This post was originally published in July 2020. It has been updated with new books to read this summer.

If you’re looking for your next pool or beach read, you’ve come to the right place. I’m sharing the best books to read this summer!
I hear a lot of people say, “I need to read more,” but they never seem to find the time to make it happen. Summer is an excellent season to begin! I always find myself gravitating towards romantic comedies or cute, YA contemporary during these months. There’s something about summer that begs for a lighthearted story. I scrolled through all of my StoryGraph favorites to narrow down a list of 24 books that I think are absolutely perfect to read by the pool, on the beach, or inside avoiding the heat (like me).
24 Books to Add to Your Summer Reading List
Click on any book title below to read the synopsis and find the retailer links.
Some of my most beloved books of all time made it onto this extensive list, and I’m sure you’ll notice some fan favorites as well. A lot of these are standalones that can practically be read (or listened to, if you prefer audiobooks) in a single sitting, with the exception of a couple of fabulous series. Your summer is about to get even more exhilarating with these creative and captivating stories.
For more book suggestions, follow me on The StoryGraph and bookstagram!



Malibu Rising – Taylor Jenkins Reid
From the New York Times bestselling author of Daisy Jones & The Six . . . Four famous siblings throw an epic party to celebrate the end of the summer. But over the course of twenty-four hours, their lives will change forever.
Malibu: August 1983. It’s the day of Nina Riva’s annual end-of-summer party, and anticipation is at a fever pitch. Everyone wants to be around the famous Rivas: Nina, the talented surfer and supermodel; brothers Jay and Hud, one a championship surfer, the other a renowned photographer; and their adored baby sister, Kit. Together the siblings are a source of fascination in Malibu and the world over–especially as the offspring of the legendary singer Mick Riva.
The only person not looking forward to the party of the year is Nina herself, who never wanted to be the center of attention, and who has also just been very publicly abandoned by her pro tennis player husband. Oh, and maybe Hud–because it is long past time for him to confess something to the brother from whom he’s been inseparable since birth.
Jay, on the other hand, is counting the minutes until nightfall, when the girl he can’t stop thinking about promised she’ll be there.
And Kit has a couple secrets of her own–including a guest she invited without consulting anyone.
By midnight the party will be completely out of control. By morning, the Riva mansion will have gone up in flames. But before that first spark in the early hours before dawn, the alcohol will flow, the music will play, and the loves and secrets that shaped this family’s generations will all come rising to the surface.
Malibu Rising is a story about one unforgettable night in the life of a family: the night they each have to choose what they will keep from the people who made them . . . and what they will leave behind.
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop
You Have a Match – Emma Lord
A new love, a secret sister, and a summer she’ll never forget.
When Abby signs up for a DNA service, itβs mainly to give her friend and secret love interest, Leo, a nudge. After all, she knows who she is already: Avid photographer. Injury-prone tree climber. Best friend to Leo and Connie β¦ although ever since the B.E.I. (Big Embarrassing Incident) with Leo, things have been awkward on that front.
But she didnβt know sheβs a younger sister.
When the DNA service reveals Abby has a secret sister, shimmery-haired Instagram star Savannah Tully, itβs hard to believe theyβre from the same planet, never mind the same parentsβespecially considering Savannah, queen of green smoothies, is only a year and a half older than Abby herself.
The logical course of action? Meet up at summer camp (obviously) and figure out why Abbyβs parents gave Savvy up for adoption. But there are complications: Savvy is a rigid rule-follower and total narc. Leo is the campβs co-chef, putting Abby’s growing feelings for him on blast. And her parents have a secret that threatens to unravel everything.
But part of life is showing up, leaning in, and learning to fit all your awkward pieces together. Because sometimes, the hardest things can also be the best ones.
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop
Crazy Rich Asians – Kevin Kwan
Crazy Rich Asians is the outrageously funny debut novel about three super-rich, pedigreed Chinese families and the gossip, backbiting, and scheming that occurs when the heir to one of the most massive fortunes in Asia brings home his ABC (American-born Chinese) girlfriend to the wedding of the season.
When Rachel Chu agrees to spend the summer in Singapore with her boyfriend, Nicholas Young, she envisions a humble family home, long drives to explore the island, and quality time with the man she might one day marry. What she doesn’t know is that Nick’s family home happens to look like a palace, that she’ll ride in more private planes than cars, and that with one of Asia’s most eligible bachelors on her arm, Rachel might as well have a target on her back.
