Bravo is officially back in the Hamptons. The cast of Summer House has headed out East to film the reality show’s 11th season with the show’s newly minted star, Ciara Miller, in tow. The former ICU nurse has been on a tear as of late, appearing on the last season of The Traitors (as a faithful, rest assured) and hosting this summer’s Love Island: Aftersun in Fiji. Last month, scores of update accounts assured fans: Miller would make it back just in time to film Summer House, the show that made her a cult figure for the Bravo-fluent.
Miller is returning to the East End with battle scars and a new attitude. Earlier this year, the fallout from a “best friend swipes your man” scandal with her Summer House co-star and former flame made waves far beyond the Bravo-verse, turning Miller into a symbol of resilience for every woman scorned (as well as regular old household name, sans qualifiers). We checked in with her to get a sense of how things have changed, as well as any lessons she may have learned about life and love during a whirlwind year. What better way to do so than chatting about the reads that have guided her through it all?
Where and when do you read?
I love to read whenever I get a free moment, which these days is few and far between! I like to have my Kindle with me in my purse, even if I get a few minutes in an Uber or while I am waiting. It’s really helped me get off my phone and out of my head.
What did you pack with you this summer?
Any lighthearted romance novel makes for a great beach or vacation read. I saw The People We Meet on Vacation on Netflix and loved it, so was inspired to read the book after. Can’t wait to dive into that one while sitting on the beach with a drink this summer.
Is there a book that most taught you about love? Or what you want from it?
I’d probably say Normal People by Sally Rooney. I love that it doesn’t try to make love feel perfect or effortless. It definitely made me realize that the right connection isn’t always enough if you’re not able to fully show up for each other, and I think that’s something that stuck with me.
Who do you feel deserves a biography but doesn’t have one yet?
Andy Cohen! I know he’s written his own memoir, but given his storied career, I think a biography from a third-party perspective is fitting. Plus, so much has happened in his life since his memoir. He’s one of the busiest people in showbiz, and I respect him greatly.
What’s your guilty pleasure read?
My friend Shannon told me I need to read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and I honestly really did get lost in it. I know everyone has read it and some say it is overrated, but I get it. It’s filled with drama, glamorous, and I finished it in two days.
Do you read your own interviews and comment sections, or avoid, avoid, avoid?
I’ve been surrounded by so much overwhelming support in the last year, which I’m really grateful for. The positive comments mean the world to me, but all in all, I try to avoid the comment section. Turning off social media notifications and living in the now is the greatest advice I could give.
One book that ruined you, in the best possible way?
If Beale Street Could Talk is absolutely heart wrenching. The way James Baldwin writes about love, as well as hardship and injustice, really paints a full picture that takes the reader on an emotional journey. As a Black woman, it’s so important to familiarize ourselves with the writers that tell our stories and history.
One book you turn to when you’re starved for inspiration?
Michelle Obama’s The Light We Carry is so inspiring. I look up to Michelle so much, so the way she was able to provide insights and life lessons based on her own personal anecdotes is super inspiring. She’s been through so much and handled it all with grace and dignity, which is how I always aim to carry myself through life.
Ciara Miller’s Required Reading
Normal People by Sally Rooney, 2018
(Barnes & Noble, Amazon)
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid, 2017
(Barnes & Noble, Amazon)
If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin, 1974
(Barnes & Noble, Amazon)
The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama, 2022
(Barnes & Noble, Amazon)
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