Updated: May 2026
I couldn’t be more excited to pull together this full and vibrant list of summer reads! If you’re like me, you were never burdened by the thought of summer reading, even when it was mandated by school. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the list of approved books to see what worlds and stories I’d be diving into. Nothing has changed as an adult on that front, except I have all the power to choose whatever I’d like… which, if we are being honest, can be a bit overwhelming since there are so many new releases and choices. It can be hard to nail down a realistic list. Some of us may not know where to even begin, especially if we are just getting back into the routine of reading for pleasure (and if that is the case, yay!!)
I tried to include a mix of new releases and books that have been around for a year or more (also known as backlist books).
So without any more chatter, here are 35 books that I think are ✨perfect✨ to dive into this summer.
BEST BOOKS FOR YOUR SUMMER READING LIST
1. The Daisy Chain Flower Shop – It’s always a good idea to pick up a Laurie Gilmore book if you want cozy, nostalgic, swoon-worthy vibes! She has quickly become an auto-buy author for me because they are so fun, light, and perfect for a fast read. This one is a fake dating trope, which is always a good time. The MMC falls first.
2. Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune – The queen of summer books that bring you right back to young summer love. Our Perfect Storm is her latest, with a childhood-friends-to-lover trope that never gets old. Repairing friendship and blossoming into something more? We are sat.
3. The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez – The cover reminds me of the Fourth and for that reason, I think we can assume it’ll be another heart-wrenching summer read from Jimenez.
4. The Correspondent by Virginia Evans – Her debut book, I have heard nothing but unbelievable review of this. It focuses on the beauty of letter-writing and I’ve heard reviewers boast that the main character is one of the best complex characters ever written. Consider my interest piqued.
5. The Shippers by Katherine Center – This one takes place on a cruise ship with another childhood-friends-to-lovers storyline. I love the unique setting of this one.
6. The Exception to the Rule by Christina Lauren – This is a novella which is perfect for a fast and easy read while you’re lounging at the beach or by the lake. For such a short story, this hooked me immediately and completely charmed the pants off me.
7. The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune – Look at the cover alone. It screams “READ ME THIS SUMMER!” A magical island full of secrets, danger, and a cast full of enchanted children. I was completely charmed. LGBTQ representation for Pride Month! <3
8. Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren – Can you tell how much I love a good Christina Lauren book in the summertime? This is one of their heavier story lines but it is my favorite by them. It is actually in my top favorite reads of all time, it is so very beautiful. In this dual-timeline, childhood friends re-connect and piece together what drove them apart in the first place. Summerhouse vibes make it perfect for this season.
9. Funny Story by Emily Henry – Emily Henry is a must every single summer. She is the queen of banter and never fails to create a lovable cast of characters that you’ll want to be friends with IRL. Her latest release is no exception. Our FMC loses her fiance to his childhood best friend and she has nowhere to go… until she decides to shack up with the guy who knows exactly what she is going through: the ex of her fiance’s new girlfriend. Drama and hilarity ensues. It is set in lakeside Waning Bay, MI, which was perfect.
10. The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany by Lori Nelson Spielman – The backdrop of this novel is Italy in all its beautiful coastal glory. It’s a story of a curse, family drama, and love. Completely enchanting.
11. It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey – Schitt’s Creek meets Gilmore Girls… it’s the best way I can describe how I felt reading this one. It’s completely fun and hysterical and a gem. It takes place in small town Westport, where all the sexy and gruff fishermen reside. Seriously a good time!!
12. Shipped by Angie Hockman – Two workaholics are shipped off on a cruise as a part of their job to land a promotion. Did I mention enemies to lovers? Another great setting for summer with a funny and sweet love story.
13. People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry – This list wouldn’t be complete without my favorite Emily Henry novel. It has many of my favorite tropes: best friends to lovers, dual timeline, mutual pining while having zero clue, grumpy x sunshine, one bed… oh it is absolutely delicious. The tension! The vacation destinations! The banter! I want to reread it by just talking about it.
