Summer is finally here. I love summer, even though in Dubai we risk reaching boiling point and evaporating into the thick summer heat every time we step outside. But June holds a rare kind of magic. It strikes that perfect, fleeting balance where the days belong entirely to the cool sanctuary of the pool, yet the late afternoons still soften enough to lure you back outside. To make the most of these sun-drenched months, I’m sharing a curated list of the books I’m reading, the media I’m consuming, and the intentional habits I’ve adapted to avoid the summer brain rot at all costs.
Reading
The Five Star Weekend – Elin Hilderbrand
Every year, I yearn to get lost in the sun-soaked pages of a coastal novel, and no one owns the summer beach read quite like Elin Hilderbrand. The Five-Star Weekend marks my fourth foray into her world, and she remains entirely in a league of her own.
The narrative follows Hollis, a high-profile lifestyle blogger reeling from the sudden, tragic loss of her husband. In an attempt to navigate her grief, she orchestrates a “Five-Star Weekend” at her Nantucket home, inviting five women from different eras of her life. But in classic Hilderbrand fashion, proximity breeds friction, and every guest arrives with her own hidden agenda.
What makes Hilderbrand’s writing so deliberate is her ability to expose inner dialogues that feel cringingly realistic. The characters’ vulnerabilities are laid bare in a way that feels simultaneously dramatic, and quietly comical. It evokes the campy, addictive energy of Desperate Housewives—where the omnipresent, slightly detached narration makes the otherwise chaotic, questionable choices of the women feel somewhat justified.
Assembly – Natasha Brown
Assembly by Natasha Brown is a masterclass in literary minimalism—a slim, razor-sharp novel that reads like an autopsy of the modern British dream.
Written in precise, rhythmic prose that feels closer to poetry than traditional narrative, the book strips away all narrative excess to expose the suffocating reality of a black woman navigating the upper echelons of corporate London and old-money aristocracy. The writer’s projectile, choppy yet poetic style of writing stream of consciousness married with the unnamed narrator’s projected complacency in her experiences of misogyny and systematic racism portray a distant vigilance, like an out of body experience.
The narrative follows a successful black woman, dating a white man from a wealthy aristocratic family. She has worked hard to earn her position and status in society, because she was raised to believe that that is the way to belonging (her parents and grandparents didn’t belong because they didn’t have the opportunity to earn their belonging like she luckily has). After all she has done, she is still struggling to keep afloat in the ocean of dread flooding her every pore through the awakening that the assimilation demanded by institutions of the state and adjacent institutions of capitalism is not a triumph, but a quiet and exhausting erasure.
The pages of the novel ooze with white space/silence, bringing to life the assumption that in her facade of “I am fine” the narrator is censoring even her most intimate thoughts. A scene that stood out to me was, her boyfriend and his friend were watch Prince Harry and Megan Markle’s wedding and then he look at her and smiled.
My conclusive though on this story was, what is the cost of assembling a life that was never designed for you to survive?
Love, Rosie – Cecelia Ahern
A heartwarming and agonizingly beautiful masterclass in the “friends-to-lovers” trope, told entirely through a modern, fragmented collection of letters, emails, and text messages. The narrative follows Rosie and Alex, childhood best friends whose lives are constantly pulled apart by missed opportunities, bad timing, and the chaotic intervention of fate. What makes it such a comforting summer read is its raw, humorous intimacy; you feel like an absolute voyeur, sifting through the private, decades-long digital paper trail of two people who are blindingly meant to be together, but just keep missing their moment.
What truly grounds the story, though, is the delightful friction of their contrasting personalities. Rosie is beautifully messy—fiercely resilient, loyal, and possessing a sharp, self-deprecating Irish wit that makes her instantly lovable as she navigates life’s unexpected detours. Alex, on the other hand, balances her with his brilliant, slightly structured, and ambitious mind, yet remains completely softened by a tender, goofy vulnerability whenever Rosie is involved. Their charm lies in how effortlessly they fit together; they aren’t flawless romance archetypes, but two wonderfully flawed, frustratingly real people whose banter feels so deeply lived-in that you can’t help but root for them to finally get out of their own way.
Watching
Series – From
After our beautiful son has surrendered to his slumber, My husband and I have become completely captive by the show FROM on OSN+. It is our sacred weekly ritual—the kind of television that demands focus and induces frustration through its logic bending scenes that transcend the laws of space and time.
The show drops you into a nightmarish puzzle-box: a mysterious town that physically traps anyone who enters, haunted by smiling, nocturnal entities that slip out of the forest at sundown and target the town’s people. The feel of dread leaking from the charecter’s stagnant reality and yearning for normalcy thickens the air, mimicking the suffocation of summer heat.
The show is now on it’s fourth season and what makes it so wildly addictive to dissect together isn’t just the visceral horror, but the slow-burn psychological toll of a community forced to find normalcy inside a living hell. It’s fiercely smart, deeply unsettling, and masterfully keeps you suspended in the unknown.
