New & Popular This Summer
Fall's Most Anticipated
In My Nostalgia Era
In My Nineties Era
Shop NinetiesAll That • Phat • Bomb
All That • Phat • Bomb
Bring a little "booyah!" to your shelf with books from the nineties. If Cher is your style icon, or you have an opinion on the infamous Ross and Rachel break, this is the summer era for you.
Bring a little "booyah!" to your shelf with books from the nineties. If Cher is your style icon, or you have an opinion on the infamous Ross and Rachel break, this is the summer era for you.
In My Eighties Era
Shop EightiesFresh • Bodacious • Stellar
Fresh • Bodacious • Stellar
Looking for something bad in the good way? Something tubular with awesome hair? Then your summer vibe is like, totally '80s for sure and we love it.
Searching for John Hughes: Or Everything I Thought I Needed to Know about Life I Learned from Watching '80s Movies
from $4.79
The Great Rescue (Cabbage Patch Kids)
from $3.59
Jem #2: The Video Caper: YOU are JEM! The Misfits kidnap an English princess -- and blame it on you! You have to find her! (Jem #2 Find Your Fate)
from $7.99
Looking for something bad in the good way? Something tubular with awesome hair? Then your summer vibe is like, totally '80s for sure and we love it.
In My Millennial Era
Shop the 2000sTight • Fire • Hot
Tight • Fire • Hot
Set your away message, it's reading time. Dive into reads from the digital decade of the 2000s where you'll find all things hot, dude, and/or bling.
Set your away message, it's reading time. Dive into reads from the digital decade of the 2000s where you'll find all things hot, dude, and/or bling.
In My Regency Dresses Everywhere Era
Shop Regency RomancesHistorical • Delightful • Opulent
Historical • Delightful • Opulent
Revel in a regal regency romp this summer, filled with ravishing rapscallions, decadent dresses, and beguiling beaus.
Revel in a regal regency romp this summer, filled with ravishing rapscallions, decadent dresses, and beguiling beaus.
In My "It's Right Behind You!" Era
Shop HorrorDark • Creepy • Intense
Dark • Creepy • Intense
Spend the summer on the edge of your seat with these horror-filled tales.
Spend the summer on the edge of your seat with these horror-filled tales.
In My Mad Scientist Era
Shop Sci-FiThrilling • Imaginative • Unexpected
Thrilling • Imaginative • Unexpected
If you're feeling a little twisted, a little run amok, these sci-fi tales will give you the madness you're craving.
If you're feeling a little twisted, a little run amok, these sci-fi tales will give you the madness you're craving.
Featured Author
Elin Hilderbrand
Pretty much the queen of summer reading, Elin Hilderbrand is a popular writer of romance novels, all set in or around Nantucket Island where she lives. Born and raised in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, she spent her childhood summers on Cape Cod and moved there in 1993. Hilderbrand is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University. She has been a teaching fellow at the University of Iowa Writers' Workshop.
More from this author
In My Girl-Squad Era
Shop Women's FictionStrong • Fierce • Thought-provoking
Strong • Fierce • Thought-provoking
When women team up, they're unstoppable in these three very-different books that focus on female friendships and family.
When women team up, they're unstoppable in these three very-different books that focus on female friendships and family.
In My Crime-Solver Era
Shop MysteriesMysterious • Unputdownable • Whodunnit
Mysterious • Unputdownable • Whodunnit
Sleuth your way through summer with a tension-filled, killer on the loose mystery to solve.
Sleuth your way through summer with a tension-filled, killer on the loose mystery to solve.
Recommended Articles
In My Tell Me Everything Era
Shop Biography & MemoirReal • Fascinating • Conversational
Real • Fascinating • Conversational
Get the story straight with popular and bestselling celebrity memoirs that let you into the mind of an artist.
Get the story straight with popular and bestselling celebrity memoirs that let you into the mind of an artist.
In My Award-Winners Only Era
Shop Award-Winning BooksAcclaimed • Poignant • Evocative
Acclaimed • Poignant • Evocative
Looking for something thought-provoking, with a touch of Nobel and a dash of Pulitzer? This is the era for you. Ensure your summer read is a great one with these timeless award-winners.
