.png "summer reading list, summer 2025, summer book releases, atmosphere taylor reid jenkins, death row freida mcfadden, katabasis rf kuang, bury our bones in the midnight soil v e schwab")
Happy summer solstice!
It's officially summer, and as the days last longer and the sun casts a beautiful golden glow, there's no better time to dive into a new book—and this summer's lineup of new releases offers something for every kind of reader of all ages.
Whether you're craving a heart-pounding thriller for the beach, a cute romance to savor on vacation, or a thought-provoking literary novel to enjoy under a shady tree at a picnic, this summer's book releases cover all the genres you just might love. Summer 2025 is coming in hot with highly anticipated titles from bestselling authors and fresh voices, from contemporary fiction and historical dramas to mystery, fantasy, and feel-good reads.
Consider this your ultimate summer reading syllabus—packed with captivating stories, unforgettable characters, and page-turners that will keep you reading long after the sun sets.
June 1
Talia Kemper sits on death row, convicted of murdering her husband—a crime she insists she didn’t commit. With execution looming and her appeals exhausted, everything changes when she sees a man in the prison visiting area who looks exactly like her supposedly dead husband. As doubts surface and the clock ticks down, Talia must find a way to prove the impossible: that she may have been telling the truth all along. Death Row is a gripping short story about deception, justice, and how far someone will go to be believed.
I know every Freida McFadden fan have been waiting forever for this one! It's not one to be missed this summer.
June 3
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Set in the 1980s during the height of NASA’s Space Shuttle program, Atmosphere follows Joan Goodwin, a quiet physics professor who joins a trailblazing group of scientists and astronauts training for spaceflight. As she builds deep connections with her team and experiences unexpected love, Joan is forced to confront the vastness of both outer space and her inner world. When a mission in 1984 takes a sudden turn, everything Joan knows is put to the test. The novel blends historical detail, emotional depth, and the thrill of exploration in classic Taylor Jenkins Reid style.
Heir of Storms by Lauryn Hamilton Murray
Born a Rain Singer into a powerful fire-wielding dynasty, seventeen-year-old Blaze caused a deadly storm at birth—and has lived in exile ever since. When she and her twin brother Flint are unexpectedly invited to compete in the Choosing Rite—a fierce competition determining the empire’s next ruler—Blaze is thrust into the spotlight at the Golden Palace. Amidst courtly intrigue and two compelling suitors—the charismatic Crown Prince and a mysterious newcomer—Blaze must learn to control her elemental powers, embrace her true self, and fight for the throne. This lush YA romantasy blends dangerous magic, rivalries, epic trials, and a sizzling love triangle in a story about claiming power and shaping your own destiny.
I'll Pretend You're Mine by Tashie Bhuiyan
Eighteen-year-old singer-songwriter Summer Ali, tired of her stage persona and creative block, agrees to a PR stunt: "dating" ex–child actor and tabloid heartthrob Jules Moradi. As they spend time together, What starts out as a calculated move slowly turns into something real. Summer begins to see beyond Jules’s public image, and the lines between pretend and authentic blur—forcing her to confront her true identity, her dreams…and whether love is worth turning reality sideways.
I'm a sucker for Tashie's YA romances so far, so of course I'm so excited to dive into this one this summer!
13 Days of Summer by Stephanie Kate Strohm
Three best friends—Carson, Noemi, and Eleanor—embark on a cross‑country road trip the summer after high school graduation to see Taylor Swift on her Eras Tour. Along the way, they pick up a charming hitchhiker who sparks a love‑at‑first‑sight connection with Carson. As romance blossoms, tensions within the friendship begin to surface. This lighthearted YA novel explores the strong bonds of friendship, the thrill of first love, and the bittersweet transition of growing up—all set against a summer soundtrack that evokes freedom and nostalgia.
Jia Song, a driven young lawyer at a prestigious New York firm, is tasked with managing a complex case involving a powerful Korean beauty empire. As she digs deeper into the family’s tangled secrets, Jia must navigate high-stakes business drama, cultural expectations, and personal ambition. Over the course of thirty intense days, she confronts challenges that test her values, loyalty, and what it truly means to succeed—both professionally and personally.
An undeniably fierce, unforgettably funny, unapologetically queer feminist romp through the England of medieval legend. Bestselling and acclaimed authors Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner bring readers along on an epic quest for valor, freedom, and, above all, love. A Knight’s Tale meets the Lady Jane series, with a dash of The Great!
Celestial Banquet by Roselle Lim
Lim’s adult debut transports readers into a vividly imagined banquet where Chinese-American culture, family ties, and culinary magic intertwine. With richly drawn characters and a blend of realism and wonder, it explores how food can heal wounds and reveal the deep significance of tradition in our lives.
