2025 Summer Reading List
Get ready for vacation with the Never Enough Novels 2025 summer reading list!
After the scandal involving the AI generated summer reading list with fake book titles that made it’s way into ACTUAL NEWSPAPERS, I thought it would be helpful to share my personal book recommendations. I assure you, all of these book titles actually exist!
I normally gravitate toward easy, breezy books during summer but I know other readers love to escape into fantasy or take the chance to tackle longer or heavier books. So, I included a variety of options in my summer book recommendations!
Most of these are books I’ve read but a few are still on my TBR that I’ll be reading along with you this summer!
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2025 Summer Reading List
Till Summer Do Us Part by Meghan Quinn
Get ready for another laugh out loud spicy rom com from Meghan Quinn! She hits it out of the park with this fake marriage, summer camp romance. The premise is admittedly a little off the wall, but I promise it works! Scottie is trying to fit in with her married coworkers when she claims that she’s also coupled up, but going through some problems with her husband. Her boss jumps to “rescue” by offering an appointment with her partner, a couples counselor…
Now desperate to find a man, Scottie turns to her best friend’s brother who loves improv and happily accepts the assignment. However, Wilder gets a little too involved and they’re invited to a week long couples camp.
Scottie and Wilder hope they can just fake their problems early on and pretend to reconcile by the end of the camp. As the days stretch on though, Scottie finds herself being forced to face her demons from her actual previous failed marriage – struggling with Wilder’s attention and ultimate attraction to her. Wilder convinces her to use the therapy sessions to finally heal from the wounds caused by her previous husband and finds he wants to show her just how much love she deserves.
The issues Scottie is dealing with are incredibly relatable – the small scars from a relationship full of loneliness and feeling like she’s not desirable or worthy of attention. I loved how Wilder continuously showed her how she should be treated instead. Meghan does a phenomenal job mixing these deeper moments with hilarious scenes. This novel has a powerful message but still manages to be lighthearted enough for a summer romance! | Buy From Amazon | Buy From Target
What Happens in Amsterdam by Rachel Lynn Solomon
I feel like Rachel Lynn Solomon has flown under the radar, but I adore both her young adult and adult romances! I think she benefits from the fact that she’s not being forced to pop out a new book each year, so her novels are always well plotted, full of great dialogue and the perfect amount of spice!
I was particularly excited for her newest book because Rachel actually moved to Amsterdam recently and incorporates her own experiences with the city in this book. Her writing makes you feel like you’re actually there, with detailed descriptions of the food, the locations, the language, and general vibes!
This is a unique second chance romance in which two high school lovers find themselves in a marriage of convenience as adults. Dani is desperate for a fresh start when she moves to Amsterdam but things don’t go as planned and now she needs a visa to stay. She literally runs over Wouter, her former boyfriend, and discovers he needs a wife in order to keep his beloved childhood home.
Their marriage is a sham, but as a result they’re forced to spend plenty of time in each other’s company! They quickly realize the chemistry is still there, but is it a good idea to actually fall in love with your spouse? This is the perfect summer romance if you’re looking for a second chance romance that will transport you to a gorgeous new city! | Buy From Amazon | Buy From Target
Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood
I just mentioned this in my Best Books of 2025 (So Far) list because it is one of my favorite romances I read this year. Ironically, I wasn’t even aware of this book until it was published, which is shocking for a new Ali Hazelwood! She’s one of my all-time favorite authors and has yet to write a book I rated lower than 4.5 stars.
I found out this was the reader-requested sequel to Not In Love. I guess people were begging Ali for some sort of ending for two side characters – Maya and Conor. She started out planning to write a novella, but quickly discovered the characters deserved their own full length story.
Wow – was she right!! I had low expectations going in because I barely remembered these characters. Then proceeded to devour this romance in just a few days!! I was blown away by how much I loved Maya and Conor’s story. This is an age gap romance between Maya in her mid 20’s and Conor in his late 30’s. The story takes place over the course of a week at Eli and Rue’s wedding in Italy, but includes flashbacks over the past four years showcasing the development of Maya and Conor’s friendship and relationship.!
