Whether you’re a fan of solo travel, girls’ trips, or family getaways, a book will always be the best companion. From airports to hotels, they invite us into new worlds even as we prepare to explore new parts of the world.
This summer, we have 20 different options you can take along for the ride, whether you’re a thrill-seeker, a romantic at heart, a biographer, or an aspiring writer yourself. We even have a few in here to help you change the way you think and kickstart a summer of transformation.
1. A Court of Thorns and Roses
We simply must begin with one of the most talked-about series of our time. A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) is the first book in an enthralling series that chronicles the journey of Feyre after she’s brought into the fairy lands of Prythian.
There’s a lot of love, romance, intrigue, and world-building in this series that’s enchanting people in a way few other series have been able to do.
2. Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone
Prior series like Game of Thrones and Outlander will always be able to give ACOTAR a run for its money. If you watch the series on Starz, it’s important to read Go Tell the Bees That I am Gone book because, sadly, they’re in production of the final episodes.
This will ensure you’re fully caught up on all the Fraser family drama before they bring this heart-wrenching series to an end.
3. Inheritance
ACOTAR and Outlander do a magnificent job of exploring complex relationships and creating new worlds for us to explore. But, so does Nora Roberts — one of the most prolific and wealthiest writers of our time.
Inheritance is the first book in a trilogy detailing the journey of three women who must break the curse on an ancient house in Maine — all while finding true romance and love. Book two comes out in November, so you have plenty of time to savor this debut novel before you find out what happens next.
4. The Seine
Do you have Parisian plans this summer? If so, you simply must read The Siene as you make your way to the City of Love. It’s a memoir written by Elaine Scioline, former Paris bureau chief for the New York Times.
Many call it a love letter to the city as readers savor the stories of its lively characters, including a bookseller, houseboat dweller, and famous cinematographer.
5. Murder In an Irish Village
Summer is one of the best times of the year to visit Ireland. The hills are greener than ever; the breeze off the Atlantic is delicious; and the villages are brimming with activity.
Murder In an Irish Village is the first book in an extended series of mysteries written by Carlene O’Connor. There’s intrigue, mystery, and a tasteful dash of romance in each novel to leave you wondering whodunnit all while exploring Ireland’s quaint little villages.
If the famous Cliffs of Moher are on your Irish itinerary, we’ve got you covered with a detailed list of the best B&Bs in the area.
6. Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life
Since this summer is your summer of transformation, let’s explore a few books that will be good for the mind. Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life actually has the ability to help you do this — all within a few hundred ages.
Wayne Dyer teaches us the secret behind the powerful weapon that is our mind and what can happen when we let it lead us down positive and optimistic pathways, instead of negative and fear-driven alleyways.
7. Reframe Your Brain
Have you ever watched The Body Language Guy on YouTube? He’s an interesting character with a lot to teach us about the signals we send out in even the most benign interactions.
Reframe Your Brain is one of the Body Language Guy’s favorite books because it has over 160 counterintuitive reframes to help us shift our perspectives on life and achieve greater success in everything we do.
8. The Courage to Be Disliked
The Courage to Be Disliked is an international bestseller that has helped millions of people unlock their full potential by freeing them from the shackles of past trauma and societal expectations.
As you reframe your brain and find the courage to be disliked, you may emerge an entirely new version of yourself.
9. Ikigai
We’ll close out the list with one more bestseller with Japanese influences that’s changing countless lives. Ikigai reveals the secret to a long and happy existence.
Did you know there’s no word in Japanese that means “retire” in the same way we use it in the English language? In certain villages, people don’t long for retirement because they find unique ways to remain active and happy and, as a result, live long and fulfilling lives.
10. The Daily Stoic
Okay, maybe one more. This isn’t a summer read, but an annual activity you can start implementing this summer as you begin to live a long and happy life.
Ryan Holiday takes the complex works of the stoics — like Marcus Aurelius — and teaches them to his readers in a digestible manner. The Daily Stoic offers 365 meditations that you can take with you throughout the day — and year — to live a happier, more balanced life.
