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Books Best Read Poolside (or in a Hammock)
Light fiction and nonfiction escapes to enjoy while lounging on a sunny day off.
Published on August 4, 2022
The Summer I Turned Pretty
Jenny HanA love triangle blossoms at a shared beach house that friends Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah visit every summer. This light YA read about childhood friends growing into something more, from the author of “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before,” has a Prime Video series adaptation that dropped in June. Read it, watch it, then read it again.
Something Wilder
Christina LaurenRomance revs up in “Something Wilder.” Lily tries to follow in her late father’s treasure-hunting footsteps by leading exploration tours in the Utah desert. But her next group includes the man who broke her heart, and stakes soar when the trip takes a dangerous turn. Loads of adventure makes this a thrilling poolside read with as many twists as trysts.
Acts of Violet: A Novel
Margarita MontimoreInfuse some intrigue into your leisure time. Violet Volk, a talented but volatile magician, vanished without a trace during a performance. As the 10th anniversary of the incident approaches, her sister Sasha continues to be villainized by Violet’s fans, who believe she should have tried harder to find her sister. Montimore (“Oona Out of Order”) blends prose with articles, emails, and true crime podcast transcripts to make the mystery feel authentically lurid and murky.
One Italian Summer: A Novel
Rebecca SerlePretend you’re in dreamy Positano, Italy as you read this treasure. When Katy Silver takes a solo trip to coastal Italy while grieving the death of her mother, she inexplicably encounters her mother’s 30-year-old self (and a handsome hero, of course). Searle (“In Five Years”) delivers another heartfelt story about deep love and the meaning of life.
The Summer Place: A Novel
Jennifer WeinerWeiner (“Big Summer”) is the boss of breezy summertime reads, and she returns with another page-turner as a family convenes at their Cape Cod beach house one last time before it goes on the market. Young love and old secrets are threatened, and Weiner adds all-too-relatable tension by incorporating the pandemic into her story. “The Summer Place” is at once a comedy of errors and an emotionally wrought look at the meaning of family.
Counterfeit: A Novel
Kirstin ChenAva Wong reconnects with her college roommate, Winnie Fang, who’s now gorgeous and rich because of a counterfeit bag scheme. Ava soon teams up with Winnie, though the operation is risky. Chen (“Soy Sauce for Beginners”) pens a cunning con artist story with vastly different perspectives from Ava and Winnie. Come for the thrilling escapades, stay for the lush descriptions of designer accessories. There’s also a plot twist you’ll have to read to believe.
On Rotation: A Novel
Shirlene ObuobiAngela “Angie” Appiah attempts to focus on her medical residency despite a disintegrating love life and her parent’s intense expectations, but things aren’t going so well. Enter Ricky Gutiérrez, a kind, handsome, and intriguing artist who’s nothing like Angie’s typical love interests. Obuobi’s book shines with authenticity and intelligence. The pressures of medical school and being a first-gen immigrant add even more depth to this remarkable debut that leaves us all eager for some free time to dive in.
A Caribbean Heiress in Paris
Adriana HerreraA Dominican rum heiress and a Scottish duke meet in Paris at the 1889 Exposition Universelle. Neither is looking for love, but a marriage of convenience suits both — until deeper passions and tenderness begin to grow. Herrera succeeds where many authors fall short in creating a historical romance with a protagonist of color. “If creators want to see how to make historical romance that acknowledges the world as it was while still giving people of color and queer people the happily-ever-afters they deserve, they should take a page out of Herrera's book,” says Entertainment Weekly of this gorgeous tale.
The Wedding Crasher: A Novel
Mia SosaIn one of this year’s highly anticipated summer reads, Solange (the titular wedding crasher) overhears a bride’s unsettling comments and stops the wedding to save Dean, the groom, from heartache. So when Dean needs someone to pose as his girlfriend for a work event, Solange is the natural choice. But how long until real love blossoms from their fake relationship? Sosa’s romance-meets-comedy of errors is delightfully energetic and will leave you feeling all the feels as you soak up the sun.
All I Want: A Novel
Darcey BellWith a baby on the way, Ben and Emma are looking for a change from their one-bedroom existence in NYC. A fixer-upper mansion upstate seems like the perfect solution, particularly for Ben. But it doesn’t take long for Emma to feel uneasy in her new home. “All I Want” is an eerie ride through a (possibly) haunted house. Multiple points of view will leave readers wondering what’s true and what’s imagined in this vacation-worthy mystery.
It Ends with Us: A Novel
Colleen Hoover“It Ends With Us” consistently tops the bestseller list, despite being released several years ago. In a lot of ways, it seems like a stereotypical sexy romance novel: Protagonist Lily Bloom must choose between a hot doctor named Ryle and her first love, Atlas. But this romance novel shines above the rest for its very real and poignant portrayal of cycles of abuse.
The It Girl
Ruth WareWhat Hoover is to romance, Ware is to murder mysteries. Both are the perfect fit for summertime vibes. In Ware’s brand new release, a woman re-investigates the murder of her college friend after a journalist uncovers new evidence. Passages from past and present keep readers guessing in this psychological thriller that feels purpose-written for poolside entertainment.
