This post was originally published in July 2020. It has been updated with the best 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 30 books that I think are absolutely perfect to read by the pool, on the beach, or inside avoiding the heat (like me).
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 few great series. There are a few authors who I feel exude summer vibes (like Emily Henry, queen of summer romances) so you’ll see multiple titles for them!
related posts
Romance Books to Read Based on Your Favorites // 30 Fluffy Romance Books You’ll Love // Books to Read if You’re New to Fiction
30 Books to Add to Your Summer Reading List
Your summer is about to get even more exhilarating with these creative and captivating stories. You can find all of the synopses and purchase links below. Visit my StoryGraph account to read my reviews as they go live – and check out my bookstagram account for more aesthetic photos of books and coffee!
Buy the book: Amazon | Blackwell’s | Bookshop | Waterstones | Libro.fm | Barnes & Noble
Buy the book: Amazon | Blackwell’s | Bookshop | Waterstones | Libro.fm | Barnes & Noble
Buy the book: Amazon | Blackwell’s | Bookshop | Waterstones | Libro.fm | Barnes & Noble
Buy the book: Amazon | Blackwell’s | Bookshop | Waterstones | Libro.fm | Barnes & Noble
Buy the book: Amazon | Blackwell’s | Bookshop | Waterstones | Libro.fm | Barnes & Noble
Buy the book: Amazon | Blackwell’s | Bookshop | Waterstones | Libro.fm | Barnes & Noble
Buy the book: Amazon | Blackwell’s | Bookshop | Waterstones | Libro.fm | Barnes & Noble
Buy the book: Amazon | Blackwell’s | Bookshop | Waterstones | Libro.fm | Barnes & Noble
Buy the book: Amazon | Blackwell’s | Bookshop | Libro.fm | Barnes & Noble
Buy the book: Amazon | Blackwell’s | Bookshop | Waterstones | Libro.fm | Barnes & Noble
Buy the book: Amazon | Blackwell’s | Bookshop | Waterstones | Libro.fm | Barnes & Noble
Buy the book: Amazon | Blackwell’s | Bookshop | Waterstones | Libro.fm | Barnes & Noble
Buy the book: Amazon | Blackwell’s | Bookshop | Waterstones | Libro.fm | Barnes & Noble
Buy the book: Amazon | Blackwell’s | Bookshop | Waterstones | Libro.fm | Barnes & Noble
Buy the book: Amazon | Blackwell’s | Bookshop | Waterstones | Libro.fm | Barnes & Noble
Buy the book: Amazon | Blackwell’s | Bookshop | Libro.fm | Barnes & Noble
Buy the book: Amazon | Blackwell’s | Bookshop | Waterstones | Libro.fm | Barnes & Noble
Buy the book: Amazon | Blackwell’s | Bookshop | Waterstones | Libro.fm | Barnes & Noble
Buy the book: Amazon | Blackwell’s | Bookshop | Waterstones | Libro.fm | Barnes & Noble
Buy the book: Amazon | Blackwell’s | Waterstones | Libro.fm | Barnes & Noble
Buy the book: Amazon | Blackwell’s | Bookshop | Waterstones | Libro.fm | Barnes & Noble
Buy the book: Amazon | Blackwell’s | Bookshop | Waterstones | Libro.fm | Barnes & Noble
Buy the book: Amazon | Blackwell’s | Bookshop | Waterstones | Libro.fm | Barnes & Noble
Buy the book: Amazon | Blackwell’s | Bookshop | Waterstones | Libro.fm | Barnes & Noble
Buy the book: Amazon | Blackwell’s | Bookshop | Waterstones | Libro.fm | Barnes & Noble
Buy the book: Amazon | Blackwell’s | Bookshop | Waterstones | Libro.fm | Barnes & Noble
Buy the book: Amazon | Blackwell’s | Bookshop | Waterstones | Libro.fm | Barnes & Noble
Buy the book: Amazon | Blackwell’s | Bookshop | Waterstones | Libro.fm | Barnes & Noble
Buy the book: Amazon | Blackwell’s | Bookshop | Waterstones | Libro.fm | Barnes & Noble
Buy the book: Amazon | Blackwell’s | Bookshop | Waterstones | Libro.fm | Barnes & Noble
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With the Fire on High | wooden cake tray | single-serve French press | cappuccino mugs & saucers | similar pillow | cardigan | blue light blocking glasses | pine cones
Which of these books do you plan to read this summer?
pin for later
Oh I absolutely adore Opposite of Allways! I’ll definitely have to give some of these books a read!
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!
Thanks for the recommendations!! I’m going to order a few right now!
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!
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!
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!
This is an extensive list, and super helpful. I’ve been meaning to add a few more books into my Amazon cart!
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!
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
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.
Love these picks! Lauren Graham and Mindy Kaling are two of my favorite celebrity authors.
That’s fun! I’ve never read anything by Mindy Kaling, but I’ve heard she has great books π
I need to get into reading again! So many great recommendations here!!!
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.
Great lineup…sounds like some solid recommendations, thanks for sharing! xoxo, Sarah
I should hope so! I like to think that if I loved them enough to share them that they’re pretty solid π
I read American Royals and thought it was such a cute/ easy book!
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!
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!
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!
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
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!
I’ve heard so many good things about American Royals! Definitely need to check that one out.
kileen
cute & little
I’m a book fanatic so thank you for this amazing list. I’ll choose some and get back to reading.
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
Great post! I need to try some of these ones this summer, I love reading light-hearted rom coms during the summer months x
I need to read βI Was Told it Would Get Easierβ it sounds like such a good summer read!
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
Pinning this roundup! I can’t wait to dive into so fun summer beach reads!
Wow thanks for the inspiration! I definitely will be picking some books from this article to read over the summer π
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
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.
So many of my favorites here! I loved the Unhoneymooners.
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
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!
Ooooh some amazing books here, and a couple I’ve had on my their list for a while! Thank you!
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!
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
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
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.
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!
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
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!
Great book titles! I must get round to reading Crazy Rich Asians.
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
Such a great list! I really enjoyed the ones I’ve read out of these!
Great picks! We enjoyed You Have a Match and Love & Gelato!
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!
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
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
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.
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!
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.
YES YES YES!!!! Emily Henry’s books are an absolute must for summer reads. And Georgie All Along is just *chef’s kiss* perfect.
Emily Henry is the QUEEN of summer romances!!!
Georgie, All Along surprised me! It’s not the kind of book I’d typically love but I wound up really enjoying it. And it really just feels made for summertime!
Spotted a couple of books I really want to read! Emily Henry’s Happy Place is def one of them. I hope to get my hands on it. Thanks for the great recommendations π
That makes me so happy! π Have you read Emily’s other books? She’s just the queen of adorable romance books that are perfect for summer.