Ultimate Summer Reads
We all remember the summer holidays with nostalgia—how, when school broke, we each made a bucket list. It was the one time of year we could grow outside the constraints of school and have the most memorable experiences. It's nothing profound to say that we find ourselves reminiscing and wishing to relive those days. While I can't give you a way to time travel back, I can provide you with the definitive list of summer bildungsromans. A bildungsroman is a genre that follows the growth and formative years of a character. Apply this to the setting of summertime, and hey presto, your next page-turning read!
Classic Literature
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Set in the summer months in Maycomb, Alabama, Scout Finch learns about racism, justice, and moral growth in the American South through her father's defense of a black man accused of rape.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
Following the life of Francie Nolan, a young girl growing up in the slums of Brooklyn during the early 20th century. Through the challenges she faces, Francie learns about poverty, resilience, and the power of education.
Summer by Edith Wharton
Charley Royall, a middle-aged woman, reflects on her life during a summer vacation in a small New England town. Through her encounters with a young girl named Lucius Harney, Charley confronts her past and contemplates her future.
Young Adult Romance
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
“The Summer I Turned Pretty" by Jenny Han follows Belly over the summer where everything changes. The annual beach house stay with her family and the two boys she's grown up with turns to a navigation of love, friendship, and growing up.
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
Set over the course of one school year, but with significant events happening during the summer, this novel follows the unlikely romance between two misfit teenagers in Omaha, Nebraska. Through their shared love of music and comics, Eleanor and Park find solace and understanding in each other.
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Hazel Grace Lancaster, a sixteen-year-old cancer patient, meets Augustus Waters at a support group. As they embark on a journey to Amsterdam to meet Hazel's favorite author, they discover love, hope, and the beauty of life's imperfections.
Coming of Age
One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
Set in the summer of 1968, three sisters travel to Oakland, California, to spend the summer with their estranged mother. Through their experiences with the Black Panther Party, they learn about activism, identity, and family.
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares
"The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" by Ann Brashares: is one of the most well-known books on this list and involves four best friends who spend their first summer apart but stay connected through a pair of magical jeans that miraculously fits each of them perfectly. As they navigate love, family, and personal growth, they discover the true meaning of friendship.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp
Sutter Keely, a charming but troubled high school senior, lives in the moment, embracing his carefree lifestyle. However, when he meets Aimee, a shy and introverted girl, during the summer before their senior year, he begins to confront his own insecurities and fears about the future.
Contemporary Romance
The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo
Lucy and Gabe meet one fateful day in New York City, but their paths diverge. Over the course of thirteen summers, their lives intersect, leaving a lasting impact on each other as they grapple with love, loss, and destiny.
Summer Sisters by Judy Blume
Best friends Caitlin and Vix spend every summer together in Martha's Vineyard, but their friendship is tested by jealousy, rivalry, and secrets as they navigate adolescence and adulthood.
Call Me by Your Name by André Aciman
Set during a sun-drenched summer in Italy, this novel follows the passionate romance between seventeen-year-old Elio and twenty-four-year-old Oliver. As their relationship unfolds against the backdrop of a lush Mediterranean landscape, they grapple with desire, intimacy, and self-discovery.
Dark Themes
The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
Set during one stifling summer in 1970s suburban Michigan, this haunting novel follows the lives and deaths of the five Lisbon sisters. Through the eyes of the neighborhood boys who are infatuated with them, the novel explores themes of adolescence, obsession, and the loss of innocence.
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
During the summer on a private island off the coast of Massachusetts, a wealthy family gathers, but secrets and tragedies lurk beneath the surface. As Cadence Sinclair Eastman tries to piece together what happened two summers ago, she uncovers shocking truths about her family and herself.
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
Journalist Camille Preaker returns to her hometown to cover the murder of two young girls. As she delves deeper into the investigation, she confronts her own troubled past and uncovers dark secrets hidden within her family and the community.