The BIG Summer Reading Guide!

99 books including a "mix tape" of 50 book recommendations, my summer TBR, 29 recs from Substack writers, and lots of extra fun bits, too!

Summer reading is officially here!!! Which means it’s time to throw open the metaphorical shutters on the doors of our hungry little reading brains and feast upon the pages of books. Summer reading is also an invitation to nurture our inner 9-year-olds, still chasing the high of book fairs and pizza rewards, days spent lost in magical worlds, and walking home from the library with wagons full of books.

Just in time for the long weekend, swirl some lavender simple syrup into your iced bevy and lounge in your favorite hammock as you dive into my 50 summer book recommendations, 29 recommendations from treasured Substack voices, and an additional 20 books I am hoping to reach for this summer. Oh! And be sure to make your way to the end for some fun lil goodies.

This guide is chock-full of books to quench the summer reading thirst, wrapped up in all the fun that each of us— adults, children, and inner children— deserves in our reading lives. Try to spend your summer scrolling after getting to the end of this guide, I dare you.

Summer is the season of opportunity, the time to perch up anywhere with a book and a bowl of fresh fruit, to have a floppy paperback on you at all times (and definitely in your pool tote), and to enjoy hours lost to the pages of a book that you tasted as a child and never lost the craving for.

✿ a great smelling sunscreen— protect your precious skin!
✿ my favorite accessory is a bookish hat
✿ my favorite pair of polarized shades— protect your precious reading eyes
✿ she sells seashells (say it fast!) e-reader case
✿ the yummiest kombucha to quench your thirst & treat your gut
✿ the perfect pool day snack DOES exist!
✿ some sweet swimmies
✿ punch cards!
✿ a buzzy beach read that I recently enjoyed

Inspired by my old CDs and mix tapes, the categories for this year’s summer reading guide are grouped by nostalgic summer songs—songs that played on repeat with the windows down in my Toyota Corolla, reminiscent of that feeling when the day feels endless, and opportunity feels abundant. I hope you find your next great read along with a bit of musical nostalgia to summers past…

photo of an actual “summa” mix tape from my youth!

Books that feel like the yearning to stretch and grow, reaching towards the warm sun. But also the Earth cracking open and finding your way from one side to the other, changed forevermore.

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy— Set on a remote island between Antarctica and Australia, where one of the world’s last seed banks remains, a father and his three children encounter an unexpected guest who washes ashore. This one leans thriller, but with so much more emotional depth and atmospheric details about nature and marine life.

The Tobacco Wives by Adele Myers— I read this several years ago and think it’s far too underrated. A young girl spends a summer with her aunt in the American South during the boom of big tobacco and a critical moment in women’s rights and American history.

The Rural Diaries by Hilary Burton Morgan— Spend your summer in the country and learn why Hilary Burton Morgan traded in her celebrity status for a simple farm life and homegrown veggies. This memoir is delightful on audio, too.

Kin by Tayari Jones— Another story set in the American South that follows two young girls who spent their childhood together as their paths diverge. An emotionally charged book about mothers and daughters, sisters and friends, and so much more.

Tilt by Emma Pattee— A woman is 37 weeks pregnant at her local Ikea in Portland, OR, when a massive earthquake strikes, leaving her to fend for herself in the immediate hours of the earthquake.

Introspective books that take you on a journey of personal healing and forgiveness, like long days spent in a hammock with time to contemplate our deepest feelings.

The Days I Loved You Most by Amy Neff— A woman, at the end of her life, decides to take her death into her own hands, and her husband plans to join her. This is a story about the choices we make, the relationships we keep, and who we become on the other side of it all. But mostly it’s a story about love, in all forms.

Sandwich by Catherine Newman— If you haven’t read any of Catherine Newman’s books yet, this is a perfect place to start. It’s a heartfelt and hilarious snapshot of middle-aged Rocky’s week at the beach with her husband, two children, and aging parents, and all her internal thoughts about her past.

Three Days in June by Anne Tyler— This book follows a woman, her ex-husband, and her daughter three days before and after her daughter’s wedding. It’s a reflective story about marriage, family, and heartache told in a relatable yet personal way that feels like a gentle breeze on a warm day.

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans— I had my reservations about this book, featuring an elderly woman’s correspondence to people in her life and beyond, but it absolutely blew me away and would be a perfect read to enjoy by an open window or in a hammock.

