120 Book Recommendations for (Nearly) Every Kind of Summer Reader

Posted by Sharon on May 13, 2024


Here at Goodreads World Headquarters, we take summer reading seriously. Summertime is especially conducive to the book-reading lifestyle: You’ve got more vacation time, better outdoor-reading conditions, and expanded daylight hours to make it all happen.
 
As part of our annual Summer Reading initiative, we’ve compiled this specially curated collection that takes a lateral-thinking approach to book sorting. Our intrepid editorial team has waded into the stacks to organize recommendations based on Reader Type. As you shall see, our approach is highly unscientific, somewhat improvised, and exceedingly practical.
 
Perhaps you’re the kind of person who likes a long book for summer reading. May we suggest a doorstopper selection from The Deep-Focus Reader collection. Maybe it’s just the opposite and your attention span suffers in the sun. Try a short story collection from The Busy Bee Reader selection. We like to think we’ve covered many, if not all, possible contingencies: The Gotta-Impress-My-Book-Club Reader! The Minimalist Packer Reader! We’re even committed to those of you who are dealing with winter just now, with cold-weather reads for The Southern Hemisphere Reader.
 
Scroll around the categories below to find your perfect summer read. You can click through the book cover images for more information about each title. Feel free to track your choices with the Want to Read button, and add any further suggestions or discoveries in the comments section.


The Very Literal Summer Reader:

I'm going to focus on books with "summer" in their titles.

 
 


The Top-Bunk Reader:

I'm looking for page-turners set at summer camp.

 
 


The On-Point Theme Reader:

I'd love nonfiction about summery activities and topics.

 


The Movie Buff Reader:

I'm an absolute book-to-screen fiend.

 


The Minimalist Packer Reader: 

I need new paperbacks that won't weigh me down.

 
 


The Jet-Setting Reader:

I like reading novels where the characters travel (while I also travel).

 
 


The Deep-Focus Reader:

I finally have time to sink into a long book! Whaddya got for me?

 


The FOMO Reader:

I want to catch up on the buzzy recent books everyone's been talking about.

 
       


The Busy Bee Reader:

I've got a packed itinerary for summer, but I'll save time for short stories!

 


The Summer Lovin' Reader:

I'm always looking for a fling with a highly rated romance!

 
       


The Southern Hemisphere Reader:

It's not summer where I am. Can you show me some books set in cold climates?

 
   


The Lifelong Learner Reader:

I live for a super-niche nonfiction deep dive.

 
   


The Gotta-Impress-My-Book-Club Reader:

Show me some recent award-winning books, please.

 


The Outdoorsy Reader:

Inspire me to explore nature!

 


The Desperate Parent Reader:

PLEASE help me find some books to keep my middle schoolers reading over summer break.

 
       



What kind of summer reader are YOU? Let us know what your summer-reading persona is and what books you're planning to read in the comments below!
 

Comments Showing 51-79 of 79 (79 new)

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message 51: by Grisette (new)

Grisette Don't forget those who are wintering right now!! 😅


message 52: by Polina (new)

Polina Great article, picks many interesting books for my never ending tbr pile


message 53: by Bridgett (new)

Bridgett Junkin I have read so many serious, heavy content, books lately. I want something totally frivolous. I don’t want to think and I don’t want to cry. Can anybody help me out?


message 54: by Evangeline (new)

Evangeline I live where summer is hot, hot, humid hot. I'm definitely a Southern Hemisphere reader!


message 55: by Walleye23 (new)

Walleye23 what does FOMO mean please


message 56: by Zane (new)

Zane Re-Bloom One more for the Desperate Parent Readers: THE MAGIC OF MOON AND HERBS, a Gertrude Warner Book Award finalist and witchy fantasy.


message 57: by Richard (new)

Richard McCann You left one (of many I'm sure) out of the list!! Two If By Sea by Richard McCann is a great steamy thriller that won't leave you disappointed! Get your paperback or Ebook today and enjoy the read! You'll be glad you did!


message 58: by Marylou (new)

Marylou Kiwi♡ wrote: "Does anyone have any good nonfiction books for middle school to highschool readers? Any sort of topic if fine, I just need recommendations. Thanks!"

All Thirteen, which is the story of the rescue of the soccer team trapped in a cave, is excellent.


message 59: by Lonnie (new)

Lonnie Stephens There are some great reads out there about our revolutionary history. David McCulloughs “1776” and also his book “John Adams” come to mind. I wish Good Reads would push more history books during the month of July.


message 60: by Tara (new)

Tara Lee wrote: "What about the senior reader who is lonely and whose adult children have long ago forgotten them? What is life at the end?"

