Whether you’re headed to the beach, the lake, or the pool this summer, a good book is a must have for ultimate relaxation. I’ve put together a list of the new must read books for summer. Any of these books are a perfect addition to your beach bag. And they are all books you don’t want to miss out on!
Must Read Books for Summer 2017: Summer/Beachy Reads
The Identicals by Elin Hilderbrand
Identical twins, Tabitha and Harper Frost, have spent their whole lives trying to prove that despite looking identical they are nothing alike. But when a family crisis forces them to come together, they realize that their special bond is more important than their differences. Taking place in Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, this book about sibling rivalry is a must read this summer.
Buy it for kindle here! Or buy the hardcover here! Read the reviews here!
Other popular Erin Hilderbrand summertime must read novels:
Rumor – buy it here!
The Matchmaker – buy it here!
Slightly South of Simple by Kristy Woodson Harvey
When Caroline Murphy’s high society marriage falls apart in a public manner, she decides to go back to the home town she swore she’d never set foot in again. Her mother, Ansley, very willingly accepts her pregnant daughter with her nine year old daughter. But when Caroline’s sisters, Sloane and Emerson, come back home as well, Ansley begins to feel a piece of her slipping away. And when someone from Ansley’s past reappears, a secret that she has hidden from her daughters is threatened to emerge. A wonderful novel exploring the bonds of sisterhood and the relationship between mothers and daughters, this novel is filled with drama, emotion, and Southern Charm.
Buy it here! Over 4 stars on Goodreads, read the reviews here!
Secrets in Summer by Nancy Thayer
Nancy Thayer is considered the queen of beach novels, and with most of them taking place on Nantucket, you really can’t get more beachy or summery than that. Darcy Cotterill lives year-round on Nantucket. So when Memorial Day weekend brings the seasonal islanders, the last person Darcy expects to move in next door is her ex husband and his new family. This story follows Darcy in her romantic relationships and as she gets pulled into drama with her ex husband.
Buy it here! Read the reviews here!
Other popular Nancy Thayer summer must reads:
The Guest Cottage – buy it here!
Nantucket Sisters – buy it here!
Same Beach, Next Year by Dorothea Benton Frank
When former sweethearts, Adam and Eve, run into each other on the Isle of Palms (South Carolina) with their new significant others, the two couples create an unlikely friendship. The four friends meet every year and grow closer, changing their lives forever. Their friendship and love helps them face the obstacles that life throws. Friendship, love, sunny days, starry nights, cocktails, and the ocean, this is a must grab book for this summer!
Buy it here! Read the reviews here!
The Summer House by Hannah McKinnon
Flossy Merrill plans to celebrate one last summer in the family beach house, where she plans to tell her children she’s selling it. As each child is dealing with personal struggles, they must decide what is important as they reminisce on their summers in the beach house. A nice light read with family drama and a beach makes this a must read book for relaxing at the beach (or wherever you are).
Buy it here! Over 4 stars on Goodreads, read the reviews here!
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Evelyn Hugo, famous film actress, decides to tell the truth about her rise to fame. But she chooses an unknown magazine reporter, Monique Grant, to tell her tale. Monique, jumping at the opportunity, goes to Evelyn’s house and listens to her story. But as Evelyn tells her risks, decisions, and seven husbands, Monique realizes that their lives intersect in a tragic way. Raving reviews about this book already and this author means this book should be one of the next ones you grab this summer.
Buy it here! Read the reviews here!
The Sunshine Sisters by Jane Green
Ronni Sunshine was a disinterested mother who alienated her three daughters to pursue her acting career in Hollywood. The Sunshine sisters don’t have much contact with one another, until Ronni discovers she has a serious illness and summons her daughters. As they struggle with their own personal conflicts, the Sunshine sisters are drawn together by their mothers illness.
Buy it here! Read the reviews here!
The Beach at Painter’s Cove by Shelley Noble
The Whitaker family’s mansion in Connecticut was in its golden years filled with actors, artists, and tragedy. But this home and life was draining for those who lived there. But now, four generations of Whitaker’s find themselves at the mansion to restore it to its former glory. Filled with familial drama, this multi-generational novel is a perfect summer read.
Buy it here! Read the reviews here!