Looking for something thought-provoking, with a touch of Nobel and a dash of Pulitzer? This is the era for you. Ensure your summer read is a great one with these timeless award-winners.
In My Doorstopper Era
See More Really Big BooksMassive • Detailed • Epic
Massive • Detailed • Epic
Sometimes reading is a marathon, not a sprint. If you are looking for an adventure that will last, look no further than these books that are over 800 pages long.
Sometimes reading is a marathon, not a sprint. If you are looking for an adventure that will last, look no further than these books that are over 800 pages long.
In My Unbothered Era
Shop Self-Help & PsychologyConfident • Empowering • Inspiring
Confident • Empowering • Inspiring
Take some time for self-love, self-care, and self-confidence with books that focusing on celebrating who you are.
Take some time for self-love, self-care, and self-confidence with books that focusing on celebrating who you are.
In My Small-Town Full of Secrets Era
Shop Small-Town SecretsForeboding • More Than Meets the Eye • Surprising
Foreboding • More Than Meets the Eye • Surprising
Get a front-row seat to the town's gossip with these reads full of shocks, twists, surprises, and secrets.
Get a front-row seat to the town's gossip with these reads full of shocks, twists, surprises, and secrets.
Summer is more than just a season — for many, it’s a feeling, a moment, and ultimately, an escape. The kids are out of school and long days encourage relaxation. Even if you can’t make it to a beach, you’re there, mentally. It’s no wonder that it’s one of the hottest times of the year for delving into new books. Summer and reading go hand in hand, so of course you’re ready to enjoy a poolside read. Summer reading isn’t just about fun. It’s also a great way to stretch your imagination, discover new ideas, and exercise your critical thinking skills. Exploring new and used books is one of the best ways you can spend a lazy summer day and turn it into a not-so-lazy-after-all day.
What Makes a Great Summer Read?
It’s hard to define the correlation between the summer season and the summer reading genre, but indeed a correlation exists. Summer reads don’t have to be set in summer, be released in summer, or have anything to do with summer… so what defines a summer read? And what makes for a great one? The answers to these questions lie deep in the pages of the most iconic summer books.
Take Jennifer Weiner, for example. As the apparent progenitor of “chick-lit,” she has established a collection of characters who are relatable, flawed, and above all else, entertaining. Her books often top the list of summer reading recommendations for these reasons. Summer reading is about fun, indulgent stories, and the author’s latest release is no exception. That Summer chronicles the power of female friendship with an array of twists along the way. This offers an example of the ideal summer read: accessible, fun, relatable, and always interesting.
What Are Some Great Summer Reads?
Jennifer Weiner may be the queen of summer reading, but she’s just one of many authors who have topped the genre. There are many other great summer reads that await you, including the aptly-titled Beach Read by Emily Henry. This bright and romantic narrative details the meetcute between two writers who help each other’s creative process — and maybe fall in love along the way.
For those who prefer a main dish comprised of drama, Kristin Hannah’s The Four Winds offers an evocative look into the history of the American Dream. It details the disparity between the privileged class and the poor in Depression-era America. Its themes of hope and resilience make it an uplifting summer read to enjoy.
Of course, no summer reading list would be complete without an acknowledgment of the many mystery books that are popular in summer months. Stuart Woods is the reigning master of the thriller genre, with his Teddy Fay series often topping bestseller lists. The latest entry, Jackpot, is no exception — and its indulgent thrills make it a great read for summertime.
Discover Romance, Fantasy, and Mystery this Summer
Summer is the perfect time to whip out an old favorite novel or discover one of the many new books that have become a summer standard. If you’re not sure where to begin, though, you can start by checking out a summer reading list targeted to your age and interests. This can help you find a curated list of books that you’re likely to enjoy. Exploring new books allows you to find new authors you’ll come to love and stories you might have never heard of before! With longer days and brighter weather, summer is the perfect time to rediscover your love for reading and pick up one of the top summer books. Whether you’re looking for a romance, mystery, drama, or thriller, you’ll find the book you need at ThriftBooks.
