Ah, summer reading. That glorious season when book lovers obsess over the best summer books to read. New releases are plentiful. Our bookshelves and e-readers are likely well-stocked with books we haven’t read yet … but we fully intend to. There are only 3 months between Memorial Day and Labor Day, which means reading time competes with all the other activities on our summer must-do lists. There’s no time to waste on a mediocre book, right?
Here are 4 easy steps to find the best summer books.
Know What You Like
Naming the types of books you like to read and side-stepping the types you don’t helps narrow your focus. Sometimes people feel pressured to read the books everyone else claims they’re reading. To be honest, that’s a side effect of clever marketing. A skilled publicity team is capitalizing on FOMO to sell books. Please don’t misunderstand me, there’s nothing wrong with genuinely wanting to read the books everyone else is reading. If you walk into a bookstore or shop online and wonder, ‘What are the hot books right now?’
Congratulations. You are a booksellers’ ideal customer. There’s no shame in your game. (Cue the confetti!)
But if those books aren’t appealing, and you feel frustrated by the endless lists of titles that you don’t want to read, I’m here to tell you there’s a better way. You simply must know what you like. Are you a mood reader who needs several books available depending on how you’re feeling? Or are you a romance fan who craves a feel-good story with a guaranteed happy ending? Maybe you find certain genres trite and boring, so you’d prefer a memoir or a gripping historical fiction novel.
Do you read to escape? To be entertained? To learn and grow?
Know what you like and you’ll have a much more fulfilling summer reading experience. If you’d like some guidance, I created a short, fun quiz to help identify the type of reader you are. Check it out!
Shop Your Shelves
Your toppling TBR pile plus your jampacked e-reader equals the best summer reads of all time. Maybe. Except you don’t know, because you’ve forgotten which books you own. Summer is a great time to shop your shelves.
Delve into your stacks. Peruse your digital library. If you’re a re-reader maybe you’ll come across an old favorite you can enjoy again. Remember that clever marketing I mentioned? Summer reading season is an opportunity to connect readers with books they enjoy. Past consumer behavior proves that readers often seek compulsively readable novels. As an author I want readers choosing books they literally can’t put down. That’s what makes our bookish world go around. Folks who boldly proclaim their love for the books they’ve devoured inspire others to read more. That’s a win for everyone!
Finding the best summer books to read does not mean spending money. Reading a book purchased in 2020, 2021 or even years ago is a wonderful thing. Sometimes a favorite author’s backlist is a treasure trove of delightful reading. Explore your hometown and find a Little Free Library. You can leave a book and take a book. If you have young readers in your life, visit the local library and help them enroll in a fun free program for kids. It’s a great opportunity for you to find summer books you’ll love, and encourage kids to embrace reading. Janssen Bradshaw of Everyday Reading is passionate about recommending books for young readers. I highly recommend visiting her website and subscribing to her newsletter.
Find Your Book People
I have found so many amazing books recommended by complete strangers. I know. That sounds like a ridiculous notion. Stick with me, please. Bookish people on the internet share similar reading sensibilities. We are part of the same groups on social media. We follow similar influencers, often listen to the same podcasts, and frequently gather at virtual author events. It takes effort and a bit of trial and error to find like-minded readers. But when you do, your reading life becomes much richer. Who knows where these connections might lead?
A few of my favorite online bookish communities include: Anne Bogel, who hosts the What Should I Read Next? podcast and is also a long-time blogger with an established online book club. Her Summer Reading Guide is a perennial favorite. Sarah’s Bookshelves, Friends & Fiction and Sorta Awesome are three more online communities featuring wonderful author interviews and fabulous book recommendations. If you’d prefer a Facebook Group, Bloom Where You’re Planted and The Girlfriend Book Club are two of my favorites for book recommendations, interesting discussion and ongoing reading challenges.
Create Your Best Summer Books to Read List
Now that you’ve been given permission to skip the hottest beach reads of 2022 (or fully embrace those books if that’s your jam), and connected with fellow book nerds, I hope you feel empowered to find the best summer books.
One last step: it’s time to create your list. That’s right. Planning what you’ll read is super important. Otherwise, you might get distracted by a shiny new release. Ha! Whether you’re planning a vacation or a staycation, build reading time into your summer routine. Scribble the titles on the back of a receipt, keep a note in an app on your phone, or build a want-to-read shelf on Goodreads. No need to be overly concerned with the format. The point is to choose the books you think you’ll enjoy the most. Then be intentional about acquiring and reading them.
Thanks so much for visiting my website. I’ve written a few posts about reading and book recs over the years. Check out 10 great reads for the often vigilant mama. If you’re a fan of small-town romance novels, I’ve shared 10 favorites here. If you haven’t taken my quiz yet, you can do so here. The results will help you identify which type of book lover you are.
I’d love to hear what you’re reading this summer. Leave a comment and let me know.
