26 Books to Read in Summer + My Summer Reading Challenges

It’s my 26th birthday tomorrow (woo!), so I thought I’d get back to discussing one of my all-time favourite things. Books!

As much as I love discussing freelancing, blogging, travel and general life stuff, I first started my blog to talk about my love for books. So, every so often, I like to go back to that.

Reading and writing play such an important role in my life. Seriously, I don’t think a day has gone by when I’ve not read or written since I first learned how to.

So, what are the best books to read in Summer? How can you get into a bit of reading and writing this Summer? Let’s take a look.

26 books to read in Summer

I’ve put together a list of 26 books to read in Summer. These books are page-turners, romantic beach reads and classics that feel just like a hot Summer’s day.

Here are 26 great books to read in Summer:

1. ‘Bonjour Tristesse’ by Francoise Sagan – a perfect Summer read set in the south of France
2. ‘I Capture the Castle’ by Dodie Smith
3. ‘Fault Lines’ by Emily Itami – a short, unusual story
4. ‘The Garden’ by Nick Newman
5. ‘Flaneuse’ by Lauren Elkin – wander the streets of Paris, Tokyo, London and New York
6. ‘Saltwater’ by Jessica Andrews – beautiful words to lose yourself in
7. ‘Rivals’ by Jilly Cooper – or watch the new TV series on Disney+
8. ‘Summer People’ by Julie Cohen
9. ‘Hot Milk’ by Deborah Levy – a short, strange book set in sweaty Spain
10. ‘Eat, Gay, Love’ by Callum McSwiggan
11. ‘A Look of Innocence’ by Anna Gilbert
12. ‘Sweetbitter’ by Stephanie Danler
13. ‘Emma’ by Jane Austen – it always reminds me of Summer!
14. ‘The Guest’ by Emma Cline
15. ‘The Duke and I’ by Julia Quinn – a bit of Bridgerton romance
16. ‘Nine Perfect Strangers’ by Liane Moriarty
17. ‘Cider with Rosie’ by Laurie Lee – an idyllic childhood tale
18. ‘My Brilliant Friend’ by Elena Ferrante
19. ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’ by Joan Lindsay – a very strange, dark and funny story
20. ‘Queenie’ by Candice Candy-Williams – honest, raw and captivating
21. ‘Such a Fun Age’ by Kiley Reid
22. ‘The Wonder Spot’ by Melissa Bank – a relatable look at growing up
23. ‘Blue Sisters’ by Coco Mellors
24. ‘Chamomile Lawn’ by Mary Wesley – it’s on my TBR list!
25. ‘Idol’ by Louise O’Neill – a thrilling tale of truth and memory
26. ‘Exciting Times’ by Naoise Dolan

There are so many beautiful books that evoke the feeling of Summer. Whether that’s because they take place somewhere hot – or because that’s when I read them for the first time – I love finding a book that perfectly encapsulates Summer for me.

5 fun Summer reading challenges

Who remembers those Summer holiday library reading challenges? You had to read a certain number of books to earn treats and gifts – and it was something I always looked forward to once school finished. Big surprise, I was a nerd…

But last year, my mum sent me a Substack article all about an adult Summer reading challenge. It included fun tasks like swapping a book with a friend or reading outside.

So, with that in mind, I thought it would be fun to put together 5 fun Summer reading challenges for anyone to try out. Test yourself and your reading habits – with your friends, family or by yourself.

1. Read in a new place

Go out to your local café or read in the park to get some sun. I love taking my book anywhere and everywhere, especially during the warm Summer months.

Looking for more ideas? Check out my blog post for 17 ways to romanticise your Summer.

2. Use a library

Libraries are treasure troves! Go to your local library for a browse, or just sit and read for a few hours around other book nerds.

If you’re feeling generous, you could even leave a donation. I’m so grateful for the library system. I never would have been able to read half the books I have without it.

3. Read a completely new genre

We all have our favourite genre, but what if you stepped out of your comfort zone? For me, that would probably be something like crime fiction or romance. Or maybe fantasy.

Pick up something that’s completely different for you. You might be pleasantly surprised, or it might confirm why you hated that genre in the first place!

4. Host a book-themed event

You could host a book-themed party or event for your friends and family this Summer. Create the perfect murder mystery or get everyone to dress up as their favourite character.

This is a fantastic way to bring together book lovers. If you want to take it a step further, you could host a book club or even a local community event.

5. Write a story of your own

Why not try writing a story of your own this Summer? You could use your favourite book as inspiration or look for some daily writing prompts.

What is your favourite Summer read? Do you do any fun Summer reading challenges? What are you reading?

Let me know all your thoughts in the comments below 🙂

Happy reading x