It’s summertime! You know what that means: our brains immediately switch to vacation mode. Summer vacation looks a little different for all of us. For the kiddos and teens, it’s a period to unwind from the deadlines and busy times of school. For a lot of us adults, there’s still that work grind involved, but during this season we can find ourselves being blissfully whisked away to a relaxing getaway full of dopamine-inducing experiences. Or at least, that’s the goal! Whether that dream destination is sipping on a cocktail in the tropics or migrating to a cooler climate to shred the snowy mountain slopes, a likely part of your itinerary is taking the time to read a good book. After all, what’s a beach trip without a beach read?
Here at the library, summer is the liveliest–and arguably the greatest–time of year with our endless array of programs, activities, and new books lined up on the shelves! We realize these options can be overwhelming, so to help give you a good place to start your search, we’ve assembled a diverse list of our favorite new (and newer) summer reads that you or your children may love! Comforting, hilarious, mortifying, hopeful–all of the feelings we absorb from a well-written novel are there. Even more fitting, many of these books take place during the summer. Quite a few of our staff have personally read several from the lists, so trust us when we say that, like Harriet and Wyn, you’ll find your happy place with one of these!
Adult Fiction
Happy Place by Emily Henry - Speaking of finding happy places, this glittery novel has the audacity to describe the complexities of adult life in a way that’s funny and charming. A couple goes on vacation with their friends–except they actually broke up months ago (but they’re still joyfully together if you squint!). What could go wrong?
Bad Summer People by Emma Rosenblum - What’s a good island resort without a little mysterious murder? And is that a body underneath the boardwalk? This one is for our thriller fans who enjoy dark plots in sunny settings.
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree - An Orc mercenary suddenly decides to give up the plundering life and run a coffee shop–say that again?? Wholesome, subtly romantic, and sapphic: it doesn’t get much better than this.
Sunshine Nails by Mai Nguyen - A Vietnamese-Canadian family will do whatever it takes to keep their nail salon open when the competition heats up–even if that means good old-fashioned sabotage. This light-hearted novel on gentrification and the immigrant experience showcases the resilience of community to create the ultimate summer comeback.
In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune - Described as an adult combination of Swiss Family Robinson, Wall-E, and Pinocchio, this novel of a strange sci-fi world features a delightfully dysfunctional family of robots (and one human) who embark on a rescue mission to save one of their own. Full of witty banter and a desperate need for love, this book will make you both laugh and ugly cry.
Adult Graphic Novels
Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe - If you’re looking for a stylish and contemporary reimagining of Greek mythology that isn’t Percy Jackson, this is it. Intriguing, sharply perceptive, and utterly human, these graphic novels spill all the tea of what goes on behind the scenes in this pantheon.
The Color of Always by Brent Fisher - Here’s an anthology that highlights the full spectrum of LGBTQIA+ experiences in love, loss, heartbreak, and most importantly, discovering who you are and feeling good about it! Featuring a number of queer writers and illustrators, this graphic novel is brimming with poetry, color, and fearless expression.
Paper Planes by Jennie Wood - Former best friends attempt to navigate their way through a summer camp for troubled youth after a life-altering incident. And they can mostly only communicate through sending each other paper planes. Will they be able to make it through so they have another chance at a normal high school life, or will their friendship and futures be threatened?
Spider-Punk: Battle of the Banned by Cody Ziglar - In this anti-fascist spinoff, it's up to Spider-Punk, his trusty Converse, and his band of rockin’ heroes to protect Earth-138! Will all the chaos win, or is this rebellious gang perfect for handling it? Can we also talk about how he uses his guitar as a weapon? This storyline could be the best one yet.
Why Are You Like This? by Meg Adams - In this collection of comics with a millennial take on marriage, adulthood, self-care, and so much more, Meg Adams asks the most important questions, like: is my partner really upset or just hangry? Chalk full of bizarre musings and dorky existentialism, these comics explore enjoying the little things life brings.
