42 New Books We Can't Wait to Read this Summer

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What, exactly, makes a new summer book a good summer book? It helps if the book in question comes out during the summer, roughly in those amorphous weeks from May into late August; sometimes, it helps when the book’s about summer. The ideal “beach read” might be set on or around a beach, or at least in a vacation spot, or at least somewhere where the temperature doesn’t dip below 60 degrees.

But even that time-tested description doesn’t fit all great summer books. Not even most of them! A good summer book is any book that’s transportive, or immersive, or thought-provoking, that makes its own pages feel as enticing as a dip in the pool. In other words, a good summer book can, in theory, be any book—but not every book. Makes sense, right?

Below, we’ve done our best to sort through hundreds of upcoming titles in May through August. We’ve picked a wide range of new books, each poking the boundaries of the “beach read” category in its own, unique way. These celebrity memoirs and debut novels, essay collections and historical fiction, are designed to relax and thrill and challenge, gluing you to your Adirondack chair for as long as it takes for the sun to go down: Samantha Irby and Brandon Taylor are back with their highly-anticipated new releases—Quietly Hostile and The Late Americans, respectively. The Oscar-nominated actor Elliot Page shares his story in Pageboy. And award-winners Colson Whitehead and Elizabeth Acevedo release their new novels, Crook Manifesto and Family Lore, later this summer.

Regardless of which you choose to read, just know: It’s going to be a beautiful season for books.

Homebodies by Tembe Denton-Hurst

First up, we have New York Magazine writer Tembe Denton-Hurst’s debut novel Homebodies. The protagonist, a young Black writer named Mickey, returns to her hometown after being fired from her New York City media job. Things begin to take an interesting turn when she publicly calls out the racism that she experienced at her former workplace. —Juliana Ukiomogbe

Out on May 2.

Hula by Jasmin Iolani Hakes

Set in Hilo on the Big Island of Hawai'i, Jasmin Iolani Hakes’ debut is a proud, vibrant coming-of-age tale, in which a young woman competes to win the Miss Aloha Hula competition. But as she whittles this generations-old craft, so she gets a sharper, unflinching view into her own family history and the tensions eating at her island community. —Lauren Puckett-Pope

Out on May 2.

You Are Here by Karin Lin-Greenberg

Look at this gorgeous cover. If that doesn’t immediately entice you, perhaps the premise might: In a small town, a popular shopping mall—once home to bustling businesses—is scheduled to be shut down. You Are Here brings together a diverse group of friends and strangers as they reckon with their ever-changing environment. —JU

Out on May 2.

August Blue by Deborah Levy

A new Deborah Levy novel is cause for celebration. August Blue takes place in picturesque Athens, Greece, and follows a pianist named Elsa as she travels around Europe in search of herself. —

JU

Out on May 4.

Oh My Mother! by Connie Wang

In Chinese, the expression oh my god is translated to wo de ma ya, which literally means, oh my mother. In this part-memoir, part-essay collection, the journalist Connie Wang immortalizes the life of her mother as she reminisces on their favorite moments together. Think: taking edibles in Amsterdam and seeing a Magic Mike strip show in Las Vegas. —JU

Out on May 9.

A Life of One's Own by Joanna Biggs

In A Life of One’s Own, author Joanna Biggs, a recent divorcée, clings to the lives of her favorite writers as she navigates her newly single life. Toni Morrison, Zora Neale Hurston, and Elena Ferrante are just a few of the women that she turns to for solace and inspiration. —JU

Out on May 11.

Quietly Hostile by Samantha Irby

The bestselling author of We Are Never Meeting in Real Life and Wow, No Thank You. is back with her new essay collection, Quietly Hostile. Jia Tolentino said that it’s a “stay-up-all-night, miss-your-subway-stop, spit-out-your-beverage out” type of funny. Consider that sentiment co-signed. —JU

Out on May 16.

