- Share - [](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://about.ebsco.com/markdownify/node/160807) - []() - []() - []() # Top 22 Books to Read (and Recommend) This Summer This summer’s standout reads span genres and generations. Here are 22 fresh picks from beloved authors and bold new voices. ![](https://assets.ebsco.com/asset/4aa3b696-6040-4cc9-8ade-c1364f105bb4/Summer-Read-List.jpg) [Rebecca Honeycutt](/novelist/bio/rebecca-honeycutt) 27 May 2025 It's officially summer in North America... a season that readers look forward to all year. Whether summer at your library means shifting into high gear or relishing a brief moment of cruise control, there will always be readers who want your up-to-date book recommendations. To help you keep those recommendations fresh and fun, we’ve rounded up 22 standout titles featured in this summer’s [NextReads](/novelist/products/libraryaware/nextreads-newsletters) newsletters, broken into categories. ![](https://assets.ebsco.com/asset/1a9cb187-834d-449d-b22c-b76d13b50549/summer-NR-collage.png) ### Literary Lights - *The Emperor of Gladness* by Ocean Vuong - *The River Has Roots* by Amal El-Mohtar - *Flashlight* by Susan Choi ### Real Lives - *Mark Twain* by Ron Chernow - *Marsha* by Tourmaline - *It Rhymes With Takei* by George Takei, Steven Scott, and Justin Eisinger, illustrated by Harmony Becker ### Thrills and Chills - *With a Vengeance* by Riley Sager - *Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil* by V.E. Schwab - *The Bewitching* by Silvia Moreno-Garcia - *Blood in the Water* by Tiffany D. Jackson (middle grade) ### New from Newbery and Caldecott Medalists - *J vs. K* by Kwame Alexander and Jerry Craft - *Graciela in the Abyss* by Meg Medina - *Island Storm* by Brian Floca - *The Day the Books Disappeared* by Joanna Ho, illustrated by Dan Santat ### Steamy Summer Romances - *Dream On, Ramona Riley* by Ashley Herring Blake - *Along Came Amor* by Alexis Daria - *My Best Friend's Honeymoon* by Meryl Wilsner ### Familiar Authors, New Directions - *The Listeners* by Maggie Stiefvater (adult debut from young adult author) - *Ordinary Love* by Marie Rutkoski (adult debut from young adult author) - *These Summer Storms* by Sarah MacLean (contemporary fiction debut from romance author) - *Death in the Cards* by Mia P. Manansala (young adult debut from adult author) - *Another* by Paul Tremblay (middle grade debut from adult author) NextReads newsletters aren’t just great for readers — they’re a time-saving tool for staff, offering ready-to-go book recommendations that make your work with readers faster, easier, and more effective. And they're included in every [LibraryAware](/novelist/products/libraryaware "LibraryAware - Overview") subscription. [ Learn more about NextReads ](/novelist/products/libraryaware/nextreads-newsletters) --- [Rebecca Honeycutt](/novelist/bio/rebecca-honeycutt "Rebecca Honeycutt") is the Content Development Coordinator for NoveList. They are currently reading *Return to Sender* by Vera Brosgol. Category: [Articles ](/blogs/novelist/category/articles) Tags: [NextReads](/blogs/novelist/tag/nextreads) [Summer reading](/blogs/novelist/tag/summer-reading) [Readers' advisory](/blogs/novelist/tag/readers'-advisory) [Book recommendations](/blogs/novelist/tag/book-recommendations) - Share - [](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://about.ebsco.com/markdownify/node/160807) - []() - []() - []() ## Related Posts [ ![](https://assets.ebsco.com/asset/c8f23ee9-8e7c-4155-846e-c4d2b5ac6b32/Consistene-Messaging.jpg) ](/blogs/novelist/consistent-emails-get-readers-use-library) [Consistent Emails Get Readers to Use the Library](/blogs/novelist/consistent-emails-get-readers-use-library) 11 March 2025 [ ![](https://assets.ebsco.com/asset/149071a9-7ed9-4f76-8d04-3caff0e4961e/summer-reading-blog.jpg) ](/blogs/novelist/guide-successful-library-summer-reading-program) [Guide to a Successful Library Summer Reading Program ](/blogs/novelist/guide-successful-library-summer-reading-program) 18 March 2025 [ ![](https://assets.ebsco.com/asset/94d0c22e-8729-41f5-b777-a3bce5669eb1/ChampaignPL.jpg) ](/blogs/novelist/library-strategic-staff-training-secret) [Library's Strategic Staff Training Secret](/blogs/novelist/library-strategic-staff-training-secret) 23 April 2025