Looking for the best summer reads 2020 has to offer? Luckily, there are some pretty incredible books coming out this summer that you will want to pre-order and add to your reading list! But of course there are also plenty of older books that are light and entertaining and will make great reads for at the beach or anywhere else. This summer reading list contains the best of both worlds—both new reads plus older books that you’ll want to pick up right away!
Although summer this year may not look exactly like we’ve been used to in the past, we’re lucky that there are so many amazing books to pick up this year. So if you’re looking for a “vacation” this summer, grab some of these books and you’ll soon be transported into their fascinating worlds!
Want to join a summer reading program with some cool prizes? Check out Bona Fide Bookworm’s Summer Reading Program for adults!
New Summer 2020 Releases
There are a lot of exciting new summer releases coming up, so if you’re looking for some of the best books to read this summer then you’ll want to keep an eye out for these books in the next few months!
1. How the Penguins Saved Veronica by Hazel Prior
Release Date: June 16th, 2020
How the Penguins Saved Veronica is a charming and lighthearted read that has already been released in the UK, but is coming to the US just in time to add to your 2020 summer reading list!
Veronica McCreedy is a wealthy eighty-five year old lady with no family and only her housekeeper Eileen to keep her company. But when Veronica starts thinking about where to leave her enormous wealth when she dies, she unexpectedly discovers she has an adult grandson! Only…he’s not at all the type of grandson she would have hoped for.
So when she comes across a TV program about Adélie penguins, Veronica soon decides to leave her wealth to the penguin researchers in Antarctica. Of course, she simply must see the program for herself to make sure it’s worthy to receive her millions (unlike her grandson)! What follows is a delightful journey as Veronica sets out to visit the penguins in Antarctica…and, ultimately, learns how to open her heart to family and connection with others around her.
I received a copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group and Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Buy How the Penguins Saved Veronica now on Bookshop or Amazon!
2. Nothing Bundt Trouble by Ellie Alexander
Release Date: June 30th, 2020
In the small town of Ashland, Oregon, Juliet Capshaw runs her family’s bakery called Torte. And now that she’s officially moved back here to stay, she’s finally moving back into her childhood home. But when she comes across a journal belonging to her deceased father and discovers notes about an unsolved murder case from the 1980s inside, well…it’s clearly too much to resist! Soon she’s chatting with her father’s old detective friend and trying to solve the cold case…will she be able to figure it out or will the murderer find her first?
Nothing Bundt Trouble is the 11th book in the A Bakeshop Mystery series, and it’s a pleasant and fun read to add to your summer reading list 2020. And even better, there’s 10 other cozy mysteries in the series that you can dive into as well! This particular book is a little different from the others as the majority of the story takes place in the past through Juliet’s father’s journal, but if you don’t mind a slightly slower pace then you will definitely soon be hooked on this fun cozy mystery series.
I received a copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Buy Nothing Bundt Trouble now on Bookshop or Amazon!
3. Unravel the Dusk by Elizabeth Lim
Release Date: July 7th, 2020
Unravel the Dusk is the second book in The Blood of Stars series, and should absolutely be on your 2020 summer reading list. To be honest, if you haven’t yet read the first book, Spin the Dawn, what on earth are you waiting for??
Maia Tamarin has returned from her journey to sew the dresses of the sun, the moon, and the stars…but now everything is falling to ruin. The boy she loves is gone, the kingdom is heading toward war, and now she has to pretend to be the emperor’s bride to try to keep the peace!
But ever since the demon Bandur touched her, she’s slowly been changing and losing control. How long until she loses herself completely? And will she be able to find Edan and protect her family and country before it’s too late?
The first book in this YA fantasy series was epic, and Unravel the Dusk definitely looks like it will live up to the hype! It sounds like the perfect summer read, so you’d better believe it has a top spot on my summer 2020 reading list!
Buy Unravel the Dusk now on Bookshop or Amazon!
4. Fast Girls by Elise Hooper
Release Date: July 7th, 2020
Fast Girls is a work of historical fiction that takes a look at female athletes in pre-war America and during the 1936 summer Olympic games in Berlin. Based on the real-life stories of three women Olympians, this book tells of Betty Robinson, Louise Stokes, and Helen Stephens on their athletic journeys, as they fight for the chance to compete, and as they defy society’s expectations of what women can do.
If you’re looking for a fictionalized work that is based on real people and gives insight into a fascinating time in history, then this is a book you should definitely pick up this summer!
Buy Fast Girls now on Bookshop or Amazon!
5. The Invention of Sophie Carter by Samantha Hastings
Release Date: July 14th, 2020
The Invention of Sophie Carter is possibly one of the most ideal books to read this summer 2020, as it’s a fun Victorian romance about two sisters who take turns swapping places throughout the summer (somewhat in the manner of The Parent Trap).
Orphaned identical twins Sophie and Mariah Carter have always been passed around between different relatives to take care of them, and both have always longed to visit London. So obviously they’re ecstatic when an aunt in London finally responds to their letters…only to discover that she says she’ll only take one of them in to live with her!
This, of course, simply won’t do. So Sophie and Mariah hatch a clever scheme to travel to London and take turns being “Sophie.” How complicated could it be? But as things start to go awry and soon two handsome gentleman start to think they’re both in love with “Sophie,” things start to go very wrong indeed!
