15/09/2026
Smarts’ summer book reviews 📚✨
We always hear about people’s summer reads but rarely get the lowdown on what was worth bookmarking. So we asked our Smarts bookworms to review the titles they got stuck into this summer, so you can add them (or avoid) to your reading list…
The Castle, Jon Ronson
“A brilliant non-fiction book that transitions into a wider study on the way more and more men are opting out of society completely.”
Will Holloway, Creative Director
4000 weeks, Oliver Burkeman
“Uplifting and super compelling and a way of helping to recalibrate busy brains.”
Helen Rainford, Managing Partner
A Mind of My Own, Kathy Burke
“A reminder of the importance of just being yourself, following your interests and not becoming an arsehole.”
Jess MacIntyre, Brand Futures Director
Into The Blue, Emma Brodie
“A love story that blurs the line between performance and reality, creating something magical, obsessive and at times quite toxic.”
Maria Macfarlane, Senior Creator Manager
Yesteryear, Caro Claire Burke
“Probably the most hyped book of the summer – it’s dark, fast, funny for most of it, but doesn’t quite stick the landing.”
Leanne Scott, Chief Growth Officer
The Score, C Thi Nguyen
“A book that leaps from throwing critical light on the metrics that we end up chasing (instead of more meaningful goals) to moving reflections on why we play, the value of games and what satisfies us as human beings.”
Simon Richings, Executive Creative Director
Circe, Madeline Miller
“If you came out of Christoper Nolan’s Odyssey wondering… why pigs? Then this book gives you the answer.”
Nat Moores, Brand Futures Director
The Compound, Aisling Rawle
“Pegged as Lord of the Flies meets Love Island, was it going to be beachside rubbish or something of substance? Definitely the latter.”
Kaitlin Allen, Communication Executive
Caledonian Road, Andrew O’Hagan
“Sharp, funny and uncomfortable in places, a brilliantly observed take on class, money, power and modern London.”
Katie Bannon, Growth Director
Fulfillment, Lee Cole
“Two brothers who couldn’t be more different slowly destroy each other’s lives. It’s both a hopeful and depressing take on modern society.”
Matt Williams, Group
