5 Great Summer Books To Put On Your To-Read Shelf

Summer is a great time to grab a good book and relax by the pool or on the beach. Of course, no summer vacation is complete without a page-turning novel. Whether you prefer thrillers, romance, or mysteries, here are some of my favorites from recent years that make perfect summer reads.

1. Beach Read By Emily Henry

If you’ve been on Tik Tok this year, you might have heard of this romance novel by Emily Henry. Beach Read ticks all of the boxes when it comes to an enemies-to-lovers story. This novel is perfect for fans of this trope and fans of romance novels in general.

Beach Read follows January Andrews, a hopeless romantic romance novelist who has recently lost faith in love and romance. While working on her next novel in a lake house for the summer, she discovers her college nemesis and writing competitor is her neighbor. Eventually, the two make a deal to help each other complete their novels, and as their writing progresses, so does their relationship.

2. The Last Thing He Told Me By Laura Dave

If mysteries are more your speed, The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave is for you. Once you pick it up, you won’t be able to put this book down. Full of questions and secrets from the very beginning, you’ll find yourself shocked and intrigued after every new revelation in this powerful novel. With an ending that will leave you breathless and wanting more, this is a must-read for the summer.

In this page-turner, Hannah Hall’s happy marriage is in trouble when she discovers that Owen has disappeared. She learns of his disappearance after receiving a note from Owen saying, “Protect her.” In this case, “her” refers to Owen’s teenage daughter Bailey. From the first chapter, we are left wondering where Owen has gone, what Bailey needs protection from, and why Hannah has to be the one to protect her.

3. People We Meet On Vacation By Emily Henry

After reading one of her novels, you’re guaranteed to want to read more of Emily Henry‘s work, just like I did. As the title suggests, this book makes the perfect summer vacation read. The story and the characters are relatable in so many ways. This novel is the perfect balance of tears, laughter, and romance. The honest storytelling and realistic relationships portrayed by Henry will warm your heart.

This story follows outgoing and quirky Poppy, who became unlikely best friends with her reserved and quiet college peer, Alex. Poppy had always wanted to travel the world, so she started a summer vacation tradition with Alex. Each summer, the Poppy planned a low-budget vacation in a different location each year. However, after a mysterious fight two summers ago, the tradition came to a halt. Determined to rekindle their friendship, Poppy invites Alex on another vacation. Through flashbacks from ten years of vacations and the events of the current trip, we see how Poppy and Alex got to where they are and where their relationship could be going.

4. The Silent Patient By Alex Michaelides

I like to alternate my summer reads from light-hearted to darker, more mysterious stories. If you do, too, add The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides to your reading list. This is an incredibly gripping mystery that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat from start to finish. When you think you know what is going on, Michaelides creates a heart-stopping surprise twist.

This novel is told from the perspectives of Theo Faber, a psychotherapist, and Alicia Berenson (through her diary entries), an artist, murderer, and Theo’s patient who hasn’t spoken a word since she killed her husband. Since he read about her case, Theo had been fixated on Alicia’s story and jumped at the chance to work with her and get her speaking again. As Theo uncovers more information about Alicia and the murder, he begins to lose his own grip on reality.

5. The Unhoneymooners By Christina Lauren

This novelist duo has written many perfect summer reads, and The Unhoneymooners is no exception. Another enemies-to-lovers story, this book is perfect for fans of romantic comedies. Though the set-up seems a bit outlandish, the characters and interactions feel very real. You’ll find yourself laughing out loud at times and completely lost in a romantic moment at others.

This novel follows famously unlucky Olive Torres. Her incredibly lucky twin, Ami, has just gotten married and won her dream Hawaiian honeymoon in a contest. In a surprise turn of events, everyone has gotten food poisoning at the reception—everyone except Olive and the best man and brother of the groom Ethan. Ami insists that Olive and Ethan take their place in Maui, which would seem lucky for Olive. Unfortunately, however, the pair have never gotten along; it is safe to say they hate each other. But as they act the part of the happy newlyweds in paradise, they begin to feel as happy as they pretend to be.

Let’s Get Reading

Hopefully, at least one of these books will fit in with your summer reading needs. Any one of these books will work for your summer relaxation and vacations, but you might end up reading them all!