There is something magical in summer reading– about how a good book can take you somewhere else, while you lounge in the sun or snuggle up for a lazy afternoon. We know our readers are never far from their next favorite read. So we turned to you, our community of passionate, thoughtful, and always well-read book lovers, to discover the stories you come back to again and again. And as always, you kept your word.
From breezy beach reads to moving memoirs, edge-of-your-seat thrillers to novels that just feel like summer, this list has it all. These are the books you reach for when you want to escape, get inspired, or simply lose yourself 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
Shell searchers by Rosamund Pilcher
A perfect long summer novel! —Hélène G.
The Wanderers by James Michener
I loved the introspection of these young people as they traveled through exotic lands. —She V.
Female entrepreneurship, wine, adventure, romance and a bit of mystery: everything you could want in one book! —Melissa L.
Go like a river by Shelley Read
There’s something about a book that captivates you from the start: you know you won’t get bored reading it outside, iced coffee in hand, while your little one naps. This one did that for me. I loved that it wasn’t fixed on a specific genre, that it followed the point of view of a young woman (whom 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 no exception. As a nurse and a 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 both 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.
Summerly Beach by Beatriz Williams
I couldn’t put it down. Great characters and an interesting period in history that isn’t often talked about in fiction. Perfect beach read for someone who likes a bit of history with its romance and scandals. —Emily L.
Contemporary fiction
Maine is a multi-generational 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 Maine coast. My friends and I come back every summer! —Caroline H.
Women in the sun 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 appeal lies in its dreamlike, sometimes over-the-top inspiration, whatever the stage of life. It showed me how to improve accommodation through what I call “life vignettes,” with beautifully detailed descriptions of food, scenery, 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
It offers everything from romance and mystery to drama and unexpected twists! SO GOOD!! —Anne S.
The Nantucket Hotel by Elin Hilderbrand
This is such a fun glimpse into a dream Nantucket summer with a twist! —Charlotte M.
Easy to read during the summer season, this sweet and wholesome story carries subtle messages for women of all ages. Ann Patchett masterfully weaves together timelines and characters to keep you engaged, while the content remains light, like a flickering light on the surface of water. —Dréa P.
Darling Starling by Erica Vipond
I’m a local Austin author, and while the story explores a complicated mother-daughter relationship, it’s also a crime thriller with a journey filled with travel across Europe, capturing the romance of Rome and Amsterdam in spring. —Erica V.
The paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller
The paper palace drew me in from the first page with its foggy, salt-soaked Cape Cod setting and emotional honesty. It follows a woman caught between the life she built and the one that could have been – a deeply relevant exploration of memory, choices and the beauty of the present. Warm, melancholic and richly written, it’s the perfect read for a summer afternoon. —Melissa S.
A good Life by Virginie Grimaldi
It’s about family, love, past and relationships – and I love the French way of life it reflects, with families coming together in summer destinations like Biarritz. The author, a French bestseller that I have been reading for over 10 years, has a way of making you feel the story and making you smile with each book. —Miriam C.
Romance
I’m serious, so underrated. This book features the greatest twist of all time. —Deborah C.
The non-domestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella
I keep coming back to this book because it’s 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, curse, adventure and romance. —Candace B.
Mystery
The benevolent society of ill-bred ladies by Alison Goodman
Funny, romantic, feminist and so engaging. 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 running into a mysterious man with a quick wit. —Diane 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, The Shadow of the Wind is a real page-turner. An immersive escape, especially if you don’t plan to go to Spain this summer! —Leila W.
It’s a deeply moving story set on an island summer home, immersing you so fully in the season that you’ll feel like you’re on the beach with the characters. —Megan N.
Humor/Satire
Hey ladies! by Michelle Markowitz and Caroline Moss
If you often start a message with “Hey Ladies!” » then you will love this book, whatever your age. It’s a light, fun, hilarious 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 breathtaking: it’s easy to get lost in this beautiful and 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, I’ve already read it twice and I plan to dive into it again this summer. —Natalie K.
Miscellaneous
The life Impossible by Matt Haig
Although this is a new book and not a classic, it strikes that perfect balance between literary and light. And he asserts that there is no age at which life is “finished.” There are always new adventures to experience if you are open to them! —Megan J.
This may be a book for intermediate readers, but don’t let that deter you from reading the beautiful and lyrical story of thirteen-year-old Sophie crossing the ocean to England to meet her grandfather and discovering herself along the way. It contains a little adventure, a little mystery, and lots of beautiful, evocative descriptions of the ocean and the little dream islands that Sophie visits. If you can’t make it to the beach this summer, reading this book is the next best thing! —Kathryn L.
Gift from 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.
The position Summer is for book lovers: readers share their favorites appeared first on Camille Styles.
