8 Books To Read This Summer

May 27

Memorial Day Weekend has always served as the unofficial kick-off to summer in Chicago. The weather is consistently warm (finally), the docks are open, boats are back on Lake Michigan, and long weekend getaways become the norm. After a long (likely brutal) winter, the sun-deprived residents of the Windy City are more than ready to embrace what many consider their favorite season of the year. This weekend was a particularly beautiful one. Not too warm, not too cold, plenty of sunshine, and just a smattering of rain.

I’ve been killing my reading challenge this year, devouring books at a pace I haven’t achieved in years. From classics to memoirs, romance to fantasy, nothing is off-limits. If your TBR pile is anything like mine, you’re ready for long, leisurely weekends to spend losing yourself in pages while hopefully getting a tan. This list was easy to put together, but hard to narrow down. A few that didn’t make the cut but are still strong options for your summer reading - Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote, and The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood. Breakfast at Tiffany’s is one of my favorite classics and a quick read. Perfect for a pool day. The Love Hypothesis wasn’t my favorite (I know, hot take!), but the movie is coming out this year, and I think this is one of those rare cases where the movie will be better. So why not give it a try?

Keep reading for our 2026 summer reading guide, and if you need even more recommendations, check out our list from 2025!

If you fell for the Off-Campus show based on Elle Kennedy’s hockey romance series, read → Mr. Heartbreaker by Piper Rayne

Nostalgic millennial women are obsessed with Prime’s Off-Campus show based on Elle Kennedy’s hockey romance series. Whether you’re a One Tree Hill alum catching all the “Naley” vibes or spot references from a number of Y2K era rom-coms, it’s hard not to love this sweet and spicy phenomenon. I’m not typically one to read sports romances, but after finishing the show in an embarrassingly short period of time, I needed more. After diving deep into the world of sports romance (mostly hockey), I discovered Piper Rayne’s “The Nest” series. One audiobook later, I’m hooked. This is for anyone looking for characters who are full-grown adults past college, dealing with obstacles that are a bit more relatable if you’re in your 20s, 30s, and beyond.

Mr. Heartbreaker follows Kyleigh, a fashion designer from Chicago whose brother is a pro hockey player. They’ve had a long-standing agreement that she would never date his teammates. Enter Rowan, the star center for the Chicago Falcons - an old friend and college teammate of her brother’s, but not on the same team currently. What’s supposed to be a one-night stand turns into friends with benefits. The problem? Kyleigh knows who Rowan is and purposefully gives him a nickname so he can’t possibly connect the dots. It’s supposed to be all fun and games… until it’s not, and feelings begin to develop. In the meantime, Kyleigh is dealing with a family crisis that sends her into a tailspin, prompting her to question her life choices. To make matters worse, her brother gets traded to the Falcons, making him and Rowan teammates once again.

This is a fun one. The drama is there, but it’s not drawn out and doesn’t give you heart palpitations. The characters are older and emotionally intelligent for the most part – although the guys have a moment that made my eyes roll when the conflict came to a head. It’s a great introduction to a cast of characters that will be the focus of subsequent books – something that can often be overwhelming and take away from the main story. There’s also plenty of spice for any inquiring minds (I see you!). Normally, I’m a hard-copy reader, but I listened to the audiobook while tackling house projects and will probably finish the series that way.

If you’re interested in surfing and have a love affair with Hawaii, read → The Maui Effect by Sara Ackerman

My closet obsession happens to be surfing - specifically, big wave surfing. Watching…not participating. Unfortunately, this city girl can’t swim, but I do love to be a spectator. The Maui Effect follows native Hawaiian ‘Iwa Young, a field biologist fighting a developer from building a luxury resort in the middle of a rainforest home to endangered species. While coming up with a plan to save it, ‘Iwa meets Dane, a big wave surfer from California. ‘Iwa has a rule to never date surfers, but Dane’s persistence meets her head-on when he offers to help save the rainforest. The story follows their efforts to find proof that a bird thought to be extinct still lives in the forest, effectively protecting the ecosystem from development. Along the way, ‘Iwa and Dane find themselves in a relationship, with ‘Iwa joining Dane on big wave adventures, including one to Portugal, where he barely escapes death in his determination to surf the legendary waves at Nazaré. His injuries push them both to their limits, testing the strength of their relationship and forcing them to face what’s most important and worth fighting for in this life.