Youtube – Eva Meloche
Youtube has been my favorite form of media for as long as I can remember. The nature of the content alleviates daunting commitment, and provide a wide menu of diversity for every mood. This month I discovered Eva Meloche, a creative 20 something woman remonetizing her life through travel, fashion, reading and friendships while still maintaining her captivating authenticity by also sharing her moments of gloominess.
Her videos are all vlog style, a mixture of experiences and artsy images that rouse inspiration, bundled together through original editing, intentional music and her own poetic narration. She also nestles clips of sit down stretches of conversations with the camera, updating her audiences on her life and thoughts.
Eva’s videos have inspired me with their originality, she also talks about creativity and ruts. Her colorful fashion, soothing and at times loud music married with her beautiful cinematic perception, are all unapologetically her. I read the book Assembly this month, because she recommended it in one of her vlogs because I feel like I trust her due to her glowing sense of self.
Youtube – Molly Mae
In an overflowing tub of influencers, portraying the draining perfection of their lives, Molly Mae is an outlier. I have been watching Molly for years, ever since she was on Love Island in 2019. Can confirm that she is as authentic and relatable now after ascending the heights of her craft as she did back when she was at the start of her journey.
Molly’s content is also vlog style but she doesn’t try to mold it to fit the typical influencer idealistic lifestyle. Contrarily, Molly displays the realities of her life, without shying away from the mess of life. Her ambition is exhilarating and watching her bloom in both career and motherhood, inspired in me the thought that no dream is too big for someone willing to bring it to life.
Listening
Podcast – Newly Parents
Jamie and Sophie have taken their listeners on a journey that I have very much been a part of from the start. Since Newly Weds to now Newly Parents, their humor and love is as lively as ever. I am obsessed with their banter and the relatability as a couple. They use humor to cleverly share stories from various aspects of their lives. Yet their talent in embedding emotion elevates the experience to the point of it feeling like talking to friends at a dimly lit, lively restaurant in a summer night in Marbella or at times in Chelsea (depending on the vibe).
Music – 2000’s Arabic Music
The early 2000’s nostalgically feel like an era of creativity, emotion and authenticity.
From the Lebanese soulful music of Nancy Ajram’s playful depiction of a woman unraveling in love in “Mashy Haddy” and “Atabtab“, her portrayal of melting under the interaction with a crush in “Yay” and “Sheikh al Shabab.” Najwa Karam’s upbeat contemplation on the disappoint and heartbreak in loving someone so handsome in “Ashiga.” Wael Kfoury’s transcending yearning in “Omri Kellou.” And I can’t not mention Elissa, the queen of the 2000s, my favorite of her is “Aayshalak.”
To The Egyptian’s electric music, full of life and made to have every person listening get up on the dance floor. Arm Diab’s “Helwa El Ayam,” Ehab Twafik’s “Allah Aliek Ya Sidy,” Sherine’s “Ah Ya Leil” and couteless more that have kept our hips swaying for years past and will continue to do so for year to come.
Finally, we land at the GCC for the Khaliji poetic artistry of Rashed AlMajid’s longing for his love in “Wahashteeni,” his iconic “Weily” that was played at every wedding in the gulf at time. Mehad Hamed, the man that brings beautiful poetry to life through his music, full of emotion and pride in “Wain Int” and “Wain Yal Gaib.”
There are many more but this month I have specifically listened to these songs that are among the ones that shaped my childhood, growing up in Oman. Listening to them today, dressed up, driving to dinner with my friends (we all know the words), especially in the summer, fills my soul with joy and nostalgia.
Doing
Journaling
Journaling have been a habit of mine on and off for as long as I can remember. From my experience, writing is a vessel for transformation. I have used this multifaceted habit to mainly reflect on the current period of time or even just the day to help me process feelings and leave the experience (good of bad) in pages bound to be turned and forgotten.
In the past, I have genuinely experience the magic of manifestation through intentional journaling in the same blue bound notebook. It blows my mind to look back on, however, I struggle to go back to that state of stillness and perform the consistent action of meditative journaling required for that kind of achievement.
Lego Building
In the fast moving atmosphere of a family in Dubai, we collectively (My husband, son and I) found a delightfully unexpected hobby to slow us down and help us focus on using our hands to build one block over another, one step at a time. We do this together and also separately, I enjoy it late night when the house is especially quite while listening to an audiobook or enjoying a nostalgic movie. The beauty is in constructing something together, even if at separate times, we finally look at something we built ourselves.
Lego building has also supported us in spending quite time together, away from technology and intrusions from social media. This is something, we all constantly crave and building with our son has also pushed us to slow down and let him experience the trial of error of gradual assembly.
Present Playing With My Son
Typing this now makes me emotional due to how much I value this time I have with my son. Nonetheless, I find that being present with a toddler when they want to play and be silly isnot always natural or automatic, it requires intentionality and consciousness. Not sure if this a byproduct of our modern lives, our seemingly uncontrollable need for multitasking, or if it is due to the lack of perceived productivity in the process of playing in our adult minds. No matter the reason, in succeeding to surrender to my son in play and find enjoyment in participating, I have found deep joy and it helped me in managing my mom guilt when doing other things away from him, which in return allowed me to be more present in doing other things.