I was so invested in this relationship that I was literally tearing up along with Maya at one point near the end. I could feel her frustration with Conor and the cold acceptance that he wasn’t willing to change his view of himself for her. This was such a well written story that didn’t shy away from the complications of their friendship and ultimately relationship. I can’t rave about it enough – these two are going to be one of my favorite couples of the year! Buy From Amazon | Buy From Target
Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister
Camilla wakes up one morning to find her husband gone and a cryptic note in his place. She’s supposed to be dropping her daughter off at daycare for the first time and returning to her job as a literary agent. However, her world is upended when she gets a call about an ongoing hostage situation. As we all would assume, her first thought is that her husband is one of the hostages. But no, he’s the gunman.
Now, his note takes on a whole different meaning and she has to decide what to do next. We as readers are right there alongside her, as she makes impossible choices and faces an unimaginable situation. The novel takes a turn from this initial situation that I wasn’t expecting at all! Slowly over the course of the novel we get glimpses into Luke’s history and eventually piece together the circumstances that led to the hostage situation.
There were so many aspects of this book that took me by surprised. It isn’t all focused on just that one day, but I really enjoyed the narrative that covers both before and after the incident. Plus, the ending was incredibly satisfying! All around a five star thriller and a unique addition to this genre that will be unlike anything you’ve read. Buy From Amazon | Buy From Target
The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark
The Ghostwriter is a slow burn psychological thriller about a ghostwriter taking on a new, personal client. Olivia is struggling with her career after being blacklisted for calling out a misogynistic writer, so she has no choice but to accept this new assignment. A famous horror author is ready to tell the true story about the double murder of his siblings decades ago. The man is also Olivia’s father…
Vincent was the sole survivor of a horrific attack on his teenage brother and sister back in the 1970’s. Although he was cleared of charges, he has dealt with lingering suspicion that he was the murderer his entire life. Now, facing a dementia diagnosis, he’s turning to his estranged daughter to finally explain what happened that night.
Olivia is drawn home and thrust into the mystery that tore their family apart. Told through dual timelines and multiple perspectives, the story explores trauma, memory, and the elusiveness of truth. As Olivia digs deeper, she uncovers buried secrets, unreliable memories, and unsettling clues, leading to a final twist that redefines everything she thought she knew about her father. Julie does an incredible job setting the stage for the murders, building tension and unraveling an unexpected ending! | Buy From Amazon | Buy From Target
Everyone Is Lying To You by Jo Piazza
A unique spin on the #tradwife trend is the basis for this thriller! Lizzie and “Bex” were inseparable in college—but after graduation, Bex abruptly vanished, leaving Lizzie bewildered. Fifteen years later, Bex has reinvented herself as Rebecca Sommers, a high-profile “tradwife” influencer flaunting a perfect life: a sprawling ranch, a handsome husband named Gray, and five children, all packaged for social media likes. Lizzie, now juggling life as a magazine writer and mom, feels stuck—until Rebecca unexpectedly taps her for an exclusive interview and invites her to MomBomb, a major influencer conference
Their reunion at MomBomb takes a chilling turn when Rebecca vanishes and Gray is found brutally murdered on the ranch. Thrust into the darker side of social media, Lizzie races to untangle the web of lies—rival influencers, secret affairs, jealousy, and betrayal. As she digs deeper, she uncovers a series of shocking revelations about her old friend, and is forced to confront the truth: in this world, no one is who they seem—and everyone is lying. | Buy From Amazon | Buy From Target
Enchantra by Kaylie Smith
This is part of a fantasy duology with Phantasma, but I’ve heard readers raving that it’s the better of the two! It seems to stand on it’s own, so you can pick it up easily without reading the first book. I wasn’t planning to read it since Phantasma was so unique, but after all the great reviews it’s definitely going on my summer TBR! I’m eager to hear more about Genevieve and her own experience in a different paranormal contest.
Genevieve is left with unanswered questions after her mother’s sudden death, and she might have the opportunity to get some answers when she receives an invitation to Enchantra, a cursed palace in Italy that contains a deadly labyrinth. Only one occupant of the house can survive to win the game.