What You Are Looking For is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama— Five stories of small yet significant turning points in each character’s life that are all connected to the interactions they have at one very special library.

Fizzy, carefree, endless summer days full of enjoyment, girlhood, and maybe getting into a bit of trouble.

Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau— Set in 1960s Baltimore, Mary Jane takes on a nanny job for a quirky and radical family and is introduced to a whole new way of living. I loved this book and its imperfect characters.

Summer of ‘69 by Elin Hilderbrand— One of my favorite Hilderbrand books— historical fiction laced in drama as we spend one summer in 1969 with a variety of storylines and perspectives.

The Guest by Emma Cline— Set on Long Island, a woman without money or a car, swindles her way through one place to the next to get by and stay afloat. The tone is ominous and uncomfortable, which made me appreciate the comfort of my own little life in a whole new light.

The Summer Job by Lizzy Dent— A woman takes on her friend's sommelier job (even though she knows very little about wine) in the Scottish highlands for a summer and unexpectedly finds herself (and romance) while pretending to be someone else.

Happy Hour by Marlow Granados— This book, about two young girls in their 20s navigating the glitz and glamour of New York one summer, surprised me in the best ways! This is all vibes, very little plot, but that’s exactly what I loved about it, I felt like I was living in the moment with them.

“Being grown up isn't half as fun as growing up,” and these stories air out the complexities of adult life like underwear drying on the line.

All Adults Here by Emma Straub— I read this in the summer of 2020 and have fond feelings for it when I think about summer books. Set in a small town and full of messy family drama that will keep you turning pages from the comfort of your beach towel.

Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson— I enjoyed this delightfully entertaining peek inside the lives of a wealthy family in Brooklyn Heights and all the drama that unfolds in their lives. There was unanticipated depth and self-reflection that pleasantly surprised me.

The Most by Jessica Anthony— It’s unseasonably warm one November day in 1957, and a woman, grappling with her role as a wife and mother, gets into her apartment swimming pool and refuses to get out.

Commonwealth by Ann Patchett— This is a multifaceted family drama from the queen herself that I couldn’t read fast enough last summer. There is grief and heartache as two families merge together and navigate a new normal.

The Wedding People by Alison Espach— A woman, fed up with the reality of her life and wanting to end it, gets unexpectedly mixed into a weekend wedding at the Rhode Island hotel where she was staying. Relationships with the wedding party, bride, and groom emerge and flip everything on its head.

Chaotic, unhinged, and a little crazy— but we all have our reasons, don’t we?

Aesthetica by Allie Rowbottom— A cautionary tale about how far we will go for vanity and the long-term consequences of our choices. If you like Black Mirror, you will enjoy this book.

Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield— As weird as it sounds, a woman returns from a deep-sea mission completely changed. This book gave me dreams (nightmares?) about being lost in the deep ocean in the most bizarre way possible.

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore— This campy, buzzy book set in 1975 is about the wealthy family that owns a summer camp in the Adirondacks and their 13-year-old daughter who goes missing.

Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke— The book of the moment! I flew through the pages, and while I have many thoughts about it, I still believe this story of a tradwife who ends up back in the 1800s deserves a spot on your summer reading shelf. It’s quite fun to talk about!

Cover Story by Susan Rigetti— I flew through this con-artist story set in New York City and told through FBI transcripts, letters, diary entries, and more. It feels like a true crime story that the reader gets to piece together.

Books that capture the scope of heartache in every form, because you can’t have the sweet without the sour, and sometimes, too much sizzling summer fun makes you crave something with a little bite to it.

Loved One by Aisha Muharrar— A love story that was always on the cusp of something more, and a woman’s journey through grief and healing. This is not your typical romance, which is exactly what I enjoyed about it.

Heart the Lover by Lily King— This book just checks all the boxes— it’s beautifully written, captivating, and heartbreaking. It’s a story of love, loss, and youthful innocence.

Strangers by Belle Burden— Without warning, a man leaves his family during the early days of COVID for the woman he’s been having an affair with, leaving his wife and family completely stunned. This memoir is utterly wild and infuriating.

Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe— Oh, how I loved this smart and quirky story of Margo, a college student who becomes pregnant and starts an OnlyFans account to help make ends meet.

