Goodreads Staffers Share Their Summer Reading Picks

Posted by Marie on May 6, 2019
If you love reading as much as our colleagues, then your summer fun itinerary will most likely include books. To help inspire you, we asked Goodreads staffers to share what they'll be reading this season.

There's quite a variety! With picks ranging from classic literature, domestic suspense, high fantasy, tell-all memoirs, and more, you're sure to find something that suits you.

And because our co-workers love knowing which of their recommendations made it on your list, don't forget to tell us which titles you'll be adding to your Want to Read shelf!


Dany Avila, Goodreads Community Expert




Katie Boyer, Marketing Specialist




Mimi Chan, Senior Marketing Manager




Tony Chan, Senior Software Development Engineer




Elizabeth Khuri Chandler, Cofounder & Editor in Chief




Otis Chandler, Cofounder & CEO




Sarah Chang, Program Manager




Brian Colombini, Software Development Engineer




Heino Colyn, Customer Service Manager




Lauren Deyce, Experts Learning Coordinator




Sebastian du Plessis, Experts Team Lead




Dana Epstein, Ad Sales Executive




Danny Feekes, Managing Editor



Emily Finley, Director of Operations




Emily Fortner, Community Manager




Mariana Gamboa Aguilar, Goodreads Expert




Brooke Ginnard, Visual Designer




Hayley Igarashi, Editor




Lisa Jablonsky, Sales Director




Sam Julian, UX Designer




Robin-Lee Moos, Goodreads Expert




David Kirlin, Senior Technical Program Manager




Monica Meng Guerrero, Goodreads Expert




Caroline Moeller, Account Executive




Veronica Moss, VP Revenue & Operations




Marie Pabelonio, Associate Editor




Emily Pardoe-Wessels, Goodreads Expert Team Lead




Gabriel Sevilla, Goodreads Expert




Shivani Sheth, Data Scientist




Yash Sinha, Software Development Engineer




William Siu, Technical Account Manager




Suzanne Skyvara, VP Communications




Joe Thomas, Software Development Engineer




Margo Throckmorton, Senior Account Manager




Cybil Wallace, Senior Editor




Rose Wang, Software Development Engineer




Jeff Wong, Senior iOS Engineer




Jaclyn Woods, Community Content Expert




Check out the complete guide to Summer Reading, including:
The Hottest Books of Summer
Summer Reading Recommendations from Favorite Authors
The Ultimate Summer Reading List

Comments Showing 1-37 of 37 (37 new)

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message 1: by L. (new)

L. Just what is a 'Goodreads Expert'?


message 2: by Lulufrances (new)

Lulufrances yay, nice variety! and especially cool to see some Christian books (Christine Caine's looks so good) on here


Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* L. (You like my book? Gee, thanks. Just bought it.) wrote: "Just what is a 'Goodreads Expert'?"

The Goodreads staff members


message 4: by Emily (new)

Emily L. (You like my book? Gee, thanks. Just bought it.) wrote: "Just what is a 'Goodreads Expert'?"

Goodreads Experts is the name of our customer support team!


message 5: by Jessica (new)

Jessica Haider Nothing from your product management team? :)


message 6: by Juniper (new)

Juniper The Starless Sea doesn't release until November, and can't be read this summer (unless you're Australian or the like). The waiting is killing me, it's the first book I've been genuninely excited about since Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane. But yeah, unfortunately not a viable suggestion for summer reads. :(


message 7: by Sue (new)

Sue An interesting choice. I also would love to know what is a "Goodreads Expert.


message 8: by MrTele (new)

MrTele It's a list of garbage. Mostly.


message 9: by linda (new)

linda Is it summer already?? Spring hasn't arrived here yet.


message 10: by TSM (new)

TSM Kat wrote: "The Starless Sea doesn't release until November, and can't be read this summer (unless you're Australian or the like). The waiting is killing me, it's the first book I've been genuninely excited ab..."

When I saw it on this list I thought I had the release date wrong but nope; US, UK and Canada release on November 5th! Why is it on a summer reads list??? Not all of us are lucky enough to get an ARC goodreads. Don't be a dick.


message 11: by Mililani (new)

Mililani It is interesting to try to imagine the personality of each of the experts based on the selected books. I like when people keep an open mind as we cannot read every book published each year. The haters will put on a negative spin but heck, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Our reaction to a book is often based on what we bring to it...our experience, our perspective, and our knowledge.
Thanks for sharing options.


message 12: by Susan (new)

Susan So many books to choose from. I have opened up my reading lists being apart of Goodreads. Thanks to all for the reviews and the recommendations. My top is 100 books a year and that is me reading every day. This year I am only doing half, need to enjoy the sunshine.


message 13: by Hazel Bee (new)

Hazel Bee I just printed out this list and I'll be heading for the library this weekend.


message 14: by Bonnie (new)

Bonnie Mr Tele have u read all these books to enable you to call the entire list garbage? Maybe some not ur taste but certainly not garbage.


message 15: by Mimi, Goodreads employee (new)

Mimi Sarah wrote: "Kat wrote: "The Starless Sea doesn't release until November, and can't be read this summer (unless you're Australian or the like). The waiting is killing me, it's the first book I've been genuninel..."

