20 Books of Summer 2025 Reading List

Updated on July 9th, 2026

AD – PR Product | This week marks 9 years since I started my blog, and I have shared numerous book reviews over the years. I recently came across the 20 Books of Summer reading challenge, and I thought it would be fun to share my summer reading list. I have been reading 5-8 books each month this year, and even though you can pick 10, 15, or 20 books to read for the challenge, I will stick to a list of 20 books because I can read any books I did not get around to after the challenge has ended.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase through my links, but there is no extra cost to you.

What is 20 Books of Summer?

20 Books of Summer is a reading challenge originally started by Cathy from 746 books. The challenge is now run by Annabel of AnnaBookBel and Emma of Words and Peace. The rules of the challenge are simple in that there are no real rules other than planning to read 10, 15, or 20 books during the summer, starting from June 1st until August 31st. You can pick books in advance or read on a whim. You can also swap any books out if you do make a summer reading list. The whole purpose of the challenge is to enjoy a summer of reading. Also, I will be adding a ✅ after the title for the books I read to help me keep track!

My 20 Books of Summer Reading List

#1 Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman ✅

The first book on my summer reading list is Britt-Marie Was Here. I have previously read several books by Backman, with the latest being A Man Called Ove, which I loved. The paperback of Britt-Marie Was Here has been sitting on my shelf for a while, and it is time I finally get around to reading it.

The book follows Britt-Maire, who becomes caretaker of the soon-to-be demolished recreation center and is given the task of leading the untalented children’s soccer team to victory. Will Britt-Marie be able find a place where she belongs?

Available on Bookshop

#2 The Bodyguard by Katherine Center ✅

I read The Rom-Commers this month, and I loved it. I would like to read another Katherine Center book this summer, and I settled on The Bodyguard.

The Bodyguard is about Hannah Brooks, who is hired to protect actor Jack Stapleton from his stalker. When Jack’s mom becomes sick, he returns to his family’s ranch in Texas. However, he does not want his family to know about his stalker. Hannah then has to pretend to be Jack’s girlfriend as a cover.

Available on Bookshop

#3 Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins ✅

I found The Hunger Games trilogy at a thrift store. I have not read the books before, and I have just finished reading the first book. During the summer, I would like to finish the trilogy.

Catching Fire is the second novel that follows Katniss after she and Peeta won the 74th Hunger Games. However, nothing is how she wants things to be, and Katniss and Peeta have to go on a cruel Victory Tour around the districts.

Available on Bookshop

#4 Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

As I mentioned above, I have a goal of finishing The Hunger Games trilogy this summer. Mockingjay is the third novel that follows the events after Catching Fire.

Available on Bookshop

#5 Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney ✅

I read Beautiful Ugly earlier this year, and I enjoyed it. I want to read another one of Alice Feeney’s books, and I came across Daisy Darker.

The book follows Daisy Darker as her family assembles for Nana’s 80th birthday party in her gothic house on a small tidal island, which is cut off from the world when the tide comes in. At midnight, a storm rages, and Nana is found dead. An hour later, the next family member follows. The Darkers must face the present mystery and their past secrets.

Available on Bookshop

#6 The Fault in Our Stars by John Green ✅

I read Paper Towns at the beginning of this year, which was my first John Green book that I have read. I liked it, and I found The Fault in Our Stars at a thrift store.

The Fault in Our Stars is about Hazel, who has terminal cancer. She then meets Augustus, who is part of the Cancer Kid Support Group, and falls in love.

Available on Bookshop

#7 Into the Water by Paula Hawkins

I read The Girl on the Train years ago, and I rated it highly. I have not read any other books by Paula Hawkins, but I recently found Into the Water at a thrift store.

In the book, single mother Nel is found dead in the Drowning Pool, a place where multiple women throughout the town’s history have died. The police believe Nel jumped, but her sister Jules does not believe that theory. Jules then returns to the town of Beckford to take care of her niece Lena and figure out the truth.

Available on Bookshop

#8 The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

Ali Hazelwood seems like one of the most popular authors on BookTok, but I have not read any of her books. I was given The Love Hypothesis as a gift, and I might as well see what all the hype is about.

The Love Hypothesis follows Olive Smith, a third-year Ph.D. candidate who does not believe in lasting romantic relationships. However, her best friend Anh does. To convince Anh that she is dating, Olive kisses the first man she sees, who happens to be the young professor, Adam Carlsen.

Available on Bookshop

#9 The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix ✅

I read How to Sell a Haunted House last year, and I devoured it. I want to read another book by Grady Hendrix this summer, and I decided on The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires.

The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires is set in the ’90s and follows Patrica Campbell. She gave up her career as a nurse and became a mother. One of the only things she looks forward to now is her book club with other mothers. After a stranger moves into the neighborhood, local children go missing, and Patrica and her book club suspect the newcomer is involved.

Available on Bookshop

#10 A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson ✅

The next book on my summer reading list is A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder. I currently have the book on hold through Libby. In the book, high school senior Andie Bell was murdered by her boyfriend, Sal Singh, who then killed himself. 5 years later, Pip is now a senior, and she believes there is more to what happened that day. For her final project, she decides to reexamine the case, but someone does not want Pip digging around for answers.

Available on Bookshop

#11 The Dos and Donuts of Love by Adiba Jaigirdar ✅

I got The Dos and Donuts of Love through Barnes & Noble Audiobooks, but I have not listened to it yet. I have previously read Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating, and it will be nice to read another book by Adiba Jaigirdar.