14. You With a View by Jessica Joyce – A road trip with your high school enemy… and his grandfather… who supposedly was the great love of your grandmother’s life. Oh, it is a good one!! The characters were wonderful and it had a whole lot of heart.
15. The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins – I am not a big fan of thrillers, but this one caught my eye because it had Jane Eyre/Rebecca vibes. It has southern charm and plenty of twisty delights that keep you turning the pages. So if there is one that I recommend to all my friends who enjoy this genre, it is this one.
16. Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan – Our FMC is engaged but is suddenly face to face with her first love, the boy who she spent summer after summer with. I love childhood friends to lovers, and this one was top tier. The perfect beach house setting, too.
17. The Summer I Turned Pretty series by Jenny Han – This is a series of three books and it was my total guilty pleasure about a year ago. Between this and the show on Amazon Prime, I really gobbled it up. It felt so nostalgic and I love stories of young love. Our FMC is in love with two brothers, who she spends every summer with. The show in particular is really fun and has more to the adult characters (parents) as well. I recommend either!
18. Beach Read by Emily Henry: One of my favorite romances in 2020 because it made me swooooon. If you need a good summer romance that goes beyond the fluff and has an amazing cast of characters, this is the one.
19. Happy Place by Emily Henry – How many Emily Henry choices can we squeeze on here? 🙈 Our FMC and MMC break up but are afraid to come clean to their friends while on their annual coastal vacation. This one got me right in the feels. Plus, the summery, quaint cottage vibes are IT.
20. The Coincidence of Coconut Cake by Amy E. Reichert – How sweet is the title? And the cover? It is the perfect book for fellow foodies. It’s a story of mistaken identities that has you yelling at the FMC to realize who she is spending her time with. Super cozy for a summer read. I picture reading this while swinging on a hammock during golden hour.
21. The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer – If you enjoy magical realism in your stories, this is a beautiful book that will have you believing that wishes do, in fact, come true.
22. The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren – A fake marriage story line that takes place on a beautiful private island with a side of family drama. This was fantastic and entertaining and the perfect blend of heart and spice.
23. Exception Dates by Rebecca Serle – How would you feel if a piece of paper magically appeared and let you know the name of the person and the length of time your next relationship would be? This was so fun. I couldn’t put it down.
24. This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune – The beach House setting in this one is *chefs kiss!* On Prince Edward Island, everything is better, but more complicated. This is a FMC falls for her best friend’s brother and it is so delicious.
25. The Idea of You by Robinne Lee – If you’ve watched the movie (starring Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine) on Amazon, you know how intoxicating and delicious this story is. The book is no exception. A mom falls for her daughter’s favorite boy band member. Is that enticing enough for ya?
MORE YOU’LL LOVE
The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren: I was not-so-patiently awaiting this Christina Lauren release and it did not disappoint. It’s a sweet romance with a sexy love interest… so you know, I lapped it up like a dog. Ha! Fun for summer. Christina Lauren never lets me down.
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd: I was very late to this party but what a beautiful book that made me want to give up everything and become a beekeeper. This one is like a warm hug in the sweet summer.
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid: Another author who very rarely lets me down. I am so excited to read her new book. The cover alone screams SUMMERTIME.
Meet Me in Paradise by Libby Hubscher: If it’s a summer romance, I am going to eat it up. I hope this one is as beautiful as the cover.
Mystic Summer by Hannah McKinnnon: I picked this up specifically because it takes place in Mystic, CT (a town we visit regularly). All about our NE summers and this book had it.
The Road Trip by Beth O’Leary: I have loved all of her books, so I hope this one is just as sweet. I just started it over this weekend.
Adventuring Together by Greta Eskridge: The only non-fiction on this list, but I have been excited about this book for a while and it feels like the right time to read it.
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren: This is a fun and flirty read with a beautiful paradise backdrop.
Saint X by Alexis Schaitkin: I read this last summer and it is a haunting story of a girl who goes missing while on vacation in the Caribbean. If this is your kind of vibe, this was well written.
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett: This book tells the story of a mother and her daughters. The mother is recounting her youthful romance to her girls… love this premise and hear this is a gem from Patchett. It’s on my own TBR.
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