Just because you’re on holiday doesn’t mean your brain has to be. But let’s be real—no one wants to read a dry strategy book by the pool. This reading list is for brand founders, creatives, and curious minds who want something a little lighter, a little juicier, and a lot more fun. From memoirs to magical realism, TikTok virality to trend culture, these books offer insight, inspiration, and escapism—with zero MBA energy. Bring on the serotonin.

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Careless People (2025) by Sarah Wynn-Williams

Genre: Memoir

This forthcoming memoir offers a front-row view of Facebook/Meta during its explosive rise. Wynn-Williams, a former Meta policy executive, provides a “dishy” first-person account of the company’s culture, likened to Liar’s Poker meets Kitchen Confidential. It reads like an insider thriller – revealing boardroom drama, rapid growth, and power struggles – and gives brand founders a vivid cautionary tale about the personal and ethical costs of building a tech empire.

Tehrangeles: A Novel (2024) by Porochista Khakpour

Genre: Satire/Contemporary Fiction

The Milani family – Iranian-American multimillionaires Ali and Homa – seem to have it all: a flashy LA McMansion, a microwaveable snack empire, and four spirited daughters. As they prep their family for a reality-TV debut, the scrutiny of fame threatens to upend their glamorous life. Khakpour’s comedy-drama gives a “fun and fabulous” look at L.A. Persian culture  It’s a “biting, clever tragicomic” tale about “Reality TV, Los Angeles McMansions, and a fast food empire”, filled with wild family antics and satire. This novel satirizes brand-building and celebrity culture in a way founders will appreciate. Following a snack-food brand’s rise to fame, it wittily shows the quirks of marketing and social-media life – inspiring creative entrepreneurs to laugh at the absurd side of branding.

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Seven Summer Weekends (2024) by Jane L. Rosen

Genre: Women’s Fiction/Romance

Addison Irwin is a Manhattan advertising exec whose career implodes thanks to a viral Zoom disaster. As a result, she inherits her aunt’s Fire Island beach house – complete with an artist’s studio and a revolving guest list for seven weekends. Stranded in this laid-back summer community, Addison butts heads with the irritable (yet handsome) next-door neighbor while learning the ropes of island life. Packed with beachy charm and office-world chaos, this novel mixes romance and humour.

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The Memo (2024) by Rachel Dodes & Lauren Mechling

Genre: Time-Travel Romance

Jenny Green, age 35, feels her life is off-track: a cheating boyfriend, a dead-end job, and the nagging thought that everyone else has “the memo” on life except her. When she unexpectedly gets a chance to relive a past vacation to Costa Rica, she sees two alternate timelines play out – one where everything goes wrong and one where she makes bold changes. The novel toggles between these two summer trips, exploring regret, career choices, and the desire for a second chance.

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Peggy: A Novel (2024) by Rebecca Godfrey

Genre: Historical/Biographical Fiction

This sweeping novel follows Peggy Guggenheim, the heiress-turned-art-collector. In 1958 Venice, Peggy reflects on her journey from a sheltered New York childhood to becoming an iconoclast in the avant-garde art world. We see how her father’s death on the Titanic drives her to a life of passion and to “believe in the transformative power of art,” as she navigates the glamorous but sexist art scenes of New York and Europe.

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The Wildes: A Novel in Five Acts (2024) by Louis Bayard

Genre: Historical Fiction

This novel imaginatively rescues Oscar Wilde’s family from obscurity. Set in 1892, it follows Oscar’s wife Constance and their two sons after Oscar’s imprisonment. We see Constance grappling with her husband’s secrets and eventual exile, and later the sons confronting Oscar’s legacy through World War I‍. Bayard’s prose is praised for its “sparkling dialogue” and emotional depth, telling a vivid story of love, loss and redemption through the Wilde family.

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The Cult of Creativity (2022) by Samuel W. Franklin

Genre: Trend & Culture

This provocative history argues that “creativity” as a celebrated personal trait was actually devised in postwar America and pushed by corporations during the Cold War‍. By tracing how creativity became an obsession, it encourages founders to rethink the myth of the lone genius. As The New Yorker notes, Franklin shows creativity is a recent cultural invention we’re “stuck with,” prompting entrepreneurs to question received ideas about innovation.

