‘Tis the Summer Reading Guide season! I hope you enjoy my 2025 selections!
Summer Reading Guide 2025
I’m linking up today with That Artsy Reader Girl for Top Ten Tuesday: Summer Freebie
You might have seen several Summer Reading Guides on social media in recent days. Many of them are behind Pay Walls. I love reading them for fresh reading ideas. Although I make many book lists and recommend many books, I’ve never made an actual Summer Reading Guide. I read the same during the summer as I read all year…something thought-provoking and engaging. My philosophy is that any book you read at the beach or pool or on vacation is a beach/pool/vacation read! My list might not be what you consider traditional or typical “beach reads.” For this FREE guide, I’ve chosen all books that I’ve recently read and can highly recommend for your summer reading or for your book club. I’ve included a mix of genres (nonfiction, historical fiction, romance, light women’s fiction, sports, family drama). Naturally, the selections will reflect my reading tastes. I hope you’ll find one that matches yours!
I suppose I need to clarify that my list is NOT AI-generated like the recently published list by the Chicago Sun-Times that garnered a great deal of criticism. I have read and reviewed each title on my personally curated list!
(In no particular order
Favorite Read of 2025 (so far)
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
Epistolary. Reflective. Thoughtful. Engaging. Well-seasoned Characters.
Free Book Club Kit.
Light Women’s Fiction
Abigail and Alexa Save the Wedding by Lian Dolan
Fun. Humorous. Light. Mothers of the Bride and Groom.
A Book About Books and Book Club
The Book of Kindness by Stephanie Butland
(a.k.a. The Second Chance Book Club)
Book Talk. Book Club. Kindness. New Beginnings. Community.
Nonfiction: Essays
Ordinary Time by Annie B. Jones
Reflective. Transparent. Thoughtful. Friendly.
I’ve followed the author’s podcast, From the Front Porch, for years.
WWII (Spain) Historical Fiction
One Good Thing by Georgia Hunter
(author of We Were the Lucky Ones)
Survival. Courage. Friendship. Family. WWII
Non WWII Historical Fiction
New Arrivals on West India Dock Road by Renita D’Silva
New Beginnings. Food. Community.
Romance
It’s a Love Story by Anabel Monaghan.
(author of Nora Goes Off Script, Same Time Next Summer, and Summer Romance)
Forced Proximity. Workplace enemies-to-lovers. Slow-burn. Mild Steam. Big family dynamics.
Regency Romance
The Wrong Lady Meets Lord Right by Suzanne Allain
Light. Humorous. Fun. Trading Places Trope. Firmly Closed Door.
Complicated Family Drama
Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson
(author of Black Cake)
New Beginnings. Tragedy. Family. Diverse Read.
Narrative Nonfiction: Sports
The Boys of Riverside by Thomas Fuller
Inspirational. Deaf Culture. Competition.
Free Book Club Kit.
Bonus: Pulitzer Prize Winner, Literary Fiction
James by Percival Evverett
Powerful. Reimagining of Huckleberry Finn from enslaved Jim’s POV.
Free Book Club Kit.
QOTD:
What are you reading this summer?
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There a few books on your list that I have thought about reading!
Happy summer reading Marg!
Excellent choices Carol. I loved Black Cake but haven’t read the author’s latest book.
Thanks Joanne! 🌻
I’ve not seen a Summer Reading Guide before. Maybe it’s more a US thing? I love the idea though and will definitely check some of these
It seems like a lot of bloggers are putting out reading guides for summer, but it hadn’t occurred to me that it could be a U.S. thing! Happy summer reading Janette!
Maybe yours is just the first one I’ve seen. Have a good Summer’s reading too Carol
📚🌻
I agree with you, a book you read on vacation is a vacation read. Certainly there are some that are easier than others, but any book can be a vacation read. One I read recently that I would recommend is Everything’s Coming Up Rosie by Courtney Walsh. It releases next week.
Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/books-with-bright-covers-pick-a-color/
Thanks for the rec! I’ll check it out!
I have the same philosophy for beach reads.
🌻
I’m dying to read The Correspondent!!
I hope we share the love! Be patient, it takes a bit to really get into.
I’ll be back to check some of these out for my TBR.
Happy summer reading! 🌻📚
You are absolutely right, Carol. Summer reading is totally objective and whatever you read and enjoy in the summer is summer reading. I am surprised that I have only read one book on this list. We usually have more in common that that.
I’m surprised as well! You have some catching up to do! 😂😂😂
These all sound intriguing! I haven’t read any of them…yet 🙂
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
All are tbr worthy! Happy summer reading!
“The Book of Kindness” especially caught my eye. I will take a look for it!
Enjoy! 🌻
I’m reading “The Correspondent” now and I’m really enjoying it.
I’m so happy to hear that! I think it’s a book that gets better and better! Enjoy! 🌻
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