Whether you’re lounging by the sea, holed up in an air-conditioned café, or simply chasing a good story during longer daylight hours, summer is the perfect time to sink into a gripping book. And who better to help curate your next page-turner than Goodreads readers themselves?
We’ve combed through the platform’s most anticipated summer titles and handpicked ten reads that span fantasy, romance, sci-fi, mystery, and, of course, breezy beach picks. With high ratings and irresistible premises, these books are more than just covers to admire poolside; they’re stories you’ll actually want to finish before your iced coffee melts.
From dragon-tinged fantasy to complicated summer flings, here’s your ultimate summer 2025 reading guide.
Fantasy Books
Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher
T. Kingfisher returns with her signature blend of dark whimsy and sharp character work in Hemlock & Silver, a fantasy novel that manages to feel both intimate and expansive.
Set in a world where witchcraft and bureaucracy collide, the story follows a reluctant heroine tasked with navigating a cursed forest, a cantankerous beast, and her own tangled past. The magic system is as meticulous as it is mysterious, but it’s the character dynamics, full of dry humor and unexpected tenderness, that truly elevate this book beyond typical fantasy fare.
Fans of The Witch’s Heart or Uprooted will feel right at home here, but Kingfisher’s voice remains unmistakably her own. The prose is both earthy and poetic, grounding the fantasy elements in emotional realism. With a Goodreads rating already above 4.25, Hemlock & Silver is poised to become one of this summer’s most beloved genre reads, and deservedly so.
Why we recommend it: This is for readers who want their fantasy brewed with equal parts folklore, feminist rage, and a sly wink at the absurd. If you loved The Witch’s Heart but wished it had more talking wolves and sarcasm, welcome home.
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House of the Beast by Michelle Wong
Michelle Wong’s House of the Beast is a lush, slow-burning fantasy that reads like a gothic fever dream, equal parts eerie and elegant. When a grieving scholar inherits a crumbling estate with a monstrous secret, she’s thrust into a mystery that blurs the line between myth and memory. Wong’s writing is immersive, drenched in atmosphere, and steeped in folklore, with influences ranging from Asian mythologies to classic gothic horror.
At its heart, though, House of the Beast is a story about legacy, trauma, and the limits of rationality when faced with the inexplicable. There’s a creeping dread that builds with each page, but it’s the emotional resonance, the ache of loss, the longing for connection, that lingers longest. It’s a book to be read slowly, preferably by candlelight, and one that leaves its claw marks long after the final page.
Why we recommend it: Deliciously dark with a twist of velvet, this is perfect for romantics with a taste for sharp claws and beautiful monsters. Think Beauty and the Beast, if Beauty had a sword and the Beast had better emotional intelligence.
Romance Books
Love Arranged by Lauren Asher
Lauren Asher shakes up the summer romance shelf with Love Arranged, a contemporary romance that dives headfirst into family expectations, cultural identity, and what it really means to choose love. Centered on a fake engagement between two successful professionals trying to appease meddling families, the novel sparkles with slow-burn chemistry and plenty of heart.
But Asher doesn’t just serve up tropes: she reclaims them. The story delves into cultural nuance and emotional growth without ever losing its charm. There’s real tension here, both romantic and personal, and the characters feel like people you might actually know. If you’re tired of rom-coms that stop at the surface, Love Arranged delivers something deeper while still hitting every satisfying beat.
Why we recommend it: This is a warm hug of a book, if your hugs came with sparkly banter, slow-burn tension, and a very meddling grandmother. Recommended for romance lovers who want spice and substance, plus a passport to swoon.
Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston
Set in a sleepy coastal town buzzing with summer tourists and buried secrets, Sounds Like Love is a sweet, music-infused romance that reads like your favorite acoustic ballad. When a washed-up musician returns to her hometown and unexpectedly becomes the mentor to the town’s rising star, who also happens to be her ex’s little brother, sparks fly in all the most surprising ways.
Ashley Poston beautifully captures the awkwardness of second chances and the thrill of creative rediscovery with warmth and wit. It’s a story about rewriting your own melody when life hits a sour note, packed with enough longing and lyrical tenderness to make your heart skip a beat. Grab your headphones, your sunhat, and this book; it’s the perfect companion to a slow, golden summer afternoon.
Why we recommend it: Ashley Poston serves up a delightful mix of heart, humor, and indie music vibes that linger long after the last page. If you’re into quirky characters and love stories that sing in unexpected ways, this one’s your next playlist must-have.
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It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan
Annabel Monaghan proves once again that she’s the queen of clever, heartfelt beach reads with It’s a Love Story. The plot centers around a romance novelist who unexpectedly falls for her grumpy editor, a twist of irony she can’t ignore. Set between book signings and weekend getaways, this one’s as meta as it is magnetic.
What makes this book stand out isn’t just the romance (though that’s top-tier), but Monaghan’s knack for blending introspection with laugh-out-loud banter. This isn’t just a breezy read: it’s a book about books, about the stories we tell ourselves and the people who rewrite them. Add in witty dialogue and well-earned emotional payoff, and you’ve got a novel that’s destined to become a beach bag staple.
