New chapters of life unfold in the summer. While reading may have a reputation of being undesirable among some students, diving into a gripping and imaginative work of fiction can be the most relaxing summer activity of them all!
The Song of Achilles (2011) – Madeline Miller
This historical fiction and mythological retelling of Homer’s Iliad is the perfect summer read for 2026. Written by Madeline Miller, the piece explores a fictional romance between characters Achilles and Patroclus, told from Patroclus’s point of view as Achille’s closest companion. Miller’s rendition is original, timeless and depicts the luscious summer scenery of ancient Greece, transporting readers to a mythological wonder. The novel complements Christopher Nolan’s anticipated “The Odyssey” movie coming out July 17 and reading The Song of Achilles is a great way for viewers to immerse themselves in ancient Greece before watching the film to better understand the Trojan War and its aftermath.
We Fell Apart (2025) – E. Lockhart
We Fell Apart, E. Lockhart’s third and standalone novel in the We Were Liars series, is set during the summer in the pristine and refreshing East Coast and tells the hopeful love story of teenager Matilda Klein. The novel combines dark family secrets with a hopeful love story. Following its release in November 2025, We Fell Apart is highly anticipated to reach a vast number of readers this summer.
Evenings and Weekends (2024) – Oisin McKenna
Osin McKenna’s dramatic psychological and urban-set narrative Evenings and Weekends follows a group of friends navigating class, LGBTQ+ struggles and anxiety during a sweltering heat wave. The novel is considered to be a “love letter” to London and focuses on human connections, according to The Guardian. Taking place during a London summer, the characters in Evenings and Weekends culminate a perfect summer solstice party that readers can use to visualize and romanticize their own sweltering summers. The novel is a great read for 2026 as it has recently gained traction online as a newly recognized contemporary literature classic.
As a literary and ageless piece of fiction, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin is written with a flowy and elegant style that draws readers into the life of the two main characters, aspiring game designers Sam Masur and Sadie Green. The novel explores love, friendship and unexpected grief through several decades starting in a freezing Boston setting when Masur and Green are attending university. The second half of the book takes place in the ideal summer location of Venice Beach, Los Angeles. The two friends experience the ups and downs of both life and friendship and the book wraps around readers like a comforting blanket that will keep them in their poolside beach chairs for the entire summer.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow (2022) – Gabrielle Zevin
As a literary and ageless piece of fiction, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin is written with a flowy and elegant style that draws readers into the life of the two main characters, aspiring game designers Sam Masur and Sadie Green. The novel explores love, friendship and unexpected grief through several decades starting in a freezing Boston setting when Masur and Green are attending university. The second half of the book takes place in the ideal summer location of Venice Beach, Los Angeles. The two friends experience the ups and downs of both life and friendship and the book wraps around readers like a comforting blanket that will keep them in their poolside beach chairs for the entire summer.
