23 Great Books to Read This Summer with Printable List

Wondering what to read over summer-break this year? Here are 23 Great Books for Moms to Read this Summer – at the beach, the cottage, or in the hammock in your own backyard. Grab the printable list to keep in your wallet so you have it handy when you’re at the bookstore or library!

I don’t do a lot of reading in winter-time, but I make up for it in summer, sometimes devouring 2 or 3 books in a week.

Whether you’re on away on vacation or enjoying summer break at home, there’s nothing better than curling up with a good novel and reading the afternoon away. 

I  love a book that I can really get lost in – one that totally sweeps me away and leaves me missing the characters fiercely when it comes to an end.

The best books always leave me feeling that way.

I’ve read many fantastic books that do that, and most were recommended to me by other moms. So to help me choose my reading list for this summer, I turned to the biggest group of moms I know – the moms in my Happy Hooligans Facebook Community, and I asked them for their summer reading recommendations.

I got some terrific suggestions, and I want to share the titles with you so you can pick through them this summer too.

Bonus: I’ve put the all the titles and authors into a printable list for you to keep your wallet.  That way, you’ll have it handy whenever you’re browsing at the library or Chapters. There’s nothing worse than being in a bookstore or library, and forgetting the name of the book you wanted to read, right?

As another bonus, at the bottom of this post, you’ll also find book lists for boys and girls so you can get your kids reading along with you this summer!

P.S. If you’d rather skip the library and have a book delivered to your door every month, check out my friend Keri’s  “Sweet Reads” Book Subscription Service.

Let’s dive in!

23 Great Books for Moms to Read this Summer

For your convenience, this post contains affiliate links.

Click each photo or book title to be taken to the book and its reviews on Amazon.

Elizabeth is Missing, by Emma Healey

A dark mystery made all the more intense by a loss of memory, Maud’s quest to find her missing friend has far-reaching repercussions that even she can’t anticipate.

Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon

The first of an 8-book series, the Outlander series focuses on 20th-century British nurse Claire Randall, who time-travels to 18th-century Scotland and finds adventure and romance with the dashing Highland warrior Jamie Fraser.

Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen

Set in the 1930s, a former veterinary student, orphaned and penniless, takes a job in a traveling circus and falls in love with the ringmaster’s wife.

The Consequences, by Alaetha Romig

For every action, there is a consequence. Claire, kidnapped and held against her will, must struggle to learn how to navigate the expectations of her captor in order to survive.

The Best of Me, by Nicholas Sparks

The Best of Me features two former lovers who wonder if the choices they made long ago can be rewritten by their still strong connection.

Before I Go to Sleep, by S.J. Watson

A psychological thriller about a woman who wakes up every day with no knowledge of who she is. Her husband explains every morning that an accident 2 decades prior destroyed her ability to create new memories.

Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn

With his wife’s disappearance having become the focus of an intense media circus, a man sees the spotlight turned on him when it’s suspected that he may not be innocent.

All Fall Down  by Jennifer Weiner

The story of a suburban wife, All Fall Down touches on modern-day addictions and how nothing is as clear-cut as one may think.

Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

Hoover explores the journey from good to bad, and dark to light in this heartbreaking story of Sky and Holder.

All The Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr

The paths of a German orphan and a blind French girl collide in this poignant tale set in WWII.

Don’t Go, by Lisa Scottoline

Caught between family and duty to country, Dr. Mike Scanlon is faced with the struggle to hold his life together after tragedy strikes at home.

The Storyteller, by Jodi Picoult

Picoult weaves her magic into this tale of friendship, family, and how decisions impact our lives forever.

At the Water’s Edge, by Sara Gruen

A poignant story set in the Scottish Highlands about the realization of what life really has to offer.

The Nightingale, by Kristin Hannah

A tale of the women’s war during WWII, The Nightingale shares the impossible decisions that women had to make while their husbands were off fighting.

The Kitchen God’s Wife, by Amy Tan

Watch the bonds of love strengthen in this cross-generational story about women from different times and countries.

The Seven Sisters, by Lucinda Riley

Saddened by the death of their adopted father, but eager to discover their heritage, this first book in The Seven Sisters series follows Maia on her journey to Brazil.

Live to Tell,  by Lisa Gardner

The fourth book in the Detective D.D. Warren series, Live to Tell is a thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat as a mother’s love proves to be one of the most dangerous weapons of all.

Orphan Train, by Cristina Baker Kline

The unlikely bond between a 91-year old orphan train rider and a troubled 17-year old girl blossoms in this captivating novel.

Nobody’s Cuter Than You, by Melanie Shankle

A story about the special bond between friends and why real, true friendships are most important.

Uprooted, by Naomi Novik

A fantasy with dragons, wizards, and a corrupted forest!

The Good Girl, by Mary Kubica

Mia Dennett’s life will never be the same after she leaves the bar with a stranger in this nail-biting thriller.

The Family on Beartown Road: A Memoir of Love and Courage, by Elizabeth Cohen

A heartwarming story of a single-mom who is caught in the “sandwich generation” as she cares for her aging father and her young daughter.

A Man Called Ove, A Novel, by Frederik Backman

It’s the story of a cranky old man who forms an unexpected friendship and bond with his new neighbours.

Happy reading, my friends!  And have a save and wonderful summer!

Click here to get the printable book list to keep in your wallet.

Got a favourite title of your own to recommend? Share it in the comments below! I’d love to check it out!

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