In my opinion, summer is the best season for reading. Summer romances are perfect for those days spent at the beach and are full of stories of love, growth, and unforgettable moments. If you also loved The Summer I Turned Pretty and its exploration of young love, then you’ll also love our list of these 10 romantic beach reads that are guaranteed to keep those sun-drenched feelings alive long after the summer ends.
1. My Life With the Walter Boys by Ali Novak
My Life With the Walter Boys follows Maddie after her life becomes upended when a tragic accident causes her to move from her Southern and rural home to a sprawling Texas ranch occupied by the Walter family. As she learns to live with the six wildly energetic Walter boys, she also works to grapple with the grief and culture shock of all the changes. But soon enough, she finds peace, friendship, and even romance in the sun-splashed flow of her new ranch life. My Life With the Walter Boys is a story all about healing, family dynamics, and a slow burn romance that is framed by the warm days of a ranch summer. If you loved the emotional, coastal vibes of The Summer I Turned Pretty, then this one is for you!
2. The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther
Meredith Fox’s sister is still grieving the death of her older sister from over a year and a half ago, and in an attempt to clear her mind, she returns to Martha’s Vineyard for her cousin’s wedding, prepared for the grief that is to come. But after having been dumped two weeks before, Meredith is fragile and determined to reconnect with her family and continue their tradition of a weeklong game of Assassin with water guns to honor her late sister. But when Meredith teams up with charming and witty groomsman, Wit, what starts as an alliance quickly turns into something way more. Set against the backdrop of sunlit beaches and a coastal wedding, The Summer of Broken Rules is a one-week summer romance that is both emotionally resonant and lighthearted, balancing themes of grief, growth, and a slow-burn relationship that feels like a warm hug.
3. Chloe and the Kaishao Boys by Mae Coyiuto
Chloe’s father means well, but she finds it hard to believe when he sets her up on a whirlwind of traditional arranged dates during her last summer before heading off to USC in the U.S. But when Chloe finds herself unexpectedly falling for one of the Kaishao boys while planning her debut party and trying to enjoy her final days in Manila, she’s not sure what’s next. While dealing with family expectations, romantic surprises, and the countdown to college, we follow Chloe through this hilarious rom-com that is a perfect blend of culture, mayhem, and a heartwarming summer love. If you’re a The Summer I Turned Pretty fan and are looking for a fresh twist on the classic summer romance formula, then this one is for you.
4. Sunkissed by Kasie West
Sunkissed follows music lover Avery as she grapples with her best friend’s painful betrayal as she spends the summer at a family camp far away from her playlists, social media, and any contact with the outside world. But just when she’s ready to give up on her summer, she meets the off-limits camp staff member, Brooks, who is both mysterious and charming. But as sparks fly and the outside world starts to disappear, Avery is forced to deal with unexpected choices on love, identity, and what she truly wants from life after summer. Sunkissed is a heartwarming and lovable pick for all fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty.
5. Melt With You by Jennifer Dugan
Fallon and Chloe were once an unbreakable pair, that is, until a string of messy hookups and a year of silence left their friendship in devastation. After being reunited by their moms’ shared ice cream truck business and a summer road trip across America’s food truck festivals, Fallon and Chloe are forced to navigate their awkward tension, old feelings, and unresolved heartbreak. Melt With You is packed with summer sweet treats, second chances, and a slow burn summer romance that is a perfect match for fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty.
6. Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen
Sydney has always been the invisible one of her family, but when her brother Peyton goes to jail for a drunk driving accident, she’s afraid that she will never come out of the shadows. Now, as she’s left to navigate life on her own, she finds unexpected solace in the loving Chatham family, especially in the quiet and observant older brother, Mac, who always makes her feel seen. Saint Anything is an emotional story filled with self-discovery and romance that will resonate with you way past the final page.
7. Audre & Bash Are Just Friends by Tia Williams
Audre has spent her entire adolescence building the perfect resume, but has never truly learned how to live. In order to change that, Chloe hires the effortlessly cool new guy, Bash, who is tasked to help her tackle a summer of wild dares in order to complete her new self-help book. But when what starts as a professional arrangement quickly turns into something deeper, sparks begin to fly and emotions come to the surface. Audre & Bash Are Just Friends is an opposites attract romance that’s full of wit, summer mischief, and unexpected love that is sure to make you smile.
8. Some Other Now by Sarah Everett
Jessi was once an honorary member of the Cohen family, until a tragedy, a kiss, and a painful fallout left everything a disaster. Now, as she works a dead-end summer job while trying to avoid her estranged mother, she’s pulled right back into the Cohens’ circle when Luke asks if she can pose as his girlfriend for one final summer to please his ill mom. Some Other Now is emotionally layered, full of unspoken love, and is a slow burn romance that is perfect for fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty.
9. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
We Were Liars follows family friends known as the Liars as they spend another sun-soaked summer entwined in secrets, love, and unwinding truths. Cadence is the center of the story and is a girl haunted by a past she can’t remember and a romance that could hold the key to everything. We Were Liars is an emotional and unforgettable story that blends a chilling mystery with first loves and is sure to blow your mind page after page.
10. The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
If you’re a fan of The Summer I Turned Pretty TV show but haven’t read the books, then go ahead and just start here. Belly measures her life in summers, and nothing truly matters to her besides the summers spent at Cousins Beach with the Fisher boys, Jeremiah and Conrad. The brothers have been her best friends since she can remember and have also been the center of her first heartbreaks and almost loves. But when everything shifts during one unforgettable summer, Belly finds herself at the center of a love triangle that she’s not sure how to get out of. The Summer I Turned Pretty is a trilogy that is full of nostalgia and longing and has defined a generation of summer romance stories.
Whether you’re looking for first love, healing, or are just craving a simple summer love story, these 10 summer romance reads are sure to transport you to a summer you’ll never forget. So grab your sunscreen, your beach towel, hit the beach, and let the summer love sparks fly.
Looking for more summer reads? Check out our article, 10 Wonderful Summer Books To Read Before the Season Ends!
Find these books on our Bookshop Summer Book Recs bookshelf!