Seven Days in June by Tia Williams— Two writers reconnect 20 years after a sizzling week together. Can they overcome the heartache from the past? This is a steamy and emotional love story perfect for a hot summer day.

A few of my favorite sun-soaked love stories for easy breezy days at the beach because sometimes you just need “a feeling like this” on a blue-skied summer day.

Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle— Daphne receives a note every time a new relationship begins that reveals how long the relationship will last, until she gets one note that doesn’t include a date, only a name. I devoured this book like a cold glass of lemonade on a hot day!

Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry— The queen of rom-coms’ latest and greatest, which includes a fun historical fiction twist as two writers compete for the opportunity to write the biography for a mysterious heiress and tabloid princesses who left the limelight behind.

The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest— A woman engaged in back-and-forth email correspondence with a mysterious author, only to end up unexpectedly ghosted. Then a handsome neighbor moves into her building, and he just so happens to be the mysterious author, but she doesn’t yet know…

Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan— Nora, a recently divorced mom of two, opens up her home to become the set of the script she wrote, including the handsome A-list celebrity who reads like Matthew McConaughey.

This Summer Will Be Different by Carly Fortune— An ode to Anne of Green Gables as Lucy returns to Prince Edward Island and the history she has with her best friend’s brother. It’s a(n oyster) shucking good time.

Every summer mix tape needs an emo dip to keep things in balance. Someone will wind up dead, but thrills give us chills when the heat is oppressive.

Murder on Devil’s Pond by Ayla Rose— A cozy mystery set at a small town bed and breakfast in Vermont as the newest owner tries to solve the crime of the local curmudgeon’s (and coveted property owner’s) death.

My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney— When Eden returns home after going on a run, she returns to her house to find another woman claiming to be her husband’s wife, and her husband has never seen her before. This is the perfect twisty book to fly through while lounging by the pool.

Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino— This story, about the lengths we will go to get the dream life we always wanted, in a housing market that is an absolute circus, is uncomfortably relatable.

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due— Set in Jim Crow Florida in the summer of 1950, a little boy is sent to the local reformatory, where horrific things endure, and I’m not even talking about the ghosts.

Everyone is Lying to You by Jo Piazza— A tradwife influencer murder mystery that pulls back the curtain of everything you thought you knew about the gram. If you enjoyed Yesteryear, give this a go.

Books that show us what happens when we step off the path and venture into the unknown, for better or for worse.

The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller— A heartbreaking story about generational trauma and one woman’s history with the family summer home that brings her back to her childhood friend year after year.

Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson— A woman, from an affluent Black family, encounters the connections between a tragedy from her family’s past and the centuries-old family heirloom.

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett— I loved this multigenerational family drama about a pair of siblings and their past and present life coming from, and falling from, wealth in connection to their father and his choices.

City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert— At 95-years-old, Vivian retells the story of her time in New York City, in the 1940s, during World War 2 and finding herself in unfamiliar places. This book has lived rent-free in my brain since I read it in 2022.

James by Percival Everett— A reimagining of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn through the lens of James, a slave. Everett pairs the journey to freedom with unexpected adventure.

Summer is BIG energy, so page through a book that is futuristic, otherworldly, and larger than life as we know it.

Annie Bot by Sierra Greer— Annie is an AI relationship bot who begins to develop consciousness and yearns for independence. This book asks readers to consider: What makes us uniquely human?

Parable of the Sower by Octavio E. Butler— It’s 2024, and the world has devolved to madness and chaos as fires wreak havoc on the land, and order is no more. After a devastating fire, a woman is forced to flee the only community she has ever known while believing that there is a means to a better future.

Baby X by Kira Peikoff— In the future, technology allows embryos to be created using any form of another person’s DNA, and celebrities are prime targets. A famous singer is confronted by a pregnant woman who claims that he is the father of her baby.

Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel— With multiple timelines from both the past and future, time travel opens the door of opportunity to change the timeline of the future. A fantastical story that feels like late nights reading in bed with a flashlight as a kid.

The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami— A new mom to twins elects for technology that allows her to get a full night’s sleep in less time. But, this also means that her dreams have become data, and that data is used to hold her in extended detention with seemingly no way out.

