Culture

9 Books You Have to Read This Summer

Nine books that encapsulate the summer spirit and will capture you from the first page! Check out these recommendations.

Iona Leaf

Published

June 2, 2024

image of two books, one on top of the other, the one on top is lying open with small white and yellow flowers on top. the books are on a white painted wooden table, and the background is a blurred green leafy scene

Credit: Shutterstock/ju_see

Summer is the season for reading, and anyone who argues otherwise (AKA those who believe it’s actually Autumn) is wrong. The bright sun illuminating the pages, warm winds rustling the trees, iced *insert beverage of choice* in hand, your hammock, perhaps, swinging gently with the breeze… serenity itself.

What better way to spend the summer of 2024 than catching up on new releases, devouring the current BookTok sensation, or even tackling all the books you’ve had on your TBR for far too long?

If it’s your desire to escape, look no further, this list is escapism at its finest…

Image of book cover. The top half is a bright pink with the title Happy Place in a large white font. The bottom half is turquoise, representing a body of water. Floating in the centre is an orange raft with two cartoon people sitting on it. Jumping off the raft to the left is a cartoon man in green trunks holding a white and red beach ball, and diving off the raft to the right is a cartoon woman in a purple bikini. In the bottom half, overlapping the raft and water is the authors name, Emily Henry in a large pastel yellow font. At the very bottom of the cover in smaller white font are the words "Two exes. One pact. Could this holiday change everything?" — Credit: Waterstones

Happy Place by Emily Henry

For those of us who patiently waited 11 months longer than the rest of the world for Happy Place to eventually come out in paperback, the wait is finally over! We can officially get our hands on Emily Henry’s much-coveted summer romance. Fake dating! Forced proximity! Classic Emily Henry prose that perfectly scratches the itch in every girl’s brain! Need I say more? With a perfectly vibrant cover to match, this book is destined to put you in a summery mood, and with the bonus of it now being in paperback, I’m sure you can stuff Happy Place into any beach bag, suitcase, or backpack for your holidays.

Image of book cover. The background is a mixed gradient of bright pink and purple. Dominating the cover is an image of a woman's torso positioned at an angle so she's facing slightly towards the right. Her head has been cut from just above the lips. Her hair is a bob, and her earring is circular and dangling. She is wearing a shortsleeved black top with a pearl necklace that has been wrapped around her neck twice to look like she's wearing two. Just above her shoulder are the words "Ninety years." in white font, below that in dark purple font are the words "Twelve relationships." and below that in white font are the words "One woman's story..." Over the woman's torso in large white writing is the title "The Scandalous Life of Ruby Devereaux" and below this, at the bottom of the cover in smaller pink font is the authors name, "M.J. Robotham" — Credit: Waterstones

The Scandalous Life of Ruby Devereaux by M.J. Robotham

There comes a point in one’s life where getting old means giving less of a crap about what others think – call it old-person audacity – and Ruby Devereaux certainly has it! At 90 years old, she still has to finish her publishing contract and churn out one last novel, so why not write her life’s story? Given she has no craps left to give, why not write about the twelve men important enough to leave their mark? For anyone who read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and is searching for something similar, look no further; Ruby Devereaux is certainly the Evelyn Hugo of the literary world. But fear not, she is also completely her own person and would have no problem telling you. Get to know the life of Ruby Devereaux this summer!

“Chapter one, I typed. I was a writer and so would have to live and die for my art, I decided there and then (the dramatics not having left me at that point). The dying I haven’t quite managed yet, but by God, did I do the living.”
The Scandalous Life of Ruby Devereaux

Image of book cover. Cartoon illustration of vibrant beach scene with blue skies, a rainbow, and sand. The title 'A Shore Thing' is at the top of the cover in large white wispy writing. Below are two cartoon figures on bikes. The man on the left has short brown hair and is wearing a light blue three piece suit, a purple tie, and knee high brown boots. Next to him on the right is a smiling woman with a pink hat and curly red hair, she smiling and wearing a pink victorian dress. Beneath them in the same wispy white writing is the authors name, "Joanna Lowell" and in smaller white writing below that are the words "Author of Artfully Yours" — Credit: Waterstones

A Shore Thing by Joanna Lowell

Consider the upcoming release of this queer Victorian love story a win for the Historical Romance girlies! Kit Griffith, “a boldly brash trans hero,” is making a new life for himself in Cornwall selling bicycles after leaving his Sisterhood of artists behind. Wanting to prove to an all-male cycling club that women can ride as well as men, he enlists Muriel Pendrake, a feisty botanist, to compete in a bicycle race; “As Kit and Muriel spend their days cycling together, their desire begins to burn with the heat of the summer sun.” Being released oh so perfectly during Pride Month, set by the British seaside, and being a “delightful” romance, truly what’s not to love?!

Image of book cover. A black border, inlined with gold. In the top corners are illustrations of cream coloured birds mid-flight craning their necks towards the top, beaks slightly agape. In the bottom corners are illustrations of light purple fish curved with their tails above their heads, both facing the centre of the cover. A lumpy diamond shape dominates the centre of the page, bordered in red, blue, and purple. At the top of the diamond, inside its borders, is a gold circle filled with other lines and circles forming what could be a sextant. On either side of the circle is a teal sword hilt, and on the left of the circle is a crescent moon, and on the right is a whole moon. below the circle is a larger gold circle, positioned in the centre of the lumpy diamond, the circle contains gold writing of the title, 'The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi'. rising out of the bottom of the large gold circle on both sides are ocean waves. At the bottom of the lumpy diamond is the name 'Shannon Chakraborty' in white writing, and beneath that in gold and white writing are the words "'Fantasy at its best' R F Kuang, author of Babel and Yellowface" below this in the bottom tip of the lumpy diamond is a peach crab illustration — Credit: Waterstones

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi is the fantasy reader’s dream come true! Epic world-building, vibrant history, thrilling sense of adventure, and a strong female protagonist who is both a mother and over the age of 40! After receiving an offer she can’t refuse: a fortune large enough to ensure her family’s comfort, and the opportunity to come out of retirement for one last mission, Amina al-Sirafi takes her final chance to become a legend. But is there more to this mission than she expected…

A tale that takes readers into the heart of the seas, shores, and surrounding environs of the Indian Ocean should surely not be missed this summer.

