This Summer is all about reading the most anticipated books from some of the literary world's most compelling voices [1]. From captivating memoirs to dramatic thrillers [2], this list of diverse and highly anticipated Summer reads [3] will keep you busy all season long.
If You Love YA: When the Beat Drops by Anna Hecker (Out May 15)
In her debut release [4], Anna Hecker creates a world of teenage angst, self-discovery, and killer EDM music. Mira has always loved jazz music and playing trumpet, and with an audition for a highly esteemed music school in the near future, she plans on spending her Summer break playing her instrument as much as possible. But when she accompanies her sister to a warehouse party, she suddenly finds herself falling in love with the pulsing beats of EDM music. Suddenly picking up a passion for DJing, Mira dives head first into a new scene with the potential for a bright future. When a tragedy from her past reappears, she'll have to make a life-altering decision about where her life is headed.
If You Love YA: On the Come Up by Angie Thomas (Out June 5)
From the bestselling author of The Hate U Give comes a new YA novel, On the Come Up [5]. Bri may only be 16, but she knows exactly what she wants to do with her life: become the next hip-hop sensation. Following in her father's music-industry footsteps, Bri knows that her dreams of stardom will mean a lot for both her and her mother. Battling her way to success, this determined teen will do whatever it takes to keep her family afloat, making this the perfect read for audiences both young and old who are striving to reach their goals.
If You Love YA: Save the Date by Morgan Matson (Out June 5)
Charlie's sister is getting married, and all she can think about is making the weekend perfect for her and her siblings. Pushing everything else aside, she puts all her effort into making the weekend one to remember, but when small things start to go wrong, the teenager is sure that her entire plan is about to unravel. Having to roll with the punches of a reunion she hadn't anticipated, Charlie learns more about her family than she ever thought she would. This lighthearted book [6] is the perfect beach read for a warm Summer day.
If You Love Historical Fiction: Girl With a Gun: An Annie Oakley Mystery by Kari Bovee (Out June 19)
Inspired by the exciting stories of Annie Oakley, Kari Bovee's debut novel [7] brings readers a new adventure featuring the brave sharpshooter. After being offered a position in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, Annie is thrilled that she'll finally get the chance to save her family's farm, but when tragedy strikes in the form of two mysterious murders, she begins to question if she is the cause of these senseless crimes. In order to clear her name and solve the mystery, Annie sets out on an adventure with a courageous reporter, and what follows is a thrilling tale about a badass young girl and her quest for the truth.
If You Love Historical Fiction: There There by Tommy Orange (Out June 5)
This multigenerational novel tracks the history of Native Americans and the way history has affected the current generation. As 12 individuals make their way to the Big Oakland Powwow, they reflect on their reasons for attending as well as the history that has brought them there. Telling a rare story of Native American heritage, Tommy Orange's debut novel is one that will leave a major impact on its readers. With a story of both the present and the past, There There [8] is the influential read you should add to your TBR pile now.
If You Love Historical Fiction: The Subway Girls by Susie Orman Schnall (Out July 10)
In Susie Orman Schnall's latest fiction read [9], two successful women, decades apart, find an important tie to the 1949 Miss Subways beauty contest. When Charlotte dives into the famous contest, she meets Rose, a woman who eventually betrays Charlotte, leading her to make decisions that will change her life and the lives of everyone around her. Seventy years later in the same city, Olivia is trying to get to the top of her advertising agency, and as she digs into the Miss Subways campaign, she finds surprising connections to her own life that will benefit her both personally and professionally.
If You Love Memoirs: Old in Art School by Nell Irvin Painter (Out June 19)
Shocking everyone in her life, Nell Irvin Painter returns to art school in her 60s in this inspiring memoir about following your dreams. Making important observations about age, gender, and looks in the art world, Old in Art School [10] tells more than just Nell's story as she transitions from the academic world to the art world. For anyone who needs a pick-me-up this Summer, this memoir will give you hope that it's never too late to pursue your passion and accomplish your lifelong goals.
If You Love Memoirs: Not That Bad, Edited by Roxane Gay (Out May 1)
In this powerful collection of previously published essays by incredible women, Roxane Gay helps bring to light the damaging effects of rape in our current society. Covering inspiring and heartbreaking stories, Not That Bad [11] brings readers an extremely honest and personal look into the abuse of women everywhere. If you're looking for an inspiring read this Summer, this new collection will have you feeling powerful and highly informed.
If You Love Memoirs: Calypso by David Sedaris (Out May 29)
If you're looking for an assortment of short stories to pack in your beach bag this Summer, Calypso [12] is the book to add to your TBR pile. For those who enjoy humorous stories, Sedaris's latest release is chock-full of dark comedy about getting older and realizing the devastating changes that come along with aging. Unlike any of his former story collections, this Summer release takes readers along with Sedaris into his darkest fears and deepest thoughts.
