Sign in with Facebook
21 Hottest Books of Summer
You're going to need a bigger beach bag (or a bigger Want to Read shelf). We've crunched the numbers to bring you the books with the most buzz on Goodreads! From a scorching literary debut inspired by the Manson murders to a crackling apocalyptic thriller about a spontaneous combustion epidemic, we've got white-hot stories for every type of reader. Which ones do you want to read?
Fiction
The Girls
by Emma Cline
This powerful debut, set in late '60s California and inspired by the Manson murders, climbs inside the mind of Evie, an insecure teen seduced by a cult.
Lily and the Octopus
by Steven Rowley
With humor and elements of magic realism, this semi-autobiographical novel describes the bond between Ted and his best friend, aging dachshund Lily.
LaRose
by Louise Erdrich
In this poetic novel, a hunting accident changes the lives of two families living in a small North Dakota reservation town.
Young Adult
My Lady Jane
by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows
Three YA authors play fast and loose with history in this fantastical, comic retelling of the story of Lady Jane Grey involving magic and shapeshifting.
Ambitious superscheduler Andi loses her dream internship, forcing her to face a big empty summer of uncertainty in this funny, sweet, and inspiring novel.
The Star-Touched Queen
by Roshani Chokshi
Indian and Greek mythology merge in this fantasy debut about a teenage queen who embarks on a hazardous journey of self-discovery and romance.
Nonfiction
Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War
by Mary Roach
The popular science author trains her sights on the weird and wonderful techniques used to keep soldiers safe, sane, and healthy.
Valiant Ambition: George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the Fate of the American Revolution
by Nathaniel Philbrick
The tragic relationship between George Washington and Benedict Arnold unfolds in this compelling account of the middle years of the American Revolution.
The Gene: An Intimate History
by Siddhartha Mukherjee
The physician and assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University makes the past and future of genetics personal in this eye-opening book.
Lab Girl
by Hope Jahren
Nature and love unite in this unique blend of memoir and science writing by geobiologist Jahren, who cherishes plants as well as her research partner.
Mystery and Thriller
Hidden Bodies
by John Hart
A wrongfully accused cop seeks justice, a young girl is kidnapped, and a boy plots revenge in this elaborate mystery set in a small town on the brink of chaos.
Before the Fall
by Noah Hawley
In this gripping thriller, a frenzied media demands answers after a private jet crashes off Martha's Vineyard, leaving only two survivors.
Troubled detective Erika Foster investigates the murder of a socialite discovered under a thick sheet of ice in a South London park.
Historical Fiction
Homegoing
by Yaa Gyasi
This bewitching, heartbreaking novel examines seven generations shaped by the horrors of the slave trade and its fallout in Africa and the United States.
Two Frenchmen leave their homes to work as wood-cutters (or "barkskins"), triggering centuries of turmoil in this sweeping saga of greed and lust.
Inspired by actual events, this unforgettable novel follows three characters whose lives converge at Ravensbrück, the women's-only concentration camp.
Romance
Idol
by Kristen Callihan
In this irresistible romance, a spunky recluse finds a rock star on her lawn—specifically the world's sexiest rock star on the world's un-sexiest bender.
Stuck-Up Suit
by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward
When the hot guy on her morning commute leaves his phone, Soraya returns it to his office (with a dirty picture of herself) in this sizzling read.
Science Fiction and Fantasy
Age of Myth
by Michael J. Sullivan
A young man grapples with his destiny as a God Killer in this spellbinding tale of power and rebellion, the first in a new epic fantasy series.
This breathtaking collection of short stories probes at the heart of what makes us human, utilizing a full arsenal of fantastical characters and settings.
In this apocalyptic thriller, a pregnant nurse navigates a world on the verge of collapse following a pandemic of spontaneous combustion.
Which book are you most excited to read this summer? Let us know in the comments!
Fiction
by Emma Cline
This powerful debut, set in late '60s California and inspired by the Manson murders, climbs inside the mind of Evie, an insecure teen seduced by a cult.
by Steven Rowley
With humor and elements of magic realism, this semi-autobiographical novel describes the bond between Ted and his best friend, aging dachshund Lily.
by Louise Erdrich
In this poetic novel, a hunting accident changes the lives of two families living in a small North Dakota reservation town.
Young Adult
by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows
Three YA authors play fast and loose with history in this fantastical, comic retelling of the story of Lady Jane Grey involving magic and shapeshifting.
by Roshani Chokshi
Indian and Greek mythology merge in this fantasy debut about a teenage queen who embarks on a hazardous journey of self-discovery and romance.
Nonfiction
by Mary Roach
The popular science author trains her sights on the weird and wonderful techniques used to keep soldiers safe, sane, and healthy.
by Nathaniel Philbrick
The tragic relationship between George Washington and Benedict Arnold unfolds in this compelling account of the middle years of the American Revolution.
by Siddhartha Mukherjee
The physician and assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University makes the past and future of genetics personal in this eye-opening book.
by Hope Jahren
Nature and love unite in this unique blend of memoir and science writing by geobiologist Jahren, who cherishes plants as well as her research partner.
