Summer is here, and whether you’re on break from school or planning a vacation from work, you probably have some more time to read. But jumping back into the reading grind is not always easy. Everyone goes through a slump — maybe it’s lasted a month, or perhaps your entire adult life. Nevertheless, here’s a hot take: everyone likes to read, and if you don’t, you’re not reading the right books. To give you that extra nudge of motivation, here are 12 books that will pull you out of that summer reading slump and have you flipping pages by the beach in no time.
Mystery/Thriller
Mystery and thrillers are great genres to haul you out of a slump. The combination of suspense and intrigue will make you unconsciously soar through novels. Rather than focusing on getting to the next chapter, you’ll be focused on uncovering the next secret.
- The Da Vinci Code was a 2003 bestselling novel for a reason. Dan Brown’s mystery thriller novel takes on commonly told stories like The Pentacle and Davinci’s The Last Supper and shocks you with unexpected twists. The narrator gallivants through France and discovers secrets in famous art that we have studied a million times before. It is extremely well-researched, and although it’s fictional, you can’t help but consider these plot points as viable truths. It has art, history, travel, and murder — you just can’t go wrong.
- If you enjoy a thrill, the next book is The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Swedish author Stieg Laarson. A journalist and a tattooed cyberpunk become allies to uncover Sweden’s darkest scandals and murders. Laarson has the ability to create truly memorable and complex characters. Though the novel is somewhat longer, the writing is simple and readable. The beginning sets up the mystery, and the plot evolves into an exciting, action-packed chase. You uncover secrets as the characters do. Even when you think you know what happened, Laarson holds you at arm’s length, keeping you on your toes throughout the novel.
These books reached such mainstream popularity that they were adapted into blockbuster films. After reading these two books, you’ll join the camp of people who love to claim the book was better.
Fantasy
Fantasy is one of the best forms of escapism. World-building takes you out of your own reality and into one with magic and supernatural creatures. This genre has been specifically trending on TikTok, with authors like Sarah J. Maas on the rise. They also take romantic tropes, such as enemies-to-lovers and “I hate everyone in the world but you,” to the next level.
3. Begin with A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. Even if you don’t think you enjoy fantasy, this series will shift your perspective. Once you fall in love with the first, you will have four more books to feed your obsession. The sequel A Court of Mist and Fury, in particular, has been a fan favorite. Although beginning one book this summer may sound intimidating, ACOTAR guarantees you finish the entire series.
4. Once you finish the series, the next series to delve into is Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros — the same romantic tropes, but now with academic drama, America Ninja Warrior-esque challenges, and flame-throwing dragons.
Memoir
Consider a biography if you are a documentary fan or want to know more about your favorite icon. Nonfiction has a reputation for being boring, but that could not be further from the truth. There is more to nonfiction than dangerously heavy books about the Revolutionary War.
5. Instead, read Patti Smith’s Just Kids — a memoir exposing her life and rise to fame. The late 60s/early 70s were wild, and many stories went untold in a time without media. Smith and her partner, artist Robert Mapplethorpe, camped in The Hotel Chelsea and joined a community of the famous and infamous. Through her humorously casual way of bringing up the biggest names in rock history, like Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin, you begin to see these names as real people instead of token pieces of culture.
6. For a more modern memoir, Dolly Alderton’s account of her life in Everything I Know About Love is simultaneously hilarious and moving. It’s an added bonus that all her stories are painfully honest and true, an experience similar to reading a wild friend’s diary. You will leave the book feeling better about either your past or current existential angst.
Dark Romance
For those of you experiencing an emo summer, embrace your melancholy and dive into Dark Romance’s moral gray areas.
7. If it has not reached you yet, Normal People by Sally Rooney will become your new obsession. Set in Ireland, the two main characters are complicated and relatable. It is a classic tale of romance and miscommunication. Both sides of the same story are told consecutively from high school until their adult lives. In 2020, the book was made into a TV adaptation, which effortlessly captures the writing style and mood of the novel. You may be apprehensive now, but your next Instagram follow will be @connelschain. Irish author Sally Rooney has several novels as well that nourish emo souls everywhere
8. Talking at Night by Claire Daverley is an underrated novel with a similar plot and morbid sense of romance that we all love. It’s a classic “will they/won’t they” that keeps you comfortably in between wanting to hug the book or throw it against the wall.
Classic Fiction
While many of the recommendations on this list are modern tales, there are certain classic novels that everyone should read.
9. The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo is a short, meaningful, and readable fable. It is a beautiful tale from the perspective of Santiago, a Spanish shepherd boy who leaves his home to discover a treasure in Egypt and find his purpose. Translated from Portuguese, the story presents mystical elements and timeless life lessons.
10. Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell is a piece of dystopian fiction that truly lives up to its household name. Orwell’s vision of a high-surveillance society is not a far cry from today’s reality. Read this novel from the 1940s, but consider what it informs us about today.
Contemporary Romance
Now for a summer reading classic — contemporary romance. These novels feel like watching a movie, though you may surprise yourself by preferring them over TV or films. Taylor Jenkins Reid is an author you may have heard of who is consistently good at creating fiction stories without overdoing the cheesiness factor.
11. Daisy Jones and the Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo are two novels that made headlines in the media. Daisy Jones and the Six has been described as Fleetwood Mac fanfiction for all music lovers. Meanwhile, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo takes on the realm of Hollywood and iconic bombshells with a twist. Reid tells stories in such a believable and detailed manner, and characters with so much depth that it’s easy to feel convinced they’re real people.
12. A lesser-known yet still wildly popular novel of hers is Malibu Rising. To match the theme of summer, the whole novel depicts one night as a group of characters party on the beach and face their inner demons.
If you are still feeling discouraged, take the pressure off yourself. Choose a book you want to read, not one you feel you should read. All it takes is the motivation to read one chapter — the next thing you know, you’ll have read every book on this list.
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