It’s always an exciting day . . . when Bonny and Carole and I announce our newest Read With Us selection!

This summer, we invite you to join us in reading . . .

John of John by Douglas Stuart.

If you’ve been a part of our Read With Us community for a while now, you’ll probably not be surprised with our pick — this newest novel from Douglas Stuart – because we’ve also selected and read together his debut novel, Shuggie Bain (back in 2021) and his follow-up novel, Young Mungo (in 2022). In fact, we often compare the books we read TO those earlier Douglas Stuart titles . . . as in “it reminded  me of Shuggie Bain” or “the mother was so much like Shuggie’s mother” or “it didn’t break me like Young Mungo did.”

So I think it’s safe to say . . . that Douglas Stuart has become a “fan favorite” among Read With Us readers.

I was lucky to have received an advance copy of John of John through NetGalley, so I read – and loved – the book last March. Here’s what I had to say about it in my review at the time . . .

Stuart’s writing is sublime. His dialog sparkles and his narrative flows surely and easily. When it comes to characters, Stuart is a master. I don’t think anyone writes better “messy” characters than Douglas Stuart, each so fully alive and bursting with humanity that they all make my heart ache. And, of course, his remote Scottish island setting is the perfect moody-broody background for all that transpires. John of John is an immersive, compelling read, and will likely end up as one of my 2026 top reads.

I hope you’ll be intrigued enough . . . to pick up this masterful, multi-layered novel and Read With Us this summer!

Bonny and Carole and I will be talking more about the book and providing additional background information for you in blog posts over the next several weeks. Then . . . mark your calendars for our blog book discussions/Zoom discussion on Tuesday, September 15, 2026 (7:00 pm Eastern time).

C’mon along!
Kick back this summer and enjoy a good book . . . Read With Us!