10 Books for Summer
Thrillers, historical fiction, a graphic novel, and more
I have a complicated relationship with summer. I work in education, so I get time off. I enjoy sleeping in, the longer daylight hours, and the privilege of moving at a slower pace. I do not enjoy the heat, though. I get hot if it gets above 47.2 degrees. I’m also extremely pale, so I burn if I spend even 30 seconds in direct sunlight. During summer, the outdoors and I just don’t get along.
While you won’t find me on the beach, vacationing in the Hamptons, or camping (a truly unfathomable activity), I like reading about people who do these things. My friends might be hiking, gardening, or swimming, but I’ll be in front of a fan on my sofa, as the Lord intended.
Despite my issues with summer, I love a good summer book. Seasonal reading is one of my greatest delights. The titles I’m sharing today include road trips, vacations, beaches, and, yes, even hot destinations. I hope you discover a new-to-you book or two! Several of these picks were also mentioned in my free summer reading guide, so check that out if you haven’t yet.
The American Dream?: A Journey on Route 66 Discovering Dinosaur Statues, Muffler Men, and the Perfect Breakfast Burrito by Shin Yin Khor: In this graphic memoir, Shing Yin Khor, a Malaysian immigrant, sets out on a road trip across Route 66. As she travels from California to Chicago, she attempts to understand the American dream. This book is a quick and entertaining read about a journey of self-discovery and insights into American culture. In the current political climate, reading and celebrating immigrant stories are important acts of solidarity.
Burn Baby Burn by Med Medina: I don’t read much YA, but this gem from 2016 has stuck with me since I first read it several years ago. It’s set in New York City during the summer of 1977. The city is facing arson, extreme heat, blackouts, and the Son of Sam murders. The novel’s protagonist, 17-year-old Nora, is the daughter of a Cuban immigrant mother and an absent father. Nora’s brother has a violent temper that keeps things tense in her household. As Nora explores first love and her growing independence, the historical background of Medina’s story makes this a remarkable book with an unforgettable setting.
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore: This fantastic mystery, one of last summer’s buzziest books, has been one of my go-to recommendations since I first read it. The story is set in 1975 at a summer camp. When Barbara Van Laar, the daughter of the camp’s owner, disappears from her cabin, panic sets in. The search for Barbara begins, but this isn’t the first Van Laar child to vanish. Barbara’s brother disappeared years earlier, never to be found, and her mother has never been the same. This atmospheric story is part mystery, part historical family drama. If you missed reading this last year, now’s the time.
The Guest by Emma Cline: Alex is a young escort who’s spent the summer on Long Island with her older and wealthier boyfriend. When he breaks up with her, she’s stuck. She knows she has nothing waiting for her in New York anymore, so she decides to kill some time for a week until her boyfriend’s big Labor Day bash, which she plans to attend in order to win him back. Alex spends her days scheming and manipulating everyone in her path so she can get all of her needs met. Despite all of Alex’s flaws, I found myself rooting for her. The Guest is an engaging and well-written novel with an unforgettable protagonist.
The Most by Jessica Anthony: This slim novel is set in November, but it screams summer. It’s an unseasonably warm autumn day in 1957 when Kathleen Beckett gets into the pool and refuses to come out. Her husband, Virgil, is unamused, and her kids don’t understand what their mom is up to. The Most focuses on one day in the life of the Beckett family as Kathleen reminisces on her past as a great tennis player, and considers the state of her current existence as a wife and mother.
Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty: Do you ever dream about escaping to a wellness retreat for much-needed relaxation and recharging? You might change your mind after reading Nine Perfect Strangers. In this compelling story, nine people become intertwined at Tranquillum House, an isolated wellness center dedicated to changing lives. Each guest has their own problems, but the biggest problem becomes what’s really happening at Tranquillum. Liane Moriarty always delivers fun page-turners, and this novel is no exception.
Rental House by Weike Wang: Nate and Keru fell in love in college. When Rental House begins, they’re married and living in New York. Keru’s parents are Chinese immigrants who hold her to the strictest standards of success, whereas Nate’s family is working class and not especially close. Nate and Keru invite her parents to join them on a beach vacation, and later, Nate’s parents are invited to join the couple in the Catskills. Through these vacations, Keru and Nate face questions of class, race, money, and the state of their relationship. Rental House is a clever delight.
Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson: In this new release from Kevin Wilson, a group of siblings set out in a PT Cruiser to confront the father who abandoned all of them. The story begins when Reuben shows up at Madeline’s farm in Tennessee. He tells her he’s her half-brother and invites her to join him as he travels across the country and collects their other half-siblings, people Madeline didn’t know existed. With her mom’s encouragement, Mad joins Reuben. The two collect another sister, a standout college basketball star, and a little brother, who loves documentary filmmaking. The four siblings are separated by miles and decades, but they all want to see their father and ask him why he never stayed. Run for the Hills is classic Kevin Wilson: hilarious, original, and heartwarming.
The Survivors by Jane Harper: Kieran Elliott returns home to Evelyn Bay, Tasmania, to help his parents. He brings along his partner and baby girl. The Elliotts are still reeling from the loss of Kieran’s brother in a brutal storm more than ten years earlier. A local girl also went missing during the storm, and there are still questions about what happened to her. During Kieran’s trip home to the coast, a woman’s body is found on the beach. The past comes rushing back, and the townspeople wonder if the murder is connected to the missing girl from years before. To make things more complicated, Kieran’s father, who is suffering from dementia, was the last person to be seen with both girls. If you want absorbing and atmospheric mysteries full of complex characters, look no further than Jane Harper.
The Winner by Teddy Wayne: Connor, who’s studying to be a lawyer, lives in New York with his diabetic mother, whom he helps care for in their small apartment. He gets a dream job offer for the summer as a tennis pro in a wealthy community near Cape Cod. He’ll have a free place to stay as long as he teaches tennis lessons. Thankful for the personal space and beautiful surroundings, Connor is eager to start his summer, but he doesn’t book as many lessons as he hoped. When Catherine, an older woman, suggests a tawdry arrangement that would pay quite well, Connor says yes. Matters get more complicated when he falls for a woman his own age who has a connection to Catherine. The Winner is a dark satire of male entitlement that explores the depths a man will go to protect himself and the life he believes he deserves.
If you’d like to support my work, comment, share, upgrade to a paid subscription, buy me a coffee, or shop my bookshop or affiliate links. I love doing this work, and I’m thankful to have you in this community!
Have you read any of these books? What titles top your list of summer reads? Leave a comment and let me know.
God of the Woods was a favorite read last summer; I just finished Heartwood, which gave similar vibes.
Who doesn't love a book centered around a PT Cruiser? MANY years ago I was T-boned, and while my car was in the shop for months--my rental car was a purple PT Cruiser. NEVER FORGET.