Welcome to this episode of Novel Nights, where we, Francesca from Under the Covers Book Blog, Laura from What to Read Next, and Victoria from the BiblioLifestyle, chat about Time magazine’s 50 best romances to read right now and give you some of our 2024 favorite Summer books.

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Novel Nights: 2024 Favorite Summer Books

Here’s a quick recap of what you can expect from this chat.

Time Magazine’s 50 Best Romances to Read Right Now

We discussed Time magazine’s list of the 50 best romance novels to read right now. While we loved the inclusion of classics like Pride and Prejudice and modern favorites like Ali Hazelwood, we found it interesting that they included quite a few backlist titles. It sparked a great conversation about the diversity of this list and how great it can be as a beginners’ list to romance, but also how the list could have included more indie titles.

Book Recommendations 

Laura’s Picks:

• Seven Summer Weekends by Jane L. Rosen: A delightful summer read set in Fire Island, perfect for a light, feel-good escape.
• You Will Never Be Me by Jesse Q. Sutanto: A thrilling dive into the dark side of influencer culture—think mom influencers with a deadly twist.
• Name Your Price by Holly James: A fun celebrity romance with a reality TV twist, featuring enemies-to-lovers and lots of drama.
• One Star Romance by Laura Hankin: A rom-com inspired by real-life, exploring friendships and the ups and downs of life.
• Love Letters to a Serial Killer by Tasha Coryell: A millennial take on the true crime obsession, with a darkly humorous twist.

Francesca’s Picks:

• Match Point by Katherine Reilly: A sports romance set at Wimbledon, featuring a heartwarming story of mutual support and accidental roommates to lovers.
• Do Me a Favor by Cathy Yardley: A charming romance with older characters, exploring life after loss and the beauty of second chances.
• The Next Best Fling by Gabriella Gamez: A sweet and steamy fake relationship romance with a librarian heroine and an ex-football player hero.
• Thank You, Next by Kathryn Freeman: A closed-door second chance romance set against the backdrop of a reality TV show.
• Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver: A unique serial killer romance with a darkly comedic tone.

Victoria’s Picks:

• Let the Games Begin by Rufaro Faith Mazarura: A romance set against the backdrop of the Olympics, blending personal aspirations with flirty banter.
• The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman: A King Arthur reimagining with a diverse cast and a fresh take on the classic legend.
• The Anthropologist by Aysegül Savas: A literary exploration of modern love and the small joys of life, perfect for introspective readers.
• Sandwich by Catherine Newman: A family drama set during a summer vacation in Cape Cod, tackling themes of aging, parenthood, and family secrets.
• A Talent for Murder by Peter Swanson: A thrilling nod to “The Talented Mr. Ripley,” with a librarian heroine uncovering dark secrets.
• The Perils of Lady Catherine de Bourgh by Claudia Gray: A cozy mystery that combines the vibes of Jane Austen and Agatha Christie—an absolute must-read for fans of both.

Upcoming Live Shows 

Stay tuned for our future live shows

We have an exciting calendar planned, and we can’t wait to chat with you every Thursday at 7 p.m. Eastern time.

Join the Conversation 

We want to hear from you! Share your favorite summer books in the comments below.

Read more

• 2024 Summer reading guide | book recommendations
• 2024 Most anticipated releases
• All our summer read book reviews

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