She’s initially denied entrance by Rowin, one of seven siblings forever trapped in the game, but sneaks inside and finds herself with only one option to get out – win the whole thing. Once he realizes she’s inside, Rowin convinces her to team up and the two form an unlikely alliance, but dangers still lurk everywhere and the most important rule is to never trust your heart. | Buy From Amazon | Buy From Target
Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry
I DEVOURED this 500 page fantasy book in 27 hours because I couldn’t put it down once I started! The story focuses on a princess who is married off to a neighboring kingdom to fulfill a peace treaty. Except Odessa was never meant to be the Sparrow, her younger sister had trained her whole life for that role. The night before she left, Odessa discovers her father needs her to spy on the people of Turah and discover the location of their secret capital where they may be hiding knowledge.
Odessa is left reeling, with no skills or training to help her with this assignment. Her new husband, Zavier, barely speaks to her and his right hand man, the legendary Guardian, won’t stop pestering her. Over time, though, Odessa learns more about Turah and the people that are plagued by the atrocious beasts that roam the land, some of which are infected with a poison that makes them stronger and more ruthless than normal.
I love so many things about this book! First of all – Odessa isn’t our normal fantasy heroine. She’s literally terrible at everything, from fighting to running to playing politics. It was so refreshing and relatable to read about her initial attempts to train with weapons and develop stamina! And though she gets marginally better, she doesn’t magically become this amazing fighter.
Also the slow burn between her and the Guardian was incredible!! He always seemed to pop up and annoy her with his teasing and she constantly peppered him with questions he probably shouldn’t be answering. There were a few twists that literally made me gasp out loud too! This is probably going to be my favorite fantasy of 2025!! | Buy Deluxe Edition From Amazon | Buy From Target
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
I just recently bought this one from a local indie bookstore! They had a signed copy, so I couldn’t resist. I am not a Taylor Jenkins Reid superfan like I know a lot of people are, but I absolutely love novels about space. Since the topic of this one is particularly interesting for me so I figured it was worth giving her another try.
In the 1980’s, a physics professor is chosen as one of the first women scientists to enter NASA’s space shuttle program. Joan finds herself living out a dream as she meets the other astronauts and diving into the world of NASA. The group comes from a wide variety of backgrounds and contains a range of personalities, but they form a bond as they train together.
Joan finds a new passion for life and a new love that she never expected. But in December 1984, on mission STS-LR9, everything changes in an instant. I’m dying to know more about what happens to these astronauts! It feels like the description is leaving us on a crazy cliffhanger, so I have no doubt this will be another unputdownable read from TJR. | Buy From Amazon | Buy From Target
The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff
If you’re looking for a captivating family drama that spans decades, this is a great option! Some of my friends have picked this as one of their favorite books of the year so far – an unputdownable read!
The story of one family and the secrets they’ve kept is told from three points of view, so readers get an intimate look at the impact of lies and deceit on a marriage and children. At the beginning of the novel, Ryan and Lillian Bright are happily married and devoted parents to their young baby girl, Georgette. Except Ryan is hiding an alcohol addiction and Lillian has a son that Ryan knows nothing about.
Georgette spends her childhood watching the ups and downs of her parents marriage and eventually distances herself from them completely. Until Lillian’s son comes searching for his birth mother and Georgette is reeled back into their lives again. The story is told from three different perspectives, so you get an intimate look at the thoughts and emotions of all three core family members. Within these pages you’ll see a family torn apart by secrets and tragedy, but ultimately restored through the power of grace and love. | Buy From Amazon | Buy From Target
Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
I listened to this on audio somewhat recently and admittedly it wasn’t my favorite style, but I’m adding it to this list because it’s extremely popular with regular literary fiction readers! The atmospheric writing and bit of suspense make it perfect for summer!
I would recommend the audiobook if you’re able to find it, since it’s a full cast and the different narrators for different characters truly make you feel immersed in the story. We meet the Salt family, a man and his three children who live on a remote island near Antarctica. Dominic Salt is the caretaker of the seed bank, a fascinating concept in itself and a topic you learn a lot about over the course of the story. This place holds the world’s most important seeds, so they can be resown if vast parts of Earth are ever destroyed.
When a woman washes up on their shores who is searching for her husband, her time with the family upend everything they’ve built and unearth secrets about what has happened with the Salts and the other researchers on the island. | Buy From Amazon