A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim
Thrust into a web of obligation and magic, Tru Saigas uses her artistry—and risky talent for forging prophetic art—to protect her family after her father's disappearance. An arranged marriage to Elang, a half-dragon prince, takes her to the underwater realm of A’landi, where court intrigue and curses threaten both their worlds. Together, they confront hidden truths of lineage, loyalty, and power.
Rivalry and romance spark when two bookstore managers who are opposites in every way find themselves competing for the same promotion. Despite managing bookstores on the same Boston street, Josie Klein and Ryan Lawson have never interacted much—Josie’s store focuses on serious literature, and Ryan’s sells romance only. But when the new owner of both stores decides to combine them, the two are thrust into direct competition. Only one manager will be left standing, decided by who turns the most profit over the summer.
Worth Fighting For by Jesse Q. Sutano
Mulan’s ready to get down to business. But when it comes to love, she hasn’t got a clue. As the right hand of her father’s private equity company, Fa Mulan knows what it takes to succeed as a woman in a man’s world: work twice as hard, be twice as smart, and burp twice as loud as any of the other finance bros she works with. So when her father unexpectedly falls ill in the middle of a critical acquisition, she is determined to see it through. There’s just one hitch: the family company in question is known for its ultra masculine whiskey brand, and the brood of old-fashioned aunts, uncles, and cousins who run it—lead by the dedicated but overworked Shang—will only trust Mulan’s father, Fa Zhou, with the future of their business.
A sort of reimagining of Mulan written by author Jesse Q. Sutano? Sign me up!
The God and Gwisin by Sophie Kim
On a ghostly cruise down the river of the dead, Seokga—a trickster god in therapy—reunites with Yoo Kisa, who might be his reincarnated love partner. But Kisa has no memory, and when the heavenly emperor is murdered aboard ship, the pair must unravel the mystery before the voyage ends—discovering newfound feelings and uncovering forces that tie their fates to the living and dead realms.
A First Time For Everything by K. L. Walther
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Summer of Broken Rules comes a fun new coming-of-age romance full of dating disasters, powerful firsts, and the importance of family. Madeline has always been extremely close to her family, so she is shocked when her older brother gets engaged without including them (or even giving them a heads up!). Mads has never been the biggest fan of his fiancée, Katie, so in order to remain one happy family, she is determined to bond with Katie before the big day, which includes reluctantly agreeing to be a bridesmaid.
June 10
Emiko Kimori is a self-professed “matchmaking genius” in her small British Columbia coastal town. Between crafting brunch recipes, helping her aunt find love, excelling in school, and volunteering, she's always busy—and steering clear of her own future plans. But when a new girl arrives, Emiko seizes the opportunity to guide her into the social scene, even as her childhood friend Kenzo wishes she’d focus less on others’ romances. Everything changes when Emiko falls for someone unexpected: she's caught up in her own web of matchmaking. Now she must figure out what it truly means to be in love, balancing friendship, family, and the bold leap into her own heart.
Set in the turbulent years leading up to and during the American Civil War, A Most Perilous World follows the lives of four teenage children of renowned abolitionists—including Frederick Douglass’s son—who step out from the shadows of their parents to shape the anti-slavery movement in their own ways. Two Black and two white adolescents, united by a fierce dedication to freedom, confront discrimination, personal expectations, and the weight of legacy. Drawing on rich historical detail and primary documents, this narrative nonfiction paints a vivid, coming‑of‑age portrait of how a young generation carried the torch of resistance—and discovered their own voices amid national upheaval.
Bibi Hossain is grounded at home after her first kiss breaks a strict family rule—no dating until her sister is married. But plans derail when her sister announces a lavish wedding in Bangladesh, and Bibi heads to Sylhet, hoping for a change in her father’s stance. Amid the grandeur of a tea estate and cultural clashes, she strikes up a tactical alliance with Sohel—the charmingly infuriating younger brother of her sister’s fiancé—to undermine the engagement. What begins as a scheming friendship soon turns into something more, forcing Bibi to question where her own heart truly belongs amid family expectations and unexpected romance.
High‑school senior Jenna is facing change: her best friend is leaving for college, her father is selling the family lakehouse, and her cousin’s relationship status complicates everything. To hold onto summer—and perhaps control—it’s Jenna who organizes one final weeklong reunion with her closest friends. But as secrets spill, loyalties shift, and unexpected romance blooms, she discovers the best-laid plans—like feelings and friendships—are impossible to predict.
Literary historical that reimagines The Great Gatsby in 1945 Los Angeles, centered on the vibrant Black enclave of West Adams Heights—nicknamed “Sugar Hill.” The story follows Charlie Trammell, a young Black WWII veteran who ventures to L.A. and is mesmerized by the opulence of his cousin’s community. He immerses himself in the city's thriving Black culture, from boarding houses to elite social circles, and becomes enthralled with James “Reaper” Mann—a charismatic figure known for hosting dazzling parties attended by stars like Hattie McDaniel and Lena Horne. As Charlie and Reaper forge a complex bond, the neighborhood faces growing tension when white residents sue to enforce racist housing covenants. Told through Charlie’s eyes, the novel explores themes of wealth, identity, love, and social justice in postwar America.
