The Summer Reading Guide

The Beautiful Summer by Cesare Pavese

Set during a hot northern Italy summer during the 1930s, Italian author Cesare Pavese first published this novel as ‘La bella estate’ in 1949. It tells the story of a 16-year-young Ginia who strikes a friendship with a stylish and sophisticated artist who introduces her to a world full of bohemian creatives. Soon she falls in love with an enigmatic young painter and together they embark on a summer affair. 

The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald 

A tale that should be read at least once in your lifetime, F Scott Fitzgerald’s memorable novel was first published in 1925 and set in Long Island, New York. It follows the rise of the infamous millionaire Jay Gatsby and his glitzy summer parties, as he attempts to reunite with his childhood sweetheart, Daisy, who has since married another. 

The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie

The very first novel published by Agatha Christie in 1920 was written originally only as a dare by her sister, but it soon turned into the start of her most beloved character and series – detective Hercule Poirot. In this novel, Poirot attempts to solve the mysterious murder of a family matriarch during a summer at Styles Court in the English countryside. 

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Despite its first release in 1938, this fictional tale has remained a summer favourite for decades. It tells the story of a young woman who marries a wealthy widower while vacationing in Monte Carlo. However, when she returns to his English estate, she is haunted by the memories of his first wife and how she came to meet her demise. 

Bonjour Tristesse by Françoise Sagan

Described by many as a ‘summer cult classic,’ this 1954 novel was written by a French playwright when he was only 18. It portrays a young schoolgirl, Cécile, and her widower father, who decides to remarry one summer in the French Riviera. From there, their lives become entangled in a series of tragic events that explore themes of jealousy and the transition from girlhood to womanhood.

Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman

This coming-of-age novel is set during a 1983 summer in northern Italy, where the protagonist is spending time with his parents at their family vacation home. When an American student of his father’s comes to visit, the two then embrace in a complicated yet emotional love affair. 

Summer Sisters by Judy Blume

Set on a summer estate in Martha’s Vineyard, this beloved adult novel of famed author Judy Blue follows two young girls who spend every summer together, from the 1970s into the 1990s. Now, years later their friendship has faded but a wedding brings them together and forces them to examine how their relationship has shaped the course of both their lives. 

Hot Milk by Deborah Levy

Set on the coast of Spain one summer, this novel explores a mother-daughter dynamic as they search for a cure for the mother’s mysterious illness. Their lives soon become complicated by the influence of a controversial local doctor and his unorthodox methods. 

The Guest by Emma Cline

Taking place at the end of a Hamptons summer, this novel tells the story of a young woman who is thrown out of the vacation home she has been staying in with her older partner. She then finds herself spending the next five days sojourning through the beach towns to find her next path forward. 

People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry

Told over the course of 10 summers, this story follows Poppy and Alex and how their platonic friendship has blossomed over the years. Now years later, Poppy begins to question their relationship and they embark on one more summer in Palm Springs to discover if there is anything deeper between them.