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Margot and Caroline here. One of the best parts of our job: seeing all the hottest summer books ahead of time. It looks like the summer of 2026 will be different, as many of our self-published authors have new books (many of them their best works). Here are the summer reads we’re most excited about, from coming-of-age stories to heartwarming romances to gritty thrillers.
Our perfect storm by Carly Fortune (May 5)
“Is it even summer without a Carly Fortune book? I’m saving now Our perfect storm for the upcoming trip because there is no better feeling than reading his books on the beach. This Made of honor-esque romance follows Frankie and George, childhood best friends on the rocks. When Frankie is dumped by her new husband on their wedding weekend, George agrees to help her pick up the pieces… by taking her ex’s place on their honeymoon in Tofino. A compelling forced intimacy, a friends-to-lovers story if I ever saw one.” — Margot Gertner
Whistler by Anne Patchett (June 2)
“If you’re a dedicated Skimm Reads reader, you know that my love for Anne Patchett runs deep. I had the pleasure of reading Patchett’s latest book in one sitting, and I have to say, I think it might be my favorite book… ever. (Caroline agrees.) When Daphne notices a man following her and her husband around her Art Museum, she’s not in a long time. discovers in the Metropolitan.” Childhood’s stepfather is a heartwarming story, but I’ve seen a lot of internet talk about how you’re reconnecting lost connections and taking emotional accounts decades later, which reminds people of this. Correspondentand I agree. If you liked the feel of this book, you will love this book. ” – Margot Gertner
Dolly all the time by Annabelle Monaghan (June 2)
“Going in with a warm impression: I think Dolly all the time Annabelle Monaghan is the best. Think of it as True readers from Rhode Island meet Pretty Woman meet Summer I became beautiful. So, the perfect mix of cozy beach town, rich people, and fake tropes. I ate it in about two sittings but didn’t want it to end. It follows Dolly, a single mother trying to make ends meet, who makes a deal with a wealthy man with deep Rhode Island roots. This book is a must read. No questions asked.” – Margot Gertner
Summer girl by Christina Forest (June 9)
“I was very lost The Green Sisters after completing the beloved Forest series last summer. Summer girl Her latest adult flick is about a laid-off bookseller who wants to go back to college, so she enters into a fake contract with a wealthy businessman behind a bakery empire. Romance, books and bakeries? There is nothing to love.” — Margot Gertner
Daughters of the Sun and the Moon by Lisa C (June 9)
“Lisa C Lady Tan’s circle of women is the only book I consistently recommend to historical fiction fans and newcomers alike. Daughters of the Sun and the Moon equally heartwarming but impressive. Over the course of more than 50 years, three Chinese women are forced to make their way to the United States in different ways, doing whatever they can to survive in post-Civil War Los Angeles. Each chapter switches perspectives, so by the end you feel deeply connected to each of their stories and their strong friendship. ” — Margot Gertner
Lost connection by Tia Williams (June 9)
“To me, Tia Williams is the perfect writer of the summer – her style is bright, sparkling and every sentence is amazing. I read. Lost connection on a recent flight (I love a theme), and I was entertained the whole way. After a young casting agent who forms a passionate connection with his fellow passenger on a first-class flight to Paris… only to realize after they’ve parted ways that they never changed their names or information. Back home in New York, she hires a private investigator to track him down – but she’s had a rocky past with this hot PI. This is one of Williams’ most intelligent entries, and I mean that as a sincere compliment.” — Carolyn Goldstein
Villa Coco by Andrew Sean Greer (June 9)
“No one understands summer reading assignments better than Andrew Sean Greer. Less, Villa Coco follow a hapless hero in a sun-kissed romp. It takes place in the Tuscan countryside, where a young archivist is hired by a legendary 90-year-old Italian baroness to catalog the art and artifacts of her villa. It’s the ultimate reading escapism, the perfect balance between interesting and important.” — Carolyn Goldstein
It could be her by Lisa Jewell (June 23)
“On that aforementioned trip, I also read Lisa Jewell’s book Family upstairswhich reminded me how much I love a good, old-fashioned, tightly plotted, slightly unraveled thriller. Now that my love for the genre has been rekindled, I’m excited for Jewel’s upcoming release. It features a missing teenage girl, a spooky estate in the English countryside, and a narrator with a dark and mysterious past—all things that make my ideal summer read.” — Carolyn Goldstein
Effect of shampoo by Jenny Jackson (June 30)
“When a reliable veteran of the publishing house becomes an author, I will be on my seat.” Ananas Streetwhich I devoured when it was released in 2023. The latest is about Caroline Lash, a newcomer to a Massachusetts beach town who falls in with a close circle of friends. When a member of the group unexpectedly becomes pregnant, their usual dynamic is thrown off course, leading to tons of drama and exposed secrets. I can’t wait to read this small-town beach story.”
Die for Me by Shirlene Obuobi (July 14)
“Speaking of summer, Die for Me speaks to the darkness my little goth heart really longs for—yes, even in the summer—while feeling like an ideal beach read thanks to the steamy romance at the center. Shawn, the only black interventional cardiologist at his hospital, is still recovering from his brutal past. But when she meets Julian, eleven years her junior, she can’t help but fall for him. Plot twist: He may or may not be fully human. I love a paranormal romance, but a paranormal romance with a reverse age gap trope? That’s how it sold.” — Carolyn Goldstein
Just a Highland Fling by Naina Kumar (July 21)
“If you’re looking for a fun, bubbly, simple romance, you can’t go wrong Naina Kumar. Neelu goes to Scotland for her estranged father’s wedding… where she is left at the altar after a rehearsal dinner. He decides to go on a road trip with him to find his runaway bride. Unexpectedly, a member of the wedding band (and Neelu’s last one-night stand) decided to tag along, and the forced romance soon fizzled out after that.” – Margot Gertner
Searchers of Dear Creek by Thao Thai (August 4)
“This goes out to all readers who love to sit by the pool with a family story. Tao Tai, author Banyan Moon, returned with his second book. It follows estranged sisters Vivi and Calla as they embark on a journey to find a missing painting that they hope will help them understand their family’s turbulent history. Part family story, part art, this is one of those lyrical novels you’ll want to spend your time with.” —Margot Gertner
The Lion and the Undead Darkness by Carissa Broadbent (August 5)
“I’m a huge fan of Carissa Broadbent, so I was really excited to see her fifth entry. Crowns of Nyaxia series While episode four was definitely not my favorite, this one totally brought me back. The world building and plotting is complex, but still easy to follow and very fast paced. As far as romantic couples go, Cyrene and Septimus give my beloved Oraya and Raikhan a serious run for their money – bows are given to their enemies to skillful lovers. – Carolyn Goldstein
