I don't know why, but I read triple the amount of books during the summer months than any other time of year. If you're looking to add some great summer books to your to-be-read (TBR) pile, I have the ultimate list of 13 best summer reads.
When I have a day off, the only way I want to spend it is on a beach or by a pool with a cooler full of ice cold drinks, plenty of snacks, and a really good book I can get lost in. In a recent Instagram poll, y’all felt similar about also using a day off to read at the beach.
This month alone, I’ve already finished two books and working on my third. And there are a ton of great books currently out or coming soon this summer. So, I pulled together the full list of all the books that make the perfect summer reads (and some on my own TBR list). If you’re looking for more books, I’m also tracking what I’ve read in 2022.
13 Best Summer Reads for 2022
The Wedding Veil: a historical fiction novel intertwined with a modern-day plot, you won’t be able to put this book down if you live in or love the Asheville area, and love visiting the Biltmore Estate. The Vanderbilt research that went into this book is extensive, but reading was effortless. I enjoy all of Kristy Woodson Harvey’s books, but I think The Wedding Veil is now my favorite.
Book Lovers: The newest release from Emily Henry is already a major hit with amazing reviews. Henry always puts her female protagonist at odds with the male counterpart and it’s honestly so enjoyable. This is on my coffee table waiting to be read, but I know it’s going to be just as good—or better—than her previous books.
The Homewreckers: If you forced me to name an author as the reigning queen of the “beach read” genre, I would vote for Mary Kay Andrews every. single. time. This is Andrews’ 30th book in 30 years! As an editor and book lover, I am blown away by that statistic alone. This book follows Hattie, a construction powerhouse and young widower, who finds herself roped into participating in a new fixer-upper reality show set in Savannah, Georgia. Bring in an unsolved mystery, suspicious setbacks at the house under renovation, and romantic entanglements, and you’ve got yourself a bestseller.
The Last Summer at the Golden Hotel: If Dirty Dancing is one of your favorite movies, or if you binge watch The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel when a new season drops, you’ll enjoy this book. The end of an era is looming for the beloved Golden Hotel in the Catskills, and everyone’s secrets threaten to upset the delicate balance of the two families who own the hotel. I finished this book in one day if that tells you anything.
The Floating Feldmans: Because I loved The Last Summer at the Golden Hotel, I just checked out another book from the library by the same author. The matriarch of the Feldman family wants the whole family to join her on a cruise to celebrate her birthday, but shortly after they are out to sea, long-held secrets begin to come out and chaos ensues. I started it this week, but it’s already turning out to be just as good.
Soulmate Equation: This book started a bit slow for me, and the protagonist grated on my nerves in the beginning, but I still ended up loving this book. A single mom gets talked into participating in a test to see if her DNA will connect her to her soulmate, even though that’s the last thing she’s looking for. But financial stress leads her to take an offer she can’t refuse.
Something Wilder: The daughter of a treasure hunter is doing everything she can to make enough money to buy back the ranch her father sold years prior. Her lost love also comes on the scene to win her back. I have this on my TBR list.
The Hotel Nantucket: The reigning queen of Nantucket, Elin Hilderbrand, is back with another sure-to-be bestseller. After a recent heartbreak, Lizbet needs a second chance and it seems to come when she’s named the new general manager of a local hotel. The Hotel Nantucket is a relic in need of a major upgrade and some flashy social media attention—oh and a ghost who needs to move on. This book releases June 14.
The Summer Place: If you have quarantine PTSD, this book may not be for you, but the mix of wedding planning, a beloved family home on Cape Cod, and family secrets will keep you hooked through the end. With more than 2,000 reviews on Amazon and a 4-star overall rating, I recently added this book to my TBR list.
One Night on the Island: What Cleo Wilder has planned for her thirtieth birthday is nothing shy of a woman’s ultimate solo, self-care trip. She’s booked a remote, Irish island where she can relax in a cozy cabin and treat herself to all the self-care. However, a mix-up with reservations has Mack Sullivan crashing Cleo’s retreat. With more than 2,000 reviews and 4.5-star average rating, I have this on hold at the library and I can’t wait to read it.
Wait for It: Clearly, I’m being pulled toward the 30-something, female protagonists who are on the cusp of major change in their lives because this book follows Annabelle Martin who is twice divorced, and just dodged a marriage proposal from one of her ex-husbands and more than willing to run away from her life for a bit. When she’s offered her dream job in Arizona, Annabelle doesn’t think twice about leaving the harsh Boston winter. Soon after her arrival, Annabelle’s anonymous landlord piques her curiosity. When she discovers that her landlord is actually her age, and not the cranky old man she originally thought, Annabelle can’t help but stick her nose into Nick’s personal woes. I have this on my TBR list, too.
Meet Me in the Margins: When I saw the heading “You’ve Got Mail meets The Proposal,” I immediately added this book to my cart without even truly reading the description. I’m itching to read this book! Savannah Cade gets the opportunity of a lifetime when the editor-in-chief of the most successful romance imprint requests to see Savannah’s manuscript, which she wrote in secret while working as an editor at a stuffy publishing house that refuses to publish anything less than highbrow literature. In a series of events, someone finds the copy of her manuscript that Savannah quickly had to hide in her office, and when she is able to retrieve it, she finds quite harsh notes scribbled in the margins. That secret editor, however, ends up being the only person who can help Savannah get her manuscript in perfect shape before the editor-in-chief retires.
The Roughest Draft: Co-writer relationship gone sour, Katrina and Nathan ended their writing relationship after the success of their first book and both refused to give comments to the public. Having to deliver one final book on their contract, they are forced to reunite in the small, Florida town where they wrote their previous book. Finishing their final book quickly, however, is overruled when they start to work through all the reasons they’ve hated each other over the years. Their race against the clock could make or break them.
Affiliate links used in this article.
Drop a note!