Summer Reading Ideas

If you’re looking for book recommendations for the summer, you’re in the right place! For my last post, I have gathered a mix of books to hopefully inspire you to continue reading over the summer.




Sci-Fi: Andy Weir’s The Martian is a pretty scientifically accurate, humorous, survival novel about an astronaut stranded on Mars. It’s engaging plot wise and emotionally, and is great when you want to read something that makes you feel smart but isn’t too heavy. If you like the book, you could also watch the movie which is pretty cool! 



Historical fiction: Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See is a WWⅡ novel about a French girl and a German soldier and how their lives intertwine. It’s very rich in storytelling and nicely written, so if you like lyrical writing, a layered plot, and heavy topics, you’ll appreciate this book.



Historical fiction/social commentary: Doctorow’s Ragtime is an interesting novel that mixes real and fictional characters in early 20th century America to create a vibrant, fast-paced, political story. If you like books that blend history and imagination, this is a great summer pick for you.



Classic adventure: J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit is an epic classic that I think everyone should read at least once (what better time than over summer break). It’s an adventure story, perfect for the summer time in its lighthearted nature.



Another classic: A second classic that you should definitely read is Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. This book feels like summer to me because it's a portrait of the Jazz Age and it has themes of ambition, love, and illusion that I think fit a summery setting. It’s very short, has a film adaptation, and is an easy read. For more information, see the post about this book in the Not so Creative blog!



Heavy classic: Sylvia Plath’s semi-autobiographical novel The Bell Jar is about mental health and identity with harsh honesty. It’s definitely not a light read, but very powerful and thought-provoking.



Coming of age: The Perks of Being a Wallflower is one I have not read yet, but after Livy’s most recent post, which you should definitely read for a more detailed summary, I had to put it on my list! The book seems very heartfelt and relatable, and is great for readers who want something introspective but hopeful.



Murder mystery: Delia Owens’ Where the Crawdads Sing is a blend of mystery and nature writing in a story about isolation and resilience. It’s definitely a gripping story, and perfect for those who love a slower mystery with an emotional payoff.



Dark psychological: Patrick Süskind’s Perfume is one I am planning on reading this summer. This is a strange novel about a man with a really good sense of smell and unsettling obsessions with capturing the perfect scent. It’s supposed to be very eerie, hard to forget, and great if you want something bold. I don’t know what to expect from reading this, but I have heard that it’s pretty dark.



Another dark psychological: Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita is another book I am planning on reading this summer. This is a controversial novel about the narrator's infatuation with a young girl named Dolores Haze. Beneath this disturbing subject, the writing is supposedly very very well written and a challenging exploration of manipulation, guilt, and self-deception. This is a book great for readers interested in complex storytelling.


Summer reading can be whatever you choose it to be. Sometimes it's good to push yourself to read books that make you think, laugh, learn, or feel deeply (or maybe a mix of lighter and heavier books, whatever you prefer). Whether you like any of my ideas or dislike all of them, I sincerely hope you all find something you will enjoy reading over the summer!!


-Ana