Happy official first day of summer! The weather is warm, the sun is out, and it’s time to read some good books. Whether you’re lounging by the pool, relaxing at the lake, or enjoying a quiet afternoon in the garden, these 16 reading challenge ideas will inspire you to try some new books, explore new authors, and (hopefully) have more fun reading this summer.
1. Read an Elin Hilderbrand book.
Elin Hilderbrand has been crowned the queen of beach reads, having written more than 30 of them over the last 25 years. I am afraid to say that I have not read one of her novels yet, but I’m planning on changing that this summer! I have heard so, so many good things about her writing.
Here are three of Elin’s book that are on the top of my list to try out. If you’re a fan, what’s your favorite book of hers? Let me know in the comments.
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
The Hotel Nantucket |
$18.99
$9.01 |
Buy on Amazon |
|
The Five-Star Weekend |
$18.99
$8.49 |
Buy on Amazon |
|
28 Summers |
$19.99
$9.62 |
Buy on Amazon |
Last update on 2024-10-05 at 13:38 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
2. Read an Emily Henry book.
I have read every single book Emily Henry has put out, and I think they are perfect summer reads. If you want a twist on the city girl in a small-town trope, go with Book Lovers. If you want a beach house setting and “found family” friend group pick Happy Place. Both are set during summer, as are all of her books thus far- you really can’t pick a bad one!
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
People We Meet on Vacation |
$16.00
$8.48 |
Buy on Amazon |
|
Beach Read |
$16.00
$9.33 |
Buy on Amazon |
|
Book Lovers |
$17.00
$10.43 |
Buy on Amazon |
|
Happy Place |
$19.00
$12.18 |
Buy on Amazon |
|
Funny Story |
$31.00
$19.49 |
Buy on Amazon |
Last update on 2024-10-04 at 11:12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
3. Read a book set in New England.
You know the whole New England summer aesthetic I’m talking about- hydrangeas, days at the beach, American flag sweaters, navy and white sundresses, and all the “coastal granddaughter” vibes.
Any of Elin Hildebrand’s books would work for this one since they are mostly set in Nantucket and other iconic New England locations. The Summer of Broken Rules is set in Martha’s Vineyard, along with Judy Blume’s adult novel Summer Sisters. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart, a YA fiction novel, also gives off coastal vibes as it is set on a private island off the coast of Massachusetts.
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
The Summer of Broken Rules |
$10.99
$7.00 |
Buy on Amazon |
|
Summer Sisters: A Novel |
$18.00
$8.23 |
Buy on Amazon |
|
We Were Liars |
$10.99
$7.00 |
Buy on Amazon |
Last update on 2024-10-05 at 13:44 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
4. Read a book set at a summer house.
There are some great options for this one, like Happy Place by Emily Henry. There’s just something so fun and summery about a vacation house setting in a book.
5. Read a book set at the beach.
You could kill two birds with one stone with a book like The Summer I Turned Pretty, which is set at a summer house on a beach. You can pick up the entire 3-book series on Amazon below.
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
The Complete Summer I Turned Pretty Trilogy (Boxed Set): The Summer I Turned Pretty; It's Not Summer... |
$35.99
$18.20 |
Buy on Amazon |
Last update on 2024-10-05 at 13:44 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
6. Read a book with the word "summer" in the title.
There are a TON of options for this one, but here are a few that I have either read or would like to read in the future- Every Summer After by Carley Fortune, One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle, and Summer Island by Kristin Hannah.
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Every Summer After |
$16.00
$9.50 |
Buy on Amazon |
|
One Italian Summer: A Novel |
$17.00
$9.75 |
Buy on Amazon |
|
Summer Island: A Novel |
$17.00
$9.49 |
Buy on Amazon |
Last update on 2024-10-05 at 14:19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
7. Read a book set in your dream vacay destination.
My dream vacation is a trip to Greece, so I’ll be reading The Fury by Alex Michaelides. It’s set on a Greek private island, and looks like a combination of a murder mystery thriller and a love story- interesting!
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
The Fury |
$28.99
$14.35 |
Buy on Amazon |
Last update on 2024-10-05 at 13:44 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
8. Read a book by a new author.
Give a new author a chance this summer! I try out a lot of new books and authors on Kindle Unlimited (you can read my full review on the reading subscription service here). If I don’t like the book, I just return it and pick a new one from Amazon’s huge library of books. No harm, no foul!
9. Read a book set in your home state.
This one could either be pretty easy or incredibly difficult, depending on where you’re from. My pick for Michigan is Tom Lake by Ann Patchett, which is set on a cherry farm in the northern part of the state.
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Tom Lake: A Novel | $15.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Last update on 2024-10-04 at 11:11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
10. Read a classic book.
Some of my favorite books of all time are classics- after all, they’re called classics for a reason! I think Emma by Jane Austen would be a great spring or summertime read, and just look at the beautiful cover on this Puffin in Bloom edition.
You can check out some of my favorite beautiful and aesthetically-pleasing editions of classic books here.
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Emma (Puffin in Bloom) |
$17.00
$14.49 |
Buy on Amazon |
Last update on 2024-10-04 at 13:42 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
11. Read a book that's part of a series.
There are so many popular series nowadays, but I’d really like to read The Hunger Games series. With the announcement of a new book about Haymitch’s Hunger Games, I want to get all caught up.
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Hunger Games 4-Book Paperback Box Set (the Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay, the Ballad of... |
$61.96
$31.94 |
Buy on Amazon |
Last update on 2024-10-04 at 11:11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
12. Reread a summertime favorite.
Some books just beg to be read during summer and are too good to read once and never pick up again. Happy Place is one of those for me!
13. Read a new release
So many options and so little time! Here are some of the newest and most highly-anticipated beach reads of 2024.
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Just for the Summer |
$17.99
$8.78 |
Buy on Amazon |
|
|
Funny Story |
$31.00
$19.49 |
Buy on Amazon |
|
The Paradise Problem |
$18.99
$15.19 |
Buy on Amazon |
|
This Summer Will Be Different |
$19.00
$13.67 |
Buy on Amazon |
Last update on 2024-10-04 at 11:11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
14. Read a book that's less than 200 pages.
Give yourself a break and read a shorter book to help reach your reading goal for the year! One of my all-time favorites that’s less than 200 pages is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
The Alchemist, 25th Anniversary: A Fable About Following Your Dream |
$17.99
$11.71 |
Buy on Amazon |
Last update on 2024-10-04 at 11:11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
15. Read a book that's more than 400 pages long.
But not too much of a break! There are a ton of options for this one too. All of these are on my “want to read” list and they’re all at least 400 pages.
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Firefly Lane: A Novel |
$17.99
$9.42 |
Buy on Amazon |
|
The Last Letter |
$15.99
$10.84 |
Buy on Amazon |
|
Powerless (The Powerless Trilogy) |
$19.99
$13.59 |
Buy on Amazon |
Last update on 2024-10-04 at 11:11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
16. Read a book you already own.
I put this on here for the good of everyone reading this (including myself). Start working through the TBR pile that’s sitting there staring at you- you might find a new favorite!
Pin the image below to come back to this post later!