In the book, Shireen Malik is still dealing with the breakup with her ex-girlfriend Chris when she is selected to be a contestant on a new baking competition show. Winning would earn her the prize money and bring attention to her parents’ donut shop, You Drive Me Glazy. However, Chris also happens to be a contestant on the show. Furthermore, Shireen is becoming fast friends with fellow contestant Niamh. Shireen will have to ignore all these factors if she wants a chance at victory.

Available on Bookshop

#12 Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell

I read Then She Was Gone last year, and I liked it. I want to read another Lisa Jewell book, and I received Don’t Let Him In through NetGalley for review.

Don’t Let Him In is about Nick, who is just what Nina needs in her life after her husband’s unexpected death. However, Nina’s daughter Ash believes he is too good to be true and begins digging into his past. Martha is a florist and lives in a neighboring town with her infant daughter and husband, Alistair. However, Alistair has been traveling more for work, and when Martha questions him, he always has an explanation. Nina, Martha, and Ash are about to learn a shocking truth that is far darker than they could have imagined.

Available on Bookshop

#13 We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer ✅

I listened to the audiobook of We Used to Live Here earlier this year, and I loved it. However, each chapter ends with excerpts from articles and transcripts that refer to events that happen, so it would be better to read it as a paperback. I have since bought the paperback, and I would like to reread the book now.

We Used to Live Here follows Eve, who, with her girlfriend Charlie, purchases an old house to flip. One day, a man with his family knocks on the door and claims he used to live there years before, and he wants to show his kids around. Eve reluctantly lets them in, but strange things begin happening, including the youngest child going missing and Charlie suddenly vanishing, which causes Eve to slowly lose her grip on reality.

Available on Bookshop

#14 Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman ✅

I received the ebook for Incidents Around the House through NetGalley for review. I read and enjoyed Bird Box, but I did not like the sequel, Malorie, so I am curious about checking out another book by Josh Malerman.

Incidents Around the House is told from the perspective of eight-year-old Bela. Her family, including her Mommy, Daddo, and Grandma Ruth, is her world. But, there is also Other Mommy who asks her every day, “Can I go inside your heart?” Other Mommy is growing tired of asking Bela the same question, and when incidents happen around the house, Bela understands her family will have to pay unless she says yes soon.

Available on Bookshop

#15 Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

I purchased Mexican Gothic on sale at Politikens Boghal in Copenhagen. The book follows Noemí, who receives a frantic letter from her newly-wed cousin begging for someone to save her. Noemí then heads to High Place, a house in the Mexican countryside, to uncover the many secrets behind the walls.

Available on Bookshop

#16 Radio Silence by Alice Oseman ✅

I have read all 5 volumes of Heartstopper, along with This Winter and Nick and Charlie. I want to read more novels set within the Heartstopper universe, including Radio Silence.

The book follows Frances, who is a study machine and will not let anything stand in her way of reaching her goal. Frances then meets Aled, and she is unafraid to be herself. However, the fragile trust between them becomes broken, and Frances is caught between who she was and who she longs to be.

Available on Bookshop

#17 Home Before Dark by Riley Sager ✅

I have previously read Final Girls, which I rated an 8/10, and I have been wanting to read more Riley Sager books. I currently have Home Before Dark on hold through Libby.

The book is about Maggie Holt, who moved to Baneberry Hall with her parents, Ewan and Jess, 25 years ago. They spent 3 weeks in the home before fleeing. Ewan then recounted the events that happened in his book House of Horrors. Today, Maggie restores old homes, and she does not remember any events in her father’s book, but she does not believe in ghosts. Maggie inherits Baneberry Hall after her father’s death, and she returns to renovate the home. However, Maggie soon experiences strange occurrences straight out of her father’s book.

Available on Bookshop

#18 The Only One Left by Riley Sager ✅

Another Riley Sager book I want to read is The Only One Left, which is one of the audiobooks I got through Libro.fm.

In 1929, the Hope family was murdered, and most people believe 17-year-old Lenora was responsible. However, police could not prove it, and Lenora has denied it. Lenora has not spoken about the murders or set foot outside her home, Hope’s End, since. Now, in 1983, a home-health aide, Kit, arrives at Hope’s End to care for Lenora after the previous nurse fled. Lenora is now in her 70s, confined to a wheelchair, and is mute. Lenora communicates with Kit by using a typewriter, and she types that she wants to tell Kit about everything. Kit helps Lenora write about the events, but Kit starts suspecting Lenora might not be telling the complete truth, and she could be more dangerous than Kit thought.

Available on Bookshop

#19 Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle ✅

I came across Camp Damascus when looking through the Goodreads Summer Reading Recommendations. The book is set in Neverton, Montana, a God-fearing community. Camp Damascus is the self-proclaimed “most effective” gay conversion camp in the country, but the secret behind that success is anything but holy.

Available on Bookshop

#20 More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa ✅

The last book on my summer reading list is More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop. I read the first book, Days at the Morisaki Bookshop, in April, and I liked it for the most part. I am curious about the second book, and I have it on hold through Libby. The story follows Takako again and her uncle Satoru’s bookshop in Tokyo, Morisaki Bookshop. As time passes, Satoru, with the help of Takako, must choose whether to keep the bookshop open or shutter the doors forever.

Available on Bookshop

---

What books are on your summer reading list?