Discover the best books about summer romance for seasonal beach reading this year from my catalog of 1,000+ books read. This list of books about summer love is exactly that. It includes books about finding a passionate romance during the fleeting and fun season and seeing whether it can survive by fall.
It includes summer romance novels that offer escapism in beachy small towns and vacation spots, YA summer romance books about first loves that evoke a sense of nostalgia and the carefree spirit of youth, and even scandalous “same time next year” summertime romances. There are sweet and spicy books for both young adults and adults to devour. Let’s get literary!
Best Books About Summer Romance for Young Adults and Adults
TOP 3 PICKS
Some good summer romance books include these bestsellers: 28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand, an epic, decades-long “same time next year” romance set on Nantucket by the queen of the beach reads; Beach Read by social media darling Emily Henry, which is all about beach reading; and Just For the Summer by Abby Jimenez, a fake dating trope balanced perfectly right in a lake setting, just as her fans expect.
TAKE THE POLL
See the list on Youtube:
For Young Adults (Clean and Age Appropriate)
- Love and Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch
- The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther
- The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
For Adults (Without A Lot of Spice)
- 28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand
- The Blue Bistro by Elin Hilderbrand
- Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan
- The Summer of Songbirds by Kristy Woodson Harvey
For Adults (With Spice)
- Beach Read by Emily Henry
- Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
- Just For the Summer by Abby Jimenez
- Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
- People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
- This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune
- The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
- Well Met by Jen DeLuca
Spice Level: The spiciest summer romance books to read are by Emily Henry, Carley Fortune, and Christina Lauren.
Reviews of My Favorite Summer Love Books for Beach Reading
Read these books for The Literary Lifestyle’s Summer Reading Challenge
28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand
28 Summers is a summer romance novel about two people, Mallory Blessing and Jake McCloud, who decide to have a “same time next year” meeting that lasts each Labor Day weekend. Naturally, this becomes more complicated with age, marriage, and kids.
While I can normally be critical about books that glamorize affairs, this book did it in a really smart way. It showed that all relationships are different and complex. Many of Hilderbrand readers consider this a favorite.
Related Posts: Elin Hilderbrand Books Ranked | Elin Hilderbrand Books in Order
Beach Read by Emily Henry
With a title like Beach Read, it’s easy to say this is one of the best beach reads for a lazy day in the sand. It’s the story of two different writers: January, a bestselling romance writer who has stopped believing in love, and Augustus, an acclaimed literary fiction author.
As they spend three summer months at neighboring beach houses, they challenge each other to beat their writer’s block by writing something different. Meanwhile, they must also cope with painful pasts and the fact that they are falling for each other.
This remains my favorite of all of Emily Henry’s romantic beach reads, as it is for many other readers. It’s the one that catapulted her fame!
Related Posts: Best Emily Henry Books | Emily Henry Books in Order
The Blue Bistro by Elin Hilderbrand
Going into The Blue Bistro, I only knew it occurred at a Nantucket restaurant. I was not expecting the emotional ride this book took me on!
Adrienne lands an assistant manager position during the last summer the acclaimed restaurant The Blue Bistro will be in business. In the span of three months, she starts dating her boss, Thatcher Smith, but there’s a third wheel in this relationship—Thatcher’s business partner and lifelong friend, Chef Fiona, who is hiding a very big secret.
The descriptions of the food in The Blue Bistro were nothing short of tantalizing, from the full menu of farm-fresh delights to the daily tomato specials.
Many avid fans of Elin Hilderbrand’s books consider this emotional beach read to be her best.
Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
Every Summer After is a small-town romance novel set during six summers. Teenagers Persephone and Sam fall madly in love. Then, one Thanksgiving, something tears them apart.
Years later, though, when Persephone returns, she must determine how she feels about him now, after so much time has passed.
This sweet romance balances many elements of a great book just right, from friendship to love, angst, and family drama. It gives you all the feels.
Related Posts: Carley Fortune’s Books in Order | Every Summer After Summary
Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez
In Just For the Summer, every woman Justin dates finds her soulmate just after breaking up with him. He meets Emma, who is similarly “cursed.” Together, they create a plan to date each other as a summer fling, so they can go on to live happily ever after with someone else.
They connect deeper than expected over their “mommy” issues. But the chaos left by Emma’s mom just may be too complicated to make the plan work.
This escape read features my favorite couple in Abby Jimenez’s books. They are quirky, lovable, have great chemistry, and support each other through difficult life issues.
Related Posts: Just For the Summer Review | Abby Jimenez Books Rated
Love and Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch
Love and Gelato follows a teenage girl on a summer adventure. Pursuing her mother’s dying wish, she tries to find her father, and upon discovering her mother’s journal, she learns a life-changing secret.