Made for Love by Alissa Nutting
When Hazel leaves her tech mogul husband, Byron, she moves into a senior citizen trailer park with her dad and Diane. As hazel tries to get her life together and deal with her father and his life-like sex doll, Byron goes to any lengths to bring Hazel home. His threats become more sinister and Hazel must take action to find a home and life free from his control. This strange plot makes an intriguing book that is a perfect summer read.
Pre-order it here (available July 4th)! Read the reviews here!
The Hideaway by Lauren K Denton
Sara Jenkins is a successful business owner of an antique shop in New Orleans. When she receives the phone call that her grandmother Mags passed away, Sara returns home to Sweet Bay Alabama. Mags leaves behind what used to be a B&B, now just a ramshackle house full of Mags’s long time friends. And Sara discovers that Mags left her the house and requested she return it to its former glory. Wanting to honor her grandmother’s wishes, but also eager to return to her home and life in New Orleans, Sara plans a quick renovation. As Sara gets immersed in the renovations of the B&B, she finds herself falling in love with the house she grew up in, the man she hired to renovate, and uncovering secrets about her grandmother. This heartwarming Southern fiction mixes with the right amount of romance to make this a must read book for summer.
Buy it here! Read the reviews here!
The Shark Club by Ann Kidd Taylor
Despite being bitten by a shark as a child, Maeve sought to understand sharks and became a successful marine biologist. At 30 years old, Maeve is still feeling the heartbreak from a broken engagement to her childhood sweetheart, Daniel. When Daniel shows up to work at her grandmother’s hotel with his six year old daughter, Maeve finds herself fond of the little girl. But Maeve has bigger concerns when evidence of a shark finning operation in the area and she’s determined to stop it. This romance mystery is beachy and relatable, a story involving the ocean and love. It’s a perfect summertime read.
Buy it here! Read the reviews here!
The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
Eve Gardiner, recruited to work as a spy during World War II, spends her time drinking away the sorrow and betrayal that destroyed The Alice Network. Charlie St. Clair, an American college girl, goes overseas to deal with her pregnancy at her parents behest. Instead she heads to London to find her cousin, Rose, who disappeared in France during the war. When Eve and Charlie’s paths connect, they team up to find Rose and the truth about what happened. This beautifully written historical novel is full of humor, heartbreak, and horror. What more could you ask of a must read book?
It Happens in the Hamptons by Holly Peterson
Katie Doyle moves to the Hamptons looking for a job, friends for her young son, and to explore her budding relationship. Worried about what to expect from her boyfriends elite social circle, Katie finds that Southampton isn’t what it seems to be. As Katie immerses herself into the scene of high society, she finds affairs, fake friendships, and betrayals in both social classes. With major plot twists, we explore what Katie really wants in life as the explosive summer wears on.
Buy it here! Read the reviews here!
Must Read Books for Summer 2017: Thrillers & Mysteries
Secrets of the Dead by Carol Wyer
Detective Robyn Carter knows she’s got a serial killer on her hand when she finds a young woman murdered in her bathtub. When they discover a second victim with the same MO, Robyn realizes she needs to solve this mystery fast. And as she discovers a clue that could solve the case, one of her own is put in danger. Can Robyn solve the case and track down the killer before it’s too late? Carol Wyer is an upcoming crime and mystery novel writer, and her ability to pull you into the story make this a book you must pick up this summer!
Buy it here – only $0.99!
Into the Water by Paula Hawkins
If you’re a fan of Girl on the Train (read my review here) then definitely pick up this book. A few months after Lena’s best friend turns up dead in the river, her mother turns up dead under similar circumstances. Alone, parentless and friendless, Lena finds herself under the care of her aunt. They have never met, adding strain to an already rocky relationship, especially as Lena harbours secrets. Paula Hawkins knows how to tell a sinister mystery, making this a must grab for your trip to the beach.
Camino Island by John Grisham
Five manuscripts are stolen from a secure vault below Princeton’s Firestone Library and end up on the black market. A mysterious woman approaches Mercer Mann, a younger female writer struggling from writers block, and hires her to go undercover and investigate a popular bookstore owner and prominent dealer of rare books. John Grisham knows how to tell a captivating story, making Camino Island a must read for this summer.
Buy it here! Read the reviews here!
