Building Your Summer Reading List: Tips to Choose Your Next Great Read

Jun 22, 2024
4 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

It's time to build your summer reading list! Sometimes I get overwhelmed with so many options out there. How do you decide what to read next? Today I'm going to share some tips to help you pick your next great read when you are stumped.

1. Identify your Interests

Think about the genres you love - whether it's fiction, non-fiction, mystery, fantasy, sci-fi, or romance. Also consider themes or topics that currently pique your interest like historical events, self-improvement, or space exploration.

It might even be fun to give your summer reading list a theme! For historical-fiction lovers, you could choose novels set in cozy medieval villages, atmospheric Victorian streets, or stories of explorers and artists in faraway eras. You might even add a nonfiction book that matches the time period—something about daily life, gardens, crafts, or traditions. It’s a lovely way to let your entire summer feel like a journey into the past.

2. Consider your Mood

Are you in the mood for something light and fun? or something deep and thought-provoking? Your current mood can heavily influence your reading experience.

If you're in the mood for light and fun, you could consider an all-romance novel summer but put a twist on it - choose books from different time periods. What were romance novels like in the '60s, ' 70s, and '80s?

Or you could spend a month wandering through Regency love stories, another lost in Victorian seaside romances, or even tales of star-crossed lovers on the frontier. You could add a nonfiction book about fashion, gardens, or society from that era to enrich the journey. A whole summer wrapped in nostalgia and love.

3. Set your Goals

What do you want to get out of your next book? Are you hoping to learn something new, escape reality for a little while, or spark a fresh wave of inspiration?

You might even consider making it an all-biography summer. There’s something magical about stepping into the real lives of others. You could focus on biographies of remarkable women, influential men, the lives of inventors and scientists, iconic actors and actresses. Or take it in a cozier direction—biographies of gardeners, naturalists, writers, or quiet everyday heroes whose lives echo the kind of intentional living you love. You can explore a new life with each book, and by the end of summer, you’ve gathered a whole bouquet of real stories that stay with you.

4. Read Reviews, Recommendations, and Summaries

Ask friends and family, or dive into online communities like Goodreads or look into book forums. You'd be surprised at how many great recommendations you can find from fellow book enthusiasts. With my Bookstore themed TBR planner pages that I have created, there's a spot for you to write why you want to read a particular book; so if you get a great recommendation you can jot down that Aunt Nancy said this was an "insightful book about feminism in the '70s".

Platforms like Goodreads and Amazon have plenty of reviews, and reading a few can give you a sense of whether the book will suit your taste. When I'm searching for books at the online bookstore I definitely skip down to what the people have said about the book. It feels like a friend giving you their latest book advice.

5. Browse Bestseller List and Award Winners

Lists like the New York Times bestsellers or the Pulitzer Prize winners often highlight highly acclaimed books that could easily become your next favorite read.

Why not explore the bestsellers you might have missed? I know I don’t follow the list every year—life gets busy, and reading seasons come and go. It can be fun to look back at past bestseller lists, both old and new, and choose a few titles you never got around to. You might discover stories that slipped past you the first time but feel perfect for you now.

6. The Author's Reputation

If you’ve loved books by certain authors in the past, take a moment to see if they have new releases or older titles you haven’t explored yet. This is one of my favorite little reading tips. Sometimes you find a book that speaks to you so deeply that you just want to stay with that author’s voice for a while and devour everything they’ve written. And if they happen to have a whole series you didn’t know about? That’s pure reading delight.

7. Visit Libraries and Bookstores

Spend a little time browsing. Sometimes a book cover will catch your eye — and when I’m feeling overwhelmed with choices or unsure what to read next, I love letting a pretty cover guide me. But I always flip through a few pages too. You can often tell right away if the book feels like the right match. There are certain styles that simply don’t resonate with me, no matter how intriguing the storyline might be. After all, a pretty outside doesn’t always match the inside. Choosing by feel — both the cover and the first lines — often leads to the most satisfying reads.

8. Consider the Length

Think about how much time you have. Some seasons call for long, immersive novels, while others are better suited to something shorter and more manageable. Short stories are a lovely option too—they deliver a complete, meaningful experience without the commitment of a full-length book. Authors like Ernest Hemingway, Alice Munro, William Faulkner, and Jack London have collections that offer rich, memorable reading in small, meaningful doses.”

9. Diversify your Reading

Finally, challenge yourself to try something new. Explore genres you’ve never picked up before or authors from different cultures and perspectives. It’s a wonderful way to broaden your horizons and discover unexpected favorites. While I’ve mentioned a few genres here, there are countless more waiting to be explored—have fun doing a little research as you hunt for your next book and build your TBR list.

As the days grow warmer and the season shifts, summer is the perfect time to wander through stories, whether in faraway villages, bustling cities of the past, or the quiet corners of real lives.

To help you capture all these ideas and plan your perfect reading season, don't forget to visit my Shop to get the Bookstore themed "To Be Read" pages I've created just for you.