Initiated into a world of dynastic splendor beyond imagination, Rachel meets Astrid, the It Girl of Singapore society; Eddie, whose family practically lives in the pages of the Hong Kong socialite magazines; and Eleanor, Nick’s formidable mother, a woman who has very strong feelings about who her son shouldβand should notβmarry.
Uproarious, addictive, and filled with jaw-dropping opulence, Crazy Rich Asians is an insider’s look at the Asian JetSet; a perfect depiction of the clash between old money and new money; between Overseas Chinese and Mainland Chinese; and a fabulous novel about what it means to be young, in love, and gloriously, crazily rich.
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop



Clap When You Land – Elizabeth Acevedo
Camino Rios lives for the summers when her father visits her in the Dominican Republic. But this time, on the day when his plane is supposed to land, Camino arrives at the airport to see crowds of crying peopleβ¦
In New York City, Yahaira Rios is called to the principalβs office, where her mother is waiting to tell her that her father, her hero, has died in a plane crash.
Separated by distanceβand Papiβs secretsβthe two girls are forced to face a new reality in which their father is dead and their lives are forever altered.
And then, when it seems like theyβve lost everything of their father, they learn of each other.
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop
With the Fire on High – Elizabeth Acevedo
With her daughter to care for and her abuela to help support, high school senior Emoni Santiago has to make the tough decisions, and do what must be done. The one place she can let her responsibilities go is in the kitchen, where she adds a little something magical to everything she cooks, turning her food into straight-up goodness.
Still, she knows she doesnβt have enough time for her schoolβs new culinary arts class, doesnβt have the money for the classβs trip to Spainβand shouldnβt still be dreaming of someday working in a real kitchen. But even with all the rules she has for her lifeβand all the rules everyone expects her to play byβonce Emoni starts cooking, her only real choice is to let her talent break free.
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop
Meant to Be Mine – Hannah Orenstein
What if you knew exactly when youβd meet the love of your life? Edie Meyer knows. When her Grandma Gloria was a young woman, she had a vision of the exact day she would meet her soul mateβand then Grandpa Ray showed up.
Since then, Gloria has accurately predicted the day every single member of the family has met their match. Edieβs day arrives on June 24, 2022, when sheβs twenty-nine years old. She has been waiting for it half her life. That morning, she boards an airplane to her twin sisterβs surprise engagement, and when a handsome musician sits beside her, she knows itβs meant to be.
But fate comes with more complications than Edie expected and she canβt fight the nagging suspicion that her perfect guy doesnβt have perfect timing. After a tragedy and a shocking revelation rock Edieβs carefully constructed world, sheβs forced to consider whether love chooses us, as simple as destiny, or if we choose it ourselves.
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop



This Might Get Awkward – Kara McDowell
Sophie Kinsella meets Sarah Dessen in the most hilarious, romantic book of the summer about a girl with social anxiety and the boy who refuses to let her hide herself away.
Seventeen-year-old Gemmaβs favorite kind of beach is an empty one. Social interactions are too much for her to handle. She always says the wrong thingβif she manages to say anything at all. She canβt even bring herself to speak to her longtime crush, Beau Booker, without losing sleep over her own awkwardness.
During a solo outing to her favorite beach, Gemma realizesβto her horrorβthat the popular kids from school have shown up to throw a party. Before she can sneak away (and possibly puke behind her car) Gemma is pulled into the action and ends up talking to Beau, who asks her to pretend that theyβre βclose.β Gemma is too flustered and flattered to refuse, and mostly, sheβs wondering why Beau is talking to her at all . . . right up until the moment when he falls off the boat, hits his head, and ends up in a coma.
After rescuing Beau from the water, Gemma is mistaken for Beauβs girlfriend by his friends and family, including his mysterious older brother, Griff, who has returned to town after a year away. Gemma tries to correct the record, but her social anxiety (and a nosy reporter) gets in the way at every turn. Before she knows it, sheβs in too deep to backtrack. And when Beauβs warm, boisterous family pulls Gemma into their orbit, she realizes how much she wants to keep them in her life.