The Mother-in-Law: A Novel
Sally HepworthIncluded on what felt like every best books of 2019 list, including O Magazine’s “15 Best Beach Books of the Year So Far” and Entertainment Weekly’s “MUST List,” Hepworth’s slow-burning whodunnit follows a suspicious suicide that isn’t what it seems. Family secrets and suspenseful twists (told out of order for spectacular tension) will keep you on the edge of your beach chair.
Orgy: A Short Story About Desire
Kaitlyn GreenidgeThis Scribd Original is the perfect summer read for its subject matter as well as its length (less than an hour). During the COVID-19 lockdown, Nessa spends too much time in a crummy New York apartment with roommates she’s sick of, reliving pre-pandemic exploits and brooding about missing friends and lovers. She decides to go to an orgy (don’t worry, she wears a mask), and what follows is one wild night of re-evaluating the past, coming to terms with the present, and finding pleasure in unexpected places.
The Only Living Girl on Earth
Charles YuIf you loved “Orgy,” try another Scribd Original. Yu, a National Book Award-winning author, welcomes you to Earth: The Gift Shop, where the history of the planet has been commodified into knick knacks sold by the last living soul, Jane. A witty and absurd story about the destruction of Earth, the survival of capitalism, and the strength of the human spirit from the author of “Interior Chinatown” who’s also a writer for “Westworld.”
A Man Called Ove: A Novel
Fredrik BackmanWant a read that warms your heart while the sun warms your face? This is the story of a small-town curmudgeon named Ove. He is a man of staunch principles, strict routines, and terrible anger. But, of course, beneath Ove’s rough and unfriendly exterior lies a story of true sorrow and loss. The book explores the comical and endearing relationships between Ove and his ill-fated new neighbors.
The House of Gucci: A True Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed
Sara Gay FordenFashion and drama go hand-in-hand, so it makes perfect sense that the Gucci family and brand has been embroiled in high-stakes, high-profile in-fighting that’s led to death. There are plenty of attention-grabbing headlines to write about the makers of high-end handbags, and this book is a very thorough history that feels like fiction, covering all parts of the Gucci business. Lady Gaga and Adam Driver star in the 2021 movie retelling.
The Time Traveler's Wife
Audrey NiffeneggerImmerse yourself in a sweet love story tinged with a bit of sci-fi magic and a lot of literary flair. Henry has a rare condition that allows him to mysteriously time travel. While he’s wandering through time, he falls in love with Clare. This book was a big hit in the early 2000s, and it’s ripe for resurgence thanks to a recent HBO adaptation led by Steven Moffat (“Doctor Who,” “Sherlock”).
The Cactus League: A Novel
Emily Nemens“The Cactus League” is the greatest baseball novel since “The Art of Fielding.” It’s less about the workings of the game and the mythos surrounding this staple of American culture, and more a dissection of the far-reaching effects of “big baseball.” In what are essentially nine interconnected short stories (a natural number for a baseball novel), you see the lives of coaches, players, an organist, concession stand workers, and more from a fresh perspective.
The Terminal List: A Thriller
Jack CarrFormer Navy SEAL James Reece has nothing to lose: His entire team was killed in an ambush, and his wife and daughter were murdered in cold blood. James goes on a quest for revenge after discovering that a government conspiracy is behind both attacks, using his SEAL training to strike when officials least expect it. The TV series adaptation of this twisty, action-packed thriller starring Chris Pratt (“Guardians of the Galaxy”) as James Reece is now available on Prime Video.
The Rosie Project: A Novel
Graeme Simsion“The Rosie Project” is charming, quirky, and so, so funny. The protagonist, Don, is a neurodivergent professor on a quest to find a life partner using the same hyper-analytical approach he brings to his work. He devises a lengthy questionnaire for his potential mates. Then he meets Rosie, who happens to fail virtually all of Don’s criteria. What follows is a touching, hilarious story about people looking for love and love finding them instead.
Beautiful Ruins: A Novel
Jess WalterClose your eyes and picture yourself on the Italian coast. As you peer out at the blue expanse of sapphire-bright sea, you may well imagine that you are but a young innkeeper, seeing an American actress approaching you in a small boat. For thus goes “Beautiful Ruins,” a tale that stretches over 50 years and transports you between Italy and Hollywood, and a few places in between. This is a book for the romantics among us who love the old Hollywood classics.
The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry
Gabrielle ZevinCurmudgeon A.J. Fikry laments the death of his wife, the declining sales at his independent bookstore, and the peppiness of a new sales rep. But he’s determined to live a grand narrative, and his journey really picks up after his rare copy of Edgar Allan Poe’s “Tamerlane” is stolen and he ends up adopting a little girl. This heartwarming story has a movie adaptation scheduled for fall of 2022, which stars Christina Hendricks, Lucy Hale, and David Arquette.
What If It's Us
Becky AlbertalliYA darlings Albertalli and Silvera team up for one of the sweetest meet-cute stories you’ll ever read. Arthur and Ben regret not getting each other’s contact info when they meet at the post office. Chance encounters (is it fate?) and multiple first dates ensue.