The Maui Effect is one of my recent favorites. Ackerman’s writing style is incredibly poignant and flows beautifully, making it an easy read that you can’t help but devour. The book mostly takes place in Hawaii, Northern California, and Portugal. Ackerman’s descriptive writing from the rainforest to the waves reels you in, painting such a clear picture that you feel you’re right there with ‘Iwa and Dane. While the book’s anchor plot is their relationship, I would consider this more contemporary fiction than romance. Boiling it down to their love story does the rest of the novel a disservice. It also covers a few heavier themes, including addiction, cheating, and grief - something to keep in mind. Overall, it’s a great choice whether you’ll be visiting the beaches of Hawaii or simply dreaming about them this summer.

If you love an emotional rom-com with depth, read → The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez

The second book in “The Friend Zone” series, The Happy Ever After Playlist, follows Sloane two years after losing her fiancé to a tragic accident right before their wedding. She’s been stuck in limbo since his death, unable to fully move past the grief of losing him. In a series of unlikely events, a dog named Tucker literally lands in her car. She tries to get in touch with Tucker’s owner, using the number on his collar, but after weeks of no response, she decides to keep him for herself. Enter…digital meet cute. Jason is an up-and-coming musician about to hit his big break. After going off the grid in Australia for much-needed time off, he turns it back on to find dozens of texts and voicemails from this lady who has his dog. Flirty texts ensue, followed by long phone calls where an undeniable connection takes hold of them both.

Abby Jimenez knows how to rip your heart out in between lots of laughter. I love how she uses animals as comedic relief and shows the ugly side of human emotion. Her characters go through real-life challenges and conflict and she writes in a way that lets the reader experience the pain, joys, and emotional journey of each character. If you haven’t read The Friend Zone yet, you don’t necessarily have to, but it will provide more backstory, which only helps explain Sloan’s journey and why Jason is the perfect match for her even more. Plus, book one has an S.P.C. (supporting pet character) named Stuntman Mike. Why would you want to miss out on that?

If you love time travel and are looking for something captivating with an unpredictable twist, read → The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young

Another one of my favorite reads in a while, The Unmaking of June Farrow is one of the more unique stories I’ve ever read. For fans of Outlander, this novel dives into the story of the Farrow women and a mysterious family curse that drives them all to madness – or so that’s what everyone believes. June knows her time is running out to end the curse when she begins to feel the effects. After her grandmother’s death one year later, she begins to discover clues regarding the disappearance of her mother from decades ago. It all comes down to a red door that she thought was a hallucination. She couldn’t be more wrong when one day, she walks right through to another time.

I devoured this book in three sittings. And believe me, it would’ve been less if sleep weren’t a necessity and responsibilities a thing. Young keeps you guessing the entire way. June keeps us torn between two love interests, and is faced with the unbearable question of ‘how far would you go to protect those you love most’. Anytime you think you have things figured out, a curveball comes in and questions everything you know. The Unmaking of June Farrow is unlike anything I’ve read before and is the perfect summer read for anyone who is mourning the end of an era with Outlander coming to a close.

If you can’t get enough of Stanley Tucci and love to read memoirs that are heavily centered around food and travel, read → What I Ate in One Year by Stanley Tucci

Stanley Tucci is an international icon. It’s impossible not to love him, even when he’s criticizing athleisure being worn anywhere outside of the gym. We love you, Stanley, but you’ll pull my flared yoga pants out of my cold, dead hands. His most recent memoir from 2024, What I Ate in a Year, is a diary of sorts. Written in a similar fashion to a journal, Stanley chronicles his day-to-day life over the course of a year, mostly in relation to food. From questionable airplane meals to bountiful family dinners, he shares stories reflecting conversations with friends, finding a new home for the previous Searching for Italy series, which became Tucci in Italy, relatable life concerns like dealing with aging parents, and so much more. If anyone else wrote something like this – with the exception of Anthony Bourdain – it probably would come off as self-absorbed and a waste of shelf space. But for some reason, coming from the perspective of Stanley Tucci, I found myself riveted to the page. I devoured this within a few days. It’s a great read if you’re looking for something light and unserious, and have a love for food, travel, and culture.

