Allie Interrupted

What is Summerween?

Halloween may still be 196 days away (not that I’m counting down or anything…) but certain corners of the internet are already gearing up for SUMMERWEEN! This spooky trend popped up on my TikTok FYP a few weeks ago and hasn’t left my mind since. As a certified Halloween girly, having a bonus opportunity to get a lil’ creepy is right up my alley.

It appears that this phenomenon originates from the animated Cartoon Network series Gravity Falls and has gained popularity over the last few years, with most posts about the pseudo-holiday appearing in 2023. According to the show, Summerween takes place on June 22nd (or by some accounts, the second to last Friday in June) However, I’m choosing to keep the good times going and declaring that the last two weeks of June are considered Summerween Season- I need extra time to squeeze in all of the festivities I’ve got planned.

Summerween’s aesthetic combines all of the best visual elements of suburban summer Americana with the nostalgic vibes of 80’s sleep-away camp slasher films. Think primary colored ringer tees, campfire s’mores, and making poor choices in the woods. If you’re still having trouble envisioning this masterpiece, I have a Pinterest board, you can reference here.

I have a whole itinerary planned to ensure that I achieve maximum Summerween goodness that includes vibey Spotify playlists, a stockpile of the campiest summer horror films, and of course a short list of the best summery semi-spooky thrillers, ideal for reading fireside with a smore in hand.

The Club

Spook Level: 👻

The Club takes place on a highly exclusive island resort- essentially the bougiest adult sum mer camp you can imagine! It embodies all of the campiness of a typical “who-done-it” murder mystery but with a modern and chic back drop and a host of quirky and absurdly wealthy characters that will leave you wanting to eat the rich. There’s not much depth to this short sweet novel, but it is a fun and fast paced read that hits like your favorite slasher flick.

My Best Friend’s Exorcism

Spook Level: 👻👻

Do I even need to explain why this gorgeous book made the cut? The cover alone is enough to secure a place on the Summerween must reads list- its a VHS for crying out loud! Perfectly on theme, and it doesn’t stop there: set in the 1980’s and following a pair of high school besties on a creepy yet profoundly emotional coming of age journey, this book was practically made for the occasion. Its a YA horror, so the scary scenes aren’t too intense but it still checks all of the boxes of a classic exorcism story- with a little bit of extra nostalgic spice.

Suburban Hell

Spook Level: TBD

This book found its way on to my TBR because I simply couldn’t pass up that bright and bold cover! Suburban Hell is categorized as Chick-Lit meets Comedic Horror, which just SCREAMS Summerween. According to the synopsis the story follows a group of suburban mom’s balancing summertime activity schedules, navigating confrontation with the HOA, coordinating wine nights, and a demonic possession. I think this will be a light fun read with a bit of campy creepiness sprinkled in- stay tuned I’ll definitely report back after I finish at the end of June!

Have you read any of these titles yet? Will any make your Summerween reading roster? Drop a comment and let me know. If you’re interested in more Summerween content- or book recommendations for other niche vibes and situations don’t forget to subscribe to stay in the loop.