Best Beach Reads for Summer 2025

The bestselling author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & The Six ventures into new territory with her first thriller—a love story set against the backdrop of NASA’s space shuttle program in the 1980s. The novel follows a brilliant astrophysicist determined to become an astronaut, who finds herself entangled in a complex romance and a high-stakes mission that could alter the course of her career—and her life.

Highlighted in the New York Times “Great Summer Beach Reads,” this novel opens in off-grid Montana, where a teenage girl escapes her father's survivalist compound—and ends up immersed in the early days of Silicon Valley. “If the Unabomber had a daughter, this could be her story,” writes the NYTimes, calling it a novel that “might prompt a pop-up book club”—and will definitely make you think about our reliance on technology.

“Suzanne Collins has never been subtle with her commentary on propaganda and censorship. Her latest book, Sunrise on the Reaping, is no exception,” declared NPR. Set during the 50th Games, this searing prequel follows Haymitch into a doubled-up arena—and a rigged system built to break him.

In this unforgettable and deeply moving tale, Backman once again delves into familiar emotional terrain—grief, unexpected kinship, and everyday heroism—with the same compassion and humor that made A Man Called Ove a global favorite. "Backman again pays tribute to the forces that make an ordinary life extraordinary," raved BookPage. "By focusing his tremendous empathy on the power of art and friendship, he has created a novel that celebrates the beauty of being alive."

Carl Hiaasen delivers another riotous skewering of the Sunshine State, where environmental collapse meets political grift in a town teetering on the edge. “[Carl Hiaasen’s] reality with a side of escapism is a blessing for our fragile minds at this time,” writes Samantha Irby in The Atlantic.

This time, whip-smart private eye Holly Gibney is back to track a killer bent on retribution—and protect a feminist icon from a growing extremist threat. “Holly is one of the most appealing investigators in contemporary crime fiction," declared The Guardian. "Never Flinch contains King's trademark chilling moments, with the two storylines expertly entwined."

Told across a decade of shifting love, motherhood, and Brexit-era London, this novel combines the charm of a summer rom-com with insightful commentary on personal and political dynamics. "Like One Day and Normal People, leaves you feeling bereft at the final page," raved The Times.

In the latest novel from the author of People We Meet on Vacation, two writers compete for the chance to tell the larger-than-life story of a woman with more than a few plot twists up her sleeve. As they navigate a one-month trial on a secluded island, secrets unfold and tensions rise, leaving their own story hanging in the balance.

Set at a sun-drenched estate in the Hudson Valley, Hal Ebbott’s debut is the kind of sharply observed family drama you’ll want to spend the weekend with—preferably near a body of water. Two tightly connected families gather for a weekend in upstate New York, but beneath the curated charm of their longtime friendship lies betrayal, envy, and fracture. "Subtle, keenly intelligent, psychologically deft," raved Kirkus. "This is the kind of book Tom Wolfe used to write, and debut novelist Ebbott definitely has the talent and brio to carry it off."

Adriana Trigiani’s latest novel follows a recently divorced woman who leaves her New Jersey hometown to reconnect with her roots in Tuscany and Lake Como. As she uncovers family secrets and pursues her passion for art, she finds new love and a fresh start. Praised by The New York Times as a “comedy writer with a heart of gold,” Trigiani offers an unmissable love story perfect for beach reading.