Titles hot off the press this summer that have me singing “A Place in This World” on my way to the bookstore because these authors have a place in my book world…

The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson (June 30)— “An ambitious young woman insinuates herself into a tight-knit social set, shaking up friendships and marriages in a small seaside town. A frothy novel of love, money, sex, and friendship, from the New York Times bestselling author of Pineapple Street.”

Exit Party by Emily St. John Mandel (September 17)— “2031. America is at war with itself, but for the first time in weeks there is some good news: the Republic of California has been declared, the curfew in Los Angeles is lifted, and everyone in the city is going to a party.”

Whistler by Ann Patchett (June 2)— “Whistler is a story about two adults looking back over the choices they made, and the choices that were made for them. It’s a story about bravery, memory, the often small yet consequential moments that define our lives, and the endless stream of loss that in time comes for us all. Beautiful in its simplicity, it is ultimately about how love endures, and how the feeling of being known by one other person, even for a short period of time, can change everything.”

Hot Girl Murder Club by Ashley Winstead (July 14)— “A slew of targeted murders makes headlines across LA, all pointing to aspiring singer-actress Scout as the killer, she turns overnight from a mid-tier pop star into the world’s most famous (alleged) murderer. Now everything she’s worked to build—including the justice she wants for Georgia—will fall apart unless Scout can prove she’s not guilty.”

The Missed Connection by Tia Williams (June 9)— “When Sasha’s seated next to a mysterious, broodingly handsome Italian man on the way to a work trip in Paris, sparks fly – but they miss the chance to exchange contact information. Now, convinced that she’s lost out on her soulmate, Sasha is on a manhunt to find Seat F.”

Summer is for nostalgia, and you’re never too old to revisit the books that feel like childhood.

Goosebumps: Welcome to Camp Nightmare by R.L. Stine— I have many fond memories of reading Goosebumps every chance I had, and wouldn’t it be a treat to step back into that eerie world and forget about, well, our current eerie world?!

Island of the Blue Dolphin by Scott O’Dell— I first read this book in 4th grade and re-read it one summer in my 20s when I was a teacher and was surprised to discover that I loved it just as much as I did as a child. It’s the early 1800s, on the gorgeous San Nicolas Island. A girl named Karana is left behind and spends eighteen years alone.

Matilda by Roald Dahl— Who can’t relate to Matilda’s love for books, magic, and harnessing her power in a world stacked against her? As a child, I loved the book and the adaptation, and as a parent, I loved reading the book to my own children many summers ago and watching the adaptation with them. It’s time for a re-read!

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume— Where would so many of us be without this book in our childhood when someone pressed it into your hand and said, “A guide, my dear,” and in the pages you felt seen? Reading this again feels like spraying SunIn in my hair and the smell of fresh cut grass.

The Babysitter’s Club: Kristy’s Great Idea by Ann M. Martin— Could my childhood affection for reading The Babysitter’s Club be the root of my entrepreneurial spirit? Wouldn’t it be delicious to revisit our younger selves through characters we once knew so intimately?!

To include a wider array of book recommendations for you to sink into this summer, I called in the pros— some of my very favorite book recommenders and writers— to share a favorite summer book and their thoughts. Opportunity abounds, like a one-way ticket, with these top-tier summer reading recommendations. I’m confident there is something here for everyone!

P.S. I also enjoy reading these writers’ publications, so do check out what they create, too!

Lauren Neufeld of You’ve Got Lauren recommends Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman

Few books capture the atmosphere of summer and the ache of falling in love as vividly as this one. Aciman writes with such emotional precision that you’re brought back to a time when desire felt all-consuming and a single glance from the right person could alter the entire shape of a day.

Jess Kirby of A Common Thread recommends Into the Blue by Emma Brodie

This book absolutely wrecked me (complimentary). It has all the right elements for a summer read: romance (not the cheesy kind), intense yearning (this book is hot, lol), heartbreak, family drama, soulmates, cosmic connection, early 2000s nostalgia, and incredibly relatable characters. It’s such a satisfying and addictive read! I couldn’t put it down and I was so sad when it was over.

Sri Juneja of Readable Moments recommends Summers at Castle Auburn by Sharon Shinn

I adore Sharon Shinn’s work and this standalone is what got me hooked to her work. It’s a medieval fantasy filled with court politics and intrigue and magical creatures; every character has depth. And Shinn’s lyrical writing never fails to completely transport me.

