Get ready to soak up the sun and dive into the pages of our most anticipated summer contemporary reads for 2024! From heartwarming romances to gripping family dramas, this curated selection promises to transport you to captivating worlds filled with love, laughter, and unforgettable moments. Whether you’re lounging on the beach or relaxing in your backyard, these novels are sure to be the perfect companions for your summer adventures.
See: Loss. See Also: Love. by Yukiko Tominaga (5/7)
After her husband Levi’s sudden death, Kyoko chooses to raise their son, Alex, in San Francisco rather than returning to Japan. Supported by her nosy yet caring Jewish mother-in-law, Bubbe, Kyoko faces conflicting advice on love and finances. Meanwhile, her own mother encourages her to embrace her newfound independence. Through vignettes, Kyoko navigates grief, cultural differences, and single parenthood, while Alex remains a constant source of strength. Loss, love, and identity intertwine as Kyoko confronts life’s challenges, discovering her resilience in the face of unexpected changes.
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Oye by Melissa Mogollon (5/14)
Luciana, the family’s youngest, unexpectedly becomes the voice of reason amidst turmoil. With her sister Mari away at college, Luciana shoulders responsibility when a hurricane threatens South Florida. But the storm isn’t the sole challenge. Her grandmother, Abue, receives a shattering medical diagnosis. Reluctantly drawn into Abue’s journey, Luciana grapples with their intricate relationship while juggling her desires and familial tensions. As Abue moves in, Luciana’s role as caretaker and confidante deepens, forcing her to confront adulthood amid chaos and uncertainty. Through phone conversations, Luciana shares her whirlwind senior year in a captivating, heartfelt narrative. Oye offers a vibrant, unforgettable tale of family, secrets, and resilience.
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Allow Me to Introduce Myself by Onyi Nwabineli (5/21)
Anuri Chinasa was front and center for all her mother’s social media attention before “momfluencer” was even a term. Every high and low of her childhood was documented for millions to digest. Now she’s twenty-five and struggling to cope with her unwanted fame, along with her Phd application and a drinking problem. As she watches her five-year-old half sister fall into the same trap, she is driven by a mission to rewrite her family’s story.
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Wait by Gabriella Burnham (5/21)
Elise, celebrating her upcoming college graduation with a night of dancing, receives a distressing call from her sister Sophie: their mother is missing. Rushing back to their Nantucket home after years away, Elise finds Sophie is struggling to manage things by herself. They discover their mother was deported to Sao Paulo, Brazil. Determined to reunite their family, Elise stays, returning to her old job monitoring endangered birds. Meanwhile, her college friend Sheba inherits a summer mansion on the island. As Elise grapples with her dual lives, she uncovers the challenges faced by her family and the world her mother left behind in Brazil.
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Seven Summer Weekends by Jane L Rosen (6/4)
When a virtual mishap derails Addison Irwin’s career in Manhattan, she’s thrust into uncertainty. Inheriting a Fire Island property offers a chance at renewal. With it comes a responsibility: hosting her late aunt’s quirky weekend guests. Determined to decide the house’s fate, Addison navigates the island’s laid-back charm. As she juggles visitors and clashes with her grumpy neighbor, Addison confronts unforeseen choices. Does she cling to her old path or embrace the island’s potential? Amidst new relationships and a charming dog, she discovers that life’s detours might lead to unexpected fulfillment.
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Anna Bright Is Hiding Something by Susie Orman Schnall (6/4)
Anna Bright Is Hiding Something is a thrilling novel set against the backdrop of Silicon Valley startups and NYC media. The story follows Anna Bright, a female founder who secretly commits fraud while preparing her company, BrightSpot, for a multibillion-dollar IPO. Unbeknownst to her board, investors, and the public, her actions are about to be exposed by Jamie Roman, a determined journalist for BusinessBerry. As Jamie gets closer to the truth, Anna becomes desperate to protect her secrets, setting the stage for a gripping confrontation just days before BrightLife’s IPO.
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Jackpot Summer by Elyssa Friedland (6/11)
When the Jacobson siblings strike gold in the lottery, they anticipate a fairy tale makeover for their chaotic lives. Yet, their windfall only exposes deeper messes. Raised frugally, they reunite to sell their childhood home, each grappling with personal crises. Matthew craves time with his son, Laura’s marriage unravels, Sophie’s art stagnates, and Noah struggles to find purpose. A winning lottery ticket further complicates matters, reigniting old rivalries and buried secrets, as they grapple with newfound wealth and the elusive quest for happiness.
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How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley (6/11)
Lydia’s expectations of leisurely afternoons at the Senior Citizens’ Social Club are shattered when she encounters a colorful cast of members. From Art, a former actor turned kleptomaniac, to Daphne, harboring a mysterious past, and Ruby, a knitting vigilante, these seniors defy stereotypes. As the community center faces closure, the unlikely alliance between the club’s members, daycare kids, a teenage father, and a wise old dog emerges to save it. Their unconventional tactics might just succeed, if they can evade the authorities closing in.
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The Coin by Yasmin Zaher (7/9)
The Coin follows a Palestinian woman striving for a dream her family has long pursued in America. Teaching at a New York school for underprivileged boys, her unorthodox methods blur boundaries. She befriends a homeless swindler, engaging in a Birkin bag pyramid scheme symbolizing luxury amidst poverty. Amidst this juxtaposition, she grapples with existential turmoil, feeling stifled by American constraints. Obsessed with purity and self-image, she draws her students into her struggles. Childhood memories merge with existential angst, leading to a spectacular unraveling. Sensory and thought-provoking, The Coin delves into materialism, identity, and oppression with humor and originality, heralding a significant new literary voice.
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A Novel Summer by Jamie Brenner (7/16)
Writer Shelby Archer returns to her hometown of Provincetown expecting a warm welcome after her novel’s success. Instead, she faces resentment for exposing locals in her book. Disheartened, Shelby agrees to manage a friend’s bookshop. As she works to repair relationships, she faces a choice: pursue her writing career or seek redemption and love. In the cozy bookstore, Shelby grapples with her decision, realizing that true happiness may lie in the simple joys of community and second chances.
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In Every Life by Rea Frey (8/6)
Ben and Harper’s marriage has severely gone off course from what they expected. When Ben receives a late-stage cancer diagnosis, his response is a desire to find his wife a new partner before he dies. Though Harper is entirely resistant to the plan, one wish casts her into a parallel reality where “the one that got away” hasn’t gotten away at all. With two worlds, two loves and two lives, Harper explores the “what ifs” while confronting the inevitable loss of Ben.
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