This summer, I dove into some seriously great reads that made lounging by the pool and long lazy days even better. I’ve rounded up my top five picks for the best summer books 2024 that kept me up late into the night. Let’s get into it!

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Best Summer Books 2024: My Top 5 Reads

Most of the books on this list are hidden gems—those under-the-radar reads that deserve way more attention. I also mixed in a backlist title from a popular author that I finally took the plunge on. So, if you’re looking for something a little different this summer, these picks might just be what you’re after!

Match Point by Katherine Reilly

Read this if you want:

• Sports romance
• Slow burn romance
• Roommates to lovers
• Forced proximity

Match Point is a fun, easy-read sports romance that pairs an aspiring comic book artist with a professional tennis player during Wimbledon. Forced to cohabit, they end up supporting each other’s dreams, with a slow-burn romance and natural friendship.

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Do Me a Favor by Cathy Yardley

Read this if you want:

• Mature characters
• Widow restarting her life
• Small town setting
• Single father and blue collar hero

Do Me a Favor offers a sweet romance with older characters in a small-town setting. The heroine, a widow and cookbook ghostwriter, inherits a house and a new start, while the hero is a single dad and town handyman.

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The Next Best Fling by Gabriella Gamez

Read this if you want:

• Fake dating
• Librarian and ex-NFL player pairing
• Wedding theme
• Sweet with steam

The Next Best Fling is a fake relationship romance where the heroine, a librarian, tries to move on from a long-time crush, who is getting married, by faking a relationship with his brother. As they spend more time together, sparks fly, and they realize they’re more compatible than they thought.

Grab this book on Amazon or read our The Next Best Fling by Gabriella Gamez book review

Thank You, Next by Kathryn Freeman

Read this if you want:

• Closed-door, sweet romance
• Reality TV show setting
• Second chance romance

Thank You, Next is a fun, closed-door romance set on a reality TV show. After being dumped, the heroine joins the show to win back her ex, also on the show, only to be paired with an old flame. With lots of reality TV drama and a love triangle, this lighthearted, sweet romance is perfect for fans of second chances and reality TV.

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Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver

Read this if you want:

• Serial killer romance
• Dark humor

Butcher & Blackbird is a dark yet hilarious serial killer romance. Both main characters are killers, but they’re targeting bad guys, making it a twisted but fun read. With plenty of dark humor and fair warning for some graphic scenes, this book is surprisingly addictive and perfect for those who enjoy dark romance with a humorous twist.

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Let us know what are your best summer books 2024 in the comments below!

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