BookTok has spoken, loud and clear, delivering its ultimate summer reading list for 2025. Whether you’re lounging poolside with a strawberry spritz in hand or hiding from the merciless sun in front of a fan, these ten titles have captured the collective heart of TikTok readers worldwide.
Prepare yourself for slow-burn romances, enemies-to-lovers drama, second chances, sun-drenched landscapes, and yes, feelings so big they almost require their own hashtag.
If you’ve been scrolling through #BookTok, #SummerReads, or #TikTokMadeMeReadIt, you’ve probably seen these titles popping up more often than sunscreen reminders. Here’s your definitive guide to what everyone’s buzzing about and why these books deserve a prime spot in your beach bag this summer.
1. Happy Place by Emily Henry
No summer reading list is complete without an Emily Henry novel, and Happy Place is easily her most emotionally charged yet. Set in a picture-perfect Maine beach house, it follows ex-fiancés Harriet and Wyn as they pretend to still be a couple during their friends’ annual getaway. Spoiler alert: secrets and emotional landmines are lurking under that fake smile.
BookTok readers have been obsessively unpacking the layers of this “fake dating your ex” trope, finding Henry’s trademark banter mixed with heartbreak especially potent here. This is not your average rom-com: it’s a tender meditation on friendship, growth, and whether love deserves a second act. Pack tissues, sunscreen, and maybe even a cheeky text to your ex, just for fun.
Why we recommend it: This one’s for anyone who loves sharp dialogue wrapped in messy emotions. Happy Place stands out because it’s honest without being heavy, heartwarming without being saccharine. If you’re a fan of romance that makes you laugh and ache in equal measure, this is your summer bae.
2. People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
Yes, another Emily Henry gem sneaked into this list, and frankly, BookTok couldn’t be happier about it. People We Meet on Vacation takes you through a decade of summer trips with best friends Poppy and Alex, whose slow-burning tension finally boils over after a fallout nobody saw coming.
This opposites-attract, friends-to-lovers story has everything BookTok hearts crave: vulnerability, longing, and that painfully satisfying slow build. Expect plenty of annotated copies and an endless stream of “Alex is the standard now” videos. It’s like summer nostalgia wrapped in pages.
Why we recommend it: Ideal for readers who love stories about friendship teetering on the edge of something more. The emotional depth combined with Henry’s witty prose makes this a perfect read if you crave slow romance and big feelings, served with a side of sun-soaked memories.
3. Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
Childhood sweethearts, a lakeside retreat, and one summer that changes everything, sounds like a trope cocktail, right? But TikTokers swear Every Summer After nails it. Sam and Persephone’s love story unfolds over six summers spent at their family cottages, until life pulls them apart.
With its then-and-now storytelling, the novel dives deep into forgiveness, growing up, and whether the past is ever really behind us. TikTok fans praise its emotional resonance and how Fortune transforms a familiar setting into a full sensory experience. Perfect if you believe some stories just pause, they never really end.
Why we recommend it: This book’s emotional honesty and vivid setting make it a must-read for anyone who adores bittersweet love stories. If you like your romances wrapped in nostalgia and a touch of melancholy, Every Summer After will stay with you long after the last page.
RelatedDeception On The Beach: Review of The Ends of Things by Sandra Chwialkowska
4. The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
Want pure chaos wrapped in tropical sunshine? The Unhoneymooners is your ticket. When a food poisoning incident sidelines their entire wedding party, Olive and Ethan, sworn enemies, find themselves on a free Hawaiian vacation pretending to be newlyweds. What could possibly go wrong?
TikTok can’t get enough of the sharp dialogue, sizzling tension, and Christina Lauren’s knack for turning absurd setups into romantic gold. It’s lighthearted escapism with just enough heart to keep you hooked, and enough sass to make you grin.
Why we recommend it: For fans of enemies-to-lovers and the kind of chemistry that practically leaps off the page. If you want a feel-good, hilarious read with tropical vibes, this one’s your summer fling.
Enjoying this article?
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter5. Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez
Abby Jimenez delivers a sneaky emotional knockout with Just for the Summer. What starts as a light-hearted pact between two unlucky-in-love serial daters quickly turns into something unexpectedly profound. Justin and Emma’s summer romance dives headfirst into family dynamics, trauma, and breaking free from the past.
BookTok adores its mix of laugh-out-loud moments and gut-wrenching vulnerability, calling it a “Trojan horse of feels”. This book isn’t just a romance; it’s a quiet exploration of healing wrapped in humor and heart.
