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23 Hottest Books of Summer
Nothing can ruin a vacation like a lack of books. Wherever you'll be this summer—on the beach, on the road, or cozy at home—we've got your reading recommendations covered.
We crunched the numbers to find the new and upcoming books your fellow Goodreads members love. Paula Hawkins' Into the Water is making waves in mystery, and sequels from Sarah J. Maas and Cassandra Clare have cast their spell on YA readers, but aside from the titles you already know about, we wanted to bring you the big books that combine popularity with high marks. That's why every book on our list has a 4.0+ rating! Which ones pique your interest?
Fiction
by Fredrik Backman
In a small town nestled deep in the forest, a community in crisis looks to junior ice hockey for hope and redemption. [Read our interview with Backman here.]
Release date: May 2
by Gail Honeyman
Meet Eleanor, a quirky loner who slowly learns she's capable of friendship (and maybe even love) after saving an elderly man's life.
Release date: May 9
by Kevin Kwan
A massive fortune's up for grabs and scandal looms in this hilarious new installment in the Crazy Rich Asians series. [Read Kwan's book recommendations here.]
Release date: May 23
by Arundhati Roy
In this sweeping saga from the author of The God of Small Things, broken men and women find their lives mended by love. [Read our interview with Roy here.]
Release date: May 2
Young Adult
Always and Forever, Lara Jean
by Jenny Han
Glued to her writing desk, Lara Jean wars with her head and her heart as she chooses a college and contemplates leaving the boy she loves behind. [Read our interview with Han here.]
Release date: May 2
by Jenny Han
Glued to her writing desk, Lara Jean wars with her head and her heart as she chooses a college and contemplates leaving the boy she loves behind. [Read our interview with Han here.]
Release date: May 2
by Renee Ahdieh
The daughter of a prominent samurai disguises herself as a peasant boy and infiltrates the ranks of a bandit gang in this thrilling series starter.
Release date: May 16
by Karen M. McManus
In this deadly twist on The Breakfast Club, five strangers walk into detention at Bayview High…and only four walk out alive.
Release date: May 30
by Mackenzi Lee
Two friends embark on their Grand Tour of 18th-century Europe, stumbling upon a magical artifact and an unexpected romance along the way.
Release date: June 27
Nonfiction
by David Grann
The author of The Lost City of Z uncovers the secrets and scandals surrounding the investigation of the Osage Murders in the early 1920s. [Read our interview with Grann here.]
Release date: April 18
by Neil deGrasse Tyson
Untangle the mysteries of the universe—in the same time it takes your morning coffee to brew—in this engaging and illuminating read. [Read our interview with Tyson here.]
Release date: May 2
by Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich
Blending personal history with true-crime terror, this one-of-a-kind memoir begins with a disturbing and "uncannily familiar" murder case. [Read Marzano-Lesnevich's author-to-author interview with Celeste Ng here.]
Release date: May 16
Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body
by Roxane Gay
The author of Bad Feminist explores the tension between desire and denial, comfort and care, in this candid, illuminating, and inspiring memoir. [Read our interview with Gay here.]
Release date: June 13
by Roxane Gay
The author of Bad Feminist explores the tension between desire and denial, comfort and care, in this candid, illuminating, and inspiring memoir. [Read our interview with Gay here.]
Release date: June 13
Mystery/Thriller
by M.L. Rio
When real violence invades a theater school, seven young Shakespearean actors must choose the real-life roles that will define them.
Release date: April 11
by Dean Koontz
The bestselling suspense novelist kicks off a new series centered on Jane Hawk, recent widow and the most-wanted fugitive in America. [Read our interview with Koontz here.]
Release date: June 20
by Riley Sager
The sole survivors of three separate horror movie-scale massacres keep to themselves—until Lisa, the first "Final Girl," winds up dead in her bathtub.
Release date: July 11
by B.A. Paris
After a woman she abandoned is murdered, guilt and paranoia haunt Cass in this tense page-turner from the author of Behind Closed Doors. [Read Paris' book recommendations here.]