If You Love Memoirs: No Ashes in the Fire: Coming of Age Black and Free in America by Darnell L. Moore (Out May 29)
Darnell L. Moore had a tough time as a teenager, being lit on fire by his classmates because they assumed he was gay. Facing prejudices like this led Moore to a life in activism, and with his new book, No Ashes in the Fire [13], he is ready to tell the world his story of resilience and bravery. A journey through discrimination and social injustice, this nonfiction read tackles the difficult topic of race in a country where it is still a hot topic and widely debated.
If You Love Suspenseful Thrillers: Three Days Missing by Kimberly Belle (Out June 26)
Kat Jenkins never thought that her son would go missing when she sent him off on a sleep-away school trip, but in this suspenseful novel [14], one mother's nightmare will become a reality. As the search for her son continues, Kat meets Stef, another mother who proves to have unexpected ties to her son's disappearance. Finding out that the two can only trust each other, Kat and Stef do everything in their power to bring young Ethan home before it's too late.
If You Love Suspenseful Thrillers: She Was the Quiet One by Michele Campbell (Out July 31)
In Michele Campbell's She Was the Quiet One [15], a quaint New England boarding school seems like the answer two families are looking for, but when a murder is committed, everyone begins to question what's really going on in this prestigious school. Twin sisters Rose and Bel find themselves pitted against one another as the school brings out a dangerous rivalry between them, and the wife of one of the school's teachers begins to question the man she's married to. A thriller full of dark secrets and a vicious murder, this novel is a Summer must read.
If You Love Suspenseful Thrillers: A Necessary Evil by Abir Mukherjee (Out July 25)
The Kingdom of Sambalpore has just lost the heir to the throne in A Necessary Evil [16]. Having witnessed the successful assassination attempt, Captain Sam Wyndham and Sergeant Banerjee begin their hunt for the killer but instead find a kingdom full of intense conflict. Getting themselves involved in a dangerous new world, the two have to find the assassin before the killer tries to make a hit on them.
If You Love Suspenseful Thrillers: The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware (Out May 29)
On a day that begins like any other, Hal receives a mysterious letter bequeathing her a substantial inheritance. She realizes very quickly that the letter was not intended for her — but also that the cold-reading skills she's honed as a tarot card reader might help her claim the money. Soon, Hal finds herself at the funeral of the deceased . . . where something is very, very off about this strange situation, including the inheritance at the center of it. This new release from Ruth Ware [17] will give you the chills in the dead of Summer.
If You Love Suspenseful Thrillers: Her Pretty Face by Robyn Harding (Out July 10)
In Her Pretty Face [18], all Frances wants is to fit into her new world of academy snob moms and spoiled children, but when her overweight son is involved in a scandal that rocks the entire school, she finds that making friends with the other moms may not be possible after all . . . until she meets Kate Randolph. Kate is beautiful and everything Frances is not, but the two forge a new friendship based on their mutual dislike of the other moms at school. But one of these women is hiding the fact that they're actually a murderer — a secret that will threaten their friendship forever.
If You Love Women's Fiction/Family Life Novels: That Kind of Mother by Rumaan Alam (Out May 8)
After the birth of Rebecca Stone's first child, she can't help but feel overwhelmed and asks one of the nurses to come home with her as the baby's nanny. Learning from each other along the way, Rebecca and Priscilla become close friends, and when Priscilla devastatingly dies during the birth of her own child, Rebecca steps in to adopt the baby, unaware of the forthcoming challenges of raising a child who is not her own race. Knowing the world will treat her two children differently, Rebecca becomes the mother she never knew she could be in this powerful novel [19].
If You Love Women's Fiction/Family Life Novels: Not Her Daughter by Rea Frey (Out Aug. 21)
When Amy Townsend's daughter Emma Grace goes missing, she's not sure how much she wants her back. Knowing that Emma's mother is cruel, her kidnapper begins to believe that taking her was for the best. A story about what it really means to be a mother and the hardships women face when it comes to children, this shocking novel [20] takes an honest look at a complicated mother-daughter relationship.
If You Love Women's Fiction/Family Life Novels: The Bucket List by Georgia Clark (Out Aug. 7)
Lacey Whitman has recently been diagnosed with the breast cancer gene, and with that in mind, she worries about the possibility that she will have to lose her breasts. In this witty new release from Georgia Clark, one young woman will come up with a bucket list of all the things she wants to do with her breasts before a possible surgery. A story of a woman's relationship with her body and an adventure in sexual exploration, The Bucket List [21] is a touching read women everywhere can find a way to relate to.
