It’s summeeerrrrrr. And actually it’s the first ~proper~ summer we’ve had in a while, isn’t it? I very much hope you have some wonderful plans for the next few months. But no matter how you’re spending this season, whether it’s jetting off to far-flung destinations, or having a picnic in the garden, I think everyone could benefit from some good summer reads.
If you follow me on Insta, you’ll know I’ve been getting into reading the last few years, and I have a few recommendations of fiction novels that will give you all the summer feels. Enjoy! (Heads up I’ve used affiliate links in this post but I only recommend books I loved!)
My Favourite Summer Reads
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Malibu Rising follows surfer-turned-model Nina Riva as she throws a big summer house party in Malibu with her siblings. It is really as beach-y as they come with that surfy California vibe. The book by Taylor Jenkins Reid covers the build-up to the party, the chaos that ensues and the aftermath, all whilst flashing back to the main character’s upbringing and life in Malibu. It’s set in the 80s when excess and extravagance was really at it’s peak so it has some fun moments. But in general it is quite deep, covering topics such as estranged parents, the realities of fame and sibling relationships. I demolished this book in a weekend so you know it’s a good one.
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Talking of Taylor Jenkins Reid, another of her wonderful books is Daisy Jones & The Six. Again set in California, but this time in the 70s, it follows the rise and fall of a rock band. It’s such a unique read as it is written as though it is an MTV/VH1 music documentary, with the band members looking back and describing different perspectives of the same moments. It’s definitely entertaining and again one of the books I absolutely breezed through. If your idea of summer is festivals and music and pool parties, this is the book for you.
Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Ok, so you’ve definitely heard of Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, right? Everyone I follow on Instagram has read it and the film is coming out soon, so I feel like it must already be on your radar. But in case you were dismissing it as a fad book, I urge you to reconsider. This is one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read and just gives you all of the feels. It follows Kya aka “The Marsh Girl”, a girl that raises herself in the marshes of North Carolina. In one timeline you follow her upbringing as she learns to fend for herself. And in another you see her in the present day as she is accused of murdering a local man. It is filled with summer and nature and beauty and romance. But on the other hand the murder mystery keeps you guessing and keeps you interested.
The Switch by Beth O’Leary
The author Beth O’Leary is known for a string of addictive novels revolving around modern romance stories (shout-out to The Flatshare which is another good one). But The Switch felt a bit different to me. The story revolves around a woman in her twenties in London taking a forced sabbatical due to stress, and her eighty year old grandmother in Yorkshire who’s a little bored of life. They decide to, you guessed it, switch places. Both get to experience something they needed and the stories are full of romance, community and charming characters. It is set in the summer so you get very British elements such as summer fetes and festivals. It is totally charming and feels very much about family.
City Of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert
I completely adored this Elizabeth Gilbert novel about a young woman in the 40s, staying in her Aunt’s playhouse and sleeping her way around Manhattan. What’s not to love? City Of Girls gets a bit deeper than that and explores how her life changes when the US enters WWII. It also deals with how people with alternative lifestyles experienced this era, and is full of characters you can sink your teeth into. This is a chunky book but again, I breezed through it. It covers the main character’s whole life so isn’t totally summery, but the glorious summer of 1940 covered at the beginning is just great. (You’ll like this if you liked The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo).
What are your go-to summer reads? Let me know, I need some more!
Dsiclaimer: This post contains affiliate links which means I earn a commision if you click through. It’s the same price for you and I promise I only ever recommend products I love.