If you haven't read The Love Story of Missy Carmichael by Beth Morrey, read it now. Like, immediately. I just read Sylvia's Second Act by Hilary Yablon, which was fun, if a tad unrealistic. Don't Forget to Write by Sara Goodman Confino has a young woman as its central character, but her great aunt is just as prominent and far more interesting. Women in Sunlight by Frances Mayes isn't exactly about senior women (they're a bit younger than that if I remember correctly - I read it a few years ago), but it's not about 20 somethings and the setting and the hopefulness can't help but cheer you up. Try those for a start.

Where there is life, there's hope. May these books help you see possibilities for yourself.


message 61: by Travis (new)

Travis High The Summer Book by Tove Jansson is a really nice book about that special kind of Scandinavian summer out on the water, with lots of sunshine.


message 62: by Huguette (new)

Huguette Ettinger Missing Historical Fictions 😯! Otherwise amazing list!!!


message 63: by Savannah (new)

Savannah Movie Buff for me!!


message 64: by Annabelle Pip (new)

Annabelle Pip The Counselors by Jessica Goodman is ultimate summer camp thriller with Gossip Girl vibes.


message 65: by Audrey (new)

Audrey I like the titles of the different groups of books. Many of these are on my read list too!


message 66: by Roslyn (new)

Roslyn I can't believe the Southern Hemisphere finally got a mention! Mind you, it's nice to read summery books in winter too!


message 67: by Tonia (new)

Tonia Great article, however, I still enjoy reading mysteries and thrillers in the summer along with romance novels. If you’ve got some Summer Thrillers please share them!


message 68: by Roslyn (last edited Jul 07, 2024 08:42PM) (new)

Roslyn Walleye23 wrote: "what does FOMO mean please"

I believe it stands for 'For of Missing Out'.


message 69: by Jane (new)

Jane Cozies and history - not just summer.


message 70: by Jezzy (new)

Jezzy Walleye23 wrote: "what does FOMO mean please"

it means Fear of Missing Out.


message 71: by Rebecca (new)

Rebecca Awesome recs! Seeing the Southern Hemisphere category was a lovely surprise! : )


message 72: by Ismija (new)

Ismija how about care free summer books?


message 73: by Vaish (new)

Vaish B great list


message 74: by Law (new)

Law I read and loved Dune. I plan to read One Summer in Savannah. Is it any good? I liked No Matter the Distance, but Duel was so frustrating to read. I had to give it a DNF. Can you recommend me another graphic novel to read instead?


message 75: by Law (new)

Law Teresa wrote: "Anything at all in spec fix/Sci Fi/SF/fantasy genres?? Anything?"

There's Dune. You can go read that.


message 76: by Francesca (new)

Francesca Faccilongo Aubrey wrote: "Oh my gumdrops, I am SO the FOMO reader. 😂"
ahahahahaha me too!!


message 77: by Amber (new)

Amber Martingale Lisa wrote: "I'm a summer rereader--Harry Potter, Jan Karon's Mitford series, Dean Hughes' "Children of the Promise" series, The Chronicles of Narnia, Brother Cadfael, Sister Frevisse, Elm Creek Quilts--this co..."

I haven't read Brother Cadfael in years. What can you tell me about Sister Frevisse? I used to the Templar Mysteries by Michael Jecks, but it's been awhile and I forgot where I left off, so I can't really help you, other than to recommend you actually start with Templar's Acre ( https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... ); the 32nd book of the series, but the one with the earliest action: the seige of Acre during the Crusades.


message 78: by Amber (last edited Jul 11, 2024 05:42PM) (new)

Amber Martingale Kiwi♡ wrote: "Does anyone have any good nonfiction books for middle school to highschool readers? Any sort of topic if fine, I just need recommendations. Thanks!"

I recommend the Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales series ( https://www.goodreads.com/series/2813... ), along with a graphic novel called Pride of Baghdad, which tells of the US invasion of Iraq twenty-one years ago as if witnessed by the Baghdad City Zoo's lion pride (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... ) and Laika; which tells the story of the USSR's canine cosmonaut, Laika ( https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... ).


message 79: by Amber (new)

Amber Martingale Roslyn wrote: "Walleye23 wrote: "what does FOMO mean please"

I believe it stands for 'For of Missing Out'."


"FEAR Of Missing Out".


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