The 31 Best Summer Reads 2026

2. Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke

Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke has to be one of the most hyped and talked about best books to read in 2026. I’m fairly sceptical about any book that generates that much hype, and let me tell you, the hype around Yesteryear is accurate and totally deserved. I inhaled this as I sat on the beach in Crete, and for days afterwards, couldn’t stop thinking about Natalie and her family.

Natalie, a trad wife with millions of followers across social media, presents the perfect life. Married to a gorgeous homesteading man, raising her 5 children on a working farm and posting about her bountiful life. Until Natalie finds herself back in the late 1800s and the glamorous life that she had been portraying suddenly becomes a reality. A very hard reality.

The less you know about Yesteryear the better – you’ll find it impossible to put it down Natalie’s perfect life.

3. London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe

The gasps I gasped as I sped read my way through Patrick Radden Keefe’s latest offering need to be studied. I couldn’t put down London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe, a masterpiece of investigative journalism that reads like an action-packed thriller.

At no point could I have imagined where London Falling was heading. The twists and turns of British teenager Zac Brettler and the life he led before his untimely demise are a source of endless fascination. CCTV footage from the MI6 building captures the final moments of Zac Brettler as he plunges into the River Thames. But what caused this young man to plummet to his death?

As his parents learn more about Zac’s final days, they also begin to uncover a web of deceit that Zac had left behind in his wake, and the more they uncover, the more they learn how deeply in trouble Zac had immersed himself in the criminal underbelly of London and the London Elite.

Truly unputdownable, and a fantastic foray into non-fiction work that reads like a thriller. One of the best books to read in 2026, if not the decade.

4. Kin by Tayari Jones

One of the best summer reads 2026 will tear out your heart, stomp on it, then gradually put it back together. Or at least that was my experience reading Kin by Tayari Jones. Tayari Jones can weave a story over decades and I’d still want to read another 1000 pages by her. She truly is a wizard at word craft and her latest book, Kin, is no exception.

Cradle friends, Niecy & Annie, two motherless girls from a small town in Louisiana, set out to make their mark upon the world. Annie, unable to contend with her mother’s abandonment at a young age, heads to Nashville in search of her. Whilst Niecy attends university in Atlanta and enters a relationship that makes her question her values. Set against the backdrop of the civil rights movement, Tayari Jones has created a true masterpiece and unputdownable piece of work that will leave you bereft as you turn the last page.

If you haven’t read Tayari Jones’ previous work, An American Marriage, I highly recommend checking that out as well.

5. The Homemade God by Rachel Joyce

Sometimes you know within the first couple of pages that you’re going to adore and fall madly in love with not only the book, but also the author. The Homemade God by Rachel Joyce captivated me in such a way that I never wanted it to end. It’s easily one of the best books to read in 2026 and espcially if you’re experiencing a hot summer in Italy.

Larger than life artist Vic Kemp has suddenly died, leaving his 4 adult children, a crumbling Italian villa, his final masterpiece and a wife of 6 weeks behind. The writing is atmospheric (if you’re anything like me, you’ll be Googling ‘Isola di Orta’) and I’m a sucker for books that center around chaotic families, especially siblings.

I was swept away by the family dynamics, the lush setting and Rachel Joyce’s gorgeous writing. Easily one of my favourite book recommendations in 2026.

6. Strangers: A Memoir Of Marriage by Belle Burden

There’s nothing more I love than a memoir of a wealthy woman. Reading about how the other half live has always been a source of fascination (primary due to the fact that I will never have a portfolio of any kind, be it homes or assets).

Belle Burden’s memoir, Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage, details the sudden breakdown of her 17-year marriage. Blindsided by her husband’s infidelity, Belle grapples with identifying who exactly she was married to and how it had happened to her.

A captivating read from start to finish, it’s impossible not to feel empathy for Belle and her family as they navigate their new normal in the early days of the pandemic.

7. Funny Story by Emily Henry

I’m a huge Emily Henry fan. Her adult enemies-to-lovers trope is just my kind of beach read in 2026. Emily Henry Books are always an automatic purchase for me. And we live in an amazing world where Emily Henry seems to be producing a new book each year just in time for summer. Thank you Emily Henry! If you’re looking for fun, light and characters that make you laugh and swoon, pick up any of her works and fall in love.

