The Goth's Guide to Summer: A Seasonal Survival Manual for Creatures of the Night
Lauren Cole
Independently Published, 2025
ISBN-13: 979-8287759711
Ebook, 176 ppg.
Finally! Someone who gets us!
The thing about summer is that EVERYBODY thinks that everybody else loves summer. Not me. Nope. I love the coast and I love the beach, yes, but only to visit and explore, not to swim at or go surfing or all of the other water activities people like to participate in when it’s insanely hot outside. I am not a water activities or water sports person. I went rafting once and that was good enough for me!
But I’m just not into summer and all the summer-related activities that goes with it. I once had to make a video where I talked about what I liked best about summer, and in that video, I said, “The thing I like best about summer is when it ends.” I like autumn and winter. Those are my seasons. Even though I am a morning person, the sun is not my friend. And Lauren Cole seems to totally understand this in her book, The Goth's Guide to Summer: A Seasonal Survival Manual for Creatures of the Night.
Before I read this book, I didn’t know that the same Seasonal Affective Disorder that people get in the winter has a summer counterpart. I don’t get sad during the summer; I just prefer NOT to be out in it. At least, not until the sun has gone down. Maybe I am this way because of the burn scars I have on my face and arm; they can’t be exposed to too much sun.
I’m glad there’s a chapter on how to keep the beloved goth clothing in play during the summer. I am not goth, but I often wear all-black. It’s just what I prefer, and that can be a problem in the summer. “The eternal struggle of gothic fashion in summer is very real: black clothes vs. blazing sun.” Ain’t this the truth! There was a day this summer I had to accompany my son to a school supply event. It was 98 degrees and what was I wearing? Black sweats and a black T-shirt! And I lived to tell the tale. But it’s not easy wearing our beloved all-black wardrobe during the scorching summer months. Ask my sister-in-law! When she was friends with the person who later became her wife, she wore all-black no matter what the temperature was. And in the desert, that temperature gets high! There was a day I was running late to pick her and my sister up from school and they were both out there, sweltering in the heat. They were NOT happy! But this chapter gives some good tips on how to wear black in the summer. I was especially interested in the section of the chapter titled “How to Wear Black Without Dying of Heatstroke.” Good stuff here, although I don’t like wearing dresses or skirts. At least it includes alternative choices of clothing. They are helpful choices too. As it says, “Dress like a haunted wind chime, not a sweaty coffin.”
I also loved how the author shared links on where to buy gothic paraphernalia.
The chapters on goth music and movies were good, but my favorite was the chapter on recommended books. Why, yes, I would rather read all summer. (And I have! LOL) I found many books on this list of 100 books to add to my TBR! I echo the recommendation of My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones. It’s a good book!
I also liked the part of a chapter that suggested some night-time activities when it’s not so hot. I would also suggest night fishing. I know some people who do this and I’m interested in trying it sometime!
I also recommend reading this book — but definitely before summer. Don’t make my mistake and read it during the last month of the summer, or else you’ll miss out on some great tips to beat the heat!
Five stars
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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