Best New Summer Books to Add to Your Reading List

This post is sponsored by HTP Books.

We are more than halfway through the summer season and I couldn’t let it go by without sharing a few can’t miss summer books. From feel-good beach reads and light romantic novels to intriguing historical fiction, these books from national bestselling authors definitely earn a spot on your summer reading list!

Beach House Summer

Beach House Summer by Sarah Morgan is the perfect book to toss in your beach or pool bag! The story follows Joanna, whose celebrity chef ex-husband has just died unexpectedly in a car accident. She’s not sure how she feels as their marriage was marred by infidelity. She must act when she discovers that a young pregnant woman was with him in the crash knowing the media spotlight will be brutal. Together, Joanna and the young woman, Ashley, head up the California coast to Joanna’s beach house in a sleepy coastal town she hasn’t stepped foot in for 20-plus years. Although it’s privacy she seeks, Joanna’s return causes a stir in the town and she’s about to come face-to-face with people, including her first love, that she left behind years before.

Just 19, alone and pregnant, Ashley can’t believe Joanna is willing to help her and knows Joanna might not be so willing if she knew the truth about who she is. Will her secret be brought to light?

This was the perfect lazy hot weekend read! I enjoyed the intriguing storyline, the characters and the setting descriptions transported me to the beach. This was the perfect book to read ahead of my trip up the California coast to Monterey Bay this week!

The Honeymoon Cottage

Looking for an escape this season? The Honeymoon Cottage by Lori Foster is a lighthearted romance that provides the perfect escape from the summer heat. Wedding planner Yardley is a pro at creating the perfect happily ever after for her small-town clients… but not so much for herself. That is, until Travis, the extremely good-looking older brother of her latest client, comes around to help her with preparations for his sister’s wedding. The two find themselves being nudged together by the town’s quirky locals, but will they be able to find their own happily ever after?

Small towns. Cowboy weddings. Quirky locals. This heartwarming novel blends together comedy with light romance for the ultimate summer comfort read. The book not only focuses on a budding relationship, but also on family, trust and community. It gives me Gilmore Girl comfort vibes and I am here for it!

The German Wife

If you’re on the hunt for a more thought-provoking read and can’t get enough historical fiction, The German Wife by Kelly Rimmer is for you. The story focuses on Sofie, who is married to Jürgen, a German rocket scientist whose career begins to thrive during Hitler’s regime. While both Sofie and her husband oppose the radical views of the Reich, they must make moral sacrifices for the safety of their family. The story parallels that of Lizzie, who lives in Texas with her parents and brother struggling to keep their farm going during the depression of the 1930s. As her brother heads off to the war, she eventually marries a widower scientist and begins to settle in her new role as housewife. Their stories collide years later in the 1950’s in Huntsville, Alabama when both are hired by NASA to work in the US space program. The Americans aren’t exactly welcoming to the German families to the point of utter hatred and violence.

Kelly Rimmer is a wonderful writer who is able to grip your attention from the very first page. This dramatic novel is inspired by the true story of Operation Paperclip, a controversial secret US intelligence program that employed former Nazis after World War II. It’s an emotional story with a dual-timeline narrative that dives into deep concepts, with perspectives from both sides and themes that are very much relevant to today.

The Codebreaker’s Secret

For those that love historical fiction with a twist of mystery, The Codebreaker’s Secret by Sara Ackerman, is a must-read. In 1943, codebreaker Isabel is sent from Washington DC to Pearl Harbor to decipher messages sent by the Japanese. While there, she takes it upon herself to learn more about her pilot brother’s December 7th death, meeting his hotshot pilot best friend along the way.

Fast-forward to 1965 where we meet Lu, a young journalist returning to her home on the Big Island to cover a new resort opening. When a celebrity guest goes missing, she teams up with a veteran photographer to help solve the mystery surrounding her death. What secrets will they uncover along the way?

Is there anything better than an adventurous murder mystery set against the beautiful tropical backdrop of Hawaii during World War II AND the 1960’s? This novel will immediately take you to the islands of Hawaii and keep you engaged page after page. I’m currently reading this now and have been finding it hard to put down. Ackerman captures the spirit of Hawaii perfectly in this novel that you won’t be able to put down.