Summer Reading and Beyond: Top Recommendations from Transact’s Employee Book Club

Lately, we’re constantly being reminded that fall is approaching: Krispy Kreme has announced their fall-inspired donut lineup with all the pumpkin spice vibes; back-to-school sales abound; and preseason football is upon us. But technically we’re still in the throes of summer, so let’s enjoy the last of our sweet corn bounty, hot sunny days, and grill time. Whether you have extra time on your hands to do some reading, or have it on your “to-do” list, Transact Campus has some book recommendations worth considering. 

Over the past two years, Transact has launched several employee resource groups (ERGs) designed to meet the social, emotional, and professional needs of all employees. The first group introduced, Transact Women’s Interest Network (known as “T-WIN”), is an ERG focused on supporting women and their allies, and is open to all employees. Members of T-WIN can also join any number of specialty groups such as the recently launched T-WIN Book Club. 

Calling all book lovers: Transact employees share opinions and friendship 

“The T-WIN Book Club has been a unique avenue to get to know women at Transact on a deeper level. Not only are we able to take away useful insights from the books themselves, we also learn more about each member—how they relate to the books, what we have in common, and what we each bring to the table. It’s been very enlightening!” said Amy Everitt, Manager, Client Success Management at Transact. 

Laura Magnall, Senior Product Manager at Transact, manages the book club. 

“It’s been a great source of fun and joy for me this year since we started it. I keep track of our membership, send out quarterly discussion invites, and select and send out our book options. Each quarter, members vote on the options I’ve curated, and we all read the winning entry. At the end of the quarter, we discuss the book at a virtual meeting. I prepare our content and discussion questions and facilitate the conversation. Q1 and Q3 are fiction quarters and Q2 and Q4 are nonfiction, so we can cover a variety of tastes,” Magnall said. 

Magnall polled book club members, and here’s a list of their Top 10 reads along with a few of her own personal favorites (in no particular order): 

1. Book Lovers, Emily Henry. “Book Lovers is a rom-com lover’s dream of a book. It is razor-sharp and modern, featuring a fierce heroine who does not apologize for her ambition and heartfelt discussions of grief.” ~ The New York Times 
   
   
2. People We Meet on Vacation, Emily Henry. Like Book Lovers, this selection is also a New York Times bestseller, about two best friends who share a love of traveling and perhaps each other. “People We Meet on Vacation is a pitch-perfect beach read...the novel is absorbing and entertaining.” ~ The Washington Post.  
   
   
3. The Guest List, Lucy Foley. Billed as a mystery, thriller, and suspense novel, The Guest List is described as a fun, fast-paced guessing game of a read. “A wedding celebration turns dark and deadly in this deliciously wicked and atmospheric thriller reminiscent of Agatha Christie.” ~ Goodreads  
   
   
4. Lessons in Chemistry, Bonnie Garmus. Named a “Best Book of the Year” by The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, Oprah Daily, Entertainment Weekly, and Newsweek. “Every once in a while, a book comes along that just stuns me. I can’t even put into words how much I loved Lessons in Chemistry. It is refreshingly different, historical, and highlights the struggles of women scientists in the late 1950s.” ~ The Bashful Bookworm 
   
   
5. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Taylor Jenkins Reid. This book tells the story of the fictional Old Hollywood star Evelyn Hugo, who, at age 79, gives a final interview to an unknown journalist. “At the heart of this scandalous novel is the bond between two lovers fated to keep their romance behind the scenes and the forces keeping them part. Reid’s work is worthy of a standing ovation.” ~ Barnes & Noble 
   
   
6. The People We Keep, Allison Larkin. “This is a novel of great empathy, about connections and coming-of-age, built families and self-acceptance. It contains heartbreak and redemption, and a plucky, irresistible protagonist.” ~ Google Books 
   
   
7. Behind Closed Doors, B.A. Paris. A story about a woman held captive by her verbally abusive husband. “A hair-raising debut, both unsettling and addictive. A chilling thriller that will keep you reading long into the night.” ~ The New York Times.
    
8. The Summer I Turned Pretty, Jenny Han. A heartfelt and relatable coming-of-age story that captures the excitement, confusion, and complexities of teenage life. “Jenny Han takes you to carnivals, midnight swimming, broken hearts and first kisses. Best friends meddling, brothers and sand that just won’t settle.” ~ The Guardian  
   
   
9. The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times, Michelle Obama. The Former First Lady builds on the lessons and stories she shared in Becoming. “The Light We Carry contains a multitude of poignant, amusing anecdotes and helpful advice for all types of readers.” ~ BookPage 
   
   
10. Life in Five Senses: How Exploring the Senses Got Me Out of My Head and Into the World, Gretchen Rubin. “In this journey of self-experimentation, Rubin explores the mysteries and joys of the five senses as a path to a happier, more mindful life.” ~ Barnes & Noble 

Book club members read group picks and then some 

Lori Caffrey, Director, Campus Engagement at Transact, enjoys connecting with and getting to know other women in the company. “Right now, we’re reading The Measure by Nikki Erlick. It’s a very thought-provoking story and is sure to lead to a great discussion. Several members of my family are also reading the book—we plan to do a family book discussion later this summer!” Caffrey said. 

Outside of the book club, Caffrey is reading Green Lights by Matthew McConaughey, and recommends a series of books called Three Pines. “They’re all murder mysteries, full of great characters. The first book is called Still Life. Fair warning—once you start, you are going to want to read them all.” 

Sharone Serrano, Manager of Compliance & Analysis at Transact, enjoys hearing people’s thoughts about what they’re reading.  

“It’s been a good experience,” Serrano said. 

In addition to book club selections, Serrano is currently reading Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes. “In this poignant, hilarious, and deeply intimate call to arms, Hollywood’s most powerful woman, the mega-talented creator of Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal and executive producer of How to Get Away with Murder reveals how saying ‘yes’ changed her life—and how it can change yours, too.” ~ Goodreads 

Studies: Reading boosts brain power and reduces stress 

And while summer isn’t officially over yet, reading isn’t limited to lounging poolside on summer vacays—it’s a great habit to pick up and keep all year long. According to research from Psychology Today, “health practitioners use books and bibliotherapy to support the mental health of groups facing various challenges, including anxiety, depression, and grief. Bibliotherapy typically involves the experience of reading, reflection, and discussion of specific literature with an individual therapist or in a group therapy setting.” (March 2022). What’s more, a Social Science & Medicine study revealed those who read books live longer: “A 20% reduction in mortality was observed for those who read books, compared to those who did not read books.”  

Not sure what to read? Sites like Goodreads and What Should I Read Next (WSIRN) can help you get started. Better yet, join an in-person or online book club.