The Good Widow by Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke
Jacqueline’s husband, who is supposedly on a business trip in Kansas, turns up dead after a car accident in Hawaii with another woman. The husband of the other woman, Nick, and Jacqueline want answers and the two team up to find the truth. But retracing his last days, Jacqueline learns that her marriage, her husband, and his death were not what she believed. This twisting mystery, coupled with some romance, makes this a great mystery read for the beach.
Buy it here! Read the reviews here!
Lowcountry Bonfire by Susan M Boyer
The sixth book in the Liz Talbot mystery series follows private investigators Liz Talbot and Nate Andrews. When Tammy Sue Lyerly’s husband turns up dead the morning after they deliver incriminating evidence, Tammy becomes the prime suspect. But as they question Tammy and her husbands lies, Liz and Nate uncover town scandals and secrets. And the popularity of this series and Boyer’s ability to capture the truth of the South makes this a must read mystery for the summer.
Buy it here! Read the reviews here!
I Found You by Lisa Jewell
Alice Lake finds a man sitting on the beach in the rain with no jacket. She invites him to stay in the guest cottage behind the house. Meanwhile, Lily Monrose feels abandoned and lost when her husband of two weeks doesn’t come home from work one evening. When she goes to the police, they tell her that he didn’t exist. Twenty three years earlier, siblings Kirsty and Gray spend the summer on holiday with their parents. Another teen has his eyes set on Kirsty, and Gray fears for her safety as he gets a bad feeling from the stranger. This psychological thriller is full of twists and sinister mystery as things become dangerous for all involved. You don’t want to miss reading this book this summer! Read my review here!
Must Read Books for Summer 2017: Young Adult
Perennials by Mandy Berman
Best friends Rachel and Fiona return to their favorite summer camp as counselors. But Fiona’s jealousy of Rachel’s popularity among campers and fellow counselors, and Rachel’s frustration with Rachel’s insecurities, the two begin keeping secrets from one another. Until the tensions of their turbulent summer lead to a tragic event, which forces Rachel and Fiona to confront their pasts and their futures. This nostalgic tale about summer camps that explores female relationships and growing up make this a perfect summer read for young adults!
Buy it here! Read the reviews here!
Once and For All by Sarah Dessen
Being the daughter of a popular wedding planner, Louna has seen them all. And after her first love ended tragically, she’s a bit reluctant to love. When Louna meets Ambrose, a charming serial dater, she keeps her distance. But Ambrose is relentless, because Louna is the one girl he really wants. Sarah Dessen knows how to tell a charming and entertaining story, making her latest novel a must read for young adults.
Buy it here! Read the reviews here!
These must read books for summer are great picks that you don’t want to miss out on reading! Don’t forget to check back for reviews on all these books in the Reading Lately linkups! And let me know if you read any of these books, I’d love to know what you think!
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I haven’t read any of these but a few of them look like stories I’d like to get into. My first pick would be I Found You which sounds like quite the psychological thrill.
I just finished I Found You and I really enjoyed it! A little unrealistic, and a little predictable, but still a great read!
I’ve been meaning step away from always reading business related books so this is a great start. Lots of options you’ve listed here so I am will start checking some of these out. It’s a good start to reading something different for the summer. Thanks for sharing!
I feel like I need to start adding some business books into my mix! Turn my reading habit a little more educational 🙂 Let me know if you read any!
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is amazing – everything by Taylor Jenkins Reid is truly fantastic. Have you read The Vacationers? It’s another summery novel, but it’s not one I could get into.
Thanks for including those YA picks – I’m adding Perennials to my TBR now!
I haven’t read anything by Taylor Jenkins Reid but I keep hearing about her and that her books being amazing! I think that’s probably my next pick 🙂 And no I haven’t heard of The Vacationers, but I’ll definitely look at it! Why couldn’t you get into it??
Oh, I love your list – adored several of these books! and need to get crackin on several more I snagged off netgallery!
I know I’ve been trying to catch up with my NetGalley list! I got so behind, and I don’t want to request any more until I’ve read some of them haha!
they look so pretty =)
That’s quite the list! I’m very much a YA reader, so those couple are probably the only on this list I’d read.
That said, it will be ages before that happens because I keep requesting more books from NetGalley and I refuse to let myself fall below the 80% feedback ratio!