For the first time, Gemma has everything sheβs ever wanted: friends, big family dinners, and Griffβa boy who she can be herself around. But how can she embrace her new dream life when everything is built on a lie?
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop
The Bromance Book Club – Lyssa Kay Adams
The first rule of book club: You don’t talk about book club.
Nashville Legends second baseman Gavin Scott’s marriage is in major league trouble. Heβs recently discovered a humiliating secret: his wife Thea has always faked the Big O. When he loses his cool at the revelation, itβs the final straw on their already strained relationship. Thea asks for a divorce, and Gavin realizes heβs let his pride and fear get the better of him.
Welcome to the Bromance Book Club.
Distraught and desperate, Gavin finds help from an unlikely source: a secret romance book club made up of Nashville’s top alpha men. With the help of their current read, a steamy Regency titled Courting the Countess, the guys coach Gavin on saving his marriage. But it’ll take a lot more than flowery words and grand gestures for this hapless Romeo to find his inner hero and win back the trust of his wife.
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop
All Fired Up – Dylan Newton
After one wild night together, two complete opposites plan to stay firmly in the friend zone, but life has other plans in this delightful romantic comedy, perfect for fans of Emily Henry and Abby Jimenez.
As a successful book publicist, Imani Lewis works night and day to promote her authors. Itβs her dream job, but sheβs become a total workaholic. So when her grandmother invites her to stay for the summer as she recovers from surgery, Imani happily agrees. But being back in the same small town as her one-night stand may not be quite the relaxing break she envisionedβ¦
Zander Matthews wakes up every day determined to enjoy the present because he knows from his time in the Marines that tomorrow isnβt guaranteed. But heβs never gotten over the beautiful woman who blew through town a year ago, then disappeared. And he doesnβt want to be hurt again. So they agree to a deal: heβll help Imani fix up her grandmotherβs house as long as they stay firmly in the friend zone.
Whether itβs repairing tiles in his ceramics studio, dodging nosy neighbors, or soothing the most obnoxious parrot ever, Zander never fails to make Imani laugh. And soon their friendly banter is turning ever flirtier. But since Imaniβs stay is temporary and Zander canβt be tied to anything beyond the most tenuous plans, will she be able to handle it when things get all fired up?
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop



One Italian Summer – Rebecca Serle
When Katyβs mother dies, she is left reeling. Carol wasnβt just Katyβs mom, but her best friend and first phone call. She had all the answers and now, when Katy needs her the most, she is gone. To make matters worse, their planned mother-daughter trip of a lifetime looms: two weeks in Positano, the magical town Carol spent the summer right before she met Katyβs father. Katy has been waiting years for Carol to take her, and now she is faced with embarking on the adventure alone.
But as soon as she steps foot on the Amalfi Coast, Katy begins to feel her motherβs spirit. Buoyed by the stunning waters, beautiful cliffsides, delightful residents, and, of course, delectable food, Katy feels herself coming back to life.
And then Carol appearsβin the flesh, healthy, sun-tanned, and thirty years old. Katy doesnβt understand what is happening, or howβall she can focus on is that she has somehow, impossibly, gotten her mother back. Over the course of one Italian summer, Katy gets to know Carol, not as her mother, but as the young woman before her. She is not exactly who Katy imagined she might be, however, and soon Katy must reconcile the mother who knew everything with the young woman who does not yet have a clue.
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop
Now That I’ve Found You – Kristina Forest
Now That I’ve Found You is a YA novel about searching for answers, love, and your eccentric grandma in all the wrong places.
Following in the footsteps of her ΓΌberfamous grandma, eighteen-year-old Evie Jones is poised to be Hollywoodβs next big star. That is until a close friendβs betrayal leads to her being blacklisted . . .
Fortunately, Evie knows just the thing to save her floundering career: a public appearance with Americaβs most beloved actressβher grandma Gigi, aka the Evelyn Conaway. The only problem? Gigi is a recluse whoβs been out of the limelight for almost twenty years. Days before Evie plans to present her grandma with an honorary award in front of Hollywoodβs elite, Gigi does the unthinkable: she disappears.
With time running out and her comeback on the line, Evie reluctantly enlists the help of the last person to see Gigi before she vanished: Milo Williams, a cute musician Evie isnβt sure she can trust. As Evie and Milo conduct a wild manhunt across New York City, romance and adventure abound while Evie makes some surprising discoveries about her grandmaβand herself.
