There’s no better time to catch up on your reading list than sweet, sweet summer. Whether you’re hanging out poolside, lounging on the beach or holed up at a cozy cottage, the season provides plenty of opportunities to relax and get lost in a great story.
Whether you tend to gravitate towards fascinating non-fiction reads, or you’re a sucker for a romantic love story, there’s always a new page-turner to reignite your passion for literature. There’s still time to take advantage of what’s left of summer and find your next great read.
We’ve rounded up the best summer books for 2021 — here are 10 trending titles to add to your list.
Best Summer Books for 2021
1. Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted
This moving memoir tells the story of a young woman’s journey with leukemia, and how she reclaimed her life after surviving 1,500 days of grueling treatments. Perfect for: gaining a new perspective on life.
2. Keep Sharp: Build a Better Brain at Any Age
In this educational read, CNN’s chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, shares his advice for keeping your brain sharp and healthy at any age. Perfect for: hacking your brain.
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3. Malibu Rising
This novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid, the author of “Daisy Jones and the Six,” will take you on a whirlwind adventure of four famous siblings throwing an epic party in Malibu. Perfect for: living out all your ‘80s dreams, sans time machine.
4. How to Avoid a Climate Disaster
Bill Gates takes a deep dive into the current climate catastrophe, offering a thorough and detailed plan for achieving zero greenhouse gas emissions. Perfect for: nerding out on sustainability and the science of climate change.
5. Billy Summers
In famed storyteller Stephen King’s latest novel, we catch a glimpse into the world of Billy Summers: one of the best snipers in the world and a decorated Iraq war vet. Perfect for: getting in touch with your dangerous side.
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6. All In: An Autobiography
Legendary pro tennis player Billie Jean King tells all in this inspiring autobiography, sharing intimate details of her career with women’s liberation, the civil rights movement and the fight for equality for the LGBTQ+ community as a backdrop. Perfect for: learning to live honestly and without regret.
7. People We Meet on Vacation
This charming tale from the author of “Beach Read,” Emily Henry tells the story of two best friends, a summer vacation and of course, a sweep-you-off-your-feet romance. Perfect for: romanticizing your summer vacation.
8. What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing
Sit down with Dr. Bruce D. Perry and Mama O herself for a deep discussion of how traumatic events have the potential to inform our beliefs, behaviors and overall life path. Perfect for: deep diving into vulnerable self-reflection.
9. Project Hail Mary
From the author of “The Martian”, Andy Weir, comes a new dramatic, thrilling and suspenseful tale of an unparalleled interstellar adventure (FYI: the upcoming movie is set to star Ryan Gosling so, you know, you’re welcome). Perfect for: romping through space without spending billions of dollars on a rocket ship.
10. Under a White Sky: The Nature of the Future
In this fascinating non-fiction book, author Elizabeth Kolbert explores the Anthropocene: a new era of life on earth marked by the massive impacts humans are having on global ecosystems, and how some scientists are making strides towards healing the planet. Perfect for: learning about the wonders of modern science.
