Summer is winding down, and the Bookstr team is already gearing up for a cozy fall. Which means it’s time for a roundup of our summer reads. Find out what books we loved, which we revisited, and which we proudly recommend.
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
This summer I have decided to dive back into the town of Forks, filled with lots of vampire and werewolf drama. The books have been on my mind as I haven’t read them in over a decade! Throughout the story, the main character, Bella, complains about the cool and misty weather of Forks, WA which is the complete opposite of the weather I’m currently experiencing. Therefore, I’m currently living vicariously through these characters while I read indoors and escape the summer heat!
Lexi Dos Santos, Social & Editorial
Gwen & Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher
This YA queer fantasy is like Red, White & Royal Blue and Heartstopper but make them Arthurian. I’m only a third of the way through, but it is laugh-out-loud funny, sunshiney, and witty. I’m a proud proponent of more queer YA fantasy, and this is the perfect answer to that. I’d recommend Gwen & Art to anyone in need of a bright yet cozy read, anyone impatiently awaiting the next season of Heartstopper, or anyone searching for a bingeable read that hits the perfect niche between contemporary humor and fantastical worlds.
Fiona Hansen, Editorial & Outreach
Get A Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
I’m not normally into romance, but I’ve been trying to get more into the genre, and I thought, what better way than starting with the popular BookTok picks? Get A Life, Chloe Brown is a dual-POV romance, which I’m not normally into. But the main characters, Chloe and Red, have really strong, distinctive voices and it was fun reading what they thought about each other. The story has some heavy topics — chronic illness and domestic abuse — but they are handled with plenty of grace and sensitivity. Overall, this is a sweet, sexy romance with plenty of humor and heart that is a perfect easy read. I definitely recommend this one for someone new to romances, or someone who’s looking for a fulfilling romance with a Black lead.
Abby Caswell, Editorial
Funny Story by Emily Henry
This was my all-time favorite of Emily Henry’s books!! The characters were so well-rounded and interesting and compelling, and it was awesome to have an ex to actually root against in this one. The romance was dreamy and adorable but also super realistic, and (like all of Emily Henry’s books) exceeded the typical romance novel standards and tropes. This book was funny, sweet, romantic, frustrating, upsetting, heartwarming, and a little spicy too ;) Perfect for a day on the beach!
Elizabeth Beaver, Editorial
Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband? by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn
I actually listened to the audiobook for this one. It made my whole summer a couple years back and I recently rediscovered the book. It has a typical rom-com set-up with a 30-something FMC who decides to give dating another go after a heartbreak, but with the backdrop of a vibrant Nigerian-British community. I generally really liked all the characters and loved the overall moral of the story, and the ending as well. An all-around lighthearted, fun, and feel-good read. Would definitely recommend.
M.A. Kole, Editorial
Rouge by Mona Awad
I’ve genuinely never read a book like Rouge before. It pulls elements of magical realism and social commentary to create an otherworldly reading experience. Imagine a grieving woman who struggles with self-confidence completely spiraling and becoming obsessed with Tom Cruise. Yeah, weird. I really wanted to challenge myself this summer with some out-of-the-box, unhinged novels, and this one definitely takes the cake. If you like spooky, weird vibes for a summer read definitely read Rouge!
Liv Stephani, Social Media & Community Management
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
I normally read sci-fi and fantasy books, but man did this book put me on to psychological thrillers and mysteries. It put me out of my comfort zone this summer, and I was completely hooked from the beginning. I loved how Hawkins used a multi-perspective narrative and a non-linear timeline throughout the book because it added to the mystery and left me guessing up until the last few chapters. This book also reminded me a lot of the show You, so if you love that series as much as I do, you’ll be obsessed with The Girl on the Train.
Dunia Matta, Editorial
The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea by Axie Oh
I joined a book club at the start of the summer, and The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea was my pick. You never know if a book’s content is gonna live up to its pretty cover, but this one really was a sweet read. The love story gave me Haku x Chihiro vibes from Spirited Away, and all the plotlines connected really nicely at the end. It was a solid standalone read. We all collectively gave it a 3.5 in the book club, so don’t just take it from me.
Gabriela Collazo, Editorial
All in all, I’d say it’s been a successful summer for us bibliophiles. What say you? Follow us on our socials — IG, FB, X, TikTok — and let us know what books you’ve been into this season.
Not all books strike a chord. Click here to learn about some of our disappointing reads.
Then, check out more book recs from the team on our Bookstr Team Recommendations bookshelf on Bookshop.org!
