We’re serving up juicy plot twists, swoony romances, and twisty thrillers with snack pairings that are just as craveable. Whether you’re lounging under a palm tree, taking a break from the heat with the AC on blast, or staycationing, these sizzling reads will transport you. Grab your tote, pack a snack, and let’s turn the page on a summer to remember.
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Set in the competitive world of 1980s NASA, this novel follows Joan Goodwin, a brilliant physics professor whose life changes when she’s unexpectedly selected for astronaut training. Balancing the demands of space prep with personal dilemmas, Joan’s journey is both inspiring and emotionally charged. Reid blends her signature emotional storytelling with a fresh, feminist take on the space race.
Snack & Drink Pairing: Freeze-dried strawberries and fresh squeezed lemonade for something light, sweet, and a little cosmic.
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Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston
Burned out and creatively stuck, Joni Lark heads home hoping to rediscover her spark. But her plans are derailed when she reunites with a former classmate who is a moody musician and (un)luckily the two are forced to work together on a song. Get ready for the small-town charm, unresolved feelings, and musical chemistry breathing life into this is a story of healing and second chances.
Snack & Drink Pairing: Salted caramel popcorn and sparkling water because they’re sweet, salty, and totally addictive.
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When Javi Dumped Mari by Mia Sosa
Mari is about to marry the perfect guy except she never introduced him to Javi, her best friend and the only person whose opinion truly matters. When Javi voices unexpected doubts, buried feelings surface and everything changes. This laugh-out-loud romantic comedy is packed with chemistry, family chaos, and heart.
Snack & Drink Pairing: Champagne and macarons are bubbly, playful, and celebration-ready.
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What Will People Think by Sara Hamdan
Mia Almas is living a double life, corporate fact-checker by day, rising stand-up comic by night. Navigating cultural expectations and personal ambitions, Mia must decide whether hiding who she is will cost her everything. Hamdan’s debut is a heartfelt and hilarious look at identity, courage, and finding your voice.
Snack & Drink Pairing: Baklava and turkish tea for something sweet, layered, and full of rich surprises.
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Along Came Amor by Alexis Daria
Fresh off a divorce, Ava is not looking for anything serious until her one-night stand turns out to be the best man in her cousin’s wedding. With sizzling chemistry and complicated family dynamics, Ava must figure out if she’s ready to risk her heart again. A flirty, feel-good romance that captures the thrill of unexpected love.
Snack & Drink Pairing: Churros with chocolate sauce and horchata for the perfect treat.
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The Missing Half by Ashley Flowers
Seven years after her sister vanished, Nic Monroe is still searching for answers. When another woman’s sister disappears with a near-identical story, the two team up, uncovering a tangled web of secrets that push them closer to the truth and deeper into danger. With a chilling premise and a strong emotional core, this thriller lingers long after the last page.
Snack & Drink Pairing: Dark chocolate-covered almonds and Cabernet Sauvignon for a satisfying combination.
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Love You To Death by Christina Dotson
Kayla and Zorie are inseparable and unrepentant kleptomaniacs who crash weddings for the thrill of stealing gifts. But when one heist goes disastrously wrong, the duo is on the run with a trail of chaos behind them. This debut is a rollercoaster ride filled with sharp banter, unexpected twists, and a fierce portrayal of friendship.
Snack & Drink Pairing: Spicy trail mix and a paloma for a fiery blend that’s fun and just a little dangerous.
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My Train Leaves At Three by Natalie Guerrero
An Afro-Latina singer trying to rebuild her life after a painful loss finds herself in the electrifying world of New York’s theater scene. As she chases her dreams, she confronts grief, ambition, and what it means to truly take up space. Guerrero’s novel is emotionally rich, culturally grounded, and a beautiful ode to perseverance.
Snack & Drink Pairing: Empanadas and a mojito for something warm, comforting, and filled with flavor.
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Plus Size Player by Danielle Allen
Fan favorite, Danielle Allen returns with book two, Plus Size Player, in the Curve series. Nina Ford is thriving on her own terms balancing multiple jobs, friendships, and a roster of romantic flings. But when she realizes she may want something deeper, she’s forced to reconsider what a fulfilling life really looks like. This smart, sexy romance celebrates body confidence, independence, and knowing your worth.
Snack & Drink Pairing: Chocolate-covered strawberries and champagne for something sweet, empowering, and irresistable.
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Hidden Nature by Nora Roberts
After surviving a brutal attack, police officer Sloan Cooper returns home to heal only to stumble into a chilling mystery involving several missing locals. As she digs deeper, Sloan finds herself entangled in a sinister plot and a slow-burning romance. Classic Roberts: suspenseful, romantic, and totally bingeable.
Snack & Drink Pairing: Smoked gouda and crackers and sauvignon blanc for something savory and smooth.
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Park Avenue by Renee Ahdieh
Think Suits meets Crash Landing on You with a dash of Succession glamor and drama. Jia Song is the kind of character you root for immediately. She’a a fiercely ambitious attorney with a complicated past and a taste for luxury that she’s worked tooth and nail to afford. But when her latest client turns out to be the glittering (and crumbling) Park family of K-beauty fame, Jia is pulled into a whirlwind of secrets, scandals, and private jets. Beneath the designer handbags and family feuds lies a story about identity, loyalty, and figuring out what success really looks like.
Snack & Drink Pairing: Sea salt dark chocolate truffles and sparkling yuzu soda for something equal parts indulgence and unexpected.
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King of Ashes by SA Cosby
S.A. Cosby does it again with a scorching tale of family loyalty, buried secrets, and criminal entanglements that’ll leave your pulse pounding. Roman Carruthers returns to his small Virginia hometown to find his brother in debt to dangerous men and his sister barely holding it all together. What starts as a tense family drama quickly escalates into a gritty thriller as Roman is forced to make deals with gangsters and dig up the long-cold case of their missing mother. It’s Southern noir at its finest filled with gritty, emotional, and razor-sharp.
Snack & Drink Pairing: BBQ kettle chips and a bourbon-spiked sweet tea for something smoky, spicy, and unapologetically bold.
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How To Sell A Romance by Alexa Martin
If your ideal beach read has a slow-burn romance, enemies-to-lovers tension, and enough banter to make you grin into your piña colada, How to Sell a Romance is your next sun-soaked obsession. Emerson Pierce is a kindergarten teacher with a big heart and an even bigger stack of bills. When she stumbles into a glamorous side gig peddling skincare, she figures it’s her ticket to financial freedom and maybe a bit of sparkle. What she doesn’t expect is a steamy one-night connection with a brooding journalist who turns out to be her student’s dad.
Snack & Drink Pairing: Salted dark chocolate caramels and canned rosé for something sweet, salty, and a little messy.
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Under the Stars by Beatriz Williams
Glamour, ghost stories, and generational secrets. This is Winthrop Island, where Audrey Fisher and her movie-star mother return to heal old wounds…and dig up some buried ones. An old chest, a mysterious artist, and a long-lost woman on every canvas unravel a dual-timeline mystery where the past and present collide with a salty splash.
Snack & Drink Pairing: Lobster rolls and rosé because nothing says New England drama like buttery decadence and blush wine.
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Mean Moms by Emma Rosenblum
Think Real Housewives meets Big Little Lies with scooters, sound baths, and sabotage. Meet the ruling trio of NYC private school moms: chic, powerful, and slightly unhinged. When a mysterious new mom from Miami joins their crew, chaos follows faster than you can say “gluten-free cake pop.” Someone’s got an axe to grind or at least a moped to weaponize.
Snack & Drink Pairing: A martini and a green juice chaser. Because balance, darling.
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