Each year, summer is the season when I fall back in love with reading. It’s a breath of fresh air to push my textbooks aside and remind myself what it feels like to read for pleasure. Without deadlines and quizzes, I can take my time soaking up each page and experimenting with new and exciting genres. If you’re anything like me and plan to dive into some good reads over summer break, now is the time to curate your perfect to-be-read list. I’ve combed through BookTok, BookTube and all the best seller lists to start you off with six stellar recommendations. So, without further ado, here are the six books that absolutely need to be on your summer TBR:
- For when you’re on the beach: Malibu Rising
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Ok, I know you might be sick of the Taylor Jenkins Reid hype. But, if you still haven’t read Malibu Rising, you’ve got to pick it up stat! According to bookworm icon, Jack Edwards, Malibu Rising was the single most recommended book on YouTube last year. And for good reason! This novel is the perfect summer read. There’s a dreamy beachside setting, steamy romances and perfectly paced drama, all blended together with a dash of 80’s nostalgia. So, if you’re packing for a spontaneous beach day or just chilling by the hotel pool, make sure to pop a copy of Malibu Rising in your tote. You won’t regret it!
- For when you’re with family: Memphis
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Tara M. Stringfellow’s Memphis is a show-stopping novel that deserves your undivided, summertime attention. A critically acclaimed bestseller, Memphis uses multiple narrators to explore a Black family’s generational trauma and resilience. All the while, the story remains rooted in the unique culture and history of Memphis, Tennessee. This novel’s layered themes will constantly make you reminisce on your own family’s past, traditions, ties and love. I think that Memphis is a great read for when you’re visiting family members and the topic of heritage is top of mind. So make sure to pick up a copy if you’re heading back to your hometown!
- For when you’re traveling: People We Meet on Vacation
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If you follow any creators on BookTok, you’ve probably heard of Emily Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation (also published as You and Me on Vacation). This book is well-loved online for its cute and comforting rom-com vibes and characters who you can easily get behind. There are also interesting leaps back and forth in time which will keep you turning the pages. Whether you’ve got a few hours to kill on a long plane ride or you want to snuggle up with a book in your hotel room, this novel is the perfect match for a traveling reader. It’s easy to pick back up where you leave off and fast-paced enough to keep you entertained far from home!
- For when you’re feeling reflective: Corazón
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Oftentimes, the best parts of summer aren’t the fancy trips or the big get-togethers, but the small moments when you can relax and feel introspective. That’s why poetry is a must-have on any summer TBR, in order to round out the flashy novels! One amazing poetry collection is Corazón by Yesika Salgado. The poems in Corazón cover diverse topics including body image, Spanglish, music and so much more. Salgado beautifully ties back all of these topics to love and heartache, and her mastery of words will stick in your mind all the way into fall. So, add this collection to your shopping list and arm yourself with bittersweet poems for navigating summer’s reflective moments.
- For when you’re stuck scrolling through Insta: Dress Code
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Uh oh —the summer break boredom has set in, and you’ve found yourself stuck in a toxic loop of refreshing your socials. No worries, this engaging non-fiction read is just what you need to free yourself from the endless IG scroll. Dress Code: Unlocking Fashion from the New Look to Millennial Pink by Véronique Hyland is a fashion lover’s dream. Reading this essay collection all about the history and cultural politics at play in the fashion world will help put the confusing landscape of social media boutiques and trends into context. You’re sure to walk away from Dress Code with a new understanding of the clothes on your back and on your phone screen!
- For when you’re missing school: Disorientation
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I discovered Elaine Hsieh Chou’s Disorientation while gift shopping at the adorable L.A. shop, DIESEL, A Bookstore. When an employee pointed the novel out to me, I immediately knew I’d have to buy a copy for both me and my friends to read this summer. Disorientation is a satirical novel about a Ph.D. student reckoning with the problematic aspects of her relationships with men and academia. It tackles the unique problems faced by AAPI women with a cutting yet sweet humor and wonderfully complex characters. I think that Disorientation is the perfect end-of-summer read when going back to school is on your mind. You’ll find yourself laughing and shaking your head at college life, and craving more of Hsieh Chou’s work!
So, go forth and update your TBR with these fun options! All of these reads should be available on Amazon or at your local bookstore, and each of these books is sure to reawaken your love of reading that goes dormant during the busy school year. Have fun losing yourself in these fictional dramas, finding yourself in the poetry’s lines and learning more about this crazy world we live in. Happy summer reading!