The past summers, she gave us the amazing Book Lovers (which if you haven’t read – go purchase immediately!), and, Funny Story is just as wonderful. Her latest release, Great Big Beautiful Life was released in April last year and received middling reviews. Personally, it’s been one of her weakest books to date, lacking the wonderful characters and plot that she had created so wonderfully in previous books. But that’s just my two cents.

Funny Story by Emily Henry follows Daphne as she meets her dream man, Peter, falls in love with him and moves back to his small hometown, only for her fiancé to realise that he’s actually in love with his childhood best friend – Petra.

With limited funds, Daphne has no other options but to move in with Miles (Petra’s Ex) and the two hatch a dastardly plan to make their exes jealous. Will their plan work out? (DUH!)

I read Funny Story on a beach in Spain and fell head over heels in love with Daphne & Miles. I think it’s also Emily Henry’s spiciest book to date. 100/10 stars.

More titles by Emily Henry:

• People we Meet on Vacation (Now a Netflix Movie!)
• Book Lovers
• Beach Read

16. Shark Heart by Emily Habeck

One of my favourite books in recent years – Shark Heart by Emily Habeck is a stunningly written love story between Wren and Lewis. Newly married and eager for their life ahead, they are faced with the devastating diagnosis that Lewis is quickly turning into a great white shark. Yes, you read that correctly. A love story that navigates love and grief, and mourning a life cut short.

And whilst the premise is peculiar, you’ll fall head over heels in love with Wren and Lewis as they navigate the news and their journey towards what lies ahead. I can’t recommend Shark Heart enough and it deserves so much more love!

17. In Memoriam by Alice Winn

Set against the backdrop of World War 1, we follow Gaunt & Ellwood (Elly), two public schoolboys who are fascinated and drawn to the outbreak of war across Europe and are eager to enlist.

During their elite all-male boarding school days and over the course of their friendship they have developed unsaid feelings for one another. When Gaunt enlists in the war without Elly and faces its horrors, the realisation of his feelings are exposed in a series of letters and flashbacks.

Alice Winn has depicted the horrors of war so beautifully, and you’ll find yourself falling in love with Gaunt and Elly, rooting for them to survive one of the world’s deadliest wars. In Memoriam by Alice Winn is gorgeous, lyrical and devastating.

18. The Paradise Problem by Lauren Christina

If you’re a fan of the trope of pretending to be married to a millionaire and set against the backdrop of a Southeast Asian paradise island, then you’re in luck! The Paradise Problem by Lauren Christina is superb.

Anna Green is a struggling artist, who 5 years prior married Liam Weston to avail of student housing. Unbeknownst to Anna, Liam is heir to a massive fortune, with the caveat that he needs to be married for 5 years. With Liam’s sisters wedding imminent, Anna and Liam will have to pretend that they’ve been a happily married couple (and not complete strangers) for a week.

The Paradise Problem is fantastic with hilarious dialogue and a LOT of spice. I couldn’t put it down!

19. Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Not a light read, nor a quick read by any means, but Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver had me absolutely engrossed.

Set against the backdrop of rural Appalachia, we follow Demon and his journey from poverty to drug addiction. Like I said, not a light read, but somehow, you’re completely and utterly living, breathing every single word Demon utters. It’s heartbreaking, hilarious and such an important fictional tale of a truly deadly disease that ravages small-forgotten towns of America.

Unputdownable.

20. Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors

If you loved Hello Beautiful, Little Women or any book to do with sisterhood and sisters, you need to add Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors to your summer reading 2026 book list ASAP.

Following the lives of 3 very different sisters who come together on the 1st anniversary of their 4th sister’s death, Blue Sisters will kick and stamp its way onto your heart and leave you longing for more. I fell deeply in love with these Blue sisters and missed them even before I had closed the last page of the book. It also introduced me to the brilliant writing of Coco Mellors, and I immediately went out and purchased her debut, Cleopatra & Frankenstein, which was superb.

21. The Wedding People by Alison Espach

One of my most eagerly awaited summer reads last year was The Wedding People by Alison Espach. Phoebe is depressed. Her marriage has failed and ended in divorce. Her cat has died. And her career is going nowhere. So she has decided to check herself into the Cornwall Inn and kill herself.

What she doesn’t anticipate is the wedding of Lila & Gary, a million dollar event at which the bride will do anything to ensure its success even if it means convincing Phoebe not to commit suicide.