Elyse Chambers of ChickLits recommends Go Gentle by Maria Semple

This novel lit me up in the most wondrous ways. Do I want to become a Stoic? Do I want to start a coven? Do I want to move to New York and wear oversized dresses? I’m definitely open to all of it because I want to be the main character, Adora Hazzard, when I grow up. Philosophy, romance and an art heist? Perfection.

P.S. Elyse is the owner of the bookshop Wild Plum Books, if you need to pick up any new books ;)

Jo Bratt of Seasonal Things recommends Kakigori Summer by Emily Itami

At the start of Kakigori Summer, three far flung sisters retreat to their rural hometown after a crisis. They while away a summer full of cooking together, beach days and kakigori (shaved ice). I love the book’s focus on the deep friendship between sisters, its touching perspective on life in a small town and how it whisks you away to seaside Japan.

Michelle Martin of Literary Leanings recommends The Summer Demands by Deborah Shapiro

This book captures, so perfectly, the feeling of a long, languid summer. Emily and her husband David move to an abandoned New England summer camp they inherit from her aunt, where they spend the summer recovering from a miscarriage and trying to tame the wild landscape. Emily, on the cusp of her fortieth birthday, forms an intense friendship with Stella, a 22 year-old, allowing Shapiro to explore aging, ambition, and identity with incredible sharpness. This novel perfectly blends a summer setting, smart commentary, and a thread of mystery that keeps you turning pages.

Amelia Wilson of Happy on Purpose recommends The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower

This is a delightfully charming series of 8 diaries “penned” by twenty-something Emma, who lives in a fictional part of London in the late 1800s. Dear Emma (I feel like I know her!) is an orphan who has suffered heartbreak, but she approaches her challenges with a plucky attitude, resourcefulness, and good humor. She attends fancy tea parties and balls, keeps up with friends, worries over her finances, and forms several promising dalliances with eligible bachelors. These books are beautifully written, easy to read, and comforting: perfect for beach days--or cozy winter evenings!

Elizabeth Wellington Rollins of A Strong Cup of Tea recommends Starry and Restless by Julia Cooke

Starry and Restless is a triumphant triple biography of three female journalists who reported around the world during the 20th century: Emily “Mickey” Hahn, Rebecca West, and Martha Gellhorn. Cooke’s book, and its many adventures, will captivate you.

Alix Klingenberg of Earth & Verse recommends: A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

Becky Chambers’ positive view of the future is just the kind of hopecore we need right now. A book about an unexpected friendship between a tea monk and a wild robot that will change how you see humanity for the better. P.S. Alix is also the author of the book Quietly Wild: Poems, Photographs, and Rituals to Mark the Seasons, which would also make a wonderful seasonal read!

Nina P. of The Seasonalist recommends Change of Plans by Sarah Dessen

Sarah Dessen is the Queen of YA, and hasn’t published a new book in 7 years. She is one of my favorite YA authors (her entire backlist is incredible, along with a few move adaptations). Per Simon & Shuster, “Change of Plans” (released May 5th, 2026), is about “an unassuming girl who learns to stand on her own while falling in love during a life-changing summer.” YES, PLEASE! I have high hopes for this one.

Torie Talking of Torie Talking recommends The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer

This book is buoyant and hopeful, yet packed with useful and impactful frameworks and examples for rethinking how we (co)exist in the world and engage with its many gifts. It inspired me, informed me, and challenged me, and it’s a book I’ll recommend any chance I get!

Martina of As of Late recommends: Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood

This is the ultimate Sicilian escape, with forced proximity and a tasteful age gap that makes for an addictive “will-they-won’t-they” romance. It’s lighthearted yet emotionally charged, with a story that has real depth and sizzling chemistry that keeps you turning the pages.

Lucy Fuggle of Life with Books recommends The Offing by Benjamin Myers

Benjamin Myers shared he wrote The Offing for his own mental health – and to bring more sunshine and positivity into a divided world in 2019... and oh, that still feels so necessary right now. With echoes of Laurie Lee, it feels like a warm and safe place to rest your weary body, mind, and soul, with good food, conversation, and unexpected kindness to bring you back to life. Read it and feel revitalised.

