Our Annual Summer Reading List Is Back — Here Are 13 New Books to Keep in Your Beach Bag This Season

Katabasis by R. F. Kuang

“I’m a fan of R. F. Kuang’s atmospheric, highbrow, yet fast-paced sensibility, and Katabasis promises to deliver on all those fronts. This follows two rival graduate students-slash-magicians who journey to hell to save their mentor’s soul. If you’re a fan of Susanna Clarke's Piranesi and/or Leigh Bardugo’s Ninth House series, this dark academia novel will be right up your twisty, shadowy alley.” —Caroline Goldstein

Release date: August 26

Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

“It wouldn’t be a summer reading list without an EmHen mention. Her latest is controversial among her fandom as it’s a departure from her typical rom-coms. But it’s my favorite of her books yet. Part mystery, part coming-of-age novel, this is the ultimate beachside companion. It follows writers Alice and Hayden, who compete for the career break of a lifetime when they’re given the opportunity to write the story of long-forgotten heiress Margaret Ives. Alice and Hayden’s grumpy/sunshine dynamic and the quaint coastal setting make this the ultimate 'can’t put this down' read.” —Margo Ghertner

Release date: April 22

Don't Let Him In by Lisa Jewell

“When I’m in the mood for smart, intricate thrillers with twists that leave me genuinely stunned, I turn to Lisa Jewell. Her forthcoming release centers on two women whose worlds dangerously collide when they find themselves entangled with a mysterious, charismatic man. I’m looking forward to inhaling this by someone else’s pool.” —Caroline Goldstein

Release date: June 24

The Game Is Afoot by Elise Bryant

“I loved Elise Bryant’s first book in this series, so I was excited to discover she was coming out with a sequel to this Abbott Elementary-esque cozy mystery/romance. Supermom Mavis Miller has quit her full-time job and finds herself investigating yet another murder at her daughter’s school. This time, her daughter’s soccer coach drops dead on a Saturday morning — though no one suspects foul play. I love how easy Elise Bryant’s books are to read. They’re fun, engaging, and require zero brain power.” —Margo Ghertner

Release date: July 8

Girls Girls Girls by Shoshana von Blanckensee

“Hannah and Sam — best friends-turned-girlfriends — move from Long Island to San Francisco, where they’re free to live their truth without the judgement of Hannah’s Orthodox Jewish community. But in SF, the couple begins to drift apart when Hannah enters an escort arrangement with an older lesbian. A queer coming-of-age story and a nostalgic trip to the mid-’90s, this has all the makings of a breezy-yet-thought-provoking beach read.” —Caroline Goldstein

Release date: June 17

Tony at Random by Dana A. Williams

“In case you didn’t know, Toni Morrison (in addition to being a renowned author) was a celebrated editor at Random House. In this comprehensive history from Howard University professor Dana A. Williams, readers get an inside look at Morrison’s expansive career and her impact on American culture through the world of books. The best part? Morrison herself requested that Williams should be the one to tell this story.” —Margo Ghertner

Release date: June 17

Sky Daddy by Kate Folk

“It’s not easy to write about a woman who wants to have sex with airplanes without making her feel like a caricature, but somehow, Kate Folk manages it. Yes, you read that correctly. Linda, the protagonist of Folk’s debut novel, is sexually attracted to airplanes — and her ultimate dream is to marry one, which, in her fantasy, would take the form of dying in a plane crash. I listened to the audiobook version, and I can’t remember the last time I laughed out loud so much while reading (or listening). That’s thanks in part to narrator Kristen Sieh, whose narration is engaging and perfectly ironic.” —Caroline Goldstein

Release date:  April 8

The Art of Vanishing by Morgan Pager

“If you love art history and the nostalgia of the Night at the Museum movies, pick this one up. It’s an immersive romance that follows Jean, the subject of a Henri Matisse painting, and Claire, a museum janitor who quite literally jumps into his world each night. I love seeing those in the online book community getting their flowers, and this debut from @nycbookgirl, Morgan Pager, is such a fun, escapist read for the summer.” —Margo Ghertner

Release date: July 1

Isola by Allegra Goodman

“Over the summer, I most often gravitate toward sweeping historical fiction. I think it speaks to the escapist impulse in me. Isola came out in February, but to me, it’s ideal summer vacation fodder. In 16th-century France, Marguerite is set to inherit her parents’ vast fortune when they both die. Everything goes awry when her guardian spends her inheritance, forces her to join him on an expedition to New France (aka Canada), and abandons her on a deserted island. It’s a remarkable story inspired by real events. Let the Wikipedia-ing begin.” —Caroline Goldstein 

Release date: February 4

Favorite Daughter by Morgan Dick

“Morgan Dick somehow manages to be light and funny while covering real, heavy family dynamics. When Mickey receives the news of her estranged father’s passing, she learns that she’s been left behind a large fortune. The catch: She must attend a series of therapy sessions before the money is wired…led by the psychologist half-sister she’s never met before.” —Margo Ghertner

Release date: April 29

Atmosphere: A Love Story by Taylor Jenkins Reid

“I’ll admit that I’ve never read Taylor Jenkins Reid (don’t come for me), but Atmosphere might be the one that gets me on the TJR train. This follows Joan Goodwin, a physics and astronomy professor who’s hand-picked to join NASA’s 1980 Space Shuttle program. In addition to rigorous training that’ll appeal to my fellow sci-fi nerds, there’s a captivating love story at the center of the narrative. Doesn’t get much more escapist than falling in love in space.” —Caroline Goldstein

Release date: June 3

It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan

“In my eyes, it isn’t summer without an Annabel Monaghan novel. In her latest, Jane Jackson, a former child star-turned-Hollywood producer is doing everything in her power to get her next movie greenlit — which includes vacationing with a scruffy cinematographer to chase the nineties pop star they want for its soundtrack. Said cinematographer is very grumpy, very misunderstood, and also happens to be an old love interest of Jane’s. Messy, but an exciting, heartfelt read.” —Margo Ghertner

Release date: May 27

Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson

“Charmaine Wilkerson is back with another sweeping, multigenerational family epic. While this one came out in January, it should be on the top of your TBR stack for summer. At 10 years old, Ebby Freeman survived an intense family tragedy that included the loss of her brother and a beloved family heirloom. While there was never a resolution to said crime, it served as voyeuristic fodder for her wealthy family’s New England community. Years later, after being left at the altar, Ebby flees to France to escape, but instead finds herself piecing together the secrets of her past traumas. If you too were obsessed with Black Cake, you’ll find yourself bingeing this one just as quickly.” —Margo Ghertner

Release date: January 28