This genre-bending adult fantasy spans centuries and continents through the lives of three queer women—Maria in 1532 Spain, Charlotte in 1827 London, and Alice in 2019 Boston—who become vampires and whose stories are bound through the same soil. Each era explores hunger, rage, forbidden love, and identity in lush, haunting prose, weaving a timeless meditation on power, vengeance, and self-discovery.
We all agree - we've all been eagerly waiting for this, right!? I'd eat up everything Schwab generously and beautifully writes for us.
June 17
A Fiery Spirit by Kate Chenli
After overthrowing a murderer, Mingshin faces her greatest threat yet: a looming magical poison that claimed her brother’s life. With the enigmatic Night Dragon closing in and her fate tied to a powerful Divine Stone, she must decide who to trust—especially Jieh, her childhood friend turned reluctant ally. As darkness gathers, Mingshin races to master her magic and stop the sorcerer before history is rewritten.
In this silkpunk sequel set two years after Of Jade and Dragons, Ying returns from the Engineer’s Guild only to be swept back into danger when mysterious pirate attacks threaten her homeland. Joined by High Commander Ye‑yang and her trusted friends, she must outmaneuver political conspiracies and naval threats. Meanwhile, her sister Nian navigates palace intrigue in the capital, testing newfound skills and alliances as both face betrayals that could tear their world apart.
June 24
Embrace the Serpent by Sunya Mara
Eighteen-year-old jeweler’s apprentice Saphira is thrust into unexpected royalty when she’s chosen to marry the Serpent King—a being of dark and dangerous magic. Forced into a marriage of convenience, she’s caught between her cold husband and his charismatic huntsman. To survive life at court, Saphira must harness her own gemstone magic, navigate lethal intrigue, and decide if she’s truly ready to embrace her fate.
July 1
The Nightblood Prince by Molly X. Chang
Fei, prophesied to become a powerful empress, is raised in a palace far from home. When she embarks on a dangerous mission to capture a legendary tiger—and is saved by Yexue, a runaway prince gifted with night magic and vampire armies—she’s torn between prophecy, politics, and her own heart. Love won’t stop a war, but she might have to spark one.
July 8
The Gryphon King by Sara Omer
Bataar Rhah, a legendary warlord who slew a fearsome gryphon as a child, sets his sights on conquering the affluent kingdom of Dumakra. Nohra Zultama, a Harpy Knight sworn to avenge her homeland, finds her vengeance complicated by her growing jealousy toward Bataar’s wife, Qaira, and eerie alliances with her sworn enemy. As monstrous threats emerge, old grudges may prove the deadliest.
July 15
In a sun-scorched desert world where destiny governs all, 17-year-old Sparrow has long embraced her role as a top thief in the Thieves’ Guild. But when the shadowy group known as the Circle orders her to steal the legendary memory stone—a relic tied to the mythic Deathless Kings—she's thrust into a high-stakes mission. Betrayal shatters Sparrow’s world when someone she trusts turns against her, and her actions release a Deathless King’s soul. Now, alongside Raithe, a dangerous assassin sent to kill her, and joined by allies Halek and Kysa, Sparrow must embark on a perilous journey across the Dust Sea. With undead creatures, ancient magic, and a slow-burning romance to complicate her path, Sparrow struggles not only to survive—but to redefine her fate and possibly save the world from an age-old tyranny.
July 22
Alessa Li is forcibly enrolled at the elite Hellebore Technical Institute—a magical academy for some of the deadliest gifted: Anti‑Christs, Ragnaroks, world‑eaters, and apocalypse-makers. Promised redemption and a chance at a "normal" life upon graduation, she soon discovers the truth: on graduation day, the faculty violently turn on their students, feasting on them in a horrifying display of power. Trapped in the school's vast library with a small group of survivors, Alessa must navigate brutal survival dynamics—offering human sacrifices nightly to fend off their murderous teachers. With no escape in sight, only unity and cunning can keep them alive in this darkly twisted take on academic horror.
July 29
In a colonized land where tigers—and freedom—are nearly extinct, servant Lee Seung and noble Choi Eunji join forces to save the last magical tiger. Forced from allies to adversaries, their bond shifts as they clash loyalties and face a charming princeling. A friends-to-enemies-to-lovers fantasy about rebellion, magic, and reclaiming hope.
Seventeen-year-old Malik Baron returns to life at Caiman University, a magical HBCU, where he’s excited for homecoming—until revelations, family secrets, and his mysterious mother upend everything. As he explores his powers and binds with a secret society, Malik must find a way to protect his place in a world that’s just discovering him.
