Readers Revealed The Perfect Books To Devour On Your Summer Vacation

Megan LiscombSun, May 24, 2026 at 3:16 AM UTC

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Readers Revealed The Perfect Books To Devour On Your Summer VacationThere's nothing like dipping into a good book on a summer vacation (or while hiding from the sun during a long weekend at home). Whether you're an avid reader or trying to break out of a reading slump, this is a great season for getting hooked on a story that grabs you right from the very first page.

Prudencioalvarez / Getty ImagesTo help you pick your next great read for whatever you've got planned this summer, I asked members of the BuzzFeed Community and staff to share their favorite summer vacation books, and added a few more great picks from this Reddit thread. Here's what people had to say:1. "I can't put down any book by Andrea Bartz, but I'd throw out We Were Never Here as a great vacation thriller (literally, it's about a vacation)."

Ballantine Books / Via amazon.com2. "I just read Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall. Definitely a summer read. I was done in two days."

Simon & Schuster / Via amazon.com

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3. "Literally any of Elin Hilderbrand's books. They're such easy reads, but they pack a punch. They all take place in beach towns like Martha's Vineyard or Cape Cod, so it already makes me feel so summery when I read them. But then, there's just chaos. There's sex, love, betrayal, deceit...and it's so palatable. One of my recent favorites of hers is The Academy."

Little, Brown Paperbacks / Via amazon.com4. "On vacation, I generally want something light-ish but not too flaky or trashy. I enjoyed Remarkably Bright Creatures on vacation."

Ecco / Via amazon.com5. "The Wedding People was hilariously refreshing."

Holt Paperbacks / Via amazon.com6. "The Vanishing Place by Zoe Rankin. Absolutely phenomenal plot."

Berkley / Via amazon.com7. "I just read Piranesi poolside in Hawaii, and it was perfect. Focuses on just a handful of characters, so no high stakes, large-scale plot lines or anything. Pretty unique plot, and there's a recurring theme of water throughout the book."

Bloomsbury Publishing / Via amazon.com

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8. "I love nonfiction, particularly military and geopolitical history. Read One Minute to Midnight by Dobbs if you need hope. A man can stand against everyone, be right, and save countless lives."

Vintage / Via amazon.com9. "Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett."

Del Rey / Via amazon.com10. "Tom Lake by Ann Patchett has some quintessential summer vibes."

Harper Perennial / Via amazon.com11. "Everyone should go read A Bad, Bad Place by Francis Crawford. It’s one of the best books I’ve ever read and, as an English teacher, I read a lot of books. Set in 1979 Glasgow, Janey finds a murdered woman, and the story is told in alternating perspectives, hers and that of her grandma, as they deal with the fallout and trauma of that day. The story hooks you immediately, and you just have to know if Janey is going to be OK. It’s Crawford’s debut novel (in her 60’s!) and it is beautifully written, full of heart, and incredibly immersive. Please go read this gorgeous and brilliant work. I promise it won’t disappoint."

Soho Crime / Via amazon.com

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12. "Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera. This is exactly the sort of murder mystery I like to read by the pool. Little dash of romance, little dash of substance with an interesting take on the domestic violence subplot, some cozy elements, but not at all saccharine."

Celadon Books / Via amazon.com13. "The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren."

Gallery Books / Via amazon.com14. "Nettle and Bone by T Kingfisher is a dark fantasy about a princess who goes on a quest to save her sister from an abusive husband."

Tor Trade / Via amazon.com15. "The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto by Mitchell Albom."

Harper / Via amazon.com16. "Greta & Valdin by Rebecca K. Reilly is a great vacation read if you want something light, funny, and wholesome! I 100% fell in love with the characters, and I genuinely LOLed multiple times while reading. Perfect for anyone who doesn't want a super intense beach read."

Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster / Via amazon.com17. "On the flip side, I recently read Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke on vacation, and it was the definition of a page-turner. I finished it in two sittings and couldn't stop thinking about it the rest of my trip."

Knopf / Via amazon.com

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18. "One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune was so sweet and such an addicting read. It genuinely gave me butterflies!"

Berkley / Via amazon.com19. "I also devoured Good Material by Dolly Alderton on a beach trip once, and I couldn't stop thinking about it once I set it down."

Vintage / Via amazon.com20. "I know Emily Henry's books will be popular here, and I love them all, but especially Funny Story. I definitely read it all in one weekend and loved the quirkiness and sincerity of it."

Berkley / Via amazon.com21. "Okay, one more! One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle. It transported me to Italy and made me smile, giggle, and cry."

Atria / Via amazon.comWhat's a great book you've read while on vacation, or that had major vacation vibes? Tell me all about in the comments or via the anonymous form below:

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”