Whether you’re jetting off for two weeks by the pool or simply soaking up the sun in your garden or local park, summer is the perfect time to get lost in a captivating book.
Fortunately, 2025 offers a rich selection of titles to match every reading taste.
From this year’s most talked-about releases to sweeping family dramas and sharp social commentary, there’s something on this list for every kind of reader. These 10 standout novels are ideal for diving into during those long summer afternoons — and they’re not ranked in any particular order.
1. Waist Deep by Linea Maja Ernst
A literary sensation in Denmark, Waist Deep has now been translated into English by Sherilyn Nicolette Hellberg and is available in 10 languages. The novel follows a group of old university friends, now in their 30s, who reunite for a summer break at a countryside cabin. What begins as a carefree holiday of swimming and sunbathing slowly turns into a reflective exploration of past decisions and unfulfilled dreams. With its sunlit setting and introspective tone, it’s been hailed as a “quintessential millennial novel,” drawing comparisons to the works of Sally Rooney.
2. The Names by Florence Knapp
This debut novel has become one of the most buzzed-about books of the year. It presents a unique twist on fate through the story of Cora, who must choose a name for her newborn son. With three name options — from herself, her husband, and their young daughter — the novel splits into three alternate timelines, each shaped by that single decision. Despite exploring dark themes like domestic violence, Knapp’s writing maintains a hopeful tone, skillfully blending emotional depth with narrative creativity.
3. Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico
Short and sharp at just 120 pages, this Italian novel, translated by Sophie Hughes, is perfect for minimalist travelers. It tells the story of a millennial couple living in Berlin, immersed in a lifestyle built for social media aesthetics. Their carefully curated life — complete with trendy houseplants and vinyl records — starts to feel hollow beneath the surface. This biting satire will resonate with anyone who’s ever felt disillusioned by online perfection.
4. Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The latest novel from the bestselling author of Daisy Jones & The Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo moves away from glitzy celebrity worlds and into the 1980s NASA Space Shuttle program. Reid introduces Joan, one of the first women to join a space mission, as she navigates challenges both in the skies and among her fellow astronauts. A sweeping tale of ambition and resilience, it blends Reid’s signature emotional storytelling with an out-of-this-world setting.
5. Flashlight by Susan Choi
Following her National Book Award-winning Trust Exercise, Choi returns with another ambitious novel. Flashlight follows three generations of the Kang family — an American mother, a Korean father, and their biracial daughter — across multiple decades and continents. A disappearance sets the story in motion, unraveling a complex narrative filled with suspense, identity, and family secrets. It’s part thriller, part family saga — and entirely absorbing.
6. So Far Gone by Jess Walter
Jess Walter, known for Beautiful Ruins, delivers another gripping read — this time with a darker, more satirical tone. In So Far Gone, a disillusioned environmental journalist retreats to a remote ranch, seeking solitude. But when his daughter vanishes and his grandkids are kidnapped, he’s pulled back into the chaos of modern America. What follows is a darkly comic road trip through a fractured nation filled with conspiracy theories and culture clashes.
7. The Benefactors by Wendy Erskine
After two acclaimed short story collections, Erskine’s first novel cements her place as a leading literary voice from Northern Ireland. The plot centers around three mothers whose sons face accusations of sexual assault, triggering a series of emotional reckonings. With an ensemble cast and a deeply textured view of contemporary Belfast, the novel deftly explores themes of class, trauma, and consent. Critics have praised its emotional intelligence and stylistic elegance.
8. Fundamentally by Nussaibah Younis
Though it didn’t take home the Women’s Prize, Younis’s debut novel has generated major buzz. The story centers on a British academic tasked with helping former IS brides reintegrate into society — a weighty premise that’s surprisingly leavened by the author’s wit. Younis, drawing from her background in international affairs (and a stint in stand-up comedy), delivers a smart, satirical take on an otherwise grim subject. The result is a thought-provoking yet unexpectedly entertaining read.
9. The Sisters by Jonas Hassen Khemiri
At over 700 pages, Khemiri’s latest is a true literary epic. Written first in English, then again in Swedish by the author himself, The Sisters spans three decades and three continents, chronicling the lives of three sisters. Structured in six sections that each compress time — from a year down to a single minute — the novel is both structurally innovative and emotionally rich. It’s a deep, rewarding read for anyone ready to commit to a substantial summer novel.
10. Great Black Hope by Rob Franklin
Set against the elite backdrop of New York’s summer social scene, this debut offers more than just glamor and scandal. David Smith, a Black queer Stanford grad, seems to have a promising future — until his roommate dies unexpectedly and he’s arrested at a Hamptons party. As he navigates grief, race, class, and identity, Franklin paints a vivid portrait of a young man caught between two very different worlds. It’s a smart, emotionally resonant story that’s sure to make waves.
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