June 18th is International Picnic Day! Picnics are a way for people to enjoy some outdoor time while packing a meal and maybe having some reading companions to help them indulge in such a peaceful moment. Along with your charcuterie board and triangle sandwiches, you can also explore the enchanting realm of literature. Here are five books that you should take along with you on your next picnic adventure!
Happy Place by Emily Henry
Just the cover enough is begging to get you reading outside on a picnic blanket during these summer days! This book follows a broken-up couple who is pretending to still be together for their friend group’s sake. As they go on an annual week-long trip with their friends, they will have to endure the trouble of pretending to still be in love with one another in order to make sure that this summer tradition will forever be their happy place.
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
Of course, I had to mention The Summer I Turned Pretty with the new season coming out on Amazon Prime on July 14th. This book follows a teenage girl named Belly during her summer break, where she reconnects with her old family friends. Before this annual summer get-together, though, Belly had quite the “glow-up” since her old friends, Conrad and Jeremiah, have seen her. This trilogy is a cute and adorable summer romance book that brings all the summer vibes at once.
Heart Bones by Colleen Hoover
This book has recently gone viral on TikTok, following the trend of most of Hoover’s BookTok-approved releases. A lot of people just can’t seem to put this book, Heart Bones, down, which gravitated me towards it more and more. This plot follows a girl named Beyah, who grew up in poverty all her life and just moved in with her father in a beach town. Hoover’s newest bestseller is a must-read this season for ALL the summer vibes wrapped into one book. Romance, beach town, night swims, and a picnic, what else could you need?
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
This captivating summer read takes you on a journey to the glamorous and sun-soaked beaches of Malibu. Set in the 1980s, the book follows the four famous Riva siblings as they host their annual end-of-summer party, a celebration that will ultimately change their lives forever. Reid’s beach-worthy bestseller is the perfect companion for your dreamy summer picnic, offering a blend of drama, nostalgia, and a glimpse into the glittering world of the rich and famous.
Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
Last but not least is Every Summer After by Carley Fortune, a book that cascades over the course of six summers following a nostalgic love story. This book is all about that summer love we just can’t seem to forget about. From heartbreak to falling in love, this book has it all for the summer romance that we all need to be reading. This is a MUST-have for this year’s summer TBR, and especially for those with sunny picnic plans!
Check out more summer reads here!