Your End-of-Summer Reading List

It’s that time of year again: the heat and humidity have settled sluggishly over everything, long days stretch into endless evenings, and the lakes, beaches, and pools beckon. It’s the ideal time to dive into a good summer read while you soak up the rays, use up some vacation time, and try to recapture the feeling of a childhood summer, when your biggest responsibility was picking a book from the reading list and returning to class in the fall with a written report. So, what qualifies as a summer read for grown-ups? Anything that immerses you in its pages is perfect in my book. From poetry collections to childhood favorites, murder mysteries to memoirs, here’s what some members of the Life is Good team are loving this summer.

1. Summer Solstice: An Essay by Nina McLaughlin – “This slim essay-turned-book is easily finished in a summer afternoon, and embodies absolutely everything there is to love about the season.” – Stefanie S.

Books that immerse you in the moment are a special favorite of mine this time of year.

2. Arc of a Scythe Series by Neal Shusterman – “I loved the premise of these books so much that I read the entire series during a single trip to PR.” – Marcus H.

A series = ultimate summer reading. There’s no better feeling than knowing you have multiple days’ (or weeks’) worth of material waiting for you.

3. The 13½ Lives of Captain Bluebear by Walter Moers, translated by J. Maxwell Brownjohn – “This was my favorite growing up.” – Marcus H.

Summer is the season of nostalgia. What better time to revisit a childhood favorite?

4. The Nineties: A Book by Chuck Klosterman – “The ‘90s were a great time to be a kid. We were the last generation not to be online 24/7, art and music pushed new boundaries, and MTV still played music videos (remember those?). Klosterman’s collection of humorous essays and history captures the feeling of a bygone era while reminding us of what we’ve lost since social media and ‘going viral’ entered our cultural lexicon.” – Brian K.

See above re: nostalgia.

5. Heart Talk by Cleo Wade – “This is my favorite book of all time. It has bite-sized poems offering wisdom, inspiration, and reassurance. It’s my go-to when I need to reframe how I’m thinking about something. Great for summer and less sunny times as well.” – Kay P.

Anything bite-sized is wonderful for warm weather days—read a little, take a dip in the pool, and come back for more when you’re ready to resume.

6. How to Be a Good Creature: A Memoir in Thirteen Animals by Sy Montgomery – “This book is only 200 pages long, so I can get through it in a day at the beach. However, if you’re not spending 8 hours just lounging, it’s a series of short stories so it’s easy to pick up and put down without getting lost. And, no matter what you’re going through there’s a story in there that might help, or a story in there that will prepare you for something you might never expect.” – Michelle B.

This one sounds wholesome, hopeful, and helpful—a can’t-beat combo, any time of the year.

7. The Inner Game of Tennis by W. Timothy Gallwey – “This book, built on the foundation of humanistic psychology, uses the mind-intensive sport of tennis to address broader themes of reframing self-talk, controlling anxiety, and increasing awareness. All in fewer than 130 pages!” – Matt K.

Summer is as good a time as any to sharpen up those mind skills.

8. Verity by Colleen Hoover – “If you can’t decide between re-watching Shutter Island or an episode of the Real Housewives, then this book is for you. A super binge-able weekend read, it’s a rollercoaster of emotions and a murder mystery at its core. P.S.—the ending will leave you SHOOK.” – Megan N.

A thriller just hits different in the summer heat. I can’t think of a better way to pass a late summer’s evening.

9. Lust for Life by Irving Stone – “This one is based on the extensive letters between Vincent Van Gogh and his brother. It’s a fascinating read about the struggles of a brilliant creative.” – Ian K.

This 500-pager will likely last through your entire beach vacay, and then some.

10. Shoe Dog by Phil Knight – “This memoir by the founder of Nike dives deep into the early days of the brand. Nike was a big inspiration for Life is Good and I can see the parallels even more clearly after reading this book. The story reminded me that everyone (even the founder of NIKE!) experiences self-doubt and set backs... it's just a matter of continuing to pick yourself back up.” – Taylor C.

As summer slowly but surely comes to a close, kick fall off on a high note with an inspiring story of resilience and optimism.

Happy reading!

What is the Life is Good Community Reading? 

Wildwood by Colin Meloy

The Summer I Turned Pretty Series by Jenny Han

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Normal People by Sally Rooney

Every Summer After by Carley Fortune