Last Summer Books to Read & Fall Book Recommendations

If you’re a reading fanatic and tailor your books to the season, we curated a list for you to enjoy during the last few weeks of summer. Go out with a bang and challenge yourself by seeing how many of our recommendations you can read by September 22nd. Don’t worry; we’re not leaving you without any autumn suggestions. You’ll find a short list of fall books to add to your never-ending TBR list. You’ll find mystery, suspense, and romance on the list to prepare you for the spooky season in October. 

SUMMER

The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther

Meredith Fox loses her sister to a car accident, causing her to isolate herself from her friends and family and instead lose herself in a relationship. Yet, when the boy she’s clung to for a year breaks her heart, she finds herself at Martha’s Vineyard, where her family gets together every summer. She makes it her mission to rekindle friendships. Still, when the family assassination game commences, Meredith can’t help but form an alliance with a cute groomsman she’s never met before, putting her at risk of losing the game her sister always won and her heart. 

From the Jump by Lacie Waldon

Strong, independent, and rule-follower Liv Bakersfield finds herself ready for a change, where instead of constantly saying yes to everything and everyone, she starts saying no and making decisions for herself. She’s an overworked graphic designer who’s always missing out on vacations with her close college friends. After courageously quitting her job, she finds herself in South Africa, meeting up with her friends and getting cozy with her long-time best friend, Lucas Deiss. However, their return to Los Angeles challenges Liv and her friend group after she gets an apartment in the city and starts going after her dreams. 

Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

Travel nurse Emma diagnoses herself as cursed after every guy she dates meets the love of their life. After reading a Reddit thread posted by Justin, she realizes he has the same issue with the girls he dates. The two make a plan to go on four dates with one kiss and then break up with each other, hoping to break the curse. However, they didn’t sign up for family conflicts, interfering with their quick summer fling, making them get closer than intended, and catching real feelings for each other. Will their newfound love break the curse or hurt them? 

Beach Read by Emily Henry

Two profound writers suffer from writer’s block, making them leave the city for a small beach town to get out of their rut. Yet, when romance writer January realizes literary fiction writer Augustus is her new neighbor, things get twisty. They make a deal to write opposing stories to get out of their writer’s block problem. January takes Augustus to the most romantic spots around town to inspire his book while he takes her to interview locals around town to get the inside scoop on a backwoods death cult. They’ll spend too much time together, someone will see the other’s porch light on, and they’ll both finish their books without so much as falling in love with each other. 

Picking Daisies on Sunday

After Daniella Daisy Maria is rejected by her childhood best friend, Levi, she vows never to see him again until she randomly bumps into him at a bar in West Village. What’s supposed to be a quick, awkward interaction turns into Daniella being Levi’s fake girlfriend for his sister’s wedding. It’s been years, so the feelings are gone, and she wants to mend their friendship, so she accepts, but as time progresses and they encounter cutesy romantic moments, Daniella fears she may have made a big mistake in saying yes to the proposal. Now, she’s caught between trying to be Levi’s friend and pushing down old feelings that resurface to avoid getting her heart broken again.  

AUTUMN

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Corrupted and murderer Dorian Gray sells his soul to stay young and beautiful while the portrait he has painted of himself turns hideous and evil every time he acts out. As the years pass, Gray commits murder, breaks women’s hearts, and continuously ruins the reputations of those around him. The painting reflects all his misdoings, turning it into an evil and horrendous image. Gray keeps his portrait hidden from everyone, yet it comes back to haunt him one night when he hears a noise coming from the attic where his image is stored. It's a suspenseful twist that will be sure to keep you up at night. 

The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore

Grumpy local farmer Logan stays away from small-town Dream Harbor’s gossip, sticking to his routine and staying out of everyone’s way. However, when the new sunshine, rainbows, and butterflies girl Jeanie moves to town, Logan can’t keep his mind off her. Jeanie starts running her aunt’s Pumpkin Spice Café, and when she locks eyes with the grumpy farmer, she can’t help but do everything she can to put him under her charming spell. But will the gorgeous grump take the bait or bite back? 

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

Famous painter Alicia Berenson has a perfect life: too much money, married to a sought-after fashion photographer, and lives in one of the most beloved neighborhoods in London. Yet, when her husband, Gabriel, comes home later one night, Alicia shoots him five times in the face and never says another word. She’s sent to a secure forensic unit in London by her team to keep her hidden away from the tabloids. Alicia becomes the silent patient. She still doesn’t say a peep until criminal psychotherapist Theo Faber makes his way into the unit to get her to open up. While Alicia keeps her mouth shut, Faber does everything and anything he can to get her to talk, so much so it begins to consume his life. 

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

What lengths would you go to rewrite your story? Nora Seed is placed in the Midnight Library right before she dies, where she gets help from an old friend to correct her past regrets and create a version of her perfect life. The books allow her to see what could have been if she had made different decisions. However, the more wrongs she turns right, the more she puts herself and the Midnight Library in danger. She has to make sacrifices to make things right, even if it means not being able to fix every regret she’s had. 

Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler

Small-town girl Tess moves from Ohio to New York City at 22 years old after she receives her bachelor’s degree in English. She starts as a back waiter in a restaurant, trying to keep up with her new lifestyle and the fast-paced city. Tess is navigating her life, trying to move up and figure out where she’s headed. She gets lost in the chaos, gossip, and lust the city and its people have to offer, and all she can do is try to keep up so she doesn’t get left behind.