Summer time has always meant good books to me. Sitting on the beach, by the pool, in a cool air conditioned living room or on a porch swing — all of these summertime pastimes deserve the accompaniment of the best book to read this summer.
As a pre-teen, I could breeze through a Babysitters Club book in just a few days and would bring stacks of them to summer vacations with my grandparents. But as an adult, it seems to take me forever to finish a book these days. So when I find books that I do really love, I for sure want to recommend them to all of you.
Here are my picks for the best books to read this summer.
Where the Crawdads Sing; Courtesy of Amazon
1. Best Book to Read this Summer: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
This coming-of-age story is also a mystery, which makes it one of the best books to read this summer. Everyone was talking about it so I figured I had to give it a read but I wasn’t sure how I would like it. The beginning is a bit slow but once you get into the meat of the story, it draws you in. The main character in Where the Crawdads Sing is Kya, a young girl who is abandoned and comes of age on her own with the companionship of nature alongside her. I finished this book while alone in lockdown due to do COVID-19, and the empathy I had for Kya I felt even more during such a struggling time. The hype is warranted for Crawdads, it’s a must-read.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo; Courtesy of Amazon
2. Best Book to Read this Summer: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reed
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo dives right in on the first few pages, and is not entirely what you may expect! Aging Hollywood legend Evelyn Hugo is ready to share her story with the world and persuades magazine reporter Monique Grant to write her memoir. Monique has no idea why Evelyn has chosen her to reveal her life’s secrets and the stories behind each of her seven husbands, but she’s excited to use the biography to advance her own career. As Evelyn begins to share her story, from her start in show business in the 1950s to her decision to leave it all behind decades later, Monique continues to wonder, who the greatest love of Evelyn’s life was. Evelyn shares every scandalous and ambitious decision she made in love and Hollywood, but her final reveal to Monique might be the most tragic. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is one of the best books to read this summer. It’s filled with suspense, romance, intrigue and glamour.
Pretty Girls; Courtesy of Amazon
3. Best Book to Read this Summer: Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter
This suspense novel is similar to Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn with many twists, turns and OMG moments, putting it high on my list of the best books to read this summer. I read part of Pretty Girls while on a plane and I specifically remember my mouth dropping opening and almost shouting “No Way!” to the entire plane as the plot began to reveal itself. Pretty Girls is suspenseful, dark and sometimes disturbing but for a girl who rarely finds time to read to call it a true page-turner, is saying a lot.
Malibu Rising; Courtesy of Amazon
4. Best Book to Read this Summer: Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reed
Four famous siblings, the children of legendary singer Mick Riva who also happens to be one of Evelyn Hugo’s seven husbands, celebrate the end of summer 1983 with a party that won’t be forgotten. The family drama that takes place in just 24-hours changes all of their lives forever. Malibu Rising is a fantastic beach read where each of the siblings have secrets of their own, that they don’t really want to share with each other.
It Ends with Us; Courtesy of Amazon
5. Best Book to Read this Summer: It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
Lily has had some challenges in life but when she moves to Boston and starts her own business, things start to seamlessly fall into place. She meets a hot doctor named Ryle by chance, and he is charismatic, sexy, AND he saves lives, how could Lily resist! But as Lily and Ryle grow closer, his firm “no relationships” rule begins to disturb Lily. What is Ryle hiding? Lily hasn’t had many relationships of her own but when her childhood love reappears, it causes uncertainty with Ryle. It Ends With Us is filled with romance, heartbreak and courage, making it one of the best books to read this summer.
The Woman In Cabin 10; Courtesy of Amazon
6. Best Book to Read this Summer: The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
The main character in The Woman in Cabin 10, Lo Blacklock, is a journalist who writes for a travel magazine and goes on a press trip on a luxury yacht. In my former job as a travel writer I too went on numerous press trips over the years (unfortunately, never on a luxury yacht) and anyone I knew who had read this book told me I had to read it! “It’s what you do!” everyone exclaimed. The Woman in Cabin 10 is much more suspenseful than any press trip I ever attended. The first night Lo checks into her her luxurious cabin she believes she witnessed a woman being thrown overboard. However, all guests are accounted for and the yacht sails on. Lo attempts to uncover the truth of what she witnessed through twists and turns and typical press trip characters. There’s always one on a press trip.
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Before We Were Yours; Courtesy of Amazon
7. Best Book to Read this Summer: Before We Were Yours By Lisa Wingate
This fictional story of poor siblings who were kidnapped and taken to an orphanage to be sold to wealthy families is based on true events. A Memphis-based adoption organization notoriously kidnapped, abused and sold poor children for several decades. This fictional tale of events similar to those in history tells the story of a family who is uncovering their own history and life before they were adopted. Before We Were Yours alternates between present day and 1939 as the stories intertwine and the family’s truth is revealed. I didn’t want this story to end. I wanted to follow these kids and families and learn the truth behind every one of their stories.
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You Are a Badass at Making Money; Courtesy of Amazon
8. Best Book to Read this Summer: You Are a Badass At Making Money by Jen Sincero
You Are a Badass at Making Money was a life changing book for me! It’s a self-improvement book and a money mindset book, but it’s also funny, sassy and filled with stories. If you want more money in your life (who doesn’t!), this book is a must read! Jen Sincero helps you uncover what fears and blocks you may have around money, and how to move them out of your way so you can become a rich, badass, money making machine. Sincero, a formerly broke journalist with several side hustles, transformed her life to one filled with wealth and gratitude. She provides you with funny personal stories, practical ways to improve your money mindset and journal prompts to help you work through the money muck along the way. Spend the money and grab a copy today!
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What Alice Forgot; Courtesy of Amazon
9. Best Book to Read this Summer: What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty
What Alice Forgot is a great book to read this summer, especially while on the beach. It’s light, funny and heartfelt. Alice, who has three children and is going through a divorce has an accident at the gym and loses her memory. She believes she is 10 years younger, pregnant with her first child and still married to the love of her life. The mishaps Alice encounters as she tries to put the pieces of her life back together will have you laughing out loud. What Alice Forget is a fun, easy read for summer.
The Underground Railroad; Courtesy of Amazon
10. Best Book to Read this Summer: The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
What if the Underground Railroad actually involved a train that helped people to escape slavery? The Underground Railroad tells the story of Cora, a slave on a cotton plantation in Georgia, who escapes from her plantation on a secret underground tracks and tunnels system led by engineers, conductors and friends she finds along the way. Pulitzer Prize winning author Colson Whitehead tells the horrific stories of slaves through Cora’s eyes while also sharing the brutal history of our country. This book is educational, entertaining, suspenseful and tells the heartwarming, yet horrific, story of a slave girl who yearns for freedom and safety.
Then She was Gone; Courtesy of Amazon
11. Best Book to Read this Summer: Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell
This drama has a hint of psychological thriller in it, making it one of the best books to read this summer. Then She Was Gone tells the story of a mother, Laurel Mack, who is repairing herself after her teenage daughter, Ellie, disappeared 10 years earlier. Laurel’s marriage has ended, her other children have grown up and left the house and after 10 years there are few clues as to what happened to Ellie. So when Laurel starts to date a charming new man, everyone, including Laurel, is happy she is beginning to live her life again. But when Laurel meets her new boyfriend’s young daughter, Poppy, she is surprised by the resemblance Poppy has to Ellie. The more time Laurel spends with Poppy, the more she is reminded of Ellie and wants to dig deeper into what happened to her daughter. I will say one thing about this book, I will never look at a guinea pig the same way again.
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