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop
The Guncle – Steven Rowley
Patrick, or Gay Uncle Patrick (GUP, for short), has always loved his niece, Maisie, and nephew, Grant. That is, he loves spending time with them when they come out to Palm Springs for weeklong visits, or when he heads home to Connecticut for the holidays. But in terms of caretaking and relating to two children, no matter how adorable, Patrick is honestly a bit out of his league.
So when tragedy strikes and Maisie and Grant lose their mother and Patrickβs brother has a health crisis of his own, Patrick finds himself suddenly taking on the role of primary guardian. Despite having a set of βGuncle Rulesβ ready to go, Patrick has no idea what to expect, having spent years barely holding on after the loss of his great love, a somewhat-stalled career, and a lifestyle not-so-suited to a six- and a nine-year-old. Quickly realizing that parentingβeven if temporaryβisnβt solved with treats and jokes, Patrickβs eyes are opened to a new sense of responsibility, and the realization that, sometimes, even being larger than life means youβre unfailingly human.
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop



The Lucky Escape – Laura Jane Williams
ONE CANCELLED WEDDING
When the day finally comes for Annie to marry Alexander, the last thing she expects is to be left standing at the altar. She was so sure he was Mr Right. Now, she has no idea how she could have got it so wrong.
ONE UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER
After a chance meeting with Patrick, an old friend who reminds her of who she used to be, Annie takes a vow of her own: sheβll say yes to every opportunity that comes her way from now on.
ONE SPARE TICKET FOR THE HONEYMOON
Could a spontaneous trip with Patrick be the way to mend Annieβs heart? Sheβs about to find out as she embarks on her honeymoon β with a man whoβs not her husbandβ¦
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop
People We Meet on Vacation – Emily Henry
Two best friends. Ten summer trips. One last chance to fall in love.
Poppy and Alex. Alex and Poppy. They have nothing in common. Sheβs a wild child; he wears khakis. She has insatiable wanderlust; he prefers to stay home with a book. And somehow, ever since a fateful car share home from college many years ago, they are the very best of friends. For most of the year they live far apartβsheβs in New York City, and heβs in their small hometownβbut every summer, for a decade, they have taken one glorious week of vacation together.
Until two years ago, when they ruined everything. They havenβt spoken since.
Poppy has everything she should want, but sheβs stuck in a rut. When someone asks when she was last truly happy, she knows, without a doubt, it was on that ill-fated, final trip with Alex. And so, she decides to convince her best friend to take one more vacation togetherβlay everything on the table, make it all right. Miraculously, he agrees.
Now she has a week to fix everything. If only she can get around the one big truth that has always stood quietly in the middle of their seemingly perfect relationship. What could possibly go wrong?
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop
Beach Read – Emily Henry
A romance writer who no longer believes in love and a literary writer stuck in a rut engage in a summer-long challenge that may just upend everything they believe about happily ever afters.
Augustus Everett is an acclaimed author of literary fiction. January Andrews writes bestselling romance. When she pens a happily ever after, he kills off his entire cast.
They’re polar opposites.
In fact, the only thing they have in common is that for the next three months, they’re living in neighboring beach houses, broke, and bogged down with writer’s block.
Until, one hazy evening, one thing leads to another and they strike a deal designed to force them out of their creative ruts: Augustus will spend the summer writing something happy, and January will pen the next Great American Novel. She’ll take him on field trips worthy of any rom-com montage, and he’ll take her to interview surviving members of a backwoods death cult (obviously). Everyone will finish a book and no one will fall in love. Really.
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop



Well Met – Jen DeLuca
All’s faire in love and war for two sworn enemies who indulge in a harmless flirtation in a laugh-out-loud rom-com from debut author, Jen DeLuca.
Emily knew there would be strings attached when she relocated to the small town of Willow Creek, Maryland, for the summer to help her sister recover from an accident, but who could anticipate getting roped into volunteering for the local Renaissance Faire alongside her teenaged niece? Or that the irritating and inscrutable schoolteacher in charge of the volunteers would be so annoying that she finds it impossible to stop thinking about him?