Mystery and Thriller
by John Hart
A wrongfully accused cop seeks justice, a young girl is kidnapped, and a boy plots revenge in this elaborate mystery set in a small town on the brink of chaos.
by Noah Hawley
In this gripping thriller, a frenzied media demands answers after a private jet crashes off Martha's Vineyard, leaving only two survivors.
Historical Fiction
by Yaa Gyasi
This bewitching, heartbreaking novel examines seven generations shaped by the horrors of the slave trade and its fallout in Africa and the United States.
Romance
by Kristen Callihan
In this irresistible romance, a spunky recluse finds a rock star on her lawn—specifically the world's sexiest rock star on the world's un-sexiest bender.
by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward
When the hot guy on her morning commute leaves his phone, Soraya returns it to his office (with a dirty picture of herself) in this sizzling read.
Science Fiction and Fantasy
by Michael J. Sullivan
A young man grapples with his destiny as a God Killer in this spellbinding tale of power and rebellion, the first in a new epic fantasy series.
Which book are you most excited to read this summer? Let us know in the comments!
Comments Showing 1-50 of 181 (181 new)
message 1:
by
Nancy
(new)
Jun 28, 2016 08:25AM
The Girls by Emma Cline and End of Watch by Stephen King are the two in my current stack of books I am most looking forward to reading. There has been great buzz about the Cline book recently.
flag
The Star-Touched Queen is the only one I added. Not all, but most of the stuff on this list looks like utter rubbish. : (
I'm most excited to read The Fireman by Joe Hill!
The Girls by Emma Cline sounds amazing!!! I'm just starting Eleanor & Park which is living up to the expectations so far, and I'm hoping to delve into Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher at some point for a bit of light summer reading.
The list is long! Barkskins, The City of the Mirrors, The Crow Girl and a re-read of Battlefield Earth. Life is good!
The Lilac Girlsby Martha Hall Kelly
Stuck-Up Suit
by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward
I am currently reading The Girls and really enjoying it. I want to read Homegoing and The Star-Touched Queen, as well. I am on the fence about The Fireman, but probably will read it.
None of the above. I'm currently reading The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.
Becca wrote: "I am currently reading The Girls and really enjoying it. I want to read Homegoing and The Star-Touched Queen, as well. I am on the fence about The Fireman, but probably will read it."Becca wrote: "I am currently reading The Girls and really enjoying it. I want to read Homegoing and The Star-Touched Queen, as well. I am on the fence about The Fireman, but probably will read it."
I have read The Girls and The Fireman. I enjoyed both, but thought that The Fireman was better. Of course they are very different kinds of books. Comparing isn't really fair.
Rosalinda wrote: "None of the above. I'm currently reading The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini."
Fantastic book Rosalinda. Hope you are enjoying it!
Fantastic book Rosalinda. Hope you are enjoying it!
Caroline wrote: "Rosalinda wrote: "None of the above. I'm currently reading The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini."Fantastic book Rosalinda. Hope you are enjoying it!"
Caroline, Yes, I'm enjoying it very much and learning a lot about Afghanistan.
Idol and Stuck up suit .Can't wait to read them
Leslie wrote: "None of the above."Exactly the same.
In south america is winter and it is very cold weather here in Argentina. We are going to start winter holiday here, in few weeks for students, teachers and for somebody who is lucky to take vacations on this part of the year. In my case, I will read books that I dropped in the last months.
I dropped everything else I was reading or going to read when I got my hands on a copy of Trail of Echoes by Rachel Howzell Hall. That series and Yaa Gyasi's HOMECOMING have made my summer.
Six of these were already on my TBR and one I've read (The Girls).
Definitely The Girls! Have been patiently anticipating this one. Picked it up at the library last night and hope to start reading it this weekend (4th of July= extra reading day)!
Before the Fall. Anyone that can translate "Fargo," the film into a well-written, hit television series, has got to be an excellent writer and I look forward to Noah Hawley's latest work.
Definitely Lily and the Octopus, mainly because I've read really good reviews about it, but I'm also a fanatic dog lover and devour books about man's best friend
From this list, The Girls sounds good. I just started We Could Be Beautiful which I've been excited about.
I haven't heard of any of these other than the Joe Hill book....
I am not familiar with any of these books but based on the overview, The Girls by Emma Cline sounds like a great read.
is wonderful for all the animal lovers. I read it in 3 days.
This list is so uninteresting. Nothing sounds good
I have 11 of these on my summer reading list :) Reading The Gene and Homegoing right now, and recently finished Grunt.
Have The Girls on library reserve and looking forward to Lilac Girls and The Fireman.
La Rose by Louise ErdrichThe Girl in the Ice by Robert Bryndza
