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There’s something magical about summer reading: the way a good book can transport you to another place, while you’re lounging in the sun or curled up during a lazy afternoon. We know our readers are never far from their next favorite read. That’s why we’re turning to you, our community of passionate, thoughtful, and always well-read book lovers, to find out which stories you return to again and again. And as always, you delivered.
From breezy beach reads to heartwarming memoirs, thrillers that will keep you on the edge of your seat, and novels that just feel like summer, this list has it all. These are the books you turn to when you want to escape, be inspired, or just get lost in a beautiful story. So whether you’re packing a carry-on or planning a staycation, these 27 favorites will keep you company all season long.
Summer reading in your own words
historical fiction
The shell seekers Rosamund Pilcher
Perfect long summer novel! —Helen G.
The vagabonds by James Michener
I loved the soul-searching of these young people as they traveled through exotic lands. —Elle V.
Female entrepreneurship, wine, adventure, romance and a little mystery – everything you could want in one book! —Melissa L.
go like a river by Shelley Read
There’s something about a book that grabs you from the start: you know you won’t get bored reading it outside, iced coffee in hand, while your little one takes a nap. This one did that for me. I loved that it didn’t focus on a specific genre, it followed a young woman’s perspective (which I will always support), and I honestly couldn’t resist the peach on the cover – it just screamed summer. —Lisbeth C.
Kristin Hannah never fails, and women is not an exception. As a nurse and lover of historical fiction, I was completely captivated by this powerful story of the often overlooked women who served in Vietnam. Hannah’s writing is heartbreaking and empowering, reminding us that heroism is not limited to the battlefield: it also lives in the courage and compassion of women. A must read this summer.—Mary Ann R.
The beach in Summerly by Beatriz Williams
I couldn’t leave it. Great characters and an interesting period of history that isn’t often written about in fiction. Perfect beach read for someone who likes a bit of history with its romance and scandal. —Emily L.
Contemporary Fiction
Maine is a multigenerational family drama full of secrets, sibling rivalry, and Catholic guilt, set in a beach house on the coast of Maine. With four complex narrators (Alice, Kathleen, Ann Marie and Maggie), you’ll love (and hate) them all. —Jamie D.
A retro book, yes, a classic family saga set on the coast of Maine. My friends and I come back to this every summer! —Carolyn H.
Women in the sunlight by Frances Mayes
I first read this book in late summer 2018, and while the “buy a retirement villa in Tuscany” aspect is there, the real draw is its dreamy, sometimes over-the-top inspiration, regardless of stage of life. He showed me how to raise the level of hospitality through what I call ‘life vignettes’, with beautifully detailed descriptions of food, landscapes and simple gatherings. I reread it every summer as a mid-year reset. —Trisha D.
This summer will be different by Carley Fortune
The perfect combination of romance, female friendship, flowers and individual development. —Tess P.
The five star weekend by Elin Hilderbrand
Offering everything from romance, mystery, drama and unexpected twists! VERY GOOD!! —Ann S.
The Nantucket Hotel by Elin Hilderbrand
It gives a really fun take on a dreamy Nantucket summer with a twist! —Charlotte M.
This sweet, wholesome story, an easy read and set during the summer season, conveys subtle messages for women of all ages. Ann Patchett masterfully weaves timelines and characters to keep you interested, while the content remains light, like a flickering light on the surface of water. —Drea P.
I’m a local Austin author, and while the story explores a complicated relationship between mother and daughter, it’s also a whodunnit novel with a road trip through Europe, capturing the romance of Rome and Amsterdam in the spring. —Erica V.
The paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller
The Paper Palace It drew me in from the first page with its hazy, salty Cape Cod setting and its emotional honesty. It follows a woman caught between the life she built and the one that could have been: a deeply relatable exploration of memory, choices, and the beauty of the present. Warm, melancholic and richly written, it is the perfect read for a summer afternoon. —Melissa S.
a good Life by Virginia Grimaldi
It’s about family, love, the past and relationships, and I love the French lifestyle it captures, with families gathering in summer destinations like Biarritz. The author, a French best-seller that I have been reading for over 10 years, has a way of making you feel the story and smile with each book. —Miriam C.
Romance
I mean it, very underrated. This book has the greatest plot twist of all time. —Debora C.
The non-domestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella
I keep coming back to this book because it is a beautiful reminder of what really matters. It’s the perfect read for anyone feeling burned out: funny, charming and full of heart in Sophie Kinsella’s signature style. —Sharon C.
I reread it every summer. Beaches, diving, a curse, adventure and romance. —Candace B.
Mystery
The Benevolent Society of Rude Ladies by Alison Goodman
Fun, romantic, feminist and very, very attractive. I could spend my entire vacation reading about the adventures of this brave and intelligent woman, wandering around London helping women in need while continually bumping into a mysterious and resourceful man. —Diana E.
The shadow of Wind by Carlos Ruiz Safon
What better summer read than one that transports you to another place and time? Hello Barcelona! Filled with captivating characters, mystery, intrigue and a library maze, wind shadow It’s a total page-turner. An immersive getaway, especially if you’re not coming to Spain this summer! —Leila W.
It’s a deeply emotional story set in a summer house on an island, which immerses you so completely in the season that you’ll feel like you’re on the beach with the characters. —Megan N.
Humor/Satire
Hello ladies! by Michelle Markowitz and Caroline Moss
If you often start a message with “Hello ladies!” then you will love this book, no matter your age. It’s a light, funny, laugh-out-loud read, told entirely through emails, texts, DMs, and more – relatable and super creative. —Liz B.
crazy rich asians Trilogy by Kevin Kwan
The images are stunning – it’s easy to get lost in this beautiful, luxurious world that most of us can only imagine. The characters are richly developed, with much more depth than in the film adaptation. I love this trilogy so much that I’ve already read it twice and plan to dive back into it this summer. —Natalie K.
Miscellaneous
Although it is a new book and not a classic, it strikes the perfect balance between the literary and the light-hearted. And he affirms that there is no age at which life “ends.” There are always new adventures to have if you are open to them! —Megan J.
This may be a middle reader, but don’t let that deter you from reading the beautiful, lyrical story of thirteen-year-old Sophie, who crosses the ocean to England to meet her grandfather and discover herself along the way. It has a little bit of adventure, a little bit of mystery, and lots of beautiful, evocative descriptions of the ocean and the dreamy little islands that Sophie visits. If you can’t go to the beach this summer, reading this book is the best option! —Kathryn L.
Gift of the sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
This book was written in 1955 and is still relevant for women today. I reread it every summer. —Brenda L.