With all sorts of delightful hijinks, this sounds like it will top the list of perfect summer beach reads 2020 has to offer!
Buy The Invention of Sophie Carter now on Bookshop or Amazon!
6. Vesper Flights by Helen Macdonald
Vesper Flights is a new work by the author of the bestseller H is for Hawk. If you loved this book, or love essays on nature and life, then this new book is one you’ll definitely want to pick up!
In this work, you’ll find a collection of some of Macdonald’s most beloved essays as well as brand new writings that invite you into her experiences with nature and wildlife. It may be a more serious read than many others on this list, but it is definitely something you will want to add to your summer reading lists this year!
Buy Vesper Flights now on Bookshop or Amazon!
Beach/Fun Reads for Summer 2020
Looking for other fun 2020 beach reads or summer reading recommendations? Here are some older books that still make fun and exciting summer reads (or re-reads).
1. The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie
While summer reading lists are often filled with lighthearted reads, a good dash of intrigue or mystery doesn’t go awry either! And what better way to find a perfect mystery than to read a work by the Queen of Mystery herself?
The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie is the perfect addition to your summer reading 2020, as it takes you into the world of amateur adventurers Tommy and Tuppence in a delightful 1920s setting. But when Tommy and Tuppence accidentally stumble upon the mystery of a missing woman named Jane Finn, these two young amateur detectives soon find themselves plunged into a world of danger and intrigue! Can they discover who this missing woman is and why her name causes such strange reactions in everyone they meet?
What makes this book even better, perhaps, it that it is one of the amazing Agatha Christie books you can read online for free, so what’s stopping you from adding it to your summer reading list? It will certainly keep you enthralled from start to finish!
Buy The Secret Adversary now on Bookshop or Amazon (or read online for free!)
2. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
If you’re looking for romance reads for the summer, there are plenty of romantic classics that could well be worth a look. And none could be better than Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South! (Plus, after you read it, you can watch the gorgeous TV series adaption!)
This book follows Margaret Hale and her family during the industrial revolution as they move to the factory-driven world of the north of England. As Margaret adjusts to her new life, she soon discovers the depths of poverty in the north and becomes concerned over the suffering of the local mill workers. With justice for the mill workers on her mind, she soon finds herself in conflict with local mill-owner John Thornton. But is he truly the evil overlord Margaret believes him to be?
This tale has enough lighthearted romance to keep you entirely entertained and to justify a place on your summer reading list for 2020, but also delves into issues of social classes and social issues that makes it a fascinating and informative read. You really can’t go wrong adding this delightful romance read to your summer list!
Buy North and South now on Bookshop or Amazon!
Looking for more classic romance reads to add to your summer reading list? Check out these 12 lovely romance novels!
3. Dragons at Crumbling Castle by Terry Pratchett
It’s my firm belief that any summer reading list wouldn’t be complete without some humorous stories, so if you’re looking for something to make you laugh or smile then you should definitely pick up Dragons at Crumbling Castle.
This book is actually a collection of 14 short stories (not all of which are about dragons, but all of which are indeed hilarious). The titular short story is one of the best, however, and is a light and fluffy tale about what happens when dragons take over the castle and all of King Arthur’s knights just happen to be away on holiday!
With bite-sized stories that are all quite funny, you’ll find yourself easily immersed into the worlds that Terry Pratchett creates. If you haven’t already read this collection, you definitely won’t want to miss adding it to your summer reading!
Buy Dragons at Crumbling Castle now on Bookshop or Amazon!
Looking for more cool stories about dragons? Check out these amazing books about dragons!
4. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
The way this year is going, we all need some good books we can escape into for the summer. And what better way to do that than to read or re-read some amazing childhood books that adults still love as well?
The Wind in the Willows is one such book that you should consider picking up if you’re looking for something to make you smile and forget about the real world for a little while. It was a childhood favorite of mine, but holds up just as well on a re-reading as an adult…so whether you’ve read it before or have not yet read it, what are you waiting for?
As you read, you’ll discover a delightful cast of characters (including Mole, Ratty, and Badger) as they go on all sorts of adventures up and down the river. Whether going boating, going on picnics, or stealing motor cars, there’s always something exciting happening!
So if you’re looking for a heartwarming read, don’t forget to add this book to your list of books to read this summer! You won’t want to miss it!
Buy The Wind in the Willows now on Bookshop or Amazon!
5. Murder Must Advertise by Dorothy L. Sayers
What better book to add to your summer reading list than one that combines humor and a murder mystery? Murder Must Advertise is one of my all-time favorite mysteries from the Lord Peter Wimsey series, and is the perfect addition to any summer reading list.
Victor Dean works as an ad man in the offices of Pym’s Publicity. Then one day he falls down the stairs at the office and dies! Was it an accident? Everyone at Pym’s seems to think so…or nearly everyone. When Lord Peter Wimsey is called in on the case, he soon finds himself forced into an incognito position as a copywriter at Pym’s. It’s far harder than it looks to do this job, and all the while he must try to figure out who murdered Victor Dean…and why. And most importantly, will Wimsey be able to discover the murderer before they strike again?
Told throughout with the charming humor characteristic of Sayers, this book is a lighthearted and fun mystery that will leave you wanting to read the rest of this detective series right away!
Buy Murder Must Advertise now on Bookshop or Amazon!
Looking for more mystery books to read? Check out these mystery books you can read for free!
What books are on your summer reading list this year?
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