Summer Reading List

the non-required, and always fun one

May 25, 2025

On The Sunny Side #26 is a weekly round-up where I share a few sunny things that have brightened my days, what I’m reading, watching, and obsessing over too.

Happy, happy Sunday all!

I think we can all agree that Memorial Day Weekend marks the start of summer, and therefore the start of Beach Read season. Sunscreen-infused wonders that you read basking on a porch, deck, pool, beach towel, you name it.

Reading and summer are synonymous in my head as it brings back fond memories of library reading challenges, and escaping into the AC to get lost in a good book. Think of this as your summer reading adventure! You can’t go wrong with any of these. I’ve included a mix of new releases and backlist (aka older books still in print) titles for ease of securing library holds.

Grab yourself an iced beverage and let’s chat books!

The Beach Reads

Because tis the damn season to get wrapped up in a wonderful romance. I look for books that take place in the summer and are set, preferably, on a lake or a small town.

Mixed Signals by B.K. Borison. Did you know, each book in the Lovelight Farms series is based around a different season? Mixed Signals is the summer season and the vibes are top tier. A small-town baker learns to raise her expectations for love with some help from a handsome local teacher in this sunny romantic comedy.

The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston. An overworked book publicist with a perfectly planned future hits a snag when she falls in love with her temporary roommate . . . only to discover he lives seven years in the past. You’ve got a hot southern chef, a magical apartment, and the promise of lemon pie.

Shark Heart by Emily Habeck. A lyrical debut novel of marriage, motherhood, metamorphosis, and letting go, this intergenerational love story begins with newlyweds Wren and her husband, Lewis—a man who, over the course of nine months, transforms into a great white shark. Yes, you read that correctly.

Maine Characters by Hannah Orenstein. The story of two half-sisters who meet for the first time at their father’s cabin in Maine after his unexpected death. It’s a love letter to lake like and sounds like Parent Trap for adults.

Bonus! Anything by Emily Henry, but my top picks are Book Lovers or Funny Story.

On the Road Again

For when you want road trip vibes without having to use a gas station bathroom five times in one day. These options bring the adventure and the whimsy.

You, With A View by Jessica Joyce. Two high school enemies must reunite for a road trip inspired by their grandparents’ broken engagement in this electric debut romance. This was one of my favorite books in 2024. Joyce’s has a way with words and immerses you in her writing. I felt our leading ladies pain of losing her grandma and how she felt lost in life in general.

The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Harnett. A darkly comic and warm-hearted novel about an old man on a cross-country mission to reunite with his high school crush—bringing together his adult daughter, two orphaned kids, and a cat who can predict death. What could possibly go wrong?

Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson | Contemporary out May 13th. An unexpected road trip across America brings a family together, in this raucous and moving new novel from the bestselling author of Nothing to See Here (another favorite of mine which you should definitely check out)!

Stories fit for a campfire

That won’t make you scared to go to bed at night. Although, if you’re looking for a spookier thriller drop me a note in the comments and I’ll send you some options!

All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker. A missing person mystery, a serial killer thriller, a love story, a unique twist on each, it’s about what lurks in the shadows of obsession and the blinding light of hope. Spanning decades with short chapters that will make it hard to put down. This is the perfect stay up late reading on the deck, book.

None of This is True by Lisa Jewell. A psychological thriller that follows a woman who finds herself the subject of her own popular true crime podcast. You will not be able to put this one down. I finished it on a flight from SF to Chicago. I’ve also heard the audio is fantastic and aids to the podcast format.

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore. When a teenager vanishes from her Adirondack summer camp, two worlds collide. As a panicked search begins, a thrilling drama unfolds. Chasing down the layered secrets of the Van Laar family and the blue-collar community working in its shadow, Moore’s multi-threaded story invites readers into a rich and gripping dynasty of secrets and second chances.

Fun for the whole family

These titles still bring the beachy fun, but have a hint of something more. Titles I’d recommend to my mom, sister, or coworker. All of these have a strong sense of place that feels like it’s own plot line.

Sandwich by Catherine Newman. A family summer vacation full of secrets, lunch, and learning to let go. It's one precious week: everything is in balance; everything is in flux. And when Rocky comes face to face with her family’s history and future, she is forced to accept that she can no longer hide her secrets from the people she loves. I just lent this out to my aunt and cannot recommend this book enough!

The Wedding People by Alison Espach. Absurdly funny and devastatingly tender, this book is ultimately an incredibly nuanced and resonant look at the winding paths we can take to places we never imagined—and the chance encounters it sometimes takes to reroute us. READ. THIS. BOOK.

The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand. My first (and only, I plan to change this soon) Hilderbrand novel. I had no idea what to expect with her books, other than they are perfect for the summer, and it didn’t disappoint. A run-down hotel gets a face lift, a ghost has some fun, and a eclectic staff bands together in this darling summer infused novel.

The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo. In this layered family saga, full of long-buried family secrets, Marilyn Connolly and David Sorenson fall in love in the 1970s, blithely ignorant of all that awaits them. By 2016, they have four radically different daughters, each in a state of unrest. Quite possibly one of my favorite books of all time—I could not tell you if it’s summery, but I read it one summer and it ticked all the boxes.

A new world to get lost in

A bit of a catchall but think sweeping historical fiction or a magical realism number that sucks you in.

Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead. The unforgettable story of a daredevil female aviator determined to chart her own course in life, at any cost: an epic trip—through Prohibition and World War II, from Montana to London to present-day Hollywood.

The Art of Vanishing by Morgan Pager | Out July 1st. Jean’s life is the same day in and day out. Frozen in time by his painter father, the legendary Henri Matisse, Jean observes the ebb and flow of museum guests as they take in the works of his father and other masters like Renoir, Picasso, and Modigliani. But his world takes a mesmerizing turn when Claire, a new museum employee, enters his life.

Rose in Chains by Julie Soto | Out July 8th. The war is over, the dark forces have won, and the hero who was supposed to save them is dead. Dramione fans rejoice!!! The Auction (aka the original fanfic) is becoming traditionally published and I am here for it!! The Auction is one of the best fanfics I’ve read to date.