The Three of Us by Ore Agbaje-Williams

What’s more dramatic than the weird tension—cough, hatred—between a husband, his wife, and her best friend? Told over the course of one day, The Three of Us is split into three parts—signifying each main character—and investigates the inherent drama of their domestic life. —JU

Out on May 16.

Dances by Nicole Cuffy

In her debut novel, Nicole Cuffy follows a 22-year-old ballerina named Cece. When she’s promoted to principal at the New York City Ballet, she becomes the first Black ballerina in the company’s history. As her new celebrity status sends her into a frenzy of imposter syndrome, she also attempts to reclaim the parts of herself that she’s desperately tried to leave behind. —JU

Out on May 16.

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

Known for her brilliant, artfully constructed works of fantasy including Babel and The Poppy War, R.F. Kuang is turning her attentions closer to home in this summer novel. Yellowface follows authors June Hayward and Athena Liu. One is white, the other is Asian; one’s drowning in obscurity, and the other’s writing hits. When Athena dies unexpectedly, June snaps up her peer’s manuscript to pass off as her own, even adopting an ethnically (and, uh, ethically) ambiguous pen name. Drama ensues. —LPP

Out on May 16.

A Renaissance of Our Own by Rachel E. Cargle

In her memoir and manifesto, Rachel E. Cargle charts her transformation from a small-town Christian wife to a well-known queer feminist activist. If you’re unfamiliar with her work, her Instagram account—followed by 1.6M and counting—is a good place to start while you wait for the May release. —JU

Out on May 16.

The Late Americans by Brandon Taylor

A story about lovers and friends will always be on our TBR list. In Iowa City, a group of loosely connected artists and blue-collar workers—including Seamus, Ivan, Fatima, and Noah—weave through one another’s familiar haunts. The core foursome eventually embark on a cabin trip to officially say goodbye to their former lives as they now try to find themselves in a new world. If you love novels about chosen families, you’ll really enjoy this one. —JU

Out on May 23.

The Art of Ruth E. Carter by Ruth E. Carter

As the only Black woman who’s won two Academy Awards, Ruth E. Carter certainly has a story to tell. In this new deluxe art book, the award-winning costume designer shares her sketches, mood boards, and various memories of dressing some of the most iconic actors of all time, including Chadwick Boseman, Angela Bassett, Halle Berry, and Eddie Murphy. —JU

Out on May 23.

Sing Her Down by Ivy Pochoda

A haunting noir thriller stretching from Arizona up to the California coast, Sing Her Down follows prison cellmates Florida and Dios, and the dark truths Dios hopes to draw from her new friend. When both women are released, Dios chases Florida to Los Angeles in this hot, propulsive new book from the author of These Women. —LPP

Out on May 23.

Bad Summer People by Emma Rosenblum

Two couples and their mutual friend plan to spend a relaxing summer on Fire Island, until a body is discovered face down on the boardwalk. Come for the twisted murder mystery and stay for the guaranteed drama amongst the group. —JU

Out on May 23.

Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea by Rita Chang-Eppig

An refreshingly vivid adventure tale, perfect for long days by the ocean’s edge, Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea follows Chinese pirate queen Shek Yeung as she builds her empire on the water following the death of her husband. As her new family—and her own name—become increasingly notorious on land and sea, Shek Yeung must carefully weigh her roles as leader, mother, and legend. —LPP

Out on May 30.

Pageboy by Elliot Page

Celebrity memoirs are inescapable these days, but this is one likely to live up to the hype. In Pageboy, Elliot Page finally shares his truth as he interrogates Hollywood, love, and queerness. —JU

Out on June 6.

All the Gold Stars: Reimagining Ambition and the Ways We Strive by Rainesford Stauffer

A clever, informative, even—dare I say—life-altering twist amongst the ever-growing pile of self-help books, All the Gold Stars is journalist Rainesford Stauffer’s guide (and plea) to help us come to terms with reality: Work will not love us back. Ambition is a, not the, motivator. And “success” will never be enough. Perhaps we know these things intuitively, but Stauffer’s well-articulated anecdotes and arguments pave the path for real, lasting recognition of their truth. —LPP

Out on June 6.