The faire is Simon’s family legacy and from the start he makes clear he doesn’t have time for Emily’s lighthearted approach to life, her oddball Shakespeare conspiracy theories, or her endless suggestions for new acts to shake things up. Yet on the faire grounds he becomes a different person, flirting freely with Emily when she’s in her revealing wench’s costume. But is this attraction real, or just part of the characters they’re portraying?
This summer was only ever supposed to be a pit stop on the way to somewhere else for Emily, but soon she can’t seem to shake the fantasy of establishing something more with Simon, or a permanent home of her own in Willow Creek.
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop
Rise to the Sun – Leah Johnson
Three days. Two girls. One life-changing music festival.
Olivia is an expert at falling in love . . . and at being dumped. But after the fallout from her last breakup has left her an outcast at school and at home, sheβs determined to turn over a new leaf. A crush-free weekend at Farmland Music and Arts Festival with her best friend is just what she needs to get her mind off the senior year that awaits her.
Toni is one week away from starting college, and itβs the last place she wants to be. Unsure about who she wants to become and still reeling in the wake of the loss of her musician-turned-roadie father, sheβs heading back to the music festival that changed his life in hopes that following in his footsteps will help her find her own way forward.
When the two arrive at Farmland, the last thing they expect is to realize that theyβll need to join forces in order to get what theyβre searching for out of the weekend. As they work together, the festival becomes so much more complicated than they bargained for, and Olivia and Toni will find that they need each other, and music, more than they ever could have imagined.
Packed with irresistible romance and irrepressible heart, bestselling author Leah Johnson delivers a stunning and cinematic story about grief, love, and the remarkable power of music to heal and connect us all.
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop
Dial A for Aunties – Jesse Q Sutanto
What happens when you mix 1 (accidental) murder with 2 thousand wedding guests, and then toss in a possible curse on 3 generations of an immigrant Chinese-Indonesian family?
You get 4 meddling Asian aunties coming to the rescue!
When Meddelin Chan ends up accidentally killing her blind date, her meddlesome mother calls for her even more meddlesome aunties to help get rid of the body. Unfortunately, a dead body proves to be a lot more challenging to dispose of than one might anticipate, especially when it is inadvertently shipped in a cake cooler to the over-the-top billionaire wedding Meddy, her Ma, and aunties are working at an island resort on the California coastline. It’s the biggest job yet for the family wedding businessβ”Don’t leave your big day to chance, leave it to the Chans!“βand nothing, not even an unsavory corpse, will get in the way of her auntie’s perfect buttercream flowers.
But things go from inconvenient to downright torturous when Meddy’s great college loveβand biggest heartbreakβmakes a surprise appearance amid the wedding chaos. Is it possible to escape murder charges, charm her ex back into her life, and pull off a stunning wedding all in one weekend?
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop



Amelia Unabridged – Ashley Schumacher
Sparks fly between two teens as they grapple with grief, love, and the future.
Eighteen-year-old Amelia Griffin is obsessed with the famous Orman Chronicles, written by the young and reclusive prodigy N. E. Endsley. Theyβre the books that brought her and her best friend Jenna together after Ameliaβs father left and her family imploded. So when Amelia and Jenna get the opportunity to attend a book festival with Endsley in attendance, Amelia is ecstatic. Itβs the perfect way to start off their last summer before college.
In a heartbeat, everything goes horribly wrong. When Jenna gets a chance to meet the author and Amelia doesnβt, the two have a blowout fight like theyβve never experienced. And before Amelia has a chance to mend things, Jenna is killed in a freak car accident. Grief-stricken, and without her best friend to guide her, Amelia questions everything she had planned for the future.
When a mysterious, rare edition of the Orman Chronicles arrives, Amelia is convinced that it somehow came from Jenna. Tracking the book to an obscure but enchanting bookstore in Michigan, Amelia is shocked to find herself face-to-face with the enigmatic and handsome N. E. Endsley himself, the reason for Ameliaβs and Jennaβs fight and perhaps the clue to what Jenna wanted to tell her all along.
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository
Everything, Everything – Nicola Yoon
My disease is as rare as it is famous. Itβs a form of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency, but basically, Iβm allergic to the world. I donβt leave my house, have not left my house in fifteen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.
