Curated for travelers, beach loungers, and book lovers everywhere
Summer is in full swing, and there’s no better time to escape into a great story. Whether you’re curled up in a hammock, on a long flight, or lakeside with an umbrella drink in hand—consider this your ultimate bookish passport.
From flirty romances and twisty thrillers to lyrical literary gems, here are my favorite fiction picks for Summer 2025.
💡 P.S. All titles are linked with my Amazon affiliate shop so you can grab them easily!
👉 Shop the full list on Amazon
☀️ Travel-Themed & Lighthearted Beach Reads
Perfect for: seaside cafés, solo travel days, and summer flings.
- The Love Haters by Katherine Center
Helicopters, stolen kisses, and a behind-the-scenes romance in sun-soaked Key West. - One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune
Past love + present tension on a dreamy lakeside backdrop. - Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
Writers collide on a coastal island—secrets, banter, and deep feels guaranteed.
🧳 These are your literary sunscreen—light, warm, and a little flirty.
🔍 Beach-Ready Thrillers & Mysteries
Twisty, suspenseful, and impossible to put down.
- With a Vengeance by Riley Sager
A luxury train ride turns deadly in this stylish whodunit. - The Last Ferry Out by Andrea Bartz
Remote island. Missing guests. Major White Lotus vibes. - Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney
A haunting Scottish setting, razor-sharp twists, and psychological chills.
🌴 Best read under a beach umbrella… or with the lights on.
✍️ Literary & Contemporary Fiction
Deep, beautifully written stories for reflective moments on the road.
- The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong
A poetic exploration of grief, memory, and queer identity. - Audition by Katie Kitamura
Quiet power and reinvention in the shifting landscape of NYC. - Katabasis by R.F. Kuang (coming late summer)
A dark descent into literal and metaphorical underworlds.
🛶 Save these for slow travel days or when you’re feeling introspective.
🚀 Big Buzz & Buzz-Worthy Books
Hot off the press—and absolutely worth the hype.
- Atmosphere* by Taylor Jenkins Reid
A space-era romance with major feminist energy. - Mud Season* by Jeff Kramer
Satirical, smart, and sharply funny—perfect for a cabin or cozy nook. - The Ascent* & *A Thousand Natural Shocks
Cults, identity crises, and deep psychological thrills.
🔥 Grab these before your book club bestie spoils the ending.
📖 Join the Nomadic Narrative Book Club
Love to read while you travel? You’re in good company.
We’re all about globetrotting, genre-bending reads perfect for any adventure. Whether you’re reading on the road, in a hammock, or in a hostel bunk, our monthly picks and recaps are made for nomadic bookworms like you.
📚 Shop the full book list now
📸 Tag your summer reads @NomadicNarrative and let’s talk books!