The Rizzoli Edit: Savoring Summer
June 18, 2025
Summer’s on its way, bringing with it backyard gatherings, sunny afternoons, and plenty of reasons to celebrate the season. Whether you’re hosting friends or enjoying a quiet moment outside, we’ve rounded up a collection of free excerpts filled with inspiration—think DIY projects, garden ideas, seasonal recipes, and creative ways to make the most of summer days.
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MAKE THE MOST OF SUMMER’S BOUNTY
Summer is the best time to take advantage of the season’s freshest ingredients—vibrant, abundant, and full of flavor. We’re sharing a selection of recipes from our latest cooking & entertaining books that make the most of what’s in season, with simple ideas to bring that summer bounty to your table.
Summer is in full bloom at the gardens of Lismore Castle, where the kitchen draws daily inspiration from what’s growing just outside its doors. This excerpt features recipes shaped by the rhythms of the season—simple, thoughtful dishes that celebrate the connection between garden and table.
from Lismore Castle: Food and Flowers from a Historic Irish Garden
Summer on the coast is more than a season—it’s a way of life, shaped by the tides, the catch, and the community. This excerpt brings a taste of Martha’s Vineyard to your table, with recipes that reflect the island’s easygoing rhythm and deep connection to the sea.
Héloïse Brion brings her signature blend of French charm and American ease to summer entertaining, with recipes and thoughtful touches that turn any gathering into something special. This excerpt offers inspiration for garden parties and vacation meals alike, complete with a sample menu, table decor ideas, and a guest list to get you started.
From My Art of Entertaining: Recipes and Tips from Miss Maggie’s Kitchen
Summer’s fresh ingredients make it the perfect time to shake up your lunch routine. This excerpt is packed with easy, healthy, and flavorful salad recipes designed for meals on the go—proof that quick can still be delicious.
From Lunchbox: 100 Happy, Healthy Salads You Can Make for Your Lunch in Minutes
Tequila turns up the heat—and cools you down—with every refreshing sip. This excerpt serves up bold, summer-ready cocktails that are perfect for laid-back afternoons, lively evenings, and everything in between.
From The Cocktail Cabinet: Tequila: The Essential Drinks Every Tequila & Mezcal Lover Should Know
Make your summer tastes go viral with recipes designed to wow—on the plate and on your feed. This excerpt from The Phone Eats First serves up bold, fun, and photo-ready dishes that deliver on flavor, creativity, and serious summer vibes.
Tap into the power of the season with guidance and inspiration drawn from your own kitchen. This excerpt invites you to embrace summer’s energy through simple spells and nourishing recipes that feed both body and spirit.
From A Kitchen Witch’s Culinary Oracle Deck
Can’t make it to Italy this summer? Let the spirit—and the flavors—of Italian cooking come to you. This excerpt offers a taste of Italian cooking at its best—warm, simple, and made for sharing—no passport required.
From Mangia: How to Eat Your Way through Italy
Inspired by the meticulous traditions and craftsmanship of Japanese mixology, these cocktails bring a refined edge to your summer sipping. This excerpt features drinks that are as elegant as they are refreshing—perfect for warm evenings and easy indulgence.
From Kanpai!: 50 Cocktails Inspired by Japan
GET IN FULL BLOOM
Summer is the perfect time to step outside and take in the season’s natural beauty—whether you’re nurturing your own garden or simply admiring what’s in bloom. This excerpt offers a mix of inspiration and reflection, from creative ideas to the story of a garden that captures the spirit of the season.
Aerin Lauder’s signature approach to living with flowers reveals simple ways to bring beauty into everyday moments. In this excerpt, she provides a guide to the meanings behind different blooms—so you can create arrangements that are not only beautiful, but deeply personal.
From Aerin Lauder: Living with Flowers
Cordelia de Castellane brings her signature French flair to flower arranging, offering ideas that are as effortless as they are elegant. In this excerpt, she shares how to recreate some of her favorite bouquets—inviting you to bring a touch of the French countryside into your own home.
From Flower Couture: From My Garden to My House
Spend the month of August on a rural farm in Lincolnshire, England, where artist Hannah Dale documents the quiet beauty of the countryside. This excerpt details late-summer moments through sketches, stories, and observations from her ongoing rewilding journey.
USE THE LONGER DAYS TO ENJOY SOME ‘ME TIME’
With longer days and a slower pace, summer offers the perfect opportunity to reconnect—with your interests, your creativity, and yourself. Whether you’re picking up a new hobby or returning to one you love, this selection of excerpts inspire quiet moments, fresh starts, and personal growth.