Despite the gloomy premise, The Wedding People is actually rather lighthearted and a fun read. I raced through it propelled by Phoebe and rooting for all the characters along the way.

22. Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano

I read this while visiting the beautiful Sicilian town of Ortigia and I just couldn’t put it down. I absolutely loved it, but it is a slow burner, so do give it a good try before you decide its not for you. Oh and bring a packet of tissues. It will destroy you!

Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano is an homage to Little Woman (which makes it an automatic addition to my never-ending book pile beside my bed).

William Waters finds love and a new family in Julia Padavano and her three sisters, but his past threatens their future and puts their unbreakable bond to the test in a family saga that pays homage to Little Women.

23. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby van Pelt

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby van Pelt is one of those summer beach reads that you won’t be able to forget any time soon.

Telling the beautiful story of Tova, a widower whose teenage son Erik vanished 30 years ago. A chance encounter with a giant Pacific octopus named Marcellus becomes an unlikely friend for a grieving mother and wife.

Remarkably Bright Creatures is one of those stories that will warm the cockles of your heart and make you fall in love with an octopus. One of my best vacation reads from last year.

24. Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

Recently made into an Apple show, Pachinko by Min Jin Lee follows a multigenerational Korean story from the 1900s through to the 2010s.

Perhaps the most fascinating part of this incredible novel is Min Jin Lee’s ability to capture a period of history that rarely makes it to mainstream publishing, that of the Japanese invasion of Korea and the subsequent treatment of the Korean people in Japan.

Pachinko is a hard novel to forget and its sweeping story is an incredible page-turner.

25. The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett was the first audiobook that managed to hold my attention. It also helps that Tom Hanks was the narrator of this incredible story about a house and the family who occupy it.

It’s a truly special story about siblings Danny & Maeve and their relationship with their father and the house he proudly owned – The Dutch House.

I can’t recommend a better book to start listening to than the Dutch House performed by Tom Hanks, it’s a masterpiece from start to finish.

See Tom Lake above ^^ for more Ann Patchett excellency.

26. What Alice Forgot by Lianne Moriarty

I’m a big fan of Lianne Moriarty and her books. All set in Australia with memorable characters, Moriarty has a solid back catalog of lesser-known titles after she exploded in popularity with The Husbands Secret, Big Little Lies and Apples Never Fall.

My favorite of her titles found in her back catalog is extraordinarily sweet, What Alice Forgot. Alice is 29 years old, madly in love, and expecting her first child. Until she hits her head when at the gym and wakes up in a hospital bed a decade older. And instead of finding herself blissfully happy, she’s in fact pretty miserable.

You won’t help but be caught up in Alice’s tale and like Liane Moriarty’s books you’ll end up roaring with laughter. One of the best summer reads for a day at the beach.

27. Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe

Patrick Radden Keefe has written one of the most comprehensive books on the Sacklers, the creators and family behind the opioid epidemic that created one of the most potent drugs in the United States – Oxycontin.

Radden Keefe charts the dynasty from its humble beginnings in the 1930s when Arthur Sackler and his two brothers rose from the streets of Brooklyn to create an empire that would destroy millions of lives. Empire of Pain is a fascinating look at the Sackler family and holds no punches. An absolute must for one of the best summer reads 2026.

28. So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson

The brilliant journalist Jon Ronson examines the lives of people who have effectively been ‘canceled’. In today’s culture where anyone can easily be canceled, Ronson looks at and interviews people who have experienced being shamed in public for matters such as plagiarism or tweeting an offensive joke. Although the book was written in 2015 it feels even more relevant and timely considering what is happening in 2026.

29. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

One of my all-time favorite books, the Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls is an unforgettable memoir.

This is the book that I go and purchase for friends and family who haven’t had the chance to come across one of the most remarkable storytellers in the US.

Chronicling her chaotic childhood raised by two delusional parents who moved their children from state to state in search of foolish ambition. Jeannette Walls’ memoir is incredible from start to finish.

If you enjoyed Educated by Tara Westover, you’ll love this.

30. I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

If you’ve been in search of an excellent audiobook for your summer beach reads than you’ve got to add I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy to your list.

Former Disney star, Jennette McCurdy was a child star who narrates her childhood abuse at the hands of her mother with decorum and grace.

Jennette McCurdy is a writer to look out for, her talent oozes out of the pages and she somehow makes the reader laugh despite the subject matter.