Escape into a Book: 10 Must Reads to Heat Up Your Summer

You’re packing to head out to the pool, or the beach, or vacation with swimsuit, sunhat, towels, and sunscreen. Don’t forget to pack a “beach read” — that novel that is easy, breezy, get-out-of-your head kind of escape. 

Pick up one — or more — of the following. Or if you’ve got one of the waterproof Kindles, stock up on all that strike your fancy. So if you like romance, mysteries, thrillers, or horror, take a look. 

Just for the Summer, by Abby Jimenez. Justin has a curse, and thanks to a Reddit thread, it’s now all over the internet. Emma slides into his DMs with the same problem, and they come up with a plan: date each other and break up.

Last House, by Jessica Shattuck. Spanning multiple generations and nearly eighty years of the 20th century, one American family lives during an age of grand ideals and even greater downfalls. 

The Husbands, by Holly Gramazio. Realizing that her attic is creating an infinite supply of husbands, Lauren questions, if swapping lives is as easy as changing a lightbulb, when do you stop trying to do better and start actually living?

Horror Movie, by Paul Tremblay. A chilling twist on the “cursed film” genre for lovers of the very, very scary. 

The Summer Pact, by Emily Griffin. In the wake of tragedy, a group of friends makes a pact that will cause them to reunite a decade later and embark upon a life-changing adventure.

Listen for the Lie, by Amy Tintera. The hit true crime podcast — and its too-good looking host — are investigating the murder of Lucy’s friend, and Lucy’s forced to return to her hometown to solve the murder, even if she is the one that did it.

All the Summers in Between, by Brooke Lea Foster. Foster’s latest page-turning novel about two estranged friends whose unexpected reconnection in the Hamptons forces them to finally confront the terrible event that drove them apart.

One Perfect Couple, by Ruth Ware. Harkening to Agatha Christie’s classic And Then There Were None, this high-tension thriller follows five couples trapped on a storm-swept island as a killer stalks among them.

Good Material, by Dolly Alderton. Andy loves Jen. Jen loved Andy. And he can’t work out why she stopped. Set adrift on a sea of heartbreak, stand up comedian Andy clings to the idea of solving the puzzle of his ruined relationship. 

The Ministry of Time, by Kaliane Bradley. A time travel romance, a spy thriller, a workplace comedy, and an ingenious exploration of the nature of power and the potential for love to change it all.

There you have it — 10 books that are sure to heat up your summer and provide the perfect escape from reality. So, whether you’re lounging by the pool or hiding from your kids in the closet (we won’t judge), be sure to add these must-reads to your summer reading list. Happy reading!