If you love second-chance romance, fake marriage trope, HGTV shows, and Cali, read → The Co-Op by Tarah DeWitt

LaRynn and Deacon had a summer romance as teens that ended rather disastrously. Years later, their grandmothers left them co-ownership of their Santa Cruz multi-unit building that’s seen better days. Deacon has been holding things down for months before he threatens LaRynn, saying he'll sue unless she comes to help him deal with the house. While dealing with a life crisis of her own, LaRynn accepts the inevitability of having to face her former fling and makes her way back home. Deacon has the expertise to fix the house, LaRynn has the funds (sort of). Since being cut off by her Dad, LyRynn’s one option is to access her trust. To do that, they enter a marriage contract to access the money and get the property in good enough condition to sell. As they work on the house, conversations around what happened come up, emotions are dealt with, and feelings begin to reignite. But will it be enough to salvage their relationship and save the house that holds so many memories of the women who raised them?

This is a great read for summertime - it’s lighter, the conflict is there but doesn’t get your pulse racing, and the yearning from Deacon is *chef’s kiss*. LaRynn got on my nerves at times. She had some growing up to do, but not all characters can be fully emotionally developed. However, Deacon is the pining, golden retriever, fix-it guy that dreams are made of. In the end, they balance each other out well and have the happy ending that they deserve. The real star of this book, though, is Sally, the elderly woman who has lived in one of the building’s units since Deacon and LaRynn were kids. I want more of Sally!

If you loved the Calvin Klein portion of Love Story on FX and want to dive more into fashion icons, read → The Woman I Wanted to Be by Diane Von Furstenberg

If you loved Love Story, the series about the relationship of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, but more specifically, the part that showed inside the world of Calvin Klein in the 90s, you’ll love Diane von Furstenberg’s memoir from 2014. Let me start by saying, this is not a memoir to read if you’re looking for something with particularly deep substance. Not to take anything away from her talent and ambition, DVF was very privileged in her relationships. It would be naive to suggest that they didn’t have a hand in her success. This memoir offers a glimpse into the lives of many notable figures and celebrities, as well as the story of how DVF built her fashion empire. It’s a quick read, perfect for the beach or by the pool. It’s light, fast-paced, and a glamorous telling from the inside of elite circles during the 70s, 80s, and 90s.

Finally, if you’re gearing up for SJM to launch ACOTAR 6 this fall, read → A Court of Thorns & Roses by Sarah J. Maas

We love a good fantasy series, and Sarah J. Maas is particularly talented with her stories. While I haven’t yet started the “Crescent City” series, I love that she’s begun to tie all three of her worlds together. I’m looking forward to seeing how this comes into play with the upcoming ACOTAR releases. If you haven’t read the series yet, now is your time to get started with A Court of Thorns & Roses (ACOTAR) and the subsequent books. My personal favorite in the series is A Court of Mist & Fury, the second of three books focused on Feyre, a human girl who finds herself suddenly thrust into the Fae world at the beginning of ACOTAR.

ACOTAR brought me back to reading after a long drought. My average book count each year was a handful, if that. Since being influenced by Bookstagram a few years back and picking up a copy of ACOTAR, something has been unleashed, and I’ve been reading like a maniac. It reads well and is fast-paced. You fly through the pages, both wanting to get to the end but dreading the story being over. The characters are multifaceted, not everything is black and white, and it keeps you pulled in. You’ll find yourself frustrated, yearning, and raging all that once. The more characters you meet, the more you want to get to know them. Typically, an overabundance of side characters is overwhelming, but not in the SJM world. ACOTAR 6 will be here before we know it. So if you’re even a little curious to see what the hype is about, now is the perfect time to commit to a series for summer.

What’s on your TBR this summer? Head over to our Instagram and drop a DM or comment to let us know!