The Ultimate Summer Reading List

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Your go-to summer reading list.

With summer quickly approaching I wanted to share with you some amazing reads you can add to your summer reading list. I know a lot of people get a lot of reading done during the summer especially if they are going away on vacation. These books are great to throw in your bag and read while waiting at the airport, long flights or on the beach.

The books on this summer reading list range from different genres such as summer romance, thrillers, fantasy and sci-fi. Keep reading to find your next summer read.

The perfect summer reading list for those who want to read a variety of different genres.

THE ONLY SUMMER READING LIST YOU NEED:

Romance Reads

1. A Thousand Boy Kisses By Tillie Cole

Buy: A Thousand Boy Kisses, by Tillie Cole

Lets start off strong with a YA romance that will break your heart. If you want a book with a beautifully written romance (no smut) and a big plot twist that will have you ugly crying then A Thousand Boy Kisses by Tillie Cole is the one for you.

I read A Thousand Boy Kisses ago and I still think about it today. This is one of those books that definitely leaves an impact.

2. If He Had Been With Me By Laura Nowlin

Buy: If He Had Been with Me, by Laura Nowlin

Another great YA romance worth checking out this summer is If He Had Been with Me by Laura Nowlin. This is another heartbreaking romance that I found to be beautifully written. The ending had me in tears for days so this is another one that will probably leave you in tears as well.

If you enjoy this book then you’ll be happy to know you can also read it from Finn’s point of view. I really enjoyed reading If Only I Had Told Her; it gave a little bit more closure that I felt was much needed with the first book.

{Related Post: Romance Books That Will Pull At Your Heart Strings}

3. The Summer I Turned Pretty By Jenny Han

Buy: The Summer I Turned Pretty, by Jenny Han

The Summer I Turned Pretty is a really popular show however, I think the books are definitley worth reading. This is another YA romance ( I promise not all of the books on this list are YA) with messy relationships and complex characters.

Unlike the first two books on this list this one definitley has more summer vibes throughout all of the books. So, if you want to read books that actually take place during the summer then this is a good series to start with.

4. The Hating Game By Sally Thorne

Buy: The Hating Game, by Sally Thorne

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne is such a fun read. If you want a fast-paced read then this rom-com novel is definitley worth checking out. This is the type of book to pick up when you don’t want to read something too serious or heavy.

If you love the enemies to lovers trope then The Hating Game by Sally Thorne is definitely for you.

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Greek Mythology

5. I Medusa By Ayana Gray

Buy: I, Medusa, by Ayana Gray

Love Greek mythology? I Medusa by Ayana Gray is a must-read for Greek mythology enthusiast. This book had me feeling all the feelings. I felt frustrated, angry, hopeful and at times sad. Never have I rooted so much for a character as I did for Medusa.

If you are unfamiliar with the mythology around Medusa I think this is a great place to start.

6. The Song Of Achilles By Madeline Miller

Buy: The Song of Achilles, by Madeline Miller

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller is a masterpiece. This is one of my all-time favorite books. If you enjoyed reading The Iliad when you were in school then you’ll definitely love this.

Even if you don’t particularly care for Greek mythology if you want something with romance and heartbreak, then this is one to consider adding to your summer reading list.

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7. Blood Of Hercules By Jasmine Mas

Buy: Blood of Hercules, by Jasmine Mas

Another Greek mythology book worth checking out this summer is Blood of Hercules by Jasmine Mas. This is a romantasy book. If you like books with trials, a lot of impossible training and romance then this is for you.

I listened to the audiobook version of this book and I really enjoyed it. Great for anyone who loves New Adult books.

Fantasy Summer Reads

8. We Who Will Die By Stacia Stark

Buy: We Who Will Die, by Stacia Stark

Looking for a fantasy read with a lot of trials, manipulation, and vampires? We Who Will Die by Stacia Stark is such a fun read. If you have ever been remotely interested in gladiators and the ancient Roman empire then I think you will really enjoy this book.

The politics in this book are also really interesting so this would also be a great book to pick up if you like reading books where the people start to rebel against those who rule over them.

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9. Metal Singer By Rachel Schneider

Buy: Metal Slinger : Fire & Metal: Book One, by Rachel Schneider

Looking for a fantasy book with summer vibes? Metal Singer by Rachel Schneider is a great read. A lot of this book takes place around or near water so that definitley adds more of that summer feel. This book has manipulation, romance and a crazy plot twist at the end that I wasn’t expecting. Definitley worth checking out if you want something with a little bit of adventure and betrayal.

10. Mercy Thompson Series By Patricia Briggs

Buy: Moon Called, by Patricia Briggs

Looking for a fun summer read with vampires and werewolves? The Mercy Thompson Series by Patricia Briggs is one of my favorite series to listen too. The audiobooks are great. If you liked the show True Blood then I think you will love these books.

The first book in the series is Moon Called.

11. Never Keep By Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti

Buy: Never Keep (Book 1 in the Sins of the Zodiac Series), by Caroline Peckham

A highly underrated series that I feel more people should talk about is The Sins of the Zodiac by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti. If you want to dive into a fantasy series with a variety of different magical creatures, elemental magic, and romance then this is for you.

If you also like books that takes place in a school setting, war/ battle scenes then I really think you’ll enjoy this.

The first book in the series is Never Keep.

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Mystery And Thriller Books To Read This Summer

12. We Were Liars By E. Lockhart

Buy: We Were Liars, by E. Lockhart

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart is a great summer mystery book to pick up if you want something that takes place on an island with a great plot twist and a heartbreaking end. This is a great short fast-paced read worth picking.

13. Bad Summer People By Emma Rosenblum

Buy: Bad Summer People, by Emma Rosenblum

Bad Summer People by Emma Rosenblum is great for anyone who loves a multiple point-of-view story. This book has romance, betrayal, revenge and a murder mystery at the end. If you liked watching Gossip Girl then I think you’ll really enjoy this book.

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14. The Fury By Alex Michaelides

Buy: The Fury, by Alex Michaelides

Looking for something with an unreliable narrator? It doesn’t get more unreliable than The Fury by Alex Michaelides. This story takes place on an island and has a murder that will constantly have you wondering who did it.

15. The Summer She Went Missing By Chelsea Ichaso

Buy: The Summer She Went Missing, by Chelsea Ichaso

If you are looking for a mystery / thriller book to read that’s not too dark then The Summer She Went Missing by Chelsea Ichaso is a great YA summer read. This story takes place in the summer where there is a disappearance of a teenager and her best friend starts investigating what really happened.

The dialog in this book makes it a little bit more lighthearted even though it is a thriller.

{Related Post: 5+ Best YA Fantasy Series To Read Right Now}

Horror

16. The Dead Of Summer By Ryan La Sala

Buy: The Dead of Summer (Book 1), by Ryan La Sala

The Dead of Summer by Ryan La Sala was a fantastic book to listen to. At times it felt like I was listening to a podcast with the different point of views. This is a YA horror with a mysterious plague on an island. If you have never read horror and are interested in this genre then this is a great book to start with.

Sci-fi Reading Inspo

17. Skyward Series By Brandon Sanderson

Buy: Skyward, by Brandon Sanderson

Looking for a great sci-fi series to start this summer? The Skyward series by Brandon Sanderson is my all-time favorite sci-fi series. I listened to the first book on audiobook and it is a fantastic book to listen to. This story takes place in a school setting and the main character is studying to become a pilot to protect people from aliens- it’s fantastic. A must-read.

Skyward is the first book in the series.

This concludes this summer reading list.

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