15 Must-Read Summer Books -

There’s something magical about reading in the summer. Maybe it’s the longer days, the slower pace, or the chance to escape both literally and literarily. Whether you’re planning a beach getaway, heading to the lake, or just enjoying a quiet afternoon on your front porch, the right book can elevate your summer from good to unforgettable.

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In today’s post I’m sharing 15 summer books that I consider must-reads. Each of these books will give you all the summer vibes and will transport you to gorgeous beaches and exotic locations with just the turn of a page. If that’s something you’ve been looking for, just keep scrolling . . .

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The Summer of Broken Rules by K. L. Walther

I read this book last summer and absolutely fell in love with the Fox family. It follows Meredith Fox and her family as they go to Martha’s Vineyard for their annual family vacation, but this summer’s different because it’s the first summer for Meredith since her sister, Claire, passed away. As the Fox family gathers for a big summer family wedding, Meredith partners up with a cute groomsmen for her family’s tradition of playing a game of assassin with water guns. She tries to focus on the game and win it in her sister’s memory, but Meredith finds herself falling hard for said groomsmen. Can she open her heart to something new and unknown? If a heartfelt, family-filled New England summer setting is what you’re craving, then this is the book for you.

Happy Place by Emily Henry

This next book is an absolute delight. It follows a group of friends who gather at a beach cottage in Maine for the summer. Two of the friends – Harriet and Wyn – have been the perfect couple since college . . . until now. They broke up 5 months ago and didn’t tell their best friends. Now they’re stuck sharing a bedroom, pretending to still be a couple, and grinning and bearing the results of their actions. But can they really fake it for one week, especially in front of the ones who know them best? The second-chance romance between Harriet and Wyn will have you laughing one minute and tearing up the next. With a dreamy vacation setting and a cast of lovable friends, this book is the perfect escape.

We’ll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han

This is the last book in The Summer I Turned Pretty Series from Jenny Han and is a must-read this summer because of the upcoming final season of the Amazon Prime series of the same name that comes out July 16th. It follows Belly, who’s now in college, and in a serious relationship with Jeremiah Fisher, the brother no one saw coming. But things for Belly and Jere haven’t been smooth sailing. Enter Conrad – the moody, brooding Fisher brother and Belly’s first love – the same first love who broke her heart. But will Conrad be the one who ends up putting it back together?

Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez

This next book was the first one I ever read from author Abby Jimenez. Originally, I thought it was going to be a light-hearted, rom-com, but this book turned out to be so much more. It follows Xavier – a handsome yet grumpy veterinarian from Minnesota – and Samantha – a free-spirited young woman whose mom is battling dementia. When Xavier and Samantha go on one of the best first dates either of them have ever had, their lives are changed forever. But their future gets derailed when Samantha is forced to move to Los Angeles to help take care of her mom. Can Xavier and Samantha make a long-distance relationship work? And is what they have really worth fighting for? You’ll just have to read and see. Also, I highly recommend listening to the audiobook – the cast is chef’s kiss.

Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

As you can see, I’ve quickly become an Abby Jimenez fan. Her writing is just so heartfelt and entertaining, which is why I had to include another of her books on this list. This book follows Justin and Emma. Justin is cursed – at least when it comes to dating. Every woman he dates meets her soulmate right after she stops dating Justin. Every. Single. Time. Emma has the exact same problem. So, in an attempt to break their curses, Justin and Emma decide to date each other and then break up. Surely, that will cancel each other’s curses and then they can go on with their love lives. But when Justin suddenly has to assume guardianship of his three siblings and Emma’s toxic mother shows us, these two start facing a lot more than they expected . . . including actually catching feelings for each other.

Dad Camp by Evan S. Porter

This next book is perfect for fans of – wait for it – A Goofy Movie. And because it’s the 30th anniversary of this movie (one of my absolute faves), I had to put this book on the list. It follows John, who gave up everything – hobbies, friends, his dream job – to be a super dad to her daughter, Avery. She’s the most precious thing to him and his very best bud . . . or at least she used to be. Now eleven years old, Avery is turning into an eye-rolling teenager who wants almost nothing to do with her dad. Desperate to reconnect with her, John whisks her away to a weeklong father-daughter retreat the summer before she starts middle school. But the more John tries to bond, the more Avery pushes him away. Will they ever be able to get their relationship back on track?

One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune

It’s not a summer book recommendation list without a Carley Fortune book and trust me, this one doesn’t disappoint. The plot follows Alice, a professional photographer who prefers to remain on the sidelines and let others shine. When her grandmother breaks her hip, Alice brings her back to Barry’s Bay, a beautiful lake Alice visited with her grandmother when she was a teen, to recover. But their tranquility is quickly disrupted by the roar of a familiar yellow speed boat and the man driving it, Charlie Florek. A shameless flirt, Charlie manages to make Alice’s grandmother smile and Alice remember that summer when she was seventeen. But can Alice trust Charlie with her heart? I mean, he does have a reputation as a heart-breaker . . . albeit, a rather good-looking one.