Why we recommend it: Monaghan delivers what she always does: a charming lead, excellent dad jokes, and just enough heartache to remind you you’re alive. Beach readers, emotional girlies, and rom-com aficionados, this one’s yours.
Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood
Ali Hazelwood returns to her academic rom-com roots with Problematic Summer Romance, a novel that pairs a sizzling summer fling with biting social commentary. When two rival grad students find themselves stuck on the same archaeological dig (in Tuscany, no less), sparks fly, and not just from the Mediterranean heat.
Hazelwood’s sharp humor and deep understanding of nerdy passion are on full display here. The romantic tension is delicious, the academic drama is delightfully absurd, and the dialogue crackles with energy. But what elevates the book is its willingness to explore the messiness of real attraction and professional ambition. It’s fun, it’s smart, and yes, it’s a little bit problematic in the best way.
Why we recommend it: Hazelwood’s brainy girls and reluctant crushes strike again, but this time with even more sunburn and secrets. If you enjoy awkward science metaphors and chaotic kissing, you’ll devour this with sandy fingers.
Sci-Fi
Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove
Part cyberpunk thriller, part existential meditation, Barbara Truelove’s Of Monsters and Mainframes explores what it means to be human in a world dominated by machines and memory manipulation. The story follows a disgraced tech ethicist trying to stop an AI system she helped create, one that may or may not be developing a consciousness of its own.
This is the kind of sci-fi that doesn’t just throw you into the future; it makes you question your own present. Truelove writes with philosophical heft but never forgets the value of pacing, suspense, and flawed, fascinating characters. For readers who like their tech speculative and their stakes deeply personal, this is a summer read that will spark conversation long after it’s over.
Why we recommend it: Smart, strange, and a little unhinged: this is sci-fi for readers who like their dystopias with teeth and their heroines armed with code and trauma. Ideal for fans of Murderbot and Severance (yes, the show).
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These Memories Do Not Belong to Us by Yiming Ma
Yiming Ma’s These Memories Do Not Belong to Us is a haunting, elegant novel that combines memory hacking, family secrets, and quiet grief into a sci-fi story that feels remarkably grounded. When a young woman begins to experience memories that aren’t hers, she uncovers a corporate conspiracy that reaches deep into her family’s past and future.
Ma’s prose is lyrical without being flowery, and the emotional arc of the book is as strong as its conceptual hook. This isn’t just speculative fiction: it’s speculative intimacy, filled with quiet heartbreaks and moral ambiguity. If you liked Never Let Me Go or The Memory Police, this book should go to the top of your summer list.
Why we recommend it: This is sci-fi at its most intimate: aching, lyrical, and just a touch surreal. Perfect for readers who like their speculative fiction existential and gorgeous, as if Kazuo Ishiguro wrote Black Mirror.
Mystery Books
Too Old for This by Samantha Downing
Samantha Downing is back with another thriller you’ll want to devour in one sitting, and Too Old for This might be her most entertaining yet. This time, the unlikely sleuth is a retired teacher who finds herself solving a murder at her upscale retirement community. What starts off as nosy neighbor behavior quickly escalates into a full-blown investigation, complete with secrets, sabotage, and surprisingly sharp seniors.
Downing delivers her signature mix of dry humor and tense plotting, but it’s the protagonist, a delightfully cranky woman with a wicked sense of justice, who steals the show. Equal parts cozy mystery and psychological suspense, this is the perfect read for fans of Only Murders in the Building or anyone who likes their crime fiction with a side of sass.
Why we recommend it: If you’ve ever wanted your true crime podcasts with a side of snark and a sprinkle of chaos, this is your summer thrill. Ideal for murder mystery fans who think Miss Marple could’ve used more profanity.
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Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson
Holly Jackson, bestselling author of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, delivers another page-turner with Not Quite Dead Yet, a twisty tale that’s equal parts whodunit and survival thriller. When a teenage girl wakes up in a morgue with no memory of how she got there, and very much alive, she must retrace her steps to find out who tried to kill her and why.
Jackson’s writing is taut, compulsively readable, and emotionally sharp. This isn’t just a mystery: it’s a story about resilience, fractured identities, and the search for truth in a world that too easily writes young women off. You won’t be able to put it down, and when you do, you’ll be itching to talk about it.
Why we recommend it: Jackson’s gift for twisty, pulse-skipping plots is alive and well (even if her characters aren’t). For fans of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder who love a comeback story, especially the kind that involves a body count.
Summer reading doesn’t have to mean mindless. The titles on this list promise sun-drenched settings, high emotional stakes, and writing that refuses to underestimate its reader. Whether you’re after fantastical beasts, tangled romances, futuristic thrills, or mysteries with bite, the books Goodreads users are buzzing about for summer 2025 deliver the goods.
So grab your sunscreen, charge your e-reader, and make room in your beach bag; this summer’s stories are waiting to be devoured.
