This young adult novel, the first book in a trilogy, follows Isabel “Belly” Conklin during a summer at Cousins Beach with her mom and brother, Laurel and Steven, her mom’s best friend, Susannah, and her two sons, Conrad and Jeremiah. Belly and her family have been going to Susannah’s beach house in Cousins every summer for as long as she can remember. However, this summer is different as Belly has matured and developed into a young adult. Throughout the summer, Belly finds herself caught between her feelings for Conrad, her first crush, and Jeremiah, her best friend, as she experiences love and heartbreak for the first time, and discovers family secrets that could change everything. This novel is the perfect, light summer book that will take readers through a whirlwind of emotions, both shocking them and leaving them wanting more.

A young adult novel that centers around a rebellious 17-year-old girl, Veronica “Ronnie” Miller, whose life is turned upside down when her parents get divorced, and her father decides to move to Wilmington, North Carolina. This causes her to stop playing piano, even though she is extremely gifted. Now, Ronnie and her little brother Jonah prepare to leave New York City to spend a summer with their estranged father, a concert pianist, at his North Carolina beach house. Throughout the summer, tensions between Ronnie and her dad rise. At the same time, sparks fly between Ronnie and a local teenage boy, Will. Although ultimately tragic, this unforgettable novel explores love, heartbreak, and the sacrifices people make for their loved ones, all through music and one last song. This is the perfect summer book to make readers laugh, cry and appreciate life, all at the same time.

A coming-of-age novel about four best friends, teenage girls Carmen, Tibby, Lena and Bridget, spend their first summer apart after their freshman year of high school. Right before the girls are about to go their separate ways, they find a pair of jeans that happens to magically fit all of them. During their travels, the girls take turns wearing the pants and mailing them back and forth with letters sharing their adventures. Though this wonderful story focusing on friendship and love is a great read anytime of the year, it is more special in the summer because of the seasonal setting. The beautiful places, experiences and adventures the friends encounter provide for a light-hearted, easy-to-read, summer story.

 “A Summer to Die,” a realistic fiction novel, takes place in the 1970s in Maine near the Macwahoc Valley. The story centers around a 13-year-old girl named Meg and follows her family as they move from New England to a rural part of Maine for the summer. This heart-wrenching novel explores the contrasting personalities of Meg and her 15-year-old sister, Molly, while revealing deeper truths about jealousy, love and grief. Though tragic, this book makes for a great summer read because its setting reflects a season of change, growth and unforgettable memories. Its accessible reading level and 154 page length make it easy to read, while the emotional storyline encourages readers to think deeply about family, sisterhood and the small moments that matter most.

 Taking place in Tarumi during the second Sino-Japanese War, “The Samurai’s Garden” makes for a perfect summer read. The story starts as Stephen, a boy suffering from tuberculosis, is forced to move from China to Turami, the Japanese beach town in which his family owns a house. The move causes conflict, but sparks new opportunities and healing for Stephen. As the novel unfolds, themes about love, friendship and how personal perceptions impact others become apparent. The reading level is easy with beautiful imagery and simple diction, and the book is around 224 pages. Though it takes place over multiple seasons, the summer setting is most prominent, as the main character visits the beach often and spends most time outdoors. Because of the many details expressed about nature, people and events happening in the story, the book is beautifully written and a wonderful novel to read over summer.