Image of book cover. cover is mixed gradient of pink and peach with sea foam and turquoise sea encroaching onto the cover at the bottom. In large indigo to red gradient writing are the words 'Malibu Rising' below this title is a silhouette of a woman carrying a surfboard and in white writing the author's name, Taylor Jenkins Reid. Below this in a small circle is an image of a woman in a green dress and the words Bestselling author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. — Credit: Waterstones

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Was this published three years ago? Yes. Is it still the perfect summer read? Also yes.

Malibu 1983. Four siblings. A summer party. 24 hours. A night ending in chaos. Lose yourself in the life of glam, scandal, and familial love, in what I personally believe to be one of TJR’s best books! There’s just something about her writing that cements you in the world she’s creating, and who wouldn’t want to spend the summer in 80s Malibu?

Nina Riva, famous surfer and supermodel, is holding the summer party everyone wants to go to. Everyone, it would seem, except the host herself. The story follows Nina, her three siblings, and the lives of the parents who shaped them.

“Family is found…whether it be blood or circumstance or choice, what binds us does not matter. All that matters is that we are bound.”
Malibu Rising

image of book cover. Yellow cover with the word Butter written in red block capitals, down the left side of the cover in a very light yellow box with a red border. Just off centre is a cartoon image of a black and white cow on its side facing down. Above the cow, in a black font, is the Japanese word for butter and the words 'translated by Polly Barton' underneath. Below the cow in black writing is the author's name, Asako Yuzuki, and under this in another pale yellow box with rounded edges are the words 'The International Bestseller.' In the bottom right corner are four red finger streaks. — Credit: Waterstones

Butter by Asako Yuzuki

If you’re like me, you may be a bit wary of BookTok “sensations.” However, trust me when I say this is one you don’t want to miss this summer. A female gourmet cook turned (convicted) serial killer, Manako Kajii refuses to speak to the press. That is until journalist Rika Machida writes to her asking for her beef stew recipe. Determined to crack the case, Rika continues her correspondence and visits with Kajii. “With each meal she eats, something is awakening in her body, might she and Kaji have more in common than she once thought?”

If you aren’t hooked yet, I’d like to add that it’s based on a true story…

Image of book cover. Cover is a bright violet with an intricately patterned golden border. At the top of the cover, inside the border, also in gold are the words "International bestselling author of The Secret Service of Tea and Treason, India Holton" Below this in the centre of the cover, still in gold is an image of a phoenix bird, partially covered by the words "The Ornithologists Field Guide to Love" — Credit: Waterstones

The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love by India Holton

Another win for the Historical Romance girlies! I could not recommend India Holton’s writing enough, but I’m going to try because her newest book, The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love, comes out this summer and I could not be more excited!

Academic rivals turned “reluctant” teammates, Professors Beth Pickering and Devon Lockley are in competition to win Birder of the Year. Complete with helicopter parasols, high tea, fantastical Victorian society, and India Holton wit, there is so much to look forward to. So for the love of all that is good, mark your calendars!

image of book cover. book cover is a pastel yellow. at the top of the cover in small blue writing are the words "The Sunday Times Bestseller" Below this in Red writing are the words everything I know about parties, dates, friends, jobs, life, love - the words parties, dates, friends, jobs, and life have been scribbled over with blue. underneath this is the author's name, Dolly Alderton. at the bottom of the cover in red writing are the words "with a new chapter on 'everything I know at thirty'" — Credit: Waterstones

Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton

Another oldie but a goodie, Everything I Know About Love just has to be on this list. Though it is a good read year round, it’s a great friend during the summer season. This book is the big sister for big sisters (or those who don’t have any), the shoulder to cry on when life feels a bit too much, and a reminder that ~~Mac ‘N’ Cheese is the best hangover cure~~ everything is going to be ok. So if you want a book that will tear you apart and then lovingly put you back together with a kiss to make it better, this is for you.

Image of book cover. Cover is a deep turquoise and dominated by a cartoon image of a woman sitting in a throne. The woman is a pale blue illustration, wearing a toga and holding up a fiery torch in her left hand, she is wearing a stern expression. Her throne is black but gilded with gold details and surrounding her throne are peacock feathers and two peacocks. In front of her is the title "Hera" in white writing. Below the woman is the author's name, Jennifer Saint, also in white writing — Credit: Waterstones

Hera by Jennifer Saint

You’d have to be living under a rock not to know about the chokehold Greek Mythology has on BookTok. And you’d have to be living under another rock beneath that not to know who Hera is and why it’s about damn time someone wrote her story.

In a tale fit for the Queen of the Gods, literally, Jennifer Saint’s Hera tells the story of one of Greek Mythology’s most dynamic characters who was born to rule. I, who will never get bored of feminist retellings of Greek figureheads, cannot wait to read this!

Turning the Page

So, are you convinced that summer is the best season for reading? I’d suggest reading one or two…or nine, of these recommendations to officially put you in the summery reading spirit. And if these aren’t your taste, try these recommendations instead.