2026 Summer Reading Picks: Upcoming Book Releases
Summer has officially arrived, bringing with it ample opportunities to dive into some great reads.
Whether you’re lounging at the beach or relaxing poolside, many authors are spotlighting their much-anticipated new novels just in time for the season of leisure.
Former Bachelorette star Hannah Brown is maintaining her summer release trend with her third novel, Reasons to be Loved By You. This story revolves around Nikki Bennet and seems to draw significant inspiration from her own life — but we’ll touch on that shortly.
Keep scrolling for a selection of the most eagerly awaited books for summer 2026:
‘Rules for the Summer’ by Meghan Quinn
The queen of spice returns with another summer romance. Rules for the Summer depicts the forced proximity between Renley Gossage and Theo Williams, who become neighbors for the season. (out now)
‘Payback’ by Elizabeth Rose Quinn
Pay to Stay is a minimum-security prison where the privileged serve time from Friday to Monday. When seven inmates discover their guard dead, they must unravel the mystery before their prison stay takes a drastic turn. (out now)
‘The Burning Side’ by Sarah Damoff
In Damoff’s follow-up to The Bright Years, April and Leo must confront the aftermath of a house fire that forces them to move to April’s hometown with their two young kids. (out now)
‘A Pair of Aces’ by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
Eunice Carter, Manhattan’s first Black female prosecutor, is determined to take down the infamous gangster Lucky Luciano. Partnering with madame Polly Adler, who has established a high-class brothel, the two women will stop at nothing to convict the head of one of New York’s notorious crime families. (out June 2)
‘The Kennedys and the Windsors’ by Caroline Hallemann
Journalist Hallemann explores the connections between the two legendary families, highlighting their striking similarities. (out June 2)
‘Reasons to be Loved by You’ by Hannah Brown
Nikki Bennet, a former pageant contestant, has moved on from her time on the reality dating show LovedBy, especially after discovering that her fiancé had been seeing another woman. But when she returns home for a family holiday, her brother announces his engagement to “the other woman” from her past. Collaborating with Cara’s brother to stop the wedding might lead Nikki to a love story of her own. (out June 23)
‘Crash Into Me’ by Robinne Lee
Lee returns with the highly awaited sequel to her 2017 novel The Idea of You. Brace yourself for an emotional second-chance romance featuring Cecilia Chen, who navigates motherhood and a complicated marriage, along with Anouk Ferrand, someone she hasn’t laid eyes on in two decades. (out July 7)
‘Helpless’ by Jessica Knoll
Upon returning to campus after the death of their beloved professor, Faye finds herself drugged and kidnapped by her ex-boyfriend, Henry. The narrative unfolds over a week of her captivity, revealing several demands from Henry — along with the truth. (out July 7)
‘The Romance Revival’ by Christina Lauren
Emery Finch has been married to Luca for three years, having married after just one night together. Following a tragic accident that takes Luca’s life, Emery must find a way to remind him of their shared memories. (out July 14)
‘With Friends Like You’ by Amy Chozick
This psychological thriller follows Emily, a new mother in Manhattan, as she fixates on locating her college roommate Daisy, who vanished years earlier. When Daisy suddenly returns, it raises many unanswered questions. (out July 21)
‘Tempest’ by Victoria Aveyard
A high-stakes pirate love story awaits readers – a tale we didn’t know we needed. Follow Cat Rose as she fights to protect her empire while pursuing her greatest adversary: the only man she has ever loved. (out September 8)
