Summer reading doesn’t have to be overwhelming. In a season overflowing with recommendations, listicles, and towering TBR piles, the 2025 Minimalist Summer Reading Guide arrives like a deep, calming breath for those who crave fewer choices—but better ones. Curated with care and clarity, this guide is for readers who don’t want to waste precious summer hours on books that don’t speak to them.
Now in its fourteenth year, the guide comes from long-time literary curator Anne Bogel, known for helping readers find the right book