Must Read Books for Summer

The list of my favorites and TBRs for Summer 2024

Summer is officially in the air, and with it, a list of all the must-read books this season. I’m including here my tried-and-true favorites, as well as the ones I’m most looking forward to picking up this summer. Most importantly, I have included many recommendations from dear friends and am deeply grateful for the crowdsourcing. I would love to hear from you what you’re most looking forward to reading in the warmer months ahead (and where you’ll be reading if you have any great trips planned)!

The Ultimate Beach Romances

EVERY SUMMER AFTER by Carley Fortune. This one is a no-brainer, an instant love, lives in my head rent-free sort of book (and to be honest, it’s probably going to make it to my reread list this summer). It gives major The Summer I Turned Pretty vibes in the best way, and Carley Fortune beautifully builds the tension and friendship between Percy and Sam over the course of 12 years, and she executes the jumping back and forth through time in a way that truly makes this a book you won’t want to put down.

FUNNY STORY by Emily Henry. I only just recently posted my review of this book, but I’ll say it again: this may be Emily Henry’s most sophisticated novel yet. This is the perfect beach read for a few reasons. First, its actually set during the summer, and getting to see the friendship and chemistry grow between Daphne and Miles against the backdrop of kayak dates, warm summer evenings, and lazy weekend excursions made me near-giddy for what always feels like the limitless possibilities of the warmer months ahead. Second, this is a longer novel for Emily Henry, with great pacing, so it can accompany you on at least a few good beach days. And lastly, as I recently discussed with a friend, Miles is a good guy, and I’m ready for nice guy summer!

PARADISE PROBLEM by Christina Lauren. The newest novel from best friend duo Christina Lauren is my favorite to date and the steamiest beach read. Fake dating set in paradise? It will always be a yes. This plot feels more far-fetched than most other fake dating schemes, and that’s saying something, I know. But once you suspend your disbelief about the circumstances bringing together Anna and West, this book is one you won’t want to set down. Bonus: if you don’t happen to have a summer vacation to a tropical island planned, The Paradise Problem will instantly transport you.

THE SUMMER OF BROKEN RULES by K.L. Walther. This book was a delight to read, more from the perspective of nostalgic high school adventures than pure romantic comedy. This tells the story of Meredith, who is going back to Martha’s Vineyard for the first time since her sister passed away. Her entire extended family will be there, and they have a longstanding tradition of playing “Assassin.” Meredith’s target? A cute groomsman, of course, which means catching feelings is strictly off limits and an impossible task. As someone whose high school got very into playing Assassin as part of senior year farewell festivities, The Summer of Broken Rules tugged at my playful, competitive heartstrings and definitely made my friend group consider getting our own game of Assassin started.

GEORGIE, ALL ALONG by Kate Clayborn. This book was perfectly timed last summer for my own period of “funemployment,” and I gave it the superlative of “book most likely to encourage spontaneous behavior (i.e. quit job, get bangs, profess feelings to a crush)” in my 2023 year-end wrap-up. Georgie must move back to her hometown unexpectedly, where it becomes overwhelmingly obvious that she has given everything to her job back in L.A., at the expense of her own wants and needs. She discovers an old diary, whose ideas inspire a bucket list of sorts, to help her sort out who she actually wants to be and what’s most important to pursue. Georgie is a chaotic, lovable protagonist, and this story is laugh-out-loud funny, honest, and deeply relatable for those of us who struggle with separating our value of who we are from our work.

Must Read Fiction

ONE ITALIAN SUMMER by Rebecca Serle. Let me go on the record to say that this is not my typical book, I was extremely skeptical of its premise when starting, and I ended up giving it five stars and have gifted it several times over to various friends. I should also warn up front that this book does deal quite directly with grief, so feel free to skip forward now if needed.

One Italian Summer tells the story of Katy, who is left reeling when her mom passes away right before their planned mother-daughter trip to Positano on the Amalfi Coast. Katy decides to go on the trip, and while she’s there, she sees her mom - only, it’s her mom at 30 years old. Now Katy gets to know her mother as a peer, a friend, and all against the stunning Italian backdrops. The descriptions of the food and sceneries were so stunningly beautiful and evoke the quintessential summer energy. This novel is an honest and raw portrayal of grief, and it simultaneously broke my heart and put it back together. Even if you also avoid time loop or time travel books like myself, I would give this one a chance.

LUCKY BOY by Shanthi Sekaran. Now, perhaps I am biased because I first read this book while on summer vacation, but if you are looking to get swept away by a heartbreakingly beautiful and well-written story, don’t let this one pass you by. There was a time when this was the only book I recommended to people, and with good reason. Lucky Boy tells the story of two mothers who are bound together in their love for one child. Soli immigrates from Mexico to the United States and upon arrival, learns she is pregnant. Though not the plan, she finds she adores motherhood and her new son. Then we have Kavya, a successful woman in Berkeley, California, who is struggling with her husband, Rishi, to get pregnant. When Soli is detained, her son ends up in Kavya’s care, and we witness Kavya’s journey into motherhood. Goodreads describes this book as “an emotional journey that will leave you certain of the redemptive beauty of this world,” and I couldn’t agree more. Make sure you have a box of tissues handy for this one.

CARRIE SOTO IS BACK by Taylor Jenkins Reid. No reading list will ever be complete (in my opinion) without Taylor Jenkins Reid, and Carrie Soto is Back is the perfect summer read, as it covers the French and U.S. Opens and summer tennis training season. I’ve now read this book two summers in a row, and I have to imagine I’ll be hitting reread #3 this year as well. At 37 years old, Carrie Soto is making her way out of tennis retirement to reclaim the record for most Slam titles. Carrie is unapologetically herself, confident in her abilities and unrelenting in her pursuit. This is just a plain fun read and an inspiring one at that.

TBR

THIS SUMMER WILL BE DIFFERENT by Carley Fortune. I just started this one, am only a handful of chapters in, and let me tell you: I am hooked. Full review coming soon, but Carley Fortune has clearly mastered writing summer romances that read similarly to a mystery.

RAW DOG: THE NAKED TRUTH ABOUT HOT DOGS by Jamie Loftus. This was a gift from a dear friend for my birthday, and its interestingly a book I have given as a gift myself! Jamie Loftus is hilarious, and this book is billed as “part travelogue, part culinary history, all capitalist critique” of her cross-country summer road trip to learn more about - you guessed it - hot dogs. It’s been a while since I’ve tapped into nonfiction, and I’m really looking forward to this one.

THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS by Ann Brashares. A group of my friends have decided to reread this classic from our middle school days this summer, and it has been so fun to dive back into this story. I’m also admittedly testing out the audiobook waters again, and it’s been a real treat to have this story along for my morning walks. Highly recommend going back to one of your middle school favorites this summer.

EXPIRATION DATES by Rebecca Serle. As stated, I do not typically enjoy books that mess with the time-space continuum or have the “but it was all a dream” sort of undertone. That said, One Italian Summer was an unexpected delight, and I am choosing to trust Rebecca Serle and her creative writing style. This plot as described seems like a stretch for what I might like, though it also sounds like something that will be highly contemplative. I am keeping an open mind and looking forward to sharing a full review later this summer.

That’s all for now! Let me know in the comments what books you’re taking on your summer adventures. Wherever you’re headed, I hope you’re taking care.