Elizabeth Etherton of Things I Read and Mostly Liked recommends The Social Circle by Sophie Wan

I spent most of my summers at camp, and so much of what I consider a great summer read is driven by that: easy enough to pick up and put down between activities, compelling enough to stay awake through rest hour, and enough fun that I want to share it with all my friends so that we can talk about it. To me, that’s The Social Circle -- we’ve got millennial nostalgia, corporate intrigue, first loves, second chance romance, rich people behaving badly, forced proximity -- all told through the lens of the creation of a Facebook-type company that may or may not be a great actor in the broader sense of the world. I hope this book gets more hype -- it’s one of my favorites of the year so far, and I feel like it has all the makings of a great summer read.

Alicia of Reads with Alicia recommends The Gift of Rain by Tan Tan Eng

This historical fiction is set in humid 1939 Penang, Malaya (now Malaysia), which is a fantastic setting to immerse yourself in during the warm summer months. The story follows a young man as he struggles to honour his fierce loyalties and layered identities while navigating the very real conflicts brought by the British and Japanese occupations of his homeland.

Julianne Buonocore of Friday Night Readers recommends Summer Sisters by Judy Blume

Out of the dozens (hundreds?!) of summer books I’ve read over the years, I wanted to select just one backlist title (for easy access!) that paired two of my favorite things: Gilmore Girls and Martha’s Vineyard. I landed on Summer Sisters by none other than Judy Blume--also a Read with Jenna book club pick. In this juicy adult coming-of-age friendship novel we get every angsty, yearning thing we expect from one of Lorelai’s and April’s favorite authors, woven into a coastal elite New England setting.

Amanda Leigh of Mama Eats recommends Three Summers by Margarita Liberaki

A Greek classic from the 1940s, this beautiful coming of age tale of three adolescent sisters takes place over three summers in the Greek countryside. Not very plot driven, more of a mood, in beautiful prose that unfolds with the ease and languorous pace of a hot summer’s day--dreamlike, atmospheric, and with the bittersweetness of girls becoming women and realizing the both beautiful and terrible realities of the world they are coming into. Family secrets, romance, and the beauty of the Mediterranean summer make this a perfect summer book.

Kyli Wagner of Cozy Pursuits with Kylin Anne recommends Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage

I’m thrilled to have another opportunity to talk about this book, because I’ve mentioned it in my own newsletter... probably too many times. It’s the first cowboy romance I ever read and it started me on a hyper fixation that is still ongoing. The love story and friend/family relationships are sweet (plus there is no third-act breakup, bless!), but it’s the ranch in the mountains of Wyoming where the book is set that makes it the perfect summer read.

Lauren Kretzer of Well Seasoned recommends The Guest List by Lucy Foley

I typically gravitate toward dense and intense works of literature (it’s the English major in me), but as soon as summer hits, bring on the beach reads! I live for a good thriller, and am especially fond of Lucy Foley’s books since she always has the best, most atmospheric settings in her stories. “The Guest List” is an addictive whodunnit about a murder that takes place at a glamorous wedding on a remote Irish island. It keeps you guessing until the very end, as all proper thrillers should!

Olivia Wickstrom of Petal + Hearth recommends We Would Never Tell by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau

A thriller set at the Cannes Film Festival. First of all, the backdrop of the French Riviera is sooooo summer. Second, it was a page turner. The story is so gripping, I finished it in just a few days!

Azora Zoe Paknad of First Rodeo recommends The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand

Elin Hilderbrand is the QUEEN of beach reads, and with the TV adaptation of The Five-Star Weekend coming out in July (starring Jennifer Garner, Chloe Sevigny and Regina Hall), it’s the perfect time to pick up (or re-read) the original. This book is a multi-POV that tells the tale of a food influencer who hosts a Nantucket weekend for friends from different life stages to navigate grief, friendship, and hidden truths... but like all of Elin Hilderbrand’s books, the setting is summer incarnate and the portrayal of the very-human characters and descriptions of delicious food are the real reasons to read.

Wynne Elder recommends Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan

This book made me FEEL something so deeply, especially as a mom raising a teenage daughter. I love that the MC found her voice again, and found herself. It was romantic, but not spicy - more like gives you butterflies! Loved this quote from the book, “I have the sense that I have stepped into my very best self. I feel warm and generous, as if the love I’m letting myself feel is touching everything around me.”

