We love this post from May, 2024 so much that we updated it for 2026!
I love reading in the summer— escaping to a different world, looking at a life story with a different lens, or simply imagining I’m on vacation in a beautiful place. Summer is my favorite time to dive into a great juicy love story with a great twist.
Finding the perfect book to read can be so difficult. Don’t worry, we are here to help. I pulled together the STL mom team to come up with a list of great summer reads for you. Below you can check out a quick note about why a team member loved it and the book cover so you can search for it at your local bookstore or library. The titles shared below are listed in no particular order. We hope you enjoy our list!
Feel free to tag us @stlouis_mom or tag me @abbykristine16 with some of your favorite summer reads!
Photos: Liz Tomforde Press Kit
The Windy City Series by Liz Tomforde
📖 Recommended by St. Louis Mom, Abby 📖
Contemporary romance | Sports romance
I’m currently planning to re-read The Windy City series. If you loved the Off Campus TV show or the Off Campus book series by Elle Kennedy, you will love the Windy City series! Great found family, multi-sport series, body positive male main characters, disclaimer: this is an open door romance series. (*In Her Own League is a Windy City spin-off)
Photos courtesy of Amazon
More than a Game series by Annah Conwell
📖 Recommended by St. Louis Mom, Abby 📖
Sports fiction | Contemporary romance
If you love sports romance and are looking for no spice but total swoon-worthy moments, check out the More Than a Game series by Annah Conwell- adorable found family and the best “guys” chat!
Photos courtesy of Amazon
The Sparrow Falls Series by Catherine Cowles
📖 Recommended by St. Louis Mom, Abby 📖
Romantic suspense | Small-town romance
The Sparrow Falls Series by Catherine Cowles is the perfect small town, mystery/romance combo- lots of thrill with “whodunnit” vibes and always a well done interwoven love story. I consumed this whole series (6 books) in under two weeks. Perfect for the person wanting a mix of genres with a good twist!
Photo courtesy of Amazon
The Shippers by Katherine Center
📖 Recommended by St. Louis Mom, Abby 📖
Rom-com / Contemporary romance
This book gave Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren vibes, but without the spice and a bit deeper topics.
Photo courtesy or Amazon
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
📖 Recommended by St. Louis Mom, Jennedy 📖
Historical fiction | Romance
I read this book in two days. It takes place in the 80s, when women were just being allowed to work as astronauts. It’s a beautifully written love story that will make you bawl your eyes out at the end.
Photo Courtesy of Amazon
The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren
📖 Recommended by St. Louis Mom, Lauren 📖
Rom-com | Contemporary romance
If Succession were a rom com, this would be it!
Photo courtesy of Elif Shafak’s Press Kit
There are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak
📖 Recommended by St. Louis Mom, Elise 📖
Historical fiction | Literary fiction | Magical realism
A truly masterful story that flows through timelines and shows the connections of human experience. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Photo Courtesy of Amazon
James by Percival Everett
📖 Recommended by St. Louis Mom, Marlena 📖
Historical fiction | Literary fiction | Social satire
A masterful retelling of Huckleberry Finn from enslaved Jim’s perspective. It deserves every award it got.
Photo Courtesy of Amazon
Wonder by R.J. Palacio
📖 Recommended by St. Louis Mom, Marlena 📖
Realistic fiction | Juvenile + Middle grade fiction
My 10 yr old actually recommended I read it after his class had read it. Game changer and I wish I’d have had a book like this as a kid. I feel like it made me a more compassionate and aware person.
Photo Courtesy of Amazon
Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
📖 Recommended by St. Louis Mom, Amy 📖
Historical fiction | Historical mystery-thriller
Historical fiction about a midwife in post-Revolutionary War New England — so good!
Photo Courtesy of Amazon
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
📖 Recommended by St. Louis Mom, Rebekah 📖
Non-fiction
This was a challenging read in all the good ways! It made me think deeply about how often our very limited knowledge of others and their experiences forms an opinion that becomes deeply rooted in our subconscious and can be difficult to uproot. It casts a light on societal systems in place. This is an important, fascinating read and challenges how we define true success!
Photo Courtesy of Amazon
Anatomy of an Alibi by Ashley Elston
📖 Recommended by St. Louis Mom, Carol 📖
Psychological suspense | Domestic thriller
Beach reads tend to be light and breezy, but I love to alternate a light romance with a thriller that hooks me, and Anatomy of an Alibi did just that. It kept me guessing until the end!
Photo Courtesy of Amazon
How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson
📖 Recommended by St. Louis Mom, Carol 📖
Slasher | Rom-com
This book is IT if you can’t decide between a rom com or a thriller! And by thriller, I mean slasher book, and boy does it slash. Never have I read a book that mixes genres so well!