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The Siren’s Call (2022) by Chris Hayes

Genre: Trend & Culture

Hayes explores our attention economy, describing how social media and news outlets are in a constant battle for our focus. He offers ideas for resisting these “siren calls” of distraction and regaining agency. This insightful analysis of media and mindfulness is both timely and practical for founders: it highlights how culture and technology shape consumer behavior, and suggests ways to maintain clarity and purpose amid information overload.

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Unreasonable Hospitality (2022) by Will Guidara

Genre: Marketing (Creative Business)

Former restaurateur Guidara recounts how extraordinary hospitality turned Eleven Madison Park into a world-leading brand. He shows that successful marketing often comes down to emotion: “It’s about how you make people feel,” whether delighting guests or inspiring teams. Guidara shares over-the-top anecdotes (snow sledding in Central Park, beachfront dining rooms) to illustrate that giving people more than they expect can distinguish any brand. For creative entrepreneurs, it’s a reminder that memorable experiences and personal touches can be as powerful as any strategy.

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Creativity: A Short and Cheerful Guide (2020) by John Cleese

Genre: Marketing (Creative Business)

In this concise, humorous book, comedian Cleese explains how to cultivate creativity by embracing play, space, and a “childlike” mindset. He gives practical tips (even quipping about “killing your darlings” for brevity) delivered with wit. It’s a light, quick read that nevertheless encourages founders to structure their time for creative thinking – a useful antidote to the grind of business planning.

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Invisible Women (2019) by Caroline Criado Perez

Genre: Cultural Commentary

This acclaimed nonfiction exposes how gender data gaps create a world designed for men. It’s been called a “dossier on gender inequality”, cataloguing facts and figures that document pervasive biases in technology, healthcare, urban planning and more. For brand founders, Invisible Women is a powerful wake-up call to consider inclusivity: it highlights how products, marketing, and services can unintentionally exclude half the population, inspiring founders to build more equitable solutions.

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Beach Read (2020) by Emily Henry

Genre: Romance

A funny, feel-good romance about two authors – Augustus Everett, a literary novelist, and January Andrews, a romance writer – who find themselves in beach houses next door with writer’s block. They strike a bet: Augustus will write a happy romance, January a literary novel. This setup leads to witty banter and unexpected heartwarming moments. Though a beach romance, it slyly explores creative challenges and collaboration, making it both an entertaining escape and a nod to the creative process that founders will appreciate.

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Trick Mirror (2019) by Jia Tolentino

Genre: Essay Collections

A razor-sharp collection of essays on self-delusion and internet-age culture. Tolentino examines everything from the rise of social media and “scammer culture” to media’s portrayal of women – topics that are squarely in today’s zeitgeist. As one reviewer notes, the essays “delv[e] into the world of social media and its psychological impacts” and other hot topics of our time. The book is engaging and thought-provoking, prompting brand leaders to reflect on how modern culture, technology, and personal narratives shape consumer values and the creative landscape.‍

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You Will Never Be Me (2024) by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Genre: Suspense/Thriller

When social-media influencer Aspen Palmer (a successful “momfluencer”) suddenly starts losing sponsors and followers, she can’t figure out why. It turns out her former protégé, Meredith, is stalking her online, subtly sabotaging her business. After breaking into Aspen’s life (hacking her accounts, impersonating her, etc.), Meredith’s jealousy spirals out of control. As Aspen’s perfectly curated world unravels, Meredith vanishes and ominous threats appear. Aspen must race to uncover who is behind the attacks before she loses everything – her brand, her reputation, and even her family’s safety.

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Middletide (2024) by Sarah Crouch

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

In a quiet Puget Sound town, prodigal son Elijah Leith has returned after a failed writing career. One morning, the local doctor, Erin Landry, is found dead in Elijah’s woods – an apparent suicide. But Sheriff Godbout notices something chilling: the scene exactly mirrors a murder from Elijah’s unfinished novel. Suddenly Elijah is the prime suspect. As the town turns on him, he must clear his name while odd clues from his book start to blur with reality. This “literary thriller” wraps small-town mystery with meta-fiction intrigue.

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