A Bookish Invitation: Help Shape My Upcoming 2026 Summer Reading List
Stories of Portugal recommended by readers near and far who feel drawn to this place.
Dear Readers,
Each summer, I put together a reading list that travels through Portugal without ever leaving the page.
Some years, the journey begins in a village square, a tiled kitchen, or along a quiet road. Other years, it unfolds through poetry and memory, food and history, murder mysteries and adventure, or fiction that captures what it means to live in Portugal, or to be shaped by it from a distance.
That’s part of the pleasure of a summer reading list: Portugal reveals itself in many voices and many forms, sometimes quietly, sometimes with suspense, and occasionally with a sense of escape.
As I begin thinking ahead to my 2026 Summer Reading List, I’d like to open the process and invite you to take part.
Whether you live in Portugal, once lived here, visit often, are Portuguese, or simply feel connected to this country through reading, cooking, research, or imagination, your recommendations are welcome.
What You Can Recommend
I’m looking for books - classic or contemporary - that belong in a reading list shaped by Portugal. I especially welcome titles published in both Portuguese and English, though this is not required. What matters most is that Portugal sits at the heart of the story, whether as setting, subject, or subtle presence.
Suggestions may include:
Fiction set in Portugal
Non-fiction, memoir, or essays rooted in Portuguese life or history
History, biography, or cultural studies
Poetry by Portuguese writers or inspired by Portugal
Travel writing that goes beyond the surface
Murder mysteries, adventure, or genre fiction grounded in place
Books about Portuguese food, wine, or regional traditions
Portuguese cookbooks, traditional or modern
How to Share Your Recommendation
Please leave your suggestions in the comments (or message me) and include:
Book title
Author
A link (if possible) to where the book can be purchased or found
(Optional but welcome) A sentence or two about why you’re recommending it
For transparency: I’m not affiliated with any bookseller, and sharing a link does not imply endorsement of a particular retailer. The links simply help readers (and me) locate the book more easily.
Feel free to recommend more than one title.
What Happens Next
I’ll be gathering your recommendations over the coming months as I curate the 2026 Summer Reading List, which I plan to publish in mid-June. Where appropriate, I’ll credit readers whose suggestions are included.
Every year, some of the most meaningful additions to this list come from reader suggestions - often books I might never have discovered on my own.
With Thanks
Reading, like travel, is rarely a solitary act, even when done quietly. Thank you for sharing the books that have helped you better understand Portugal, wherever you happen to be reading from.
I’m looking forward to seeing where your recommendations take us.
Warmly,
Carol
Last year’s Summer Reading List…
Hi Carole. A local American/Portuguese writer, Jeannine Johnson Maia, has written 2 lovely, well received books based in Portugal. They are both published in Portuguese and English. One is set during WWII in Lisbon and the other in Porto in 1877. The first is called Rossio Square N.°59 and the other one is O Rapaz do Douro in Portuguese and The Filigree Master's Apprentice in English. They can be purchased locally here in Portugal in Portuguese or ordered online in English. I recommend them both.
Good thing I checked out your previous lists, since all my suggestions were already there, including “Lisbon: War in the Shadows of the City of Light, 1939-45.” I happened to buy this just as a Portuguese television series set during that time, “The Spy,” became available in the US. The book happened to provide essential context for understanding the series – though I wonder if the book was kinder to Salazar than he deserved. I thought A Small Death in Lisbon, which also takes place, in part, during this time, was excellent. And I second the comment of the reader who recommended Chris Pavone’s novel “Two Nights in Lisbon”