Release date: July 18
Historical Fiction
by Mark T. Sullivan
Based on a true story, this is the harrowing tale of Pino Lella, who spied for the Allies while serving as the personal driver of General Hans Leyers, the Third Reich's commander in Italy.
Release date: May 1
by J. Courtney Sullivan
Two sisters leave their small village in Ireland, never expecting the ways the following decades in America will break and bind their relationship.
Release date: May 9
Romance
by Nora Roberts
When a dead body is found outside Bo's family ranch, the police suspect the one man Bo thought she could trust…and love.
Release date: May 30
by Nalini Singh
Passion and betrayal collide in this seductive tale of a ruthless ice queen and the changeling who vows to protect her.
Release date: June 13
Science Fiction and Fantasy
by Mark Lawrence
Born for killing, eight-year-old Nona Grey comes to terms with her destiny at the Convent of Sweet Mercy, a school for would-be assassins.
Release date: April 4
by Jeff VanderMeer
In a city littered by discarded experiments and at the whim of a giant bear, a plant-like being named Borne discovers his complex destiny.
Release date: April 25
by M.R. Carey
Desperate for any sign of hope, a small expedition of scientists searches the post-apocalyptic wasteland in this prequel to The Girl with All the Gifts.
Release date: May 2
Tell us what books you'll be checking out in the comments! And discover more of our summer reading coverage here.
Comments Showing 1-50 of 74 (74 new)
I have just added the 2 Historical Fiction books to my ever increasing to be read list.
I just finished Beartown. I'd like to read Beneath a Scarlet Sky. I don't think any of the others are on my list of possibilities for this summer.
Caroline wrote: "I have just added the 2 Historical Fiction books to my ever increasing to be read list."Amen, Caroline!
I am currently reading Beneath a Scarlet Sky
Only see two books, I'll add to my TBR List
I'll just cry down here in the southern hemisphere as winter looms. Also, why is 'Flame in the Mist' on nearly every YA reading list recently? I haven't even heard that many great things about it.
Caroline wrote: "I have just added the 2 Historical Fiction books to my ever increasing to be read list."Lol aka my life
"23 Hottest Books of Summer" – err... do you mean "Northern Summer"?
I ordered Bear Town and will look at a couple more at least for the summer + Great list love the variety
The women in the illustration for this list have no feet. Is there a reason for that?
I'm curious about BeartownStarting reading The Killers of the Flower Moon
Like the blog post graphics and ideas, Goodreads
Steven wrote: ""23 Hottest Books of Summer" – err... do you mean "Northern Summer"?"Ha, true.
Sa wrote: "The women in the illustration for this list have no feet. Is there a reason for that?"That's funny, didn't notice till you said something. That is weird.
Excellent to see Red Sister up there! Many thanks.Also cool to see a book dominated by ice picked as one of the hottest.
Beartown is on my list - hope I can get to it before the fall begins, as my TBR list is outrageous. And, I'm adding Come Sundown as well because, well, Nora Roberts...
Plan to read more of Nalini Singh's Psy/Changeling series this summer.
I read all the time, but it seems they are rarely on lists. However, I did just read Beartown and it was excellent. Not a light summer read, but a really good one!
Kathy wrote: "I read all the time, but it seems they are rarely on lists. However, I did just read Beartown and it was excellent. Not a light summer read, but a really good one!"I read more than anything else I do in my life now. I don't know if that is good or bad but I love it. I agree with Kathy, when I read a book it is most likely not on my 'to-read' list. Funny huh? Anyway I just added three to four new books for my list. Hopefully I will read them. :)
I read, "If We Were Villains." It was great! "Final Girls" looks good too! I cannot wait for "The Breakdown" to be released. I loved "Behind Closed Doors."
IMO, this is an odd list. Have read two and have two on by TBR list, but American War by Omar El Akkad is stunningly good and original- surprised it is not on this list.
These all look great. What a shame it is our winter. I can only look at these wistfully and patiently wait for summertime!