But then one day, a moving truck arrives. New next door neighbors. I look out the window, and I see him. Heβs tall, lean and wearing all blackβblack t-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly. I want to learn everything about him, and I do. I learn that he is funny and fierce. I learn that his eyes are Atlantic Ocean-blue and that his vice is stealing silverware. I learn that when I talk to him, my whole world opens up, and I feel myself starting to changeβstarting to want things. To want out of my bubble. To want everything, everything the world has to offer.
Maybe we canβt predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. Itβs almost certainly going to be a disaster.
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop
Opposite of Always – Justin A Reynolds
When Jack and Kate meet at a party, bonding until sunrise over their mutual love of Froot Loops and their favorite flicks, Jack knows heβs fallingβhard. Soon sheβs meeting his best friends, Jillian and Franny, and Kate wins them over as easily as she did Jack.
But then Kate dies. And their story should end there.
Yet Kateβs death sends Jack back to the beginning, the moment they first meet, and Kateβs there again. Healthy, happy, and charming as ever. Jack isnβt sure if heβs losing his mind.
Still, if he has a chance to prevent Kateβs death, heβll take it. Even if that means believing in time travel. However, Jack will learn that his actions are not without consequences. And when one choice turns deadly for someone else close to him, he has to figure out what heβs willing to do to save the people he loves.
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop



Love & Gelato – Jenna Evans Welch
βI made the wrong choice.β
Lina is spending the summer in Tuscany, but she isnβt in the mood for Italyβs famous sunshine and fairy-tale landscape. Sheβs only there because it was her motherβs dying wish that she get to know her father. But what kind of father isnβt around for sixteen years? All Lina wants to do is go back home.
But then she is given a journal that her mom had kept when she lived in Italy. Suddenly Linaβs uncovering a magical world of secret romances, art, and hidden bakeries. A world that inspires her, along with the ever-so-charming Ren, to follow in her motherβs footsteps and unearth a secret that has been kept for far too long. Itβs a secret that will change everything she knew about her mother, her fatherβand even herself.
People come to Italy for love and gelato, someone tells her, but sometimes they discover much more.
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop
Shipped – Angie Hockman
Between taking night classes for her MBA and her demanding day job at a cruise line, marketing manager Henley Evans barely has time for herself, let alone family, friends, or dating. But when sheβs shortlisted for the promotion of her dreams, all her sacrifices finally seem worth it.
The only problem? Graeme Crawford-Collins, the remote social media manager and the bane of her existence, is also up for the position. Although theyβve never met in person, their epic email battles are the stuff of office legend.
Their boss tasks each of them with drafting a proposal on how to boost bookings in the GalΓ‘pagosβbest proposal wins the promotion. Thereβs just one catch: they have to go on a company cruise to the GalΓ‘pagos Islands…together. But when the two meet on the ship, Henley is shocked to discover that the real Graeme is nothing like she imagined. As they explore the Islands together, she soon finds the line between loathing and liking thinner than a postcard.
With her career dreams in her sights and a growing attraction to the competition, Henley begins questioning her life choices. Because whatβs the point of working all the time if you never actually live?
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop
I Was Told It Would Get Easier – Abbi Waxman
Squashed among a bus full of strangers, mother-daughter duo Jessica and Emily Burnstein watch their carefully mapped-out college tour devolve into a series of off-roading misadventures, from the USA Today bestselling author of The Bookish Life of Nina Hill.
Jessica and Emily Burnstein have very different ideas of how this college tour should go.
For Emily, itβs a preview of freedom, exploring the possibility of her new and more exciting future. Not that sheβs sure she even wants to go to college, but letβs ignore that for now. And maybe the other kids on the tour will like her more than the ones at school. . . . They have to, right?
For Jessica, itβs a chance to bond with the daughter she seems to have lost. They used to be so close, but then Goldfish crackers and Play-Doh were no longer enough of a draw. She isnβt even sure if Emily likes her anymore. To be honest, Jessica isnβt sure she likes herself.
Together with a dozen strangersβand two familiar enemiesβJessica and Emily travel the East Coast, meeting up with family and old friends along the way. Surprises and secrets threaten their relationship and, in the end, change it forever.
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop
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Which of these books do you plan to read this summer?
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Alice Myles says
Oh I absolutely adore Opposite of Allways! I’ll definitely have to give some of these books a read!