Sandra Serrano of Sandra Pop recommends The Eight by Katherine Neville

I read this over 30 years ago and it’s STILL an amazing book that sucks you in completely. It has everything: an ancient mystery, adventure, romance, dual timelines, and a well-developed story spread generously over 600 pages involving Charlemagne, nuns, the French Revolution, computers, and chess. Total justification to ignore your adult responsibilities, find a hammock under a tree, and read the day away.

Sarah Hartley of The Quiet Hours recommends The Force of Such Beauty by Barbara Bourland

For something with a bit more heft that you’ll still race through poolside, I highly recommend this story of the dark side of being a part of the royal family. There is a lot of grit here and it and really makes you rethink the fairytale we’ve all been sold of being a princess. And a bonus? The last page of this book completely shocked me!

Kuleigh Baker of Overbooked Mama recommends Franny and Zooey by J. D. Salinger

This is one of Salinger’s novellas that I think is the perfect foray into classic literature for anyone who feels a bit disillusioned by the current state of society. There’s both a sadness and comfort in Franny’s coming-of-age existential crisis. Zooey’s attempts to answer his sister’s questions about the world make for some entertaining dialogue with their mother, Bessie, and will have you highlighting line after line!

Sara H of Things that Make me Happy! recommends One & Only by Maurene Goo

This book has a little bit of magical realism, compelling characters and a beautiful love story. I would venture to say it’s the perfect book to take to a pool, the beach or a picnic in the park. I was completely immersed even as a non-romance reader.

Lizzie Campbell of Paranthetical recommends Mayra by Nicky Gonzalez

Mayra was one of my favorite debuts from last year that largely flew under the radar. A slightly speculative take on the classic Southern Gothic horror, this book plays with time and memory a lot, and explores the uneasy but formative bonds teenage girls forge, and how the past itself can become a haunted house. It’s perfect for summer because the lush, oppressive Florida heat almost becomes a character in and of itself. Perfect if you’re looking for something a bit creepy alongside your beach reads.

Andrea Bass of Literary Merit recommends The All-Night Sun by Diane Zinna

Set over the course of a summer in Sweden, this underrated gem tells the story of what happens when a lonely professor agrees to accompany her student on their trip home. This novel’s themes of grief, friendship, and boundaries, along with its rich atmosphere, make it the perfect pick for someone wanting a thoughtful and original summer read.

Natalie McGlocklin of Subverse Reads recommends Lives of the Saints by Nancy Lemann

What we need now more than ever is a return to the aimless years of youth - the years without cell phones, when we spent time together in the sweltering heat of a drunken wedding or getting fired from a bad job or talking until sunrise. Lemann’s rediscovered 1980s novel of a young college grad returning home to New Orleans is both a beguiling character study and a hilariously deadpan take on home, love, finding yourself, and avoiding nervous breakdowns. Just under 200 pages, this paperback is perfect for finishing in one long, languid day of summer.

And! A few books on my own summer TBR because this summer all I wanna do is read… I created this list prior to gathering recommendations from my Substack friends and after reading their recommendations, I have many more books I want to add to my list (HBU?!).

Now it’s time to have some fun because what is summer reading without Fun with a capital F?!

A call-back to pizza-motivated reading challenges— punch cards for readers! Every time you complete a reading-centered effort, punch it out, stamp it, sticker it, or check it off. Complete a card and celebrate with a special treat. Do them all, share them with a child or friend, but most of all-- have a blast.

Oh, and check out last year’s summer reading kit in the printable hub for even more fun trackers and resources to print off and enjoy.

And that’s a wrap!! If you haven’t already, create a summer reading TBR for yourself right now. In your notes app, planner, or on a scrap sheet of paper, start a list of books you want to crack open this summer. Let it build excitement for the reading months ahead and be a loose guide for your reading choices.

Here’s to sunshine and your next great read—

Wait! One last thing! If you enjoyed this— and I really hope you did— the best way to support my work is to become a paid subscriber, which compensates me for my time creating content like this (for context, I worked on this guide for over 3 weeks, it’s 100% human made, and I spent a large portion of Mother’s Day weekend working on it 🩷) and ensures I can keep creating here. For less than the price of an iced coffee, you can unlock all paid subscriber perks and support what I do. The next best way to support me is to help me reach other readers who will value what I create. Thank you for considering. ☺️

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