The Whispers by Ashley Audrain

The author of The Push returns this summer with The Whispers, a twisted family tale that begins on one fateful late-summer evening. At a catered barbecue of polished suburbanites, a woman screams at her disobedient child; soon after, that child takes a supposedly accidental tumble through a window. What exactly happened that night, and who is really at fault? —LPP

Out on June 6.

Open Throat by Henry Hoke

The premise alone makes Henry Hoke’s startling achievement worth the purchase: A queer mountain lion makes their home in the Hollywood hills, where they protect a nearby homeless encampment until a wildfire pushes them into the streets of Los Angeles. Philosophical and heartfelt, Open Throat is the ultimate immersion into the mind of an unlikely protagonist. —LPP

Out on June 6.

Nightbloom by Peace Adzo Medie

Taking place in Ghana and the United States (and, necessarily, in between), Nightbloom chronicles the love and tension between best friends and cousins Selasi and Akorfa. When the former grows suddenly, inexplicably distant and the latter moves to Pittsburgh to become a doctor, their relationship is cut off at the root. It’s only when secrets are examined under the light that the two are finally able to meet—and to see each other clearly—once again. —LPP

Out on June 13.

Wannabe: Reckonings with the Pop Culture That Shapes Me by Aisha Harris

As NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour cohost, Aisha Harris knows a thing or two about, well, pop culture. These essays offer insight into the “Black Friend” trope, the film Clueless, and the artist Chance The Rapper. Come for the hot takes but stay for the thoughtful analysis that will stick with you long after the last word. —JU

Out on June 13.

Loot by Tania James

Beyond its electrifying cover, Tania James’ Loot offers numerous delights: a thoroughly absorbing historical tale set in the 18th century; an ambitious love story spanning multiple countries, including India, England and France; and a curious cast of characters, anchored by a protagonist reckoning with how his astounding artistic feat fits amongst the cruel reality of colonialism. —LPP

Out on June 13.

The Mythmakers by Keziah Weir

Take a trip to the upstate New York home of a mysterious writer in Vanity Fair editor Keziah Weir’s The Mythmakers, in which a languishing journalist reads the aforementioned writer’s short story and realizes...it’s about her? —LPP

Out on June 13.

I Am Homeless If This Is Not My Home by Lorrie Moore

Lorrie Moore is officially back with her first novel since 2009’s A Gate at the Stairs. I Am Homeless If This Is Not My Home is a haunting ghost story about siblings, lovers, and the past that inevitably makes its way into our present. —JU

Out on June 20.

The Glow by Jessie Gaynor

A satire both cutting and careful in its approach, The Glow is a triumph from Literary Hub senior editor Jessie Gaynor. The story follows twenty-something publicist Jane and her last-ditch effort to transform a Gwyneth-before-Goop wellness retreat owner named Cass into a bona fide brand. But money, influence and perfect skin do not always make for good chemistry. —LPP

Out on June 20.

The Spare Room by Andrea Bartz

For those of you in need of a good domestic thriller to keep your eyes open while you sun-tan: Andrea Bartz has returned to deliver. This suspense story set in a Virginia mansion features some eyebrow-raising twists, especially when protagonist Kelly finds herself charmed by her hosts—and welcomed into their bed. —LPP

Out on June 20.

Banyan Moon by Thao Thai

A stunning debut by author Thao Thai, Banyan Moon follows three generations of Vietnamese American women as they recover from the death of their beloved family matriarch. In true family saga fashion, secrets, lies, and revelations are slowly revealed. —JU

Out on June 27.

The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue

A compelling, complicated love story for fans of Sally Rooney—and not just because it’s set in Ireland!—The Rachel Incident follows roommates Rachel and James, and the English professor Rachel falls in love with. She hopes to seduce him; James, it turns out, has other plans. —LPP

Out on June 27.