The Beach Trap by Ali Brady

The next book on my list is for fans of the movie The Parent Trap. It’s about two girls – Blake and Kat – who met and became best friends at summer camp when they were twelve. But their friendship is shattered when they learn that they’re actually half sisters. Confused and betrayed, they break all contact. But life has other plans for them when their father suddenly dies fifteen years later and leaves them a joint inheritance of a family beach house in Destin, Florida. Blake wants to sell it, but Kat wants to keep it because it holds so many memories for her. Both women agree to remodel the old place and allow Kat to buy Blake out at the end of the summer. But the more they work on the place, the more they clash. Will these two ever learn to become sisters? Maybe some summer romances can help them to open their hearts.

What the River Knows by Isabel Ibanez

While most of the books on this list feature a beach setting, this one takes us to a more exotic location: Egypt. The story is about Bolivian-Argentinian Inez Olivera, who enjoys the finer things in life in nineteenth century Buenos Aires. She has everything a girl could want, except her globetrotting parents who leave her behind. When she receives word of their deaths, Inez inherits a large fortune and a strange and mysterious guardian who’s an archaeologist in partnership with his Egyptian brother-in-law. Searching for answers, Inez travels to Cairo, Egypt, where she slowly realizes that maybe there was more to her parents’ deaths than her guardian led her to believe. And maybe she’s the only one who can find out the truth. Think Indiana Jones with a touch of magic in Ancient Egypt with a sprinkle of romance.

Bad Summer People by Emma Rosenblum

Step into the world of the privileged elite in the fictional town of Salcombe on Fire Island, New York, with this next book. Following socialites Jen Weinstein and Lauren Parker and their husbands, Sam and Jason, who have summered on the island together since they were kids, the book is filled with juicy gossip and secrets. Set against a backdrop of tennis tournaments, cocktail parties, and simmering rivalries, the book dives into the lives of characters whose secrets and scandals culminate in the discovery of a body face down on the boardwalk. But who among them is capable of murder? The answer to that question just might surprise you.

The Counselors by Jessica Goodman

It’s not a summer without a summer thriller and this next YA book definitely fits the bill. It follows Goldie and her friends who can’t wait to get to summer camp because this year, they get to be counselors. But this summer’s going to be anything but smooth. Goldie’s keeping a terrible secret . . . so are her friends and when a teen suddenly turns up dead, it’s up to Goldie to find out who’s responsible. Could it be one of her friends? You’ll just have to read and see.

The Hotel Nantucket by Erin Hinderbrand

This next book is a charming, beachy escape packed with drama, romance, and a touch of mystery. Lizbet Keaton is fresh off a breakup and searching for a second act now. When she’s named the manager of the Hotel Nantucket, she hopes that her charismatic charm and local expertise will help her put the once famous hotel back onto the map. But there’s just a few issues – many of the staff (and guests) have complicated pasts and the hotel is rumored to be haunted by the ghost of a young chambermaid who was killed in a fire there in the 1920s. Will Lizbet ever be able to give the hotel (and herself) a fresh start? If a light yet layered, emotional yet fun story is what you’ve been looking for, this is the book for you.

My Magnolia Summer by Victoria Benton Frank

I had to include a Lowcountry summer book on this list and this one fit the ticket. It follows Maggie – New York transplant who returns to her hometown of Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina to confront her past and rediscover herself. When she makes it there she realizes that home holds more secrets than she ever knew and her family’s restaurant, the Magic Lantern, may be on the brink of closure. Can Maggie’s return save her family’s legacy and change her future for the better? And will that future include a very handsome farmer? Well, you’ll just have to dive in to find out.

A Summer to Remember by Erika Montgomery

This next book is a touching, nostalgic story about love, loss, and second chances. Set against the backdrop of a charming Cape Cod town, the story follows Frankie, a woman searching for answers about her late mother’s past. When a mysterious package arrives with a picture of her mother and a famous movie star and her husband at a coastal film festival one year before Frankie’s birth, everything Frankie thought she knew about mother is forever changed.

Summer Fridays by Suzanne Rindell

I will never not recommend this book because not only is it perfect for summer, it’s perfect for Millenials. Set in New York City during the summer of 1999, this book is about a 20 something girl named Sawyer who’s engaged to her college sweetheart. Working as editor’s assistant, Sawyer’s life is full with all that her job entails and wedding planning, but her summer Fridays are lonely when her fiance starts spending more and more time with his stunning coworker, Kendra. But nothing’s going on between them, right? Sawyer’s world is turned upside down when Kendra’s boyfriend, Nick, invites her to meet up and compare suspicions about their significant others. From that point forward, Sawyer and Nick agree to meet up every summer Friday and explore the city together. The more they get to know one another, the more they begin to realize that they have feelings for each other. But what happens when the summer is over?

Whether you’re unwinding on vacation or enjoying a quiet afternoon on your porch, the right book can transport you to new places and make this season unforgettable. So grab your sunnies, stock up your TBR pile, and let the stories carry you away.