Young Adult Fiction
Chaos Theory by Nic Stone - Inspirational and completely relatable, this book tells a heart wrenching tale of two outsiders forming a powerful pact of friendship and creating their own universe amid chaos in the world surrounding them. This is a classic story where love truly conquers all!
The Queens of New York by E.L. Shen - Perfect for college students or fans of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, this cinematic, slice-of-life book tells of an unbreakable bond and one life-changing summer between three friends that takes them miles apart, but ultimately brings them closer together.
We Ship It by Lauren Kay - This contemporary rom-com contains fierce girl energy, exciting adventure, and awkwardness all in one! Perfectionist Olivia has a detailed plan for her life, and it certainly doesn’t involve going on a cruise and meeting a boy who–dare she say it–makes her feel like she can have fun. Do you ship it? We definitely do.
House Party by various authors, edited by Justin A. Reynolds - A team of critically acclaimed POC authors deliver a fresh collection of interconnected stories that follows a group of teens saying goodbye to high school and hello to life’s next chapter, whatever that may be–but not without throwing the most epic house party first!
Going Bicoastal by Dahlia Adler - This is another novel in the alternate timeline genre that you don’t want to miss! Natalya has 24 hours to decide between two options: stay in NYC for the summer with her dad and go for the girl she’s always wanted, or travel to LA to be with her estranged mom and meet the guy she never saw coming. How do you choose? She can’t, and so both summers end up playing out in coexisting realities. Turns out, there’s more than one path to happily ever after.
Young Adult Graphic Novels
Girl Taking Over: A Lois Lane Story by Sarah Kuhn - Lois Lane didn’t come to play! And in this graphic novel, it’s not all about Superman. The ambitious small town girl tackles a summer in the city as a corporate intern, but when her boss demotes her to coffee-fetcher, her career plans go awry. However, as Lois uncovers a dramatic scandal, she comes to discover what she really wants and learns to embrace life’s messiness.
Twelfth Grade Night by Molly Booth - Heartstopper fans, this one’s for you! This imaginative retelling of Shakespeare’s classic comedy full of star-crossed love and mistaken identities takes place at a high school, where the main character gets roped into helping plan the Twelfth Grade Night dance. What she also doesn’t expect? Getting roped into a love triangle.
Sunshine by Jarrett J. Krosoczka - In this sequel to memoir Hey, Kiddo, Jarrett brings his audience back to Camp Sunshine, a place for ill and disabled kids and their families, where he spends the summer as a camp counselor. Through meeting extraordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances, he learns about the freedom a safe space can bring.
Other Ever Afters by Melanie Gillman - In this fantasy collection with a twist, fairytale characters who have typically sat on the sidelines now take center stage through retellings of classic stories. What if your one true love wasn’t who you expected? Or what if the definition of “happily ever after” took on a whole different meaning?
Squire by Nadia Shammas - In this alternative historical fiction, Aiza dreams of becoming a Knight, her only pathway to citizenship as part of a subjugated minority in the Bayt-Sajji Empire. Enlisting in the competitive Squire training program, Aiza finds it’s not what she expects, and she’s faced with choosing between her heritage and her loyalty to the Empire.
Juvenile Fiction
The Sun and the Star by Rick Riordan - Featuring two of the most popular characters in the Percy Jackson saga, demigods Will and Nico can overcome any obstacle or foe together…or at least, that’s been the case so far. But a few dreams and prophecies suggest trouble ahead, and it’ll be up to the pair to go on a challenging quest whether they like it or not.
Ghosts, Toast, and Other Hazards by Susan Tan - This middle-grade novel is about a girl who must overcome her fears in order to discover the truth about her town’s urban legend. These fears may involve ghosts, and not toast per se, but things that can catch on fire, like toasters. Scary, right? But as battling these and other hazards opens up a rich world of history and answers to burning questions, she’ll have to learn to live life a little dangerously.
