Weeeee! 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!!)
If that is the case for you, then welcome and I really hope that this list gives you a good jumping point. 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 20 books that I think are ✨perfect✨ to dive into this summer, followed by my own personal summer reading list.
20 BOOKS FOR YOUR SUMMER READING LIST
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. The Idea of You by Robinne Lee – It’s everywhere right now, and for good reason. 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?
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. Powerless by Lauren Roberts – You didn’t think I would finish this list before I recommended a fantasy, did you?! This is the new IT fantasy, to be honest. While we wait for Onyx Storm and ACOTAR 5, we have Paedyn and Kai, two enemies who are completely in love with one another but fight it with everything they have. Secrets, scandals, uprisings… oh my gosh. I couldn’t put it down. There is also a novella (Powerful) and the second book (Reckless) is coming out in July. Get on this!!
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.
MY SUMMER READING STACK
1. Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez – A quick summer fling… or more? This author is hit or miss for me but this one piqued my interest. We’ll see how it goes.
2. Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood – I am a big fan of Ali Hazelwood and this is her latest release (one of my most anticipated of the year). It’s an “off limits” romance. I can already feel the heat of tension in the air.
3. Reckless by Lauren Roberts – Remember Powerless above? This is the next installment and I am going to lap it up like a dog. 😂 GIVE ME ALL THE TENSION!! “I am READY TO GET HURT AGAIN.” -Michael Scott
4. The Darkness Within Us by Tricia Levenseller – This is the follow-up to The Shadows Between Us and follows the sister of our previous FMC. I really enjoyed the first book and Tricia’s writing style, so I am hoping this one is just as easy and entertaining.
5. A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall – Shout out to Brittany and her substack because this wasn’t on my radar until she shared it. It is so up my alley and the cover alone drew me in. Passionate correspondence, a mystical underwater world, mystery, and whimsy… sign me up. Sounds like a recipe for the perfect summer fantasy.
6. Check and Mate by Ali Hazelwood – This is Hazelwood’s first YA and it has been on my list for a bit. My husband and I enjoy playing chess together, so this sounds fun.
7. Born of Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout – The fourth and final installment of the Flesh and Fire series. Nyktos and Sera are unstoppable and I love them. If you haven’t read From Blood and Ash, this series won’t make a whole lot of sense. But if you love a good romantasy, start with From Blood and Ash and be swept away from there.
8. A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston – The synopsis for this starts with “A professor of literature finds herself caught up in a work of fiction… literally.” YES PLEASE! Sounds like a dream that I very much want to be a part of. I’m IN!
9. Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole – I have heard this series compared to ACOTAR, so I have to see what the fuss is all about. It’s a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers situation, which is precisely why it has caught my interest.
10. Think Differently About Learning by Angela Sizer and Maren Goerss – For my fellow homeschool peeps, this is a new release from two of my favorite podcast hosts (Homeschool Unrefined). This is a good non-fiction that will help me wrap my head around the next homeschool year.