This sweet romance is filled with romance, mystery, and a cute Italian suitor. It’s perfect for summer vacation!
Related Posts: Books Set in Italy | Books Set in Florence
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Malibu Rising is on fire — literally.
Famous musician Mick Riva’s four children are dealing with drama. One has been publicly left by her pro tennis player husband. Another has a huge confession to make. The third can’t stop thinking about a girl, and the fourth has secrets, including an uninvited guest who impacts everything.
By the end of the 24-hour day on which the Riva family’s 1983 “end of summer” bash takes place, their Malibu mansion has gone up in flames.
Related Posts: Taylor Jenkins Reid Books | Taylor Jenkins Reid Books Rated
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
People We Meet on Vacation is about two very different best friends from college: Poppy, a wild child in the big city, and Alex, a buttoned-up introvert in a small town.
They haven’t spoken in two years. However, Poppy convinces him to take one more vacation to think about their last ten years and how to fix everything.
What this one offers that’s different from other Henry novels is the escapism of travel and the tension created by the friends at its core.
The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther
The Summer of Broken Rules was inspired by Taylor Swift’s songs!
Meredith is a teen coping with the loss of her beloved sister when she visits the family’s island farm for a week that will culminate in her cousin’s wedding.
Prior to the wedding, the family plays a competitive game of Assassin and, in an attempt to win it all in memory of her sister, Meredith forms an alliance with a cute groomsman named Wit.
This vacation romance is filled with all those warm and fuzzy feelings of lighthearted young summer love.
Related Posts: Books Set on Martha’s Vineyard | Taylor Swift Book Recommendations
Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan
The book Summer Romance is about Ali, a single mom and divorcee, whose dog claims a man for her. Since summer romances are so light and non-committal, she takes a chance. As they each help each other through some “hard stuff,” though, she starts falling hard.
This feel-good book balances the light and heavy sides of life just right. It’s super breezy to read.
The Summer of Songbirds by Kristy Woodson Harvey
The Summer of Songbirds is a vacation read that has all those nostalgic summer camp vibes.
Three decades prior, June developed Camp Holly Springs into a summer retreat for girls, including her beloved niece, Daphne, but now its future is at stake.
Meanwhile, Daphne and her old Summer camp friends Lanier and Mary Stuart are still in touch, navigating all of life’s “hard things” together as adults.
The characters and their friendships feel both real and mature. These are women used to coping with “hard things” together, and they do so as they work on their love lives.
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
The Summer I Turned Pretty begins a trilogy that follows teenage “Belly” as she, her single mom, and her brother visit their shared beach house with her mom’s friend and her two sons, Conrad and Jeremiah.
It’s about how a young teen starts to bloom from that awkward stage to that “getting noticed” by boys stage. But, as life in the beach house takes a difficult turn, the course of Belly’s teenage life forever changes.
If you like dramatic and angsty new adult romance books, you are bound to enjoy this series, which is popular on TikTok.
Related Post: The Summer I Turned Pretty Books
This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune
Add This Summer Will Be Different to your summer reading list for a picturesque love story with countless nods to Anne of Green Gables.
Years ago, while visiting her best friend Bridget’s beach house, Lucy had an electrifying rendezvous with Bridget’s brother, Felix. The problem? Bridget specifically forbade Lucy from falling in love with him.
Now, Bridget is getting married, and she frantically calls Lucy and Felix to the beach house. Lucy and Felix must confront their feelings again.
This lighthearted read made me want to jump on a plane!
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
The Unhoneymooners series is one of the best love stories because it will remind you of your favorite romantic comedy movies.
As Olive spends the wedding day with the unlikeable best man, Ethan, the remainder of the wedding party gets food poisoning. What remains from this disaster is an all-expenses-paid honeymoon.
So, Olive and Ethan begrudgingly head for paradise together. The time they spend together isn’t all bad after all!
It’s one of the most fun books I’ve ever read.
Well Met by Jen DeLuca
In Well Met, a young and single Emily’s sister becomes injured in an accident, she moves to her small town for the summer to help her recover.
She ends up volunteering for the local Renaissance Faire alongside her teenage niece. There, she meets and falls for the leader, who has a complex history with the Faire.
It’s cozy and sweet, yet also unique. I loved the quirky vibes of the summer festival!
Recap
START HERE
Get started with three of the most popular books about summer romance:
- 28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand
- Beach Read by Emily Henry
- Just For the Summer by Abby Jimenez
remember, it’s a good day to read a book. – jules
How about a book with by person of color, say Sonny Hostin or Mia Sosa?