The sun is high. You’re sitting down. Now, what do you actually read? Forget the heavy academic stuff. We want pages that fly by. Things that make you laugh or cry right into your sandwich.
Here is what makes the cut for summer 2026. No fluff. Just the books.
Warm Hugs & Tissues
Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan
Monaghan knows how to comfort people. Her latest follows Dolly Brick—a teacher, mom, and hustler holding everything together in Rhode Island. Just barely. She runs into Stewart Whitfield, the local wealthy scion. Fake dating ensues. It becomes real. It is swoony. It is silly. It will make you weep.
If you read this on public transit, hide your emotions. Bring tissues.
It is a slice of seaside life that hurts in the good way. Amy Wilkinson says it is moving. We agree.
The Childhood Vibe
My Friends by Fredrik Backman
Summer smells like nostalgia. This book gets that. Backman’s voice is distinct—witty but sad. My Friends isn’t typical beach fare, but it lingers.
It jumps timelines.
One tracks a teen girl dealing with grief and fitting in.
The other recalls an old man’s childhood summer.
Themes include abuse and depression. Heavy stuff. But Backman handles it with humor. The point is friendship. Found family. The mess of being human. Kristine Thomason warns it might not fit every beach vibe, but the optimism remains.
Running From Dad
This Book by Nicholas Thompson
Thompson, the Atlantic CEO, writes about his dad. Or rather, the gap between them. He uses running to bridge it. Running here isn’t just exercise. It’s therapy. A roadmap. He perseveres. You do too. Ryan Brower sees this as a heartfelt journey. Simple concept. Deep resonance.
Vancouver Island Yearning
Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune
Friends to lovers. The gold standard. Set in Tofino’s rainforests.
Frankie gets dumped before her wedding. Her best friend, George, has a solution. Go on her honeymoon together.
It works. It’s Carley Fortune. That means slow burns and smart banter. Remember Every Summer After? That got a Prime Video series. This one carries that same magical summer weight.
Hockey Heat
Her Slap Shot
Most people hate hockey romances. Not you. You like Off Campus. You want that adrenaline.
Enter Finley Blake. Hockey coach. No-nonsense. She’s got a history with Beckett Kane, the new defenseman on her team. Also her childhood crush.
It’s forbidden. It’s slow burn. The sizzle melts the ice. If you like strong female leads who run the show, this is it.
Cinematic Drama
The Alchemist’s Heart (Book 2 in the Alchemist’s Cycle)
The wait is over. Nina and Patrick return. Stacey McEwan builds worlds like epic films. Think Peaky Blinders vibes. Cinematic tension. Imperfect characters making big mistakes.
Book 2 skips the preamble. Action immediately. The drama ramps up. The romance remains messy. Dangi McCoy is already waiting for Book 3 next summer.
Life’s Chaos
Wreck by Catherine Newman
Newman is sharp. Hilarious. Wreck is short enough to read under one umbrella session.
Meet Rocky. Mom to young adults. Wife for ten years. Daughter to an old father.
Relatable? Painfully.
She laughs through the chaos. She rolls with the punches. It follows Sandwich but stands alone. You will laugh. You will plan to live differently when you’re done.
Jurassic Romance
Fossil Feud
For the Jurassic Park fans who grew up. Ripley Adams—a paleontologist ousted by scandal—hunts fossils privately. Then James Smithson arrives. An Oxford professor. Handsome. Helpful. Dangerous.
They hunt a dinosaur fraudster. Romance ignites in the dirt. The ending had one editor on the edge of her seat. Pun intended. It delivers on love and plot simultaneously. Rare find.
Wolves & Queens
The Wolf Queen by Lauren Palphreyman
Romantasy is the game. This series has a human princess. She’s kidnapped. A powerful werewolf takes her as a war pawn.
Book 3 drops in November. Timing matters. Starz just announced a TV adaptation.
Jump in now. The hype train is leaving the station. Wolf obsession is imminent.
Formula 1 Hustle
The Paddock Club by Madge Maril
Madge Maril brings the speed. Cat Cromwell calls herself a “Romance Robin Hood.” She embarrasses bad boyfriends for cash. Sends profits to family.
Faust Ferreira Sanchez. F1 driver. Intense. Quiet.
He might know Cat’s secrets. The stakes are high. The setting is glamorous. Fashion. Travel. Social commentary. If you liked Slipstream, you owe it to yourself to read this.
What’s in your bag? 📚🏖️