Summer is peak flea market season—the perfect time to hunt for hidden treasures and one-of-a-kind finds. In this excerpt, life-long avid junk collector Mary Randolph Carter shares her trademark style and love of heirlooms and beautiful old objects, offering a joyful guide to living with the things you love and creating a home that tells your story.
From Live With the Things You Love: And You’ll Live Happily Ever After
Let summer’s blooms inspire your creativity with this enchanting collection of botanical art, ready to be cut, layered, and reimagined in your own handmade collages. This excerpt includes downloadable artwork you can print at home—perfect for adding a seasonal touch to your latest masterpiece.
From Cut-out Curiosities: Botanica: A Collage Book
Summer is the ideal time to explore natural dyeing, using plants at their seasonal peak to create beautiful, botanical color. This excerpt offers a primer on the process, along with a few simple recipes to get you started with dyeing from your own garden or local landscape.
From Wild Dyeing: From the Garden to Color – An Introduction to Natural Vegetable Dyes
Slöjd is Swedish for handicrafts—but it’s also a way of thinking, creating, and connecting with tradition. In Sweden, it’s taught from a young age as a tool for both creativity and problem solving. This excerpt offers a few simple tutorials to try during your summer downtime, inviting you to slow down and make something with your hands.
From Slöjd: The Swedish Art of Wood and Textile Handicrafts
Whether you’re picking up a pencil for the first time or looking to sharpen your skills, this excerpt offers approachable exercises to help you build confidence in line, shape, and form. With guided prompts and tips from a pro, it’s the perfect way to explore your creativity during quiet summer moments—no fancy tools required.
From Draw Happy: Easy Prompts to Find Joy Through Creativity
Bring a touch of creativity to your summer with charming, nature-inspired illustrations from beloved artist Autumnalwood. This excerpt includes printable coloring pages you can enjoy at home—perfect for slowing down and experiencing the meditative joy of putting pen (or pencil) to paper.
From Autumnalwood: Enchanted Creatures: A Coloring Book
Pour yourself something cool, find a shady spot, and enjoy a moment of stillness with this excerpt of summer poetry. Featuring a selection of seasonal verses, it’s the perfect companion for quiet afternoons, garden evenings, or any time you want to slow down and savor the season.
From A Nature Poem for Every Summer Evening
FAMILY FUN DAY!
Summer is a great time to slow down and enjoy simple moments together, whether you’re at home or away. This selection offers fun, screen-free ways to connect, learn something new, and make lasting memories with family.
Whether you’re gathered around the campfire or relaxing in a tent, these games are perfect for adding a little extra fun to your next outdoor adventure. This excerpt is packed with fun, easy-to-play ideas—perfect for tents, campfires, and anywhere laughter echoes loudest.
From Campsite Games: 50 Fun Games to Play in Nature
Summer recess is the perfect time to pick up a new skill—and chess is a fun, brain-boosting way to keep young minds engaged. This excerpt offers a friendly introduction to the game’s pieces, making it easy for kids (and curious beginners) to jump in and start playing.
From Chess for Children Activity Book
Planning a summer trip to trout country? This excerpt offers a closer look at a few of the species you might encounter, with detailed descriptions and beautiful illustrations to enhance your time on the water—or simply deepen your appreciation for these remarkable fish.
SAY OUI!
Summer marks the height of wedding season—a time full of proposals, celebrations, and plans for the future. Whether you’re newly engaged or just beginning to dream, here is some inspiration for making your big day truly your own.
Planning your dream wedding starts here—with timeless tips and Parisian flair. In this excerpt, designer Delphine Manivet shares the first steps to creating a chic, unforgettable day, infused with French romance and effortless elegance.
From Oui!: Parisian Secrets for a Dream Wedding
VIVE LA FRANCE!
Summer is the perfect time to experience the charm, beauty, and flavor of France—from sun-soaked villages to bustling city streets. We’re sharing a selection of excerpts to transport you there, whether you’re planning your next adventure or simply savoring the dream.
Discover the charm and history of France through an officially curated selection from Les Plus Beaux Villages de France. This excerpt highlights some of the country’s most picturesque destinations—each recognized for their heritage, beauty, and cultural significance by the organization dedicated to preserving them. Whether you’re planning to explore them in person or simply seeking inspiration, these villages offer a timeless glimpse into the heart of France.
From The Most Beautiful Villages of France: Discover 180 Charming Destinations
Take a virtual stroll through the City of Light with this excerpt featuring 10 must-see sites across Paris. Whether you’re planning a visit or simply dreaming from afar, these iconic stops offer a perfect introduction to the city’s rich history, charm, and enduring allure.
From Discover France in 100 Destinations
Opening photo from Flower Couture. Photo by Billal Taright.
