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This story is part of The EDIT: Summer Issue. Our quarterly magazine celebrates the rituals, recipes, and rhythms of intentional living. This season’s theme is Carefree—an invitation to live lighter and love deeper. Explore the full issue or order the print edition here.
There’s something magical about summer reading—the way a good book can whisk you away to another place, all while you’re lounging in the sun or curled up during a lazy afternoon. We know our readers are never far from their next favorite read. So, we turned to you—our community of passionate, thoughtful, and always well-read book lovers—to find out which stories you return to again and again. And as always, you delivered.
From breezy beach reads to moving memoirs, edge-of-your-seat thrillers to novels that simply feel like summer, this list has it all. These are the books you reach for when you want to escape, be inspired, or just get lost in a beautiful story. So whether you’re packing a carry-on or planning a staycation, these reads will keep you company all season long.
Featured image by Michelle Nash.
Your Crowd-Sourced Summer Reading List
The Shell Seekers by Rosamund Pilcher
Perfect long summer novel! —Helen G.
The Drifters by James Michener
Loved the soul-searching of these young people while they traveled exotic lands. —Elle V.
Female entrepreneurship, wine, adventure, romance, and a little mystery—everything you could want in one book! —Melissa L.
There’s something about a book that captures you early on—you know you won’t get bored reading it outside, iced coffee in hand, while your toddler naps. This one did that for me. I loved that it wasn’t hard set on a specific genre, followed a young woman’s perspective (which I’ll always support), and honestly, I couldn’t resist the peach on the cover—it just screamed summer. —Lisbeth C.
Kristin Hannah never misses, and The Women is no exception. As a nurse and a lover of historical fiction, I was completely captivated by this powerful story of the often-overlooked women who served in Vietnam. Hannah’s writing is both heart-wrenching and empowering, reminding us that heroism isn’t confined to the battlefield—it lives in the courage and compassion of women, too. A must-read this summer.—Mary Ann R.
The Beach at Summerly by Beatriz Williams
Could not put it down. Great characters, and an interesting period in history that isn’t often written about in fiction. Perfect beach read for someone who likes a little bit of history with their romance and scandal. —Emily L
Maine is a multi-generational family drama full of secrets, sibling rivalry, and Catholic guilt, set at a beach house on the coast of Maine. With four complex narrators—Alice, Kathleen, Ann Marie, and Maggie—you’ll love (and hate) them all. —Jamie D.
A retro book, yes, a classic family saga set on the Coast of Maine. My friends and I come back to this every summer! —Carolyn H.
Women in Sunlight by Frances Mayes
I first read this book in late summer 2018, and while the ‘buying a retirement villa in Tuscany’ aspect is there, the real draw is its dreamy, sometimes over-the-top inspiration, regardless of life stage. It showed me how to elevate hosting through what I call ‘life vignettes,’ with beautifully detailed descriptions of food, scenery, and simple gatherings. I reread it every summer as a mid-year reset. —Trisha D.
This Summer Will be Different by Carley Fortune
The perfect combo of romance, female friendship, flowers, and individual development. —Tess P.
The Five Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand
It offers everything from romance, mystery, drama, and unexpected twists! SO GOOD!! —Ann S.
The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand
It gives such a fun glimpse of a dreamy summer in Nantucket with a twist! —Charlotte M.
Shopping Block
Find the full list of book recommendations in The EDIT:
