Don’t you find that your reading tastes differ from season to season? We do. Summer isn’t when we feel like diving into the deep, intellectual, heavy reads. That’s more of a winter vibe. We tend to select books to read for summer that are lighthearted, fun, and easy to breeze through. Yes, that means a lot of what we like to read in the summer are romantic comedies or other kinds of predictable books. These genres are often criticized as fluff, but we don’t see anything wrong with having an escape with our reading material. After all, what’s bad about reading something that leaves us feeling optimistic and hopeful?

As a friend of Marilyn’s once said, “Don’t yuck on someone else’s yum.” Exactly.

Below, we’ve listed 10 books to read for summer that we loved and feel are worth recommending to you. They range from romantic comedies, to memoirs, to think-pieces, but they are all books we’ve read and thoroughly enjoyed. Take one of these books (or more) on your trip to the pool this summer, grab a cold drink, and dive into your chosen world.

10 Books to Read for Summer

Now is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson

A coming-of-age story that will leave you feeling nostalgic for those lazy afternoons you spent daydreaming with your best friend and partner in crime.

The Guest by Emma Cline

An outsider looking into the world she so desperately wants to be part of and the lengths she will go to claw her way back in.

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

This book will make you appreciate the choices you’ve made in life. A good reminder that what could have been perhaps wasn’t what was meant to be.

Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore

A historical love story. The strong female protagonist is involved in the women’s suffrage movement, and falls in love with a Duke.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Old Hollywood glamour comes to life in this Taylor Jenkins Reid book. Aging and reclusive Hollywood star, Evelyn Hugo, decides to tell her life story to an unsuspecting journalist. The details are juicy and surprising.

The Duke and I: Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

The first book in the Bridgerton series that tells the love story of Daphne Bridgerton and Simon Basset. If you like this one, the good news is there are a lot more to keep you in this world for a long period of time.

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

A magical realism book that follows three generations of the Trueba family. Beautifully written.

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

We recommended this book before and it’s so good that we decided to include it again here. A commentary on the publishing world that will make you laugh and make you recoil in horror.

Abandon Me by Melissa Febos

We’ll read anything Melissa Febos writes. This work is a collection of nonfiction essays that explore the need for connection.

Heartbroke by Chelsea Bieker

Gritty but entertaining short stories about unusual characters.

Have you read any of these? What are your recommendations for summer reading? We’d love to hear from you. Drop us a comment below!

-Isabel and Marilyn

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