Why do the people in the "Summer Reading" images have sandals beside their blankets, when none of them have feet?
Shades of Annie Wilkes!
Eris wrote: "I read, "If We Were Villains." It was great! "Final Girls" looks good too! I cannot wait for "The Breakdown" to be released. I loved "Behind Closed Doors.""The Breakdown is really good. I got an ARC through Netgalley. I have her first book but haven't read it yet.
Sa wrote: "The women in the illustration for this list have no feet. Is there a reason for that?"You made me laugh.
Jimilyn wrote: "I just finished Beartown. I'd like to read Beneath a Scarlet Sky. I don't think any of the others are on my list of possibilities for this summer."Also just finished Beartown. Not what I was expecting! Very different from his other books. And it's going to be a trilogy!
Kathy wrote: "I read all the time, but it seems they are rarely on lists. However, I did just read Beartown and it was excellent. Not a light summer read, but a really good one!"It's going to be a trilogy!!
Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh sounds really interesting
If We were Villians already added to my TBR List and I'm actually reading The Breakdown.
Just finished One Of us Is Lying, absolutely awesome book!! Not just for YA readers, it's the first 'whodunnit' that has surprised me in a long time.
I am halfway through with "Saints for All Occasions". Saints for All Occasions I'm also in the midst of a 6 month reading struggle. Actually, thanks to this book, I'm HOPEFULLY coming out of it. Love, Love, LOVE this one. I tend to love books that transcend times and generations; I honestly cannot put it down.
Autumn wrote: "Caroline wrote: "I have just added the 2 Historical Fiction books to my ever increasing to be read list."Lol aka my life"
I'll third that!
Can't wait to read The Library of Light and Shadow by MJ Rose. Release date July 18.
Hayli, Autumn, Courtney.
We all need more hours in the day to catch up on all our books!!
We all need more hours in the day to catch up on all our books!!
Amy wrote: "I am halfway through with "Saints for All Occasions". Saints for All Occasions I'm also in the midst of a 6 month reading struggle. Actually, thanks to this book, I'm HOPEFULLY comi..."I've been in a 4 year booking reading struggle. I hate it!
I can NOT wait for Roy's new book, "The Ministry of Utmost Happiness"!!
EmilyViolet wrote: "I'll just cry down here in the southern hemisphere as winter looms. Also, why is 'Flame in the Mist' on nearly every YA reading list recently? I haven't even heard that many great things about it."Me too, but perfect weather for curling up with good books.
Denise wrote: "Amy wrote: "I am halfway through with "Saints for All Occasions". Saints for All Occasions I'm also in the midst of a 6 month reading struggle. Actually, thanks to this book, I'm HO..."HANG IN THERE!! I know, it's brutal when I can't focus on my books. 'American Events' the past 6-8 months have really zapped me; I'm in front of the TV too much. In all seriousness, really loving this book; close to finishing but don't want it to end. ;-(
I'm already reading 7 or 8 books left over from spring, and I'm not much interested in books that are new and/or best sellers, but I may begin "The Fact of a Body" and"Killers of the Flower Moon" before fall sets in.
Can't wait for Nalini's book!! Bears will rule this summer and Starlight doesn't stand a chance!
I urge you to get to know Eleanor Oliphant. A fabulous read. If you enjoyed "The Rosie Project", this one is for you - similar but different.
Sa wrote: "The women in the illustration for this list have no feet. Is there a reason for that?"Shark attack.
Maggie wrote: "Sa wrote: "The women in the illustration for this list have no feet. Is there a reason for that?"
Shark attack."
Ha Ha !!
Shark attack."
Ha Ha !!
Hemant wrote: "Sa wrote: "The women in the illustration for this list have no feet. Is there a reason for that?"Lol...Noticed that now, Why?? 🕵️"
the artist couldn't draw feet? ran out of time? has a foot phobia?
( https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3... )
Released June 20th
Seriously seriously good near future military science fiction/thriller