With Summer peaking it’s beautiful golden head around the corner, we wanted to make sure that everyone was prepped for those dream reading-by-the-pool moments that we all cherish this time of the year. Especially in Southern California! Read below to see some inspiring, thrilling, and heart-throbbing books that I picked and hope to read this summer! 

With each book, instead of a description, we’ve included the link to purchase it and three bullet points about it, as we don’t want to give ANYTHING away and maybe you deserve some spontaneity in your life!  

Relaxing and Romantic 

If you’re always looking to curl up in the Sun with a book that will make your heart hum like it did in high school, we recommend these five fun books below! 

Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry by Joya Goffney 

• Facing fears 
• Romantic tension 
• Mystery and blackmail 

 

 

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry 

• Once in a lifetime love 
• Summer vibes 
• Last chance at love 

 

 

 

Second First Impressions by Sally Thorne

• Tattoo artists for elderly folks 
• Cute and tough romantic pair
• Will they won’t they? Find out. 

 

 

Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake by Alexis Hall

• Great British Bake-Off! 
• Love Triangles 
• Cakes, scones, and bread! 

 

 

It Had to Be You by Georgia Clark

• Swoonfully romantic 
• Perfect first date material 
• Wedding planners deserve love too 

Thrilling and Mysterious 

Maybe you’ve never been one for the swooning and fawning between the pages, and instead you’re here to find a book that sends chills down your spine, and a sweat across your forehead. If that’s the case, pick any of the below options, but we don’t take any responsibility for bumps in the night. 

A Special Place for Women by Laura Hankin 

• Feminist boss women 
• Secret societies 
• Investigative journalism 

 

 

 

Dream Girl by Laura Lippman 

• Feminist writing 
• Comas and life after them 
• Fiction coming to life

 

 

 

Imposter Syndrome by Kathy Wang 

• Spies 
• Silicon Valley 
• Boss Women 

 

 

 

The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix

• 80’s Horror movies 
• Girls supporting girls 
• Thrilling and suspenseful 

 

 

What's Done in Darkness by Laura McHugh

• Surviving kidnapping 
• Detectives and mysteries 
• Facing the greatest fears 

Loving Living Life 

Finally, if you’ve come all this way because romance and flowers bore you but dark mysteries and secret spies are a little too real, we have a wonderful section selected about those who are learning the meaning of their lives. Wholesome stories that may tug a tear from you or make you feel finally heard- look below. 

 

The Guncle by Steven Rowley 

• LGBTQ+ 
• Parenthood 
• New journeys 

 

 

Mona at Sea by Elizabeth Gonzalez James 

• Growing up after college 
• The meaning of life 
• Figuring yourself out 

 

 

 

We Want What We Want: Stories by Alix Ohlin

• Short stories 
• Dark humor 
• Life is not always what it seems 

 

 

 

The Atmospherians by Alex McElroy

• Friends start a cult 
• Feminist writing 
• Modern and Millennial

 

The Break Up Book Club by Wendy Wax

• Life is not always what you planned 
• Friendships and wine 
• Love and Life 

See one you like? Just click on the link to order! I know I'll be ordering a copy of 'The Atmospherians' ASAP!