What should I read this summer?
That’s the question I asked my community. Specifically, what book could you not put down?
The goal: spend less time on Instagram, and more time with my nose in a book.
The result? A wonderfully diverse, thoughtful, and curiosity-sparking list. More than 20 of the books are new to me, and I can't wait topick one!
Here’s the full list in case you’re looking for your next great read too.
1. Where the Crawdads Sing
Author: Delia Owens
Genre: Coming‑of‑Age, Mystery
Highlight: A lyrical courtroom mystery about "Marsh Girl" Kya and her isolation in the North Carolina marshes.
Awards/Accolades: Over 18 million copies sold; Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick; major Netflix/film adaptation.
2. The Shadow of the Wind
Author: Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Genre: Literary Mystery, Historical Fiction
Highlight: In post‑war Barcelona, Daniel uncovers a forgotten author and stumbles into an enchanting, suspenseful world.
Awards/Accolades: Approximately 15 million copies sold globally.
3. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
Author: V. E. Schwab
Genre: Fantasy, Historical, Romance
Highlight: A Faustian bargain grants immortal life, but no one can remember her until one day in modern New York.
4. Butter
Author: Asako Yuzuki (engl. trans. Polly Barton)
Genre: Mystery, Literary Fiction
Highlight: A Tokyo journalist investigates a gourmet cook-turned-serial-killer, mixing food, trauma, and social critique.
Awards/Accolades: Waterstones Book of the Year 2024; British Book Awards debut fiction winner.
5. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
Author: Gabrielle Zevin
Genre: Literary Fiction, Friendship, Video‑Game Culture
Highlight: Lifelong friends build a video-game empire, exploring creativity, trauma, and deep bonds.
6. The Island of the Missing Trees
Author: Elif Shafak
Genre: Historical Fiction / Magical Realism
Highlight: A fig tree narrates a cross-cultural tale of a Greek‑Turkish couple across Cyprus and London.
7. Lincoln Highway
Author: Amor Towles
Genre: Historical Fiction / Road Trip
Highlight: A 1950s cross‑country journey with teens Emmett, Duchess, and Billy, brimming with humor and heart.
8. Migrations
Author: Charlotte McConaghy
Genre: Literary Dystopian / Environmental Fiction
Highlight: Franny Stone escorts the last arctic terns an elegiac exploration of climate, grief, and hope.
9. Hello Beautiful
Author: Ann Napolitano
Genre: Contemporary Fiction / Family Drama
Highlight: Four sisters navigate love, loss, and legacy in this emotionally rich reimagining of Little Women.
10. Nine Perfect Strangers
Author: Liane Moriarty
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Highlight: Nine strangers arrive at a wellness retreat, but the atmosphere takes a chilling turn, especially if you haven’t watched the TV show.
11. November 9
Author: Colleen Hoover
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Highlight: A chance meeting on November 9 sparks an annual romance full of emotional growth and connection.
12. Romantic Comedy
Author: Curtis Sittenfeld
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Highlight: A TV sitcom writer in her 30s redefines “love story” while juggling career, self-worth, and authenticity.
13. The Women
Author: Kristin Hannah
Genre: Historical Fiction
Highlight: Alternates between WWII-era female operatives and a modern lawyer uncovering past secrets.
14. The Time in Between
Author: María Dueñas
Genre: Historical Fiction / Espionage / Romance
Highlight: From seamstress to WWII spy, Sira traverses Spain, Morocco, and Lisbon in a tale of resilience.
15. Everything That Happened to Miranda Huff
Author: Javier Castillo
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Highlight: A couple’s secluded getaway sees Miranda vanish and the suspense builds with every clue.
16. Pura Vida
Author: José María Mendiluce
Genre: Philosophical / Spiritual Narrative
Highlight: A UN worker’s journey from Barcelona to Costa Rica ignites deep transformation through love and introspection.
17. Horse
Author: Geraldine Brooks
Genre: Historical Fiction
Highlight: Parallel tales of a 19th-century racehorse and a modern conservator explore race, art, and legacy.
18. The God of the Woods
Author: Marlon James
Genre: Mythological Fantasy
Highlight: A lush, epic reimagining inspired by African and Caribbean myths, teeming with power, revenge, and transformation.
19. James
Author: Percival Everett (assumed)
Genre: Literary Fiction
Highlight: A bold reimagining of Huckleberry Finn, socially perceptive and satirical.
20. Birnam Wood
Author: Eleanor Catton
Genre: Literary Thriller / Eco-fiction
Highlight: Activists clash with power and morality in an eco-aware tale named after Macbeth’s forest.
21. Buy Back Your Time
Author: Dan Martell
Genre: Business / Productivity
Highlight: A practical guide to outsourcing and automation, design your life to focus on what truly matters.
22. I Have Some Questions for You
Author: Rebecca Makkai
Genre: Mystery / Legal Thriller
Highlight: A former student turned‑podcaster reexamines a decades-old campus murder when her roommate is accused.