Of course, this is all idealistic and I have yet to play for long stretches of time. I hope that surrendering to play is something that can be trained and with time, we will be able to elongate our play together.
Gym
I have yet to make the gym a nonnegotiable in my routine, not sure if it should be. However, this is my way of expressing respect for my body, appreciating everything it has done for me and continues to do for me every day. I find that having a set routine at the gym and segregating the days per muscle group, helps me avoid brain fatigue and focus my energy on the physical application. Also having a good audiobook or podcast to listen to elevates the experience and makes me look forward to the ritual of exercise and not want to fast forward to the results.
Cooking
As is customary for most families in the Arabian Gulf, we are fortunate to have household help to manage the roles of nanny, housekeeper, and chef. Because of this, cooking isn’t a mandatory part of my daily routine—but on the days my family craves one of my specific dishes, I love stepping into the kitchen. We often hear that cooking is an art, a sentiment I’ve come to realize is entirely accurate. There is a distinct joy in sourcing a recipe that aligns perfectly with our tastes, adapting it on the fly—adding a little something here, skipping an ingredient there—and producing a meal that leaves my hungry boys completely satisfied. The entire process induces a sense of stillness that feels beautifully feminine and maternal, while the final product leaves me feeling like I can fully relate to Gordon Ramsay’s smugness.
Cooking and Eating
Spicy Tuna Sandwich
Nothing complements a hot summer night, like a plate of salty, zesty ocean goodness. I love this for a quick dinner that both the adults and the child in our household enjoy.
Shopping List : Canned tuna in water, chopped dill, pickled cucumber, light mayonnaise, mustered, lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste. Pesto, diced jalapeño, sliced tomato, sliced avocado and hot sauce.
Assembly: Put the ingredients for the tuna mix in a blender and blend at low speed to create a thick paste. Once done, put aside, and smear delicious, citrusy pesto on two sides of sliced bread (or thin pinene bread), add the tuna mix, sliced tomato, sliced avocado, pinch of salt, jalapeño and hot sauce. Close the sandwich and place it in the press to toast for a crispy, delightfully light but filling summer dinner.
Spaghetti Bolognese
My husbands favorite dish that I make. It’s packed with flavor and guarantee a second and third round so I always make sure to make extra. From our favorite country, the land of beautiful landscapes, rich history and even richer food, comes the always a good idea, spaghetti bolognese.
Shopping List: Spaghetti, minced beef, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, red grape vinegar, olive oil, parmesan cheese, salt and pepper and finally I use a ready made tomato sauce from Barilla.
Recipe:
- Chop and mix the vegetables. Pro Tip: use a food processor.
- Place the pan on high heat, add the minced beef, slightly break it apart and then leave it. Don’t move the meat around to avoid it releasing moisture and missing the opportunity of a crispy outside.
- Once the meat is a rich brown color, lower the heat to medium. Move the meat to the edges of the pan and add a dollop of olive oil and add the vegetable mixture to the middle of the pan.
- Mix the vegetables around to avoid burning and then mix it with the meat.
- Once mixed, add the red grape vinegar to deglaze the pan and add the Barilla tomato sauce and yes again, mix.
- Add the salt and pepper and lower the heat to low before closing the lid and letting the sauce simmer slowly.
- Cook the spaghetti in salted water and add some of the water to the sauce.
- Plate by putting spaghetti, then sauce and add a hand full of shredded parmesan for it all to come together in delicious wonder.
We eat at our wooden dining table and my son ends the meal with spaghetti on his clothes, in his hair, around his face, and surrounding his chair and big grin across his cute face. The blueprint of a good meal.
Celery Soup
This is my light, citrusy, summer soup that is perfect for days we feel a bit of the summer sniffles come on from too much time under water.
Ingredients : Chopped celery, chopped carrots, diced onion, chick peas, skinless diced potato, minced garlic, chicken broth, olive oil, salt and pepper.
Recipe: Gently saute the vegetables in olive oil, add salt and pepper and after the veggies are soften slightly, add the broth and let it simmer.
Celery soup is quick and easy and makes me feel like I am ready for my supermodel career to begin any day now.
Summer Bliss
Ultimately, surviving a Dubai summer isn’t about escaping the heat—it’s about leaning into the slowdown. It’s finding sanctuary in the pages of a book, the late-night theories of a television show, and the nostalgic beats of childhood music playing on the drive to dinner. But mostly, it’s about the quiet, intentional spaces in between: building Lego blocks in a silent house, pressing the perfect tuna sandwich, and watching my son grin through a face full of spaghetti.
Here’s to a June well-spent, to keeping the brain rot at bay, and to appreciating the slowness of summer. If you would like to amplify the summery atmosphere, here are some posts I wrote to do just that:
What are you reading, watching, or cooking to get through the summer months? Let me know in the comments below.