In a post-WWIII world, 18-year-olds undergo “kirling”—an exam unveiling past lives to determine status and future. Exceptional chess player Sivon shocks everyone with strange results, drawing scrutiny, threats, and a bodyguard she can't ignore. As murders occur and alliances shift, she must untangle who can be trusted before her future—and her heart—is destroyed.
At Blackwood Academy—a boarding school in purgatory—six top students compete in the brutal Decennial, where only one emerges alive. Rivalries blur into obsession, ambition clashes with loss, and forbidden romance blooms—all under a chilling dark academia backdrop where even death may not mean escape.
In a post-climate-catastrophe world where memories are extracted from blood and preserved in the Museum of Human Memory, Kiana Strade—known as Key—is a gifted "memory diver" who can delve deeper into these blood memories than anyone alive. Instead of leading the temple she's destined for, Key chooses to work as a researcher in the opulent city of Asheburg, seeking to avoid the public eye. Her bodyguard, Valerian IV, wields twin swords with lightning speed, protecting Key from rivals and her own impulsiveness. Valerian cares for Key as a friend—and perhaps more—but is primarily focused on supporting her family in the storm-torn south.
August 5
Mistress of Bones by Maria Z. Medina
In a world where gods once bound the continents with their bones to sustain humanity, Azul del Arroyo, a necromancer, seeks to reclaim her sister's bones from the capital to resurrect her. Opposing her is the Emissary of the Lord Death, determined to prevent her, no matter the cost. Their paths intertwine amidst a backdrop of political intrigue and divine machinations, leading to a high-stakes adventure that challenges their beliefs and desires.
August 26
Gabriela Luna Valdés, the youngest and most rebellious daughter of the Luna family, seeks freedom from societal expectations. Her journey takes her aboard a ship bound for Mexico, where she encounters Sebastian Brooks, the Duke of Whitfield. Amidst their shared voyage, a scandalous arrangement ensues, leading to a passionate connection that challenges their plans and perceptions of love.
Alice Law, a dedicated graduate student in the field of Magick, has sacrificed much to work with Professor Jacob Grimes at Cambridge. When Grimes dies in a magical accident, Alice discovers he's in Hell and decides to venture there to save him, accompanied by her rival, Peter Murdoch. Their journey through Hell, guided by ancient tales and their own ambitions, tests their limits and forces them to confront their pasts.
September 2
Lucy Smith, a resilient Ojibwe teen in the foster care system, reluctantly returns to her Native heritage when a caring caseworker and a fierce advocate reveal secrets about her birth family. As she confronts long-buried dangers and confronts hidden truths, Lucy must decide whether her future lies with the life she's crafted on the run—or within a community she never knew she had.
September 9
Freshman Mira Owens thought her college life would be normal—until she meets golden-eyed Julian and begins receiving cryptic letters from her mother. As strange animal attacks spike and legends of werewolves and vampires come to life, Mira is pulled into a deadly, supernatural conflict. With a Blood Moon rising, she must embrace her hidden family legacy to survive—and change the course of a magical war.
Set across two turbulent timelines, the novel begins in summer 1989, when 10‑year‑old Suzanne escapes into the electrifying world of her rocker father’s band, Gil & the Kills. As the group claws its way toward fame, internal rivalries erupt into a violent incident that changes everything. Fast‑forward twenty-nine years, and Suzanne is living a suburban, cookie‑cutter life—until her father’s sudden death prompts her to leave it all behind. Embarking on a cross‑country road trip with two free‑spirited strangers and her dad’s cherished car, she chases ghosts of the past, muscle‑memory of youth, and a chance at rediscovering who she truly is. But with her husband Rob in pursuit, what began as a journey to reclaim lost identity turns into a reckoning that could cost more than she ever bargained for.
Sadie is an ageless banshee, trained to predict death while keeping her emotions locked away—until Nathan, the hunter's son, arrives and changes everything. As she’s pulled deeper into human connection and remembered grief, Sadie struggles to reconcile her duty with her heart. Their burgeoning romance becomes a battlefield when the centuries-old feud between hunters and banshees ignites, forcing them to choose love or survival.
September 25
Life in the Iron Mountains is harsh and unforgiving. After the death of her beloved uncle, Yining has survived by becoming a skilled thief and an even better liar. When she acquires an enchanted ring that holds the key to a brighter future, it is stolen by her step‑aunt—and Yining must venture into the imperial heart of the kingdom to seize it back.This sweeping fantasy romance inspired by Cinderella and a Chinese fairy tale is the first in a breathtaking new series by the acclaimed author of Daughter of the Moon Goddess.
There's a lot of different options to choose from all summer long! Which ones are you excited for the most? Or have you read some of these? Let me know in the comments below!
Post a Comment