I hear you Kat and Sarah! I got too excited sharing about Starless Sea. I'd recommend Parkland instead which is also on my can't wait to read list for the summer.


Ann (Inky Labyrinth) Shout out to Emily Finley, who has impeccable taste. ;)
This was so fun to look through!


message 17: by Lady Jayme, (new)

Lady Jayme, Added 2 wildly different books: The Accidental Beauty Queen by Teri Wilson and The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming by David Wallace-Wells. :)


message 18: by Anne ✨ (last edited May 07, 2019 04:40PM) (new)

Anne ✨ Finds Joy Thanks for publishing this - it's interesting to see how varied the books are, different reading tastes for each person.. I found a bunch of books to add to my TBR that I probably wouldn't have discovered otherwise, as well as some exciting new books coming down the pipeline!


message 19: by C I N D L E (new)

C I N D L E Great list! Interesting to see that as reading tastes vary across the board for Goodreads' members, same rings true for Goodreads' staff.

I had kept my fingers crossed in hopes that all three books from at least one staff member's list I had already read or all three were in my to-read list. No such luck. Two out of three was the most that matched Danny Feekes, Caroline Moeller, Brooke Ginnard, William Siu, and Jacklyn Wood.

It might be fun to put together a winter list too. Just a thought. 😃


message 20: by Shirley (new)

Shirley I want to read all the books Cybil Wallace listed.


message 21: by Cari (new)

Cari Gray-Hammer Dream job


message 22: by Elena (new)

Elena How is City of Girls?


message 23: by Carla Pinney (new)

Carla Pinney The Death of Mrs Westaby by Ruth Hawk. A great mystery. Lots of solutions. Just when you think you figured it out, you find out no, it can't be.


Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* Linda wrote: "Is it summer already?? Spring hasn't arrived here yet."

No, we still have awhile in the states here too. Spring ends here June 21, so still have over a month.


message 25: by Cheyenne (new)

Cheyenne I like this list. Its fun to see what the people behind Goodreads like to read. I found a couple books to add to my TBR too. :)


message 26: by Pam (new)

Pam Carmichael Wow I added a bunch to my list, there are some real eye opener's here, thank you!


message 27: by Deeksha (new)

Deeksha This was an amazing idea and super fun to look at everyone's lists.

Gabriel Sevilla wins for posting the best book recs (and for recommending SAO Progressive)

Also, where's the QA's list? Why's there no QA :(
As a tester, I was really looking forward to seeing a list from your QA but alas! Hire a QA guys.


message 28: by Ad (new)

Ad Pleasantly shocked to see Bonhoeffer listed!

Noticed some common recommendations along with my local library; nice mix!


message 29: by Nicole (new)

Nicole L. (You like my book? Gee, thanks. Just bought it.) wrote: "Just what is a 'Goodreads Expert'?"

I think the bigger question is how do you become one?


message 30: by Emily (new)

Emily Nicole wrote: "I think the bigger question is how do you become one? "

You can check out our Careers page to see all current opportunities at Goodreads!


message 31: by John (new)

John E.  Meredith Account Executive. Associate Editor. Data Expert. I'm not sure if you folks know this or not, but normal people with regular jobs and no fancy titles can sometimes read too. I know, it's shocking, right? But it miiiiiight actually be interesting to see the lists of gas station attendants, retail workers, and some chick who works at McDonald's. We can all have minds and rich inner lives, regardless of how high-paying our jobs are.


Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* John wrote: "Account Executive. Associate Editor. Data Expert. I'm not sure if you folks know this or not, but normal people with regular jobs and no fancy titles can sometimes read too. I know, it's shocking, ..."

They do lists that the regular Goodreads members are reading also.


message 33: by Rachael (new)

Rachael Lundy-Davis Lady Jayme, wrote: "Added 2 wildly different books: The Accidental Beauty Queen by Teri Wilson and The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming by David Wallace-Wells. :)"
Thanks for the rec on here. I added The Accidental Beauty Queen.


message 34: by Natasa (new)

Natasa Lulufrances wrote: "yay, nice variety! and especially cool to see some Christian books (Christine Caine's looks so good) on here"

Agreed!


message 35: by Vanessa (new)

Vanessa Dargain Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "L. (You like my book? Gee, thanks. Just bought it.) wrote: "Just what is a 'Goodreads Expert'?"

The Goodreads staff members"


That's what I think it is .


message 36: by Connie (last edited May 30, 2020 04:28PM) (new)

Connie A great mix of titles, thanks for sharing! Found a few that pique my interest.


message 37: by Vanessa (new)

Vanessa Dargain Connie wrote: "An great mix of titles, thanks for sharing! Found a few that pique my interest."

Mine too . Goodreads is so good at getting a reader energized .


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