Stephanie Whitman says
I love hearing that! It’s one of the best books I’ve read this year. I read it back in January, and just bought myself a copy of it that makes me super excited to read it all over again!
Lee says
Thanks for the recommendations!! I’m going to order a few right now!
Stephanie Whitman says
I hope you love whichever ones you end up ordering. So many fun stories on this list, for sure. And they’re all perfect for summer!
Serena says
I absolutely loved With the Fire on High, The Sun Is Also A Star, Everything Everything, American Royals, The Hating Game, Where’d You Go Bernadette, Turtles All the Way Down and To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, so I’m glad you’ve included them! Wedding Night, The Bookish Life of Nina Hill and Big Little Lies are on my list!
Stephanie Whitman says
Omg we have some similar favorites for SURE. You definitely need to check out The Bookish Life of Nina Hill. It’s my favorite book in the whole world. It’s truly adorable and so relatable!
Adaleta Avdic says
This is an extensive list, and super helpful. I’ve been meaning to add a few more books into my Amazon cart!
Stephanie Whitman says
Haha well, as much as I read, I wanted to make sure I had lots of options for everyone to choose from. Hope you get a chance to check some of these out!
Lizzie says
We have the same taste because a lot of these are on my wishlist lol! Definitely saving this for later when I need more recs π
Lizzie
http://www.lizzieinlace.com
Stephanie Whitman says
No way! That’s so fun π These aren’t my usual picks, because I’m a huge fantasy fan, but during the summer, contemporary romance and cute YA reads are definitely at the top of my list.
Greta says
Love these picks! Lauren Graham and Mindy Kaling are two of my favorite celebrity authors.
Stephanie Whitman says
That’s fun! I’ve never read anything by Mindy Kaling, but I’ve heard she has great books π
Morgan Klein says
I need to get into reading again! So many great recommendations here!!!
Stephanie Whitman says
I can’t imagine not reading! But I know a lot of people don’t enjoy it as much. I hope you get to check some of these out soon.
Sarah Lindner says
Great lineup…sounds like some solid recommendations, thanks for sharing! xoxo, Sarah
Stephanie Whitman says
I should hope so! I like to think that if I loved them enough to share them that they’re pretty solid π
Anna English says
I read American Royals and thought it was such a cute/ easy book!
Stephanie Whitman says
It was! I’ll admit I preferred her other series, The Thousandth Floor, but I know most of the people who read my blog don’t enjoy fantasy/sci-fi the way I do – hence this article with all the rom-com picks haha!
Amanda says
You always have fab book recommendations! I’ve read a few of these on your list & see several more I need to add to my book list!
Stephanie Whitman says
That’s so encouraging to hear. Thank you! I love sharing my favorite reads. These were narrowed down from my massive list of favorites, and I really do think they’re perfect for the summer!
Hayley says
I’ve recently ordered The Sun is Also a Star and Everything, Everything and can’t wait to read them. Have heard nothing but glowing reviews!
Thanks for sharing your recommendations. π
Shirsha says
I loved American Royals! Can’t wait for the sequel to come out in Sep!
I’m yet to read The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez, but her second book – The Happy Ever After Playlist – was so so good!
kileen says
I’ve heard so many good things about American Royals! Definitely need to check that one out.
kileen
cute & little
Jessica says
I’m a book fanatic so thank you for this amazing list. I’ll choose some and get back to reading.
Kayleigh Zara says
The road trip is on my list of books I want to read – it sounds right up my street but I really like her other books. A fab post x
Eleanor Jones says
Great post! I need to try some of these ones this summer, I love reading light-hearted rom coms during the summer months x
Tori says
I need to read βI Was Told it Would Get Easierβ it sounds like such a good summer read!
Andrea's Book Corner says
Love your recommendations! The Unhoneymooners and The People We Meet On Vacation stand out the most to me. I’ve seen these a lot on BookTube & Bookstagram so I’ll definitely be checking them out π
Lee says
Pinning this roundup! I can’t wait to dive into so fun summer beach reads!
Isabelle says
Wow thanks for the inspiration! I definitely will be picking some books from this article to read over the summer π
Lizzie says
Oh my gosh, so may amazing books! I found quite a few to put on my reading this this summer!
