‘Tis the Summer Reading Guide season! I hope you enjoy my 2026 selections!
What’s in your beach or pool bag?

Summer Reading Guide 2026

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. I love reading them for fresh reading ideas. Although I make many book lists and recommend many books, this is only my second 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 from books that I’ve read since last summer and can highly recommend for this year’s summer reading or for your book club. I’ve included a mix of genres and categories. Naturally, the selections will reflect my reading tastes. I hope you’ll find one that matches yours!

I must clarify that my list is NOT AI-generated. I have read and reviewed each title on my personally curated list! #100%HUMAN

(In no particular order)

Favorite Read of 2026 (so far)

This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page
Book Recommendations. Book Store. Grief. Sweet Slow-burn Romance.

A New Novella Series Set in Scotland

One beautifully written novella for each season! Christmas at Flora’s House, Spring at Flora’s House, and two more yet to come for summer and autumn. (A spin-off of Little Wing)

A Book About Books

This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page
Book Recommendations. Book Store. Grief. Sweet Slow-burn Romance.

Christian Nonfiction

Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools: An Invitation to the Wonder and Mystery of Prayer by Tyler Staton
Motivational and Inspirational.

Historical Fiction

(all non WWII)

Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hockhauser
Cinderella “untelling”

The Herring Girl by Chrissie Walsh
Set in Ireland

The Harvey Girls by Julliette Fay
1920s, United States

Biographical Historical Fiction

A Founding Mother: A Novel of Abigail Adams by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie
A fascinating woman! (Pub Date: 5/6/2026)

Romance

Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan (Pub Date: 5/26/2026)
New title by my current favorite women’s fiction author.

Literary Fiction

Where the Wildflowers Grow by Terah Shelton Harris
Thought-provoking and page-turning.

Christian Fiction

Faithful of Heart by Tracie Peterson (GR review)
For fans of a spiritual content in an engaging story.

Narrative Nonfiction: WWII

Family of Spies by Christine Kuehn
.Astonishing family secrets.

Character-Driven Literary Fiction

Theo of Golden by Allen Levi
FREE Book Club Kit for Theo of Golden
I can’t stop thinking about this “must-read” book.

Celebrity Memoir

Joan: Life Beyond the Script by Joan Lunden
Joan Lunden was the background soundtrack during the years I was home with my young family. Who can relate?

Middle Grade

The Trouble with Heroes by Kate Messner
My most recent favorite MG read.

Still Receiving all the Buzz

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
(2025 favorite of the year)
This is from my 2025 Summer Reading Guide, but it remains buzzy, is growing in popularity, and is receiving many accolades. If you missed it last year, it’s never too late to read a great book! I also created a FREE Book Club Kit for this one.

3 Back List Titles From My 2025 Summer Reading Guide

Abigail and Alexa Save the Wedding by Lian Dolan
An entertaining escapist read.

James by Percival Everett
Don’t miss this powerful reimagining of a classic.

Ordinary Time by Annie B. Jones
Thoughtful, gently-written essays. Audio is narrated by the author.

---

---

QOTD:

What are you reading this summer?

---

---

Let’s Get Social!

Thank you for visiting today! I’d be honored and thrilled if you choose to enjoy and follow along, promote, and/or share my blog. Every share helps us grow.

Find me at:
Twitter/X
Blue Sky
Instagram (Threads link in bio)
Goodreads and StoryGraph
Pinterest
SubStack: @carolreadingladies
Reading Ladies Book Club on Facebook

---

---

Happy Summer Reading Book Friends

“Ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading.”
~Rainer Maria Rilke
“I love the world of words where life and literature connect.”
~Denise J Hughes
“Reading good books ruins you for reading bad ones.”
~Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
“I read because books are a form of transportation, teaching, and connection. Books take us to places we’ve never been, teach us about our world, and help us understand human experience.”
~Madeleine Riley

---

---

***Blog posts may contain affiliate links. This means that at no extra cost to you, I can earn a small percentage of your purchase price.

All books I review are purchased or borrowed from the library unless explicitly stated that the book is free (arc).

Amazon or an author’s (or publisher’s) website receives all credit for book covers and author photos.

© ReadingLadies.com