Whether your ideal summer is sunbathing by the pool, working at a dream internship, or traveling the world, it’s essential to fit some summer reading into your schedule for some downtime. . Luckily, popular social media reading communities like BookTok and BookTube have recommended amazing books of all genres and interests for the summer, so let’s get started!

“People We Meet on Vacation”

This Emily Henry novel has been making waves on social media over the past year and is also a New York Times bestseller. The colorful, retro covers of Henry’s books stand out in any bookstore and make the perfect poolside read. The novel focuses on two best friends and an annual summer trip they used to take, until they mysteriously fall out. Years later, the couple decides to rekindle this trip and resolve their issues. The novel travels back in time by revisiting previous journeys the characters had taken together and leads readers to discover what really happened on the last journey they took. This romantic comedy is a light and heartwarming read with spirited characters that definitely needs to be on your summer reading list.

“Read on the Beach”

Since we’re already on the subject of Emily Henry’s books, I have to include her infamous “Beach Read” on this list. If you’re a fan of the “opposites attract” romantic trope, this book couldn’t be more perfect for your summer reading list. The plot centers on a romance novelist who no longer believes in true love and a literary writer struggling with writer’s block. The couple agree to spend the summer writing novels in the other person’s favorite style to potentially solve the writing problems they both have. This novel’s seaside setting makes it ideal for an upcoming beach vacation or your local beach if you are lucky enough to live nearby.

“An Italian Summer”

This novel by Rebecca Serle is for those who don’t prefer romance and are looking for deeper meaning when finishing a book. The main character is a young woman named Katy whose mother recently died. Katy’s mother was her best friend and they had planned the trip of a lifetime to Positano, Italy before her mother passed away. As Katy embarks on this journey alone to heal her soul, she meets her mother on the Amalfi Coast as a healthy 30-year-old woman. This love story between a mother and her daughter is both heartbreaking and joyful and will certainly make you want to hug your mom tightly. The stunning landscapes of the Amalfi Coast are just an added bonus to Serle’s smooth writing.

“The Suite Corner”

The last novel included in this list of recommendations is for those who spend their summer on a lake or just want to admire the quirky setting of lazy summer island towns. “The Suite Spot” centers on a single mother who decides to move from her position as a hotel reservations manager in Miami to a managerial position at a hotel and brewery on Kelleys Island in Lake Erie. She meets a whimsical but sturdy and handsome man on the island, whose passion is brewing beer, but who knows nothing about running a hotel. He offers her a chance to rebuild her life by combining their talents to build a hotel with him on this sleepy island, which leads to an engrossing, slow-paced romance. The plot of this novel is unique among all the other summer books I have read and is definitely worth reading!