations, Long Beach, WA, July 16-20
• Summer at SAM: Concert Night at Olympic Sculpture Park, July 24

Where’s your favorite place to meet up around arts and culture in the region? Leave us a message at 206-221-6100. Drop us a line at meetmehere@kuow.org.

Your support helps create shows like Seattle Now, Soundside, and Meet Me Here!

Become a KUOW member today.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.