2024 Summer Reads
Hi, my bookish besties!
I don’t know about you, but, when summertime comes, all I want to do is read outside in the park or by the pool soaking up all the sun. Because of this, I decided it would be a good idea to curate a list of new romance and fantasy books that have either just been released or will be released in the next couple of months.
Without further ado, I come to you with 10 highly anticipated summer reads for 2024!
Romance
The Paradise Problem
Christina Lauren
Release Date: May 14, 2024
Anna Green and Liam Weston resorted to scam marriage so they live in subsidized family housing while in college. The marriage was supposed to end when they crossed the graduation stage, and she thought it was when she signed the divorce papers.
Three years later, Anna struggles to sustain her life as an artist and West is a Stanford professor. He has no desire to be a part of the family business, but he is concerned about his substantial inheritance. But there is a catch. According to his grandfather's will, West must remain happily married for five years to receive his portion. He turns to Anna for help to convince his wealthy family of his marriage.
Yet, when faced with his affluent family, West's concerns shift from Anna's ability to play the role of a devoted wife to the potential corruption of her goodwill and pure-hearted nature. Is sacrificing true love for financial gain a price worth paying?
Purchase on Amazon
This Summer Will Be Different
Carly Fortune
Release Date: May 7, 2024
Lucy, a tourist vacationing on Prince Edward Island, encounters Felix, a charming local who sweeps her off her feet. Unbeknownst to Lucy, Felix is the younger brother of her best friend. Despite their undeniable chemistry, they both acknowledge the multitude of reasons why they should keep their distance and promise to avoid a repeat that one night.
Each year, Lucy escapes to this coastal town for rejuvenation with her friend Bridget. Despite their good intentions, Lucy finds herself irresistibly drawn to Felix.
But when Lucy rushes to the island to offer support to Bridget who unexpectedly flees Toronto just before her wedding. Determined to assist Bridget through her crisis, she must also resist Felix's allure. But its never simple and she questions if she can keep her heart safe.
Purchase on Amazon
Summertime Punchline
Betty Corrello
Release Date: May 21, 2024
Then. Delfina Silva-Miller's sole desire is to bid farewell to Evergreen, New Jersey, without a backward glance. Despite her grandmother's affectionate attempts to sway her, she can’t stand another moment with her hopeless father and humiliating crush.
Now. Del is a master at turning her misfortune into comedic gold and lands a spot in the highly sought after comedy festival. However, when Del loses her job, boyfriend, and apartment, she's left with no choice but to return to the hometown she swore off at eighteen.
Determined to remain undeterred by her past with Evergreen, Del sets herself a tight deadline to perfect a new comedy routine. She unexpectedly crosses paths with Eddie Rodriguez, who is nothing like the boy she left behind.
As the festival looms nearer, Del grapples with the daunting realization that her longed-for aspirations might not be as distant as she once believed.
Purchase on Amazon
Not In Love
Ali Hazelwood
Release Date: June 11, 2024
Rue Siebert's life may not be perfect, but she has a reliable circle of friends, financial stability, and a career as a biotech engineer at Kline, a promising startup in food science. However, everything changes when a hostile takeover with the strikingly attractive figurehead threatens everything she’s built.
Eli Killgore and his partners are determined to acquire Kline at any cost. Eli, driven by personal motives, is accustomed to achieving his goals. However, Rue presents a unique challenge—a woman he finds himself irresistibly drawn to, yet forbidden.
Caught between allegiance and desire, Rue and Eli defy caution, embarking on a secretive, no-strings-attached affair with an expiration date. But matters of the heart are unpredictable, Rue and Eli are playing a dangerous game for keeps.
Purchase on Amazon
The Rom-Commers
Katherine Center
Release Date: June 11, 2024
Emma Wheeler's ultimate dream is to make it as a screenwriter, specializing in crafting exceptional romantic comedies. When the opportunity arises to rewrite a script for the renowned Charlie Yates, Emma's idol and a legend in the industry, she jumps at the chance.
With her younger sister assuming the caretaking responsibilities of their father, Emma seizes the chance to relocate to Los Angeles for six weeks to tackle what could be the breakthrough project of her career. Yet, as the saying goes, meeting your heroes isn't always as glamorous as imagined and Charlie Yates lives up to that phrase. But that was not the only hurdle to her dream, the project they are working on is bound for major failure.
Emma refuses to back down and resolves to change Yates's cynical perspective. Even if it means resorting to unconventional methods, including possibly an accidental kiss that sparks unexpected chemistry. What if their fantasy world starts to become the real world?