White House by the Sea: A Century of the Kennedys at Hyannis Port by Kate Storey

Journalist Kate Storey turns her sights to Cape Cod in this revealing portrait of the Kennedy family’s iconic Hyannis Port home, and the stories its walls have contained over the decades. Constructed from more than a hundred intimate interviews and dozens of photos, White House by the Sea is a thorough, absorbing volume of love, fame and that most complicated of American families. —LPP

Out on June 27.

The Apartment by Ana Menéndez

Ana Menéndez’s latest novel is, ostensibly, about a single art deco building—and one singular unit within that building—in South Miami Beach, named The Helena. In reality, it’s about the community that flows in and out of that building, and how their accumulated fears and desires collect at the feet of the new resident, Lana. —LPP

Out on June 27.

The Vegan by Andrew Lipstein

Hedge fund manager Herschel Caine is a good guy. Really. In Andrew Lipstein’s inventive new novel The Vegan, Herschel is also the host of an exquisite dinner party...one that goes wrong enough to trip his guilt wires. Desperate to cling to his perceived ideas of goodness, Herschel confides in the neighborhood dog, who just might be capable of teaching him something. —LPP

Out on July 11.

Nothing Special by Nicole Flattery

In 1966, a teenager on the cusp of adulthood drops out of high school and earns an extraordinary offer: the chance to work at Andy Warhol's infamous Factory as the artist’s resident typist. Her job is to cobble together Warhol’s book, a story composed from tape recordings of his many notorious friends. The resulting romp is a grand trip through 1960s Manhattan, as well as an intriguing dissection of art and appropriation. —LPP

Out on July 11.

Tropicália by Harold Rogers

The moment you’ve been waiting for: a beach read set, partially, on a beach. But Tropicália is about so much more than its setting, which includes Sao Paulo and the shores of Copacabana Beach. It’s about the Cunha family, plagued by generations of misfortune and regret, and the momentous New Year’s reckoning they share as tensions flare in both their relationships and their home. —LPP

Out on July 18.

Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Spooky season has come early. For fans of Mexican Gothic author Silvia Moreno-Garcia, the author’s upcoming book Silver Nitrate is a must-read. It's got all of the key ingredients of a great horror book: ghosts, a cult leader, and unrequited love. —JU

Out on July 18.

The Stolen Coast by Dwyer Murphy

A delicious heist story set on the Massachusetts coast, Dwyer Murphy’s latest plants lawyer Jack at its center. Jack is more than his education might reveal: He’s a fixer, capable of helping the right clients reinvent themselves as they escape well-connected enemies. But his one-time lover Elena has her own plans for Jack, and they involve diamonds. Lots and lots of diamonds. —LPP

Out July 18.

Crook Manifesto by Colson Whitehead

Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Colson Whitehead will publish his new novel, Crook Manifesto, this summer. Set in 1970s Harlem, Whitehead reprises characters from his 2021 novel Harlem Shuffle as he examines a dynamic city and the colorful characters in it. —JU

Out on July 18.

Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson

Set in England and Ghana across three summers, Small Worlds follows Stephen as he defies his family’s expectations and sets his sights on a career as a musician. (I also highly recommend Nelson’s 2021 book Open Water for his breathtaking prose.) —JU

Out on July 18.

Sugar, Baby by Celine Saintclare

What’s more appropriate for summer than a story about sugar babies? When 21-year-old Agnes meets Emily, she’s quickly introduced to a life of weekend getaways, rich older men, and a lifestyle that she may not be cut out for. —JU

Out on July 27.

bell hooks: The Last Interview: and Other Conversations (The Last Interview Series)

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

One of our greatest living chroniclers of love and marriage—and its resounding impacts over generations—Ann Patchett is back this summer with Tom Lake, the tale of three daughters and their mother’s one-time romance with a famous actor. Expect wonder; Patchett always delivers. —LPP

Out on August 1.

Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo

Family history is always best when it’s told through the eyes of a woman. In Family Lore, Elizabeth Acevedo does exactly that—tracing multiple generations of women in one Dominican family as they uncover what truly binds them all together. —JU

Out on August 1.

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