If You Love Women's Fiction/Family Life Novels: Number One Chinese Restaurant by Lillian Li (Out June 19)
The Beijing Duck House is home to one of the most complicated families in Maryland, and in Number One Chinese Restaurant [22], the unique family dynamic will be put to the ultimate test. The calm chaos that has always been a part of their successful business will suddenly become unmanageable as an unlikely disaster strikes the family establishment. Having to come to terms with the demons from their pasts, all of the employees of the Chinese restaurant will be forced to reevaluate their entire lives.
If You Love Women's Fiction/Family Life Novels: How Hard Can It Be? by Allison Pearson (Out June 5)
Kate Reddy is about to turn 50, and as her children become difficult teenagers and her husband begins to enter his own midlife crisis, she realizes that she no longer wants to just hold the title of "mother." In this novel from bestselling author Allison Pearson, Kate begins her mission to get back to the top of the hedge fund she founded while finding a way to juggle all of her other responsibilities. A book mothers and working women alike can relate to, How Hard Can It Be? [23] is a lighthearted read for a day by the pool.
If You Love Women's Fiction/Family Life Novels: My Ex-Life by Stephen McCauley (Out May 8)
David Hedges's life is slowly unraveling, and in this new novel, he reconnects with his ex-wife and daughter in ways that he hadn't expected. As the three prepare to get 17-year-old Mandy into college, they have to learn how to all live under the same roof again and how to get the most out of their lives. A hilarious and sometimes heartbreaking narrative about one family's search for happiness, My Ex-Life [24] is the book both you and your mother can read this Summer.
If You Love Women's Fiction/Family Life Novels: When Katie Met Cassidy by Camille Perri (Out June 19)
Katie Daniels has just been dumped by her fiancé and now finds herself sitting across the table from an impeccably beautiful woman wearing a man's suit. In this story about sexuality, gender, and finding your path in life, Katie and Cassidy begin a relationship like neither of them has ever had before. For fans of romantic comedies, When Katie Met Cassidy [25] is the perfect read to get lost in during your Summer break.
If You Love Sci-Fi and Fantasy: The Completionist by Siobhan Adcock (Out June 19)
Fredericka's sister has disappeared, and she is desperate to find her. But in this futuristic America, getting pregnant is a struggle, and Fredericka knows that she can't risk the child growing inside of her in order to find her sister. Hiring her brother Carter to track down the young girl, he takes his job more seriously than anyone had expected, bringing up damaging secrets from the family's past in the meantime. An intriguing tale of a dystopian family, The Completionist [26] will transport you to an entirely new world this Summer.
If You Love Sci-Fi and Fantasy: The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang (Out May 1)
Despite everyone's expectations, young Rin has just made it into the top military school in Nikan, China, and she is ready to prove to everyone that she is just as strong a warrior as the men who have come before her in this new riveting novel [27]. But when war threatens to engulf her home and she begins to realize that she has ancient magic running through her veins, it becomes apparent that she may be the only one who can save her people. Worried that winning the war could mean losing her humanity forever, Rin will have to make a multitude of difficult decisions in this new novel.
If You Love Sci-Fi and Fantasy: The Book of M by Peng Shepherd (Out June 5)
For fans of Station Eleven, this Summer release [28] will have you engulfed from beginning to end. In a world set in the near future, people's shadows are disappearing along with their memories, and as far as anyone can tell, there's no cure for the strange phenomena. Running away to try to escape the tragedy, Ory and Max shack up in a remote hotel, where they find out that there's no way to truly outrun fate. When Max's shadow disappears, Ory makes it clear he will not give up on his wife, chasing her and a possible cure to dangerous depths.
If You're Into Erotic Novels: Hidden by Kelli Clare (Out June 5)
In this thrilling romance novel [29], Ellie James has just lost her sister and grandmother in a vicious murder. Picking up her life in small-town Connecticut, she moves with her niece and enigmatic boyfriend to England, where she meets unexpected challenges. Finally learning about her family's dark past, Ellie finds herself running from murderous members of a secret society, being called by a name that's not her own, and trying to get to the bottom of who she really is.
If You're Into Erotic Novels: The Dirty Book Club by Lisi Harrison (Paperback Out May 22)
Lisi Harrison's paperback release of The Dirty Book Club [30] follows magazine editor M.J. Stark as she transforms her life for the sake of her boyfriend. Moving from New York to California, M.J. knows following her sexy boyfriend was the right choice, and when she gets an invitation to join an exclusive book club that only reads erotica novels, she begins to feel that she's finally found the place where she belongs. Adding a sexy twist to this story of new beginnings, this novel is perfect for readers who can't get enough of Anna and Christian Grey.
