Summer Book Recommendations

A dip in the pool. A trip to the spa. A fabulous summer vacation consisting of going to the beach every day. If you're looking for something to set the mood and complete that perfect summer day, a book is just what you need. From a cutesy romance to a whimsical fantasy book with a world that we could never dream of, books can capture the essence of any mood.

Malibu Rising, a historical novel written by Taylor Jenkins Reid, tells the compelling story of the four children of Mick Riva, a famous singer, and their life growing up. The main plot of the book takes place over one day, August 27, 1993, at Nina’s annual end-of-summer party. It is a fast-paced novel, where the drama of higher society guests intertwines with crazy partygoers, and it leads you to truly not know what might happen next. The book recounts the events that Nina, Jay, Hud, and Kit Riva experience during the day and night that later lead to the tragic fire.

In Alex, Approximately, author Jenn Bennet tells the story of an unexpected summer romance, the perfect read for a summer day. Main character Bailey “Mink” Rydell has been crushing on her online friend “Alex”, who shares her passion for classic movies, ever since they started chatting. Picking up and leaving everything she once knew behind to move to a surf town in California with her dad, where ironically Alex also lives, leads to a summer-long search to figure out his identity before he ever even knew she was there. Along the way, Bailey gets a job at a local museum where she meets her new best friend Grace, and her annoyingly attractive coworker Porter Roth. The close conditions of their job unfold feelings both good and bad, leading to a summer of romance, complicated feelings, and truths unfolding.

The book, One Italian Summer, by Rebecca Serle, follows the main character, Katy, after the recent, tragic loss of her mother. With their previously planned mother-daughter trip to Positano approaching closer and closer, Katy accepts that she must take on this adventure alone to find herself. Unexpectedly, Carol, Katy's mother, is on the island, looking thirty years old again. Her mother, who should be dead, is standing in front of her alive, young, and well. Now she’s back in Katy’s life, not as her mother, but who she was before that. One Italian Summer, tells their amazing story along with the grief, love, and magic of this mysterious island in Italy, making it the perfect escape from reality.

Tell Me Three Things, written by Julie Buxbaum, is a perfect easy read to get into reading. This book follows high schooler Jessie as she navigates moving to California after the death of her mother. She has to adapt to her new lifestyle at a fancy private school which is paid for by her new stepmom. This book does a fantastic job describing the process of grief and healing, as well as dealing with complicated relationships. The romance in this book is also absolutely to die for, with multiple love interests for Jessie to pick from. If you are looking for a fun, sweet, and heartfelt book, this is the one for you. 

The Summer I Turned Pretty, written by Jenny Han, is about as summer as you can get. Set in Cousins Beach, this book follows teen Belly Conklin as she spends the summer at a beach house with her mom’s best friend's family. We get to hear about Belly’s past beach house experiences growing up, and learn how important they were to her. We also meet brothers Conrad and Jeremiah Fisher, the sons of Belly’s moms best friend. We learn that Belly has been hopelessly in love with Conrad her whole life, but never acted on it. This summer is different though. Belly’s life is changing in many ways, and this book will keep you wanting more. 

The Cruel Prince, written by Holly Black, is not exactly a summer read, but instead an option for those who would rather read a magical fantasy. From the captivating fantasy world it takes place in, to the addicting enemies to lovers romance, this book is a must-read! In this book, morally gray protagonist Jude Duarte is a human living in a world of faeries, a world where she does not fit in. You will not be able to put this book down as you read about Jude’s attempts to prove herself and the setbacks she faces. Although it’s not necessarily a summer book, this book is a 10/10 all year round.