11. Long Island
Colm Tóibín’s novel is making its way to the top of countless bestseller lists. He’s a critically acclaimed author in his own right, but Oprah’s Book Club picked him up this season, bringing even greater exposure
Long Island follows the astonishing story of a woman named Ellis who greets a man at her front door one day, only to learn that her husband fathered a child with that man’s wife.
The visitor says he will not raise the baby, but will drop it on Ellis’ front door when it’s born. There are so many twists of fate in this tale, you won’t want to put it down.
As an aside, this is the perfect companion for a trip out to the Hamptons, Long Island this summer. Check out our guide to the best beaches in the Hamptons if you’re ocean-bound this season!
12. You Like It Darker
Stephen King is still churning out cult classics; one of his latest publications is You Like It Darker. The reason this may be of interest to you is because it’s a collection of twelve never-seen-before short stories.
This presents a lighter read — in length, not content — as you enjoy his usual mastery of tales about fate, mortality, and luck. Stephen King stands as one of the greatest masters of this form of storytelling and You Like It Darker a marvelous way to soak up his talents.
13. The Housemaid Is Watching
Staying on the thriller train, The Housemaid Is Watching packs an equally potent punch. When a new family moves into classic suburbia, the wife notices something strange about the neighbor’s housemaid.
From their first encounter to their last — you’ll follow a twisting, winding, and shocking tale of treachery and danger that’s written to perfection by New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden
14. The Girl Who Was Taken
We’ll round out the list of thrillers with one more. The Girl Who Was Taken follows the shocking tale of two high school seniors who went missing. A year later, only one of them returns.
While she goes on to write a bestselling account of her ordeal, there’s a much larger issue at hand: her friend is still missing. As more girls go missing in the area, it’s clear these crimes are all interconnected. But, who can solve the case?
15. Greenlights
If you haven’t read Matthew McConaughey’s autobiography yet, you must. Better yet, take the audiobook with you on your summer travels because he narrates it beautifully.
In this story about his upbringing, rise to fame, and inherent joy in settling down with his wife and children, you’ll gain a lot of inspiration as you seek out the greenlights and opportunities in your own life, as well.
16. Once Upon a Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy
If you enjoy a good biography, you might like Once Upon a Time. Nearly twenty years later, Carolyn and John F. Kennedy, Jr. still captivate people from all around the world.
This is an intriguing read, but be careful! After you delve into her life, you may want to know more about the Kennedys at large and there are countless biographies out there about them, as well.
17. The Real Diana
Speaking of enigmatic figures who live on decades later, Lady Colin Campbell’s The Real Diana offers a more balanced approach to this remarkable woman.
Although there’s every reason to adore Diana and watch all the documentaries you can about her, Lady Colin Campbell explores Diana’s flaws, as well, leaving readers with a new perspective.
18. Courtiers
If, in fact, you’re a royal watcher, you might enjoy Courtiers. Written by a renowned journalist, Valentine Low, it offers a gripping account of how the Royal Family operates, who really runs the show, and what might happen next, now that Charles III is king.
19. Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within
After you’ve been inspired by each of these reads, if you’d like to write a novel or short story of your own, Writing Down the Bones will draw endless inspiration out of you.
Written by Natalie Goldberg, an accomplished writer herself, she teaches readers how to work with the monkey mind, get those thoughts down on paper, and mold it all into a fascinating tale.
20. The Artist’s Way
Much like The Daily Stoic, The Artist’s Way is an entry point to endless transformation. Aspiring writers and artists alike use this method of journaling to draw inspiration, change the way they look at the world, and gain a greater understanding of who they are as a person.
If you purchase the starter kit, which also includes the workbook Morning Pages, you’ll be well on your way to a summer transformation that extends well into your well-lived life, thanks to Ikigai and The Artists’s Way.
Enjoy the Refreshing Shades of Summer
Whether you’re lying in a hammock, sitting on the beach, or traveling to Paris, we hope these summer reads will help you set sail on some of your best memories yet.
Which city are you headed to next? We likely have a destination guide to help you tackle one of the best parts of any vacation — the planning stage. We hope to see you out there, soaking up the summer sun and enjoying a brand-new read.