Lizzie
http://www.lizzieinlace.com
Sumedha says
This is a great list of summer books! I recognize many of them. I generally don’t read according to seasons, I do it according to moods. But if my mood was summer, these books would be perfect haha.
Neely Moldovan says
So many of my favorites here! I loved the Unhoneymooners.
Laura Leigh says
people we meet on vacation is at the very top of my list! planning to order right after finishing the book I’m currently on. cannot wait to read!!!
xo Laura Leigh
https://louellareese.com
WanderlustBeautyDreams says
WOW, what a great list! I will certainly take a look at these awesome recommendations. I need to get back to reading. I took a break the past 2 months but will make time now that I have this list to refer to. The Lucky Escape caught my attention!
Amie says
Ooooh some amazing books here, and a couple I’ve had on my their list for a while! Thank you!
Deborah says
Yay! I am so glad I recognize a lot of these and I also recommend most of them too! That said, I think I may be the only person who didn’t like “The Friend Zone” ha! But Daisy Jones is an absolute must-read!
Lynn says
So many amazing books! I used to love reading in the sun with a drink in my hand! I haven’t read in sooo long. You’ve made it easy for me to choose from this summer! Pinning for later x
Lynn | https://www.lynnmumbingmejia.com
Charity says
I need to keep some of these in mind. We are going to the beach this summer and I always love having multiple books to read while sitting out by the beach
Jesha says
It’s already entering rainy season in the Philippines but great list. 3 of the books you recommended are on my ‘Some day I’ll buy a copy and read you list’ I’m currently broke so maybe next year.
Stephanie Whitman says
I gotta be honest – I’m a BIG advocate for the library over buying books. In fact, I rarely buy a book unless I’ve read it first and love it enough to read again. And I know you’re not in the US, but there are still so many great online options for library cards that can be used internationally. I’d consider that if you want the chance to read those books without spending money on them!
Lizzie says
I loveddd the Crazy Rich Asian movie and have been meaning to read the book. People We Meet On Vacation has been on my must-read list too! Thanks for the reminder π Will definitely have to put these on my summer reading list!
Lizzie
http://www.lizzieinlace.com
Lisa says
I must live under a rock because I haven’t come across ANY of these titles! The standout ones for me, are The Guncle (the title made me click to read more) and Everything, Everything (because of the cover). Both look like fab reads (as I’m sure all all your other recommendations), so thank you for updating this post, Stephanie, and happy reading!
Jamieadstories says
Great book titles! I must get round to reading Crazy Rich Asians.
readandreviewit says
Ooh you’ve some amazing suggestions here! Opposite Of Always and Everything, Everything are both some of my all time favourites so I’m glad to see they both made it on here. So many on the others are on my tbr, and I’m really hoping I can read Malibu Rising and Love And Gelato in particular soon! Thank you so much for sharing x
Amanda Kay Oaks-Christman says
Such a great list! I really enjoyed the ones I’ve read out of these!
I'm All Booked Up says
Great picks! We enjoyed You Have a Match and Love & Gelato!
Jaya Avendel says
Love & Gelato, Dial A for Aunties, and Crazy Rich Asians all sound like such lovely reads! I have been reading a bit more now, as I love sitting outdoors with a book, so it is the perfect time to enhance my reading list!
Tiffany says
All of these sound really good, I mostly read fanfiction and I use to read a lot of books I mostly stopped, so I have been trying to get back into reading actual books as well, so I added some of these titles to my wish list on amazon. Thanks for sharing. π
ellegracedeveson says
Youβve shared some really great recommendations here which Iβll be certainly adding to my list of books to buy & read. Iβm always looking for new books to add to my collection so posts like these I always greatly appreciate. Thank you so much for sharing with us lovely Xo
Elle – ellegracedeveson.com
Alita says
What a great collection of books to read this summer. One of my big goals is to read 50 books this year so thank you for the suggestions.
Mehsi says
Ohhh, I love your recommendations, definitely agree with Fire on High + Everything Everything! I have heard a lot about Dial A For Aunties and Guncle and You Have a Match, plus This Might Get Awkward looks fun and I also want to check The Lucky Escape! Guess I got some fun books to look up! Thanks!
Molly | Transatlantic Notes says
So many great recommendations to choose from; thanks for this extensive list. I’m going to be updating my summer reading list soon so this was perfect.