Conjure Island by Eden Royce - Set on the coast of South Carolina comes a story of a girl forced to spend her summer with the great-grandmother she’s never met, only to discover that she runs a school for Southern conjure magic. Del knows this is going to be a weird summer, and not only that, she finds out the magic is actually real. Why had her family never told her about this place? Read to find out!
The Human Kaboom by Adam Rubin - From the author of Dragons Love Tacos comes another irresistibly, unpredictably fun ride with stories featuring different artists and–you guessed it–things that go “kaboom!” There’s plenty of mystery and mayhem, daring and danger, and yes, some explosions here and there.
The Braid Girls by Sherri Winston - Business rivals, family drama, and a summer camp full of locs that need attention–sounds like a job for The Braid Girls! But the journey for Maggie to earn enough money for ballet lessons won’t be easy, and she’ll have to navigate surprising upheavals in her life, like the addition of a half-sister she’s never known. Maggie is determined to prove herself and her skills in this unforgettable novel about friendship, belonging, and fabulous hair.
Juvenile Graphic Novels
Miss Quinces by Kat Fajardo - All Sue wants is to just have a relaxing summer reading and making comics with her friends. Instead, she gets stuck traveling to Honduras to visit relatives, and the worst part is, there’s no Internet! The trip becomes even less ideal for Sue when her mother announces her plan to host a surprise quinceañera, which is the LAST thing Sue wants.
Grace Needs Space! by Benjamin A. Wilgus - In this exciting space adventure, Grace is ready to get away from her overbearing mother and take a journey to Titan for an important mission involving a delivery. But when things go sideways, it’s up to Grace to save the day, and she might have to recruit her mother for help.
Hotel REM by Zack Keller - This delightful story arc reminiscent of Spirited Away and Hotel Transylvania features a magical hotel where the people and creatures in our dreams go to hang out after we wake up, and owner Rem attempts to run the business smoothly and handle the wild guests in order to make his parents proud. But what happens when a celebrity dream guest arrives and threatens to ruin everything he’s built?
Shirley & Jamila Save Their Summer by Gillian Goerz - Fans of Roller Girl and Smile will appreciate this graphic novel about two unlikely friends who save each other’s summers while solving their neighborhood’s biggest mysteries. While they’re on the case of a boy’s missing pet gecko and facing challenges, the girls must also work to solve an even greater mystery: what it means to be a friend.
Dog Man: Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Sea by Dav Pilkey - Doggonit, Dav Pilkey’s done it again! In this latest installation, Dog Man and his feline sidekick are back to battle Piggy’s most diabolical plot yet, and they’ll do so in the most epic, heroic, action-packed way!
Easy Readers
*The World Belonged to Us by Jacqueline Woodson - It’s summertime in the city, and that means playing double dutch and chasing ice cream trucks! In this exuberant and nostalgic children’s book, Brooklyn is the place to be, where a sunshine state of mind rules the streets!
*Mario’s Big Adventure by Mary Man-Kong - With the new Super Mario Bros. Movie now out, kids will be sure to love this easy reader with engaging characters and easy-to-follow plots. This is the perfect book for kids getting ready to read on their own!
When Lola Visits by Michelle Sterling - For one young girl, summer is a special time full of mango jam, funny stories, and the company of her grandmother who comes to visit from the Philippines. This is a sweet cultural narrative evoking imagination and all five senses that makes for a wonderful multi-generational read.
Oscar’s Tower of Flowers by Lauren Tobia - This wordless picture book for the little ones–featuring lots of green!--celebrates community, gardening, and sharing beauty with the world. When Oscar stays with his Nana for the summer, she shows him how to take care of plants and make them bloom!
The Mermaid and the Shoe by K.G. Campbell - If you’re looking for another cute mermaid tale (pun intended), this is the one! Minnow has a million questions about what lies beyond the sea kingdom, and she embarks on a journey to answer those, while discovering her own remarkable skill: the gift of storytelling.
*These books are currently not in our collection, but can be made available upon request. In the meantime, check out other books by these authors!