Purchase on Amazon (This hardcover has beautiful pink sprayed edges)
The Art of Catching Feelings
Alicia Thompson
Release Date: June 18, 2024
Daphne Brink has never really enjoyed watching “America’s Snoozefest,” but finds herself at a game after finalizing her divorce. Fuelled by beer, she impulsively heckles Carolina Battery player Chris Kepler, unaware that her taunts would lead to an unexpected emotional response from the player. Daphne felt she needed to apologize and reached out via social media to Chris. As he is currently grappling with personal turmoil, he goes against his normal pattern and decides to respond to her message from "Duckie,” not making the connection that it was his heckler.
As their online exchanges deepen, Daphne struggles with the guilt of concealing her true identity, especially as she becomes more involved with the team in real life. With their feelings for each other blossoming, the impending revelation of Daphne's initial heckling looms over their budding romance. Will the truth shatter their connection, or will they find a way to hit a home run together?
Purchase on Amazon
A Novel Love Story
Ashley Poston
Release Date: June 25, 2024
Eileen Merriweather finds solace in the pages of romantic fiction, where happy endings abound, unlike her own tumultuous love life. Seeking refuge in her annual book club retreat for companionship and the allure of grand romance, she embarks on the journey despite unexpected car trouble.
Stranded in a picturesque town reminiscent of her favorite romance series, Eloraton, Eileen is captivated by its resemblance to fiction. Convinced it's a figment of her imagination, she becomes determined to play a role in its storybook conclusion, believing it to be her purpose.
However, the enigmatic bookstore owner challenges her perception of reality and threatens to derail her quest to fulfill the town's narrative. Quickly, she realizes that the resistance might jeopardize her own happily-ever-after.
Purchase on Amazon
Fantasy
Enlightenment
Sarah Perry
Release Date: May 2, 2024
Enlightenment follows the journey of Thomas Hart and Grace Macaulay, two unlikely friends in the small town of Aldleigh, Essex, spanning two decades. Despite their age difference, they share a deep bond, struggling with their religious beliefs and yearning for exploration beyond their Baptist community. Their friendship is tested by romantic entanglements, leading Thomas to become fixated on a legendary astronomer from the past, while Grace leaves Aldleigh for London.
As their lives unfold over the years, fate brings them together again, intertwined with the mystery of the vanished astronomer, revealing a poignant narrative of love and scientific pursuit. They grapple with questions of destiny, love's complexities, and the balance between faith and reason. Ultimately, Enlightenment is a captivating exploration of friendship, faith, and the intricacies of unfulfilled love, showcasing Sarah Perry's masterful storytelling.
Purchase on Amazon
When Among Crows
Veronica Roth
Release Date: May 14,2024
Roth takes on the vast Slavic folklore to discover if redemption and atonement can be unveiled in what we most fear.
Pain defines Dymitr's destiny. Descended from a lineage of hunters who sacrifice everything to combat monsters, he faces a perilous quest: track down the elusive witch, Baba Jaga. To locate her, Dymitr must forge unlikely alliances with those he's sworn to eradicate.
Pain shapes Ala's existence. As an unwilding fear-consuming zmora, Ala braces for the haunting curse that will lead to her inevitable demise. When Dymitr presents a potential cure in exchange for her assistance, Ala must agree as she is compelled by necessity.
United, they confront the dual threats of time and the dangerous underworld of Chicago. Yet, Dymitr's concealed truths and hidden agendas may pose the greatest danger, potentially unraveling everything they've fought for.
Purchase on Amazon
The Bright Sword
Lev Grossman
Release Date: July 16, 2024
A talented young knight named Collum arrives at Camelot with aspirations of joining the prestigious Round Table, only to discover that he has missed his opportunity. The King perished two weeks prior at the Battle of Camlann, leaving behind only a handful of surviving Round Table knights and no heir.
These knights are not legendary heroes like Lancelot or Gawain. Instead, they are the misfits of Camelot, including figures like Sir Palomides, the Saracen Knight, and Sir Dagonet. They are joined by Nimue, once Merlin's apprentice before betraying him. Together, this unconventional band of companions embarks on a quest to rebuild Camelot.
Yet, Arthur's demise has unearthed the fractures within Britain. The abandonment of God has allowed the resurgence of fairies, monsters, and ancient gods, led by Arthur's half-sister, Morgan le Fay. Amidst kingdoms at odds, warlords besieging Camelot, and factions rallying around the disgraced Lancelot and fallen Queen Guinevere, Collum and his allies must reclaim Excalibur, unravel the mysteries of the desolate world, and restore its harmony. They must confront the truth behind King Arthur's downfall and confront the ghosts of his troubled family and Britain's dark history.
From what I can tell, there are some amazing books to read this summer and I plan to read as many of them as I can. I hope you will pick up a couple and let me know your thoughts!
Have I missed any of your highly anticipated reads? What books are you excited to read this summer?
Lots of Love,
Kylie
