Last week the Women’s Podcast book club gathered for a live event in Chapters Bookstore in Dublin to discuss what books they’ll be packing with them on their summer holidays. Celebrated author Claire Keegan was the special guest who joined book clubbers Róisín Ingle, Bernice Harrison, Ann Ingle and Niamh Towey for the event, alongside an audience of podcast listeners. Keegan, who will be spending her holidays in Cape Town with a friend, told the bookclub that she does not have specific criteria for summer reading but prefers to read based on her mood: “I think that you’re in the mood for a book the way you’re in the mood for something to eat... you always need something in arms reach that suits the way you are”.One of the books the author chose as her top summer read is The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. It’s a novel that Keegan teaches every year at her creative writing workshops and one that she believes is “just long enough and says just enough”. “It’s about people who think they can buy a good life instead of earning a good life... and it’s very much a book for today’s world, for today’s America”. You can view the full list of summer reading recommendations below or listen back to the podcast in the player above. You’ll hear what what each of the books are about and why our book clubbers chose them. Claire’s summer favourites The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Gold Watch by John McGahern Last Day of Summer by Ian McEwan, a short story from his collection, First Love, Last Rites. Róisín’s summer favourites Famesick by Lena Dunham Few and Far Between by Jan Carson Portrait of a Lady by Henry James Bernice’s summer favourites Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke The Keeper by Tana French The Spare Room by Helen Garner Ann’s summer favourites Excellent Women by Barbara Pym John of John by Douglas Stuart The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout Niamh’s summer favourites Land by Maggie O’Farrell The Make Believe by Hannah Murray Tatty by Christine Dwyer