Listed: Summer Books 2025
An extravaganza of summer book lists to help you curate your best summer tbr
Hello! I’m channeling summer reading today as it’s finally sunny and warm in Ohio. Before I get to my second annual extremely curated and quite large summer books list, I want to update you on what I’ve been up to lately. My reading days have been full and oh so fulfilling as I’ve had two wonderful, in-depth interviews (for my Books & Beyond podcast episode) with authors these last two weeks. I chatted with Virginia Evans, author of The Correspondent which you might remember I absolutely loved (review here). We talked about her book—no spoilers though—and about her writing and reading life. There will be book recommendations! If you enjoy Irish fiction you’ll definitely want to listen. I’ll be dropping that episode asap.
I also sat down with Lidija Hilge, the author of Slanting Towards the Sea, a book I read back in January and told you to put on your summer tbr or better yet, get in your preorders:) I’ve had Slanting in my top book of the year so far spot since I read it and to be able to sit down with the author of this beautiful story was such a pinch me moment. This week I reread Slanting Towards the Sea and I found myself just as immersed the second time around. Lidija talked about her intention of writing a doomed, bittersweet love story, while also exploring themes of coming of age, family, regret, resilience and more. She accomplished all of this and did so in that page turning way we readers love. I can’t wait for you to read her book and listen to our conversation—I’ll be dropping our episode around July 8, publication day!
The research and curation of these lists are so much fun for me, but they do take quite a bit of time to bring you what I feel is a wide variety of worthwhile options. To support my work and enjoy all of my content, consider upgrading to paid. Click below for details
Summer Reading Lists
including one book I’m excited about from each list
21 Hottest Books of Summer 2025 (Kirkus) - Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The 21 Best Beach Reads to Keep You Occupied All Summer Long (Harpers Bazaar) - Wanting by Claire Jia
Newsweek Staffers Favorite Books to Read on Summer Vacation 2025 (Newsweek) - The Pact by Sharon Bolton - This is a book I’ve read & loved. Would make a great beach or pool read if you’re in the mood for a thriller. Especially if you like friends getting back together after something happened in their past
JPMorgan Unveils Its 2025 Summer Reading List (Yahoo) - Life in Three Dimensions by How Curiosity, Exploration, and Experience Make a Fuller, Better Life by Shigehiro Oishi
Summer Reading Nostalgia: 10 Backlist Books Worth Your Time (Jen’s Reading Life via YouTube) - The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough
17 new books our critics can't wait to read this summer (NPR) - A New New Me by Helen Oyeyemi
New Thriller Books To Binge This Summer (USA Today) - A Twist of Fate by Se-Ah Jang
24 Books To Read This Summer (The Atlantic) - Cassandra at the Wedding by Dorothy Baker
The Best Beach Read Books of 2025 (Five Books) - Tart: Misadventures of an Anonymous Chef by Slutty Cheff
PW’s Summer Reads (Publisher’s Weekly) - The View From Lake Como by Adriana Trigiani
28 Books We Can’t Wait to Read This Summer (Vulture) - The Sisters by Jonas Hassen Khemiri
Start Summer With 18 New Mystery, Thrillers & True Crime for June 2025 (Book Riot) - We Don’t Talk About Carol by Kristen L. Berry
Best Beach Reads of Summer 2025 (Dear Fiction Substack) - Mansion Beach by Meg Mitchell Moore
The Most Anticipated Crime Fiction of Summer 2025 (Crimereads) - Kill Your Darlings by Peter Swanson
22 Novels You Need to Read This Summer (LitHub) - Seduction Theory by Emily Adrian
Last Year’s Lists….
I would love to know what lists and/or books you have your eye on for your summer reading!
I had saved this post to come back to and I’m so glad I did! What a great round up!
What DON’T I want to read is an easier question! 😂 I looked through a few of these lists but Lithub had the most I’m interested in: SEDUCTION THEORY, THE SLIP, MAGGIE, and BURY OUR BONES. But there are so many others. THE COMPOUND is another I’m intrigued by.