Are you overwhelmed by the sheer number of new releases?
Roughly 4 million books are published each year, and during the summer, readers are on the hunt for the perfect beach read. My job is to help you find the one you cannot wait to throw in your beach bag and read poolside or on the beach.
My Summer Reading list is unmanageable, and I will never read all the books on my TBR (To Be Read). However, these ten are at the top this year, and in the days between Memorial Day and Labor Day, you will find one of these books in my hands or ears.
I have read and enjoyed books by five of the authors in the past, and five are new to me. Three books are debut novels.
Coming of Age Fiction
Paradise Pawn by Meg Richardson, 272 pages, July 14, 2026, by Tin House ~ Debut: Two best friends come face to face with class difference when one girl’s family can afford a prestigious private school and the other cannot. They attempt to solve the problem by embezzling from the pawn shop where they both work.
Historical Fiction
City of Widows by Nadia Hashimi, 432 pages, July 28, 2026, by William Morrow. Hashimi’s 2021 book, Sparks Like Stars, left quite an impression and I still think of the characters often. City of Widows tells the story of Afghan women since the Taliban regained power.
Literary Fiction
The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff,336 pages, May 19, 2026 by Simon & Schuster. Last year, I read Damoff’s debut novel, The Bright Side, and am looking forward to another family saga. This time, a family escapes a house fire and must decide if the marriage is worth saving.
Magical Realism
The MASH Up by Laurie Marie Meyers, 336 pages, July 7, 2026, by G.P. Putnam’s Sons ~ Debut. Do you remember the Mansion Apartment Shack House game? Imagine waking up in your M.A.S.H. game from seventh grade, married to your brother’s annoying best friend. This story will be fun!
Memoir
Mother Tongue by Sara Novic’, 272 pages, May 5, 2026 by Random House. The author of True Biz shares her story of leaving the hearing world when she could no longer hide her deafness and being embraced by the deaf community.
View from the East Wing by Dr. Jill Biden, 7 hours 42 minutes, June 2, 2026 by Simon & Schuster Audio. The former First Lady tells the story of the four years in the White House in her own words.
Middle Grade Fiction
Birdy by N. West Moss, 288 pages, February 17, 2026 by Christy Ottaviano Books ~Debut. After their mother dies, Birdy and her younger brother, Mouse, move to the country to live with relatives they have never met. This is a story about the unbreakable bond between siblings.
Romance
Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune, 416 pages, May 5, 2026, by Berkley. Frankie’s fiancée dumps her the morning of the wedding. Her best friend, George, suggests they go on her honeymoon together. Will Frankie and George find their happily ever after in this friends-to-lovers romance?
Summer State of Mind by Kristy Woodson Harvey: Narrated by Cassandra Campbell, Stephanie Einstein, and Matt Pittenger, 11 hours, May 5, 2026, by Simon & Schuster Audio. Daisy is a NICU nurse new to town, and Mason is the baseball hero who returned home to coach at the local high school. When Mason finds an abandoned baby, their paths intersect. In the search for the parents, family secrets are exposed and the characters find ways to make fresh starts.
Thriller
The One Day You Were My Husband by Rosie Walsh, 368 pages, May 19, 2026, by Pamela Dorman Books. Carrie’s husband is arrested on their wedding night, and she never sees him again. Twelve years later, he is out of prison but has never contacted Carrie. Why?
Find ways to sneak in more reading this summer, and let me know what you add to your TBR. Happy reading!
What I am reading with my eyes this week: Missing Sister by Joshilyn Jackson
What I am reading with my ears this week: Summer State of Mind by Kristy Woodson Harvey
Look for books at Knox County Online Library or your local independent bookstore each week.
Linda Sullivan is an avid reader and wants to inspire you to become one, too. For more recommendations or to talk books, reach out to her at thebookwhisperertn@gmail.com. She can also be found @thebookwhisperertn on Instagram.
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