Books I’ve Read This Summer

I’m sharing all of the books I’ve read this summer so far! I’ve read a little bit of everything, from beachy reads and romance to thrillers and yes, Harry Potter. Read on to see what I thought of them and what you might want to add to your list!

This year has truly been the year of reading for me. After many years of just not reading at all, 2023 brought a renewed love of reading. Last year, I read 20 books and so this year, my goal was 25 books. Well, I’ve already far surpassed that with a whopping 32 books, and it’s only August!

How did I do this? I made a conscious effort over the last 18 months to make reading a habit. I carry my Kindle all over the house with me, along with my phone. When I have some downtime, I allow myself a few minutes of scrolling instagram, and then I force myself to pick up my Kindle and read some pages. Over time, it has just become what I do, and I love it. I’ve read so many good books this year, and so it’s been relatively easy to put my phone down and spend time reading. I share a lot of books on instagram, but I thought it would be nice to keep my recs on the blog for easy reference. Here’s the list of books I’ve read this summer, in no particular order!

The Five Star Weekend, Elin Hildebrand. I finally, FINALLY got a library card! And while I prefer reading on my Kindle for convenience and ease, I felt I had to check out a book on the day I got my card. I absolutely loved this book. It follows Hollis Shaw, who, when the unthinkable happens and she loses her husband unexpectedly, decides to host 5 women who’ve made an impact on her at different times in her life for a true Five Star Weekend. Drama unfolds, friendships are tested and revelations are made. It was just so good and had me dreaming of hosting my own Five Star Weekend someday!

Mrs. Nash’s Ashes, Sarah Adler. I recently finished this one and blew right through it. It follows the story of Millie, a young woman who is determined to bring the ashes of her late neighbor and best friend to Key West to be reunited with the love of her life. This book was so much deeper than I ever expected. Highly recommend.

Beach Read, Emily Henry. I really went on an Emily Henry tear this spring and summer and I believe I read most if not all of her books. Beach Read was one of my favorites. January and Gus are writers, but they couldn’t be more different in their styles. When they end up living next door to each other one summer, they learn a lot about each other, themselves and love.

People We Meet on Vacation, Emily Henry. While I’ll say that I’ve enjoyed all of Emily Henry’s books, this one fell into the category of not one of my favorites. It’s a totally fine, easy read, but I didn’t feel as connected to the characters or the story. If you’re reading through all of her books, don’t skip it. But don’t start with it, either.

Book Lovers, Emily Henry. Book Lovers is tied with Beach Read for my favorite EH book. When rival book editors end up summering in the same small town, it’s clear their lives will never be the same. Read this. Immediately.

The Friend Zone, Abby Jimenez. I absolutely fell in love with Abby Jimenez’s Part of Your World series (if you haven’t ready those, please drop everything and do so asap). I enjoyed The Friend Zone series, though I thought it was a slightly different writing style as this series was written first. Still very enjoyable! When Kristen meets Josh while helping to plan her best friend’s wedding, she knows it will never work out between them. But as they become ‘just friends’ it’s obvious that they were meant for more. Read this book first in the Friend Zone series!

The Happily Ever After Playlist, Abby Jimenez. Gahhh I loved this book so much. Jimenez has noted that this was the first book she ever wrote, and had to back into The Friend Zone after writing this one, which I can see after reading it. Sloan and Jason meet under funny circumstances and must navigate the trials and tribulations of fame and heartbreak.

Life’s too Short, Abby Jimenez. The third book in The Friend Zone series. This was a perfectly solid read, but probably my least favorite in the series. Vanessa is convinced she is destined to die young, but when she meets Adrian, she can finally imagine living a long life.

None of This is True, Lisa Jewell. Oh my, Lisa Jewell just knows how to grip her readers. I polished this off in less than 48 hours, shirking my home responsibilities, staying up late and getting up early to tear through this thriller. It gave me all of the icks, but I loved the journey. I also loved her book, Then She Was Gone.

Wild Love, Elsie Silver. This year I’ve really leaned into romance books, and read both of Elsie Silver’s earlier series, Chestnut Springs and Gold Rush Ranch. I highly recommend those, btw. Wild Love is the first in her new Rose Hill Series and I loved it just as much as the others. If you’re looking for a spicy read with Hallmark vibes, this is it.

Love Redesigned, Lauren Asher. This is the first book in the Lakefront Billionaires series. I just started it, so I’ll keep you posted!

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Yes, I have read the entire series, but I’m reading it again with my kids and of course, it is so fun this time around. I can’t wait to get through this one and onto The Prisoner of Azkaban, which is my favorite of the series.