Why we recommend it: If you want your summer read to have layers, lots of laughter, but also emotional depth, this book is a winner. Perfect for fans who appreciate romance with a meaningful bite.
6. One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune
Quietly blooming on BookTok like a wildflower no one planted but everyone needed, One Golden Summer is a sunlit tale of second chances, memory, and resilience.
After a heartbreak and a fading career, Alice returns to her grandmother Nan’s lakeside home, where old wounds and a man named Charlie resurface. Joined by Nan and her outspoken sister Heather, Alice digs into the mystery of a long-lost summer romance.
The three women, across generations, uncover buried truths and help Alice rebuild from the inside out. A gentle, emotionally rich read that BookTok can’t stop raving about.
This one’s for readers who want emotional warmth with a nostalgic twist, like sipping iced tea on a porch while eavesdropping on your grandmother’s juiciest stories. Fortune’s prose is intimate, introspective, and quietly powerful. BookTok calls it “the coziest emotional rollercoaster of the season”.
Why we recommend it: If you’re drawn to multigenerational stories, small-town secrets, and women rebuilding themselves with a little help from the past, this book delivers it all: heart, hope, and a touch of golden-hour magic.
7. One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle
Grief, magical realism, and a sun-drenched Amalfi Coast? TikTok was sold. In One Italian Summer, Katy travels to Italy after her mother’s death and encounters her mother as a young woman. It’s a story about loss, identity, and the complexities of mother-daughter relationships, wrapped in a dreamlike glow.
The premise might sound whimsical, but the emotional punches land hard. Readers rave about Serle’s lush sensory details and introspective tone, making it feel like a tearful sunset you can carry in your pocket.
Why we recommend it: If you love your summer reads to be poetic and a little magical, this one is for you. Perfect for fans of literary fiction with emotional depth and a sprinkle of bittersweet hope.
RelatedThese New Romantasy Books Are Heating Up July And BookTok Is Obsessed
8. Speechless by Lindsey Lanza
Fresh off its viral moment, Speechless pairs a high-profile actor who loses his ability to speak with a shy speech pathologist tasked with helping him find his voice again. It’s contemporary romance with undeniable chemistry, TikTok-worthy banter, and surprisingly rich emotional layers.
Readers call it “The Idea of You meets The Hating Game, but make it therapeutic”. Expect steamy scenes, heartfelt healing, and classic tropes polished to a shine.
Why we recommend it: This book’s for those who love their romance with emotional healing and sharp wit. If you want a story that balances heat and heart with an unlikely pairing, Speechless will charm you.
9. The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren
The queens of BookTok strike again with The Paradise Problem, a marriage-of-convenience story with a delicious twist. Anna and Liam’s fake marriage to access a trust fund quickly spins into something very real, complete with witty sabotage and messy family drama.
It’s the kind of light, breezy read that’s perfect for a lazy afternoon, but with enough emotional punch to linger long after you close the book. TikTokers can’t get enough of the heat and heart.
Why we recommend it: Fans of forced proximity and romantic complications, this one’s for you. If you want a quick, satisfying romance with sharp dialogue and just the right amount of drama, this hits the spot.
RelatedSaucy, Spicy, Sold-Out: Inside London’s Romance Bookshop Everyone’s Raving About
10. Seven Summers by Paige Toon
Paige Toon’s Seven Summers is a nostalgic rollercoaster of missed chances and slow-burning romance. Childhood sweethearts Liv and Finn reconnect over years of summers filled with longing, regret, and “what ifs”. It’s subtle, immersive, and full of that ache that only decades-spanning love stories can deliver.
BookTok compares it to Love, Rosie meets Normal People, but sunnier and with a dash of British charm. It’s perfect if you love yearning that sticks with you long after the last page.
Why we recommend it: For readers who savor slow burns and emotional depth, this is a must. If you love layered, bittersweet romances with a nostalgic feel, Seven Summers will stay in your heart all summer.
Once again, TikTok proves it knows exactly how to curate the perfect summer reading list. From Mediterranean escapes to enemies-to-lovers battles, from deep emotional healing to witty banter, these ten books are dominating feeds for a reason. Each one brings a unique flavor to the table, joy, sorrow, laughter, reflection, and all the messy human moments in between.
So, whether you’re packing for a vacation or just craving an emotional escape between iced lattes, trust the algorithm. Trust the hashtags. These stories are absolutely worth the hype, and your beach bag will thank you.
