Springtime is here and summer is quickly approaching. Before I get swallowed up by end-of-school May Madness I like to take some time to think about what books I can look forward to reading, come those long, hot summer days.
This time of year is also primetime new book releases that make for great summer beach reads. I love saving posts from my local indie bookstore’s Instagram feed, reading bookstagram recommendations, and cultivating a fun summer reading list for myself.
As a mom, summer reading no longer means trudging through some classic novel assigned by your high school English teacher; as an adult, you can fill your summer with stories that bring an escape or fill up your days with a little more fun.
How To Find Good Books For Summer Reading
First things first, where am I getting my recommendations? I follow a few bookstagram accounts that never let me down when it comes to fun, engaging, fresh reads that tend to align with my personal taste. These accounts are typically where I go to find the newest of new releases.
My favorite Instagram accounts to follow for bookish things are:
- Annie’s Five Star Bookclub (this is a paid subscription account that I love to follow. I have been a fan of Annie for years and she owns The Bookshelf Bookstore in Thomasville, Georgia)
- Bookshelf Tees
- Beach Reads and Bubbly
- Everyday Reading
- Tim Talks Books
My local library tends to have a frequently rotating new acquisition section but depending on the popularity of the book it can be hit or miss on its availability. I do love to look at my library for popular books I may have missed in summers past.
My local indie book store is one of my favorite resources to check out in person when book shopping in Dallas, but I also love following other indie bookstores online. Typically these recommendations are personalized from the booksellers and I love feeling like I have been personally recommended a read by a bookish friend at the store.
Read More This Summer By Keeping Track
As a kid I loved participating in my local library’s summer reading program. There were sticker charts, graphs to color, tickets to earn, and prizes to win! I personally do not think the fun of accomplishing a summer reading goal should have to end once you age out of the library summer reading program and love the idea of making a grown-up tracking chart for myself this summer!
During the year I use Goodreads to track my books (I have also been dipping my toe into The StoryGraph). At times I will use an Apple’s Notes app to write down recommendations in a conversation or take a photo of a book and create a TBR (to be read) album.
To incentivize myself this summer I thought it would be fun to have a printable to tape up alongside my kiddos summer reading charts. I love these cute summer fun inspired reading logs – color a popsicle or label the spine of a book. They are categorized as a kid’s reading log but I think they would be the perfect amount of whimsy for a mom looking to meet a summertime reading goal!
My Summer 2023 To Be Read (TBR) List
So, what am I hoping to read this summer? I tend to get really excited about beach reads and overload my TBR list. I have several books I wasn’t able to get to last summer that are appearing on my list again and several new releases with more being added daily!
New Book Releases For Summer 2023 That I’m Looking Forward To:
- The Five Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand
I love the tradition of devouring a Hilderbrand book during our annual beach trip. Her books take place in Nantucket and always remind me of summers spent on the East Coast in college. This book is about an unsatisfied food blogger and a girls weekend. - Someone Else’s Bucket List by Amy T. Matthews
After the untimely death of her sister, Jodie Boyd is convinced to take over her travels and live out her last wishes. This book seems sad but sweet and filled will wanderlust – great for daydreaming about summer travel. - The Sunset Crowd by Karin Tanabe
LA women in the 70’s all striving to get to the top of their careers. Secret crushes, worlds colliding, fabulous characters and backdrops. Sounds like a great escape!
Books On My Shelf I Want To Read This Summer:
It is a personal goal of mine this year to read some of the physical books on my shelf before buying more! These are three books I bought last summer but did not get to and hope to flip through this summer.
- Beach Read by Emily Henry
Two completely different writers living next door to each other for the summer? Sounds like a great setting for romance, bickering, and character building. This was heavily recommended and reviewed the last several years. - Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
This book made frequent appearances on many a summer book list last year! I bought it at the end of the summer and by the time I got to it I wasn’t in the mood for a beach read. This book has one of my favorite romance tropes of second chance love. I cannot wait to dive in! - Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins
I know it has been said to not judge a book by it’s cover but the cover of this book screams summer! An island, beautiful young people, and scandalous secrets. I have a feeling this will be a page turner.
Audiobooks I Want To Listen To:
- Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
One of my favorite authors meets one of my favorite narrators. This has been sitting in my audible account for ages and I think it would make the perfect pairing for summertime walks. - Thank You For Listening by Julia Whelan
Julia Whelen is one of my favorite narrators to listen to and I have had her book on my TBR/TBL forever. It is a book about voice actors and narrators and romance. I love that she has used her own personal experience to write about something she loves!
I LOVE chatting books and recommendations with other people and would love to know what books you are hoping to read this summer. Is your list full of fresh new releases? Do you have some physical books you want to work through? Happy Summer reading, friends!
No Parenting books? I devoured them when I was raising my 4 children!.
Perhaps you have them listed elsewhere.and I missed it.
If not, you definitely should have parenting books on your website.
My favorite recommendation , hands down, is
BRINGING UP BEBE, by American journalist PAMELA DRUCKERMAN..
Funny,, profound, and groundbreaking. I cannot say enough. good things about it.
PS: My four children were born in Santa Barbara, are all grown and happy, successful people,, two girls and two boys, the loves of my life, other than my husband!. This book came out way after they were being brought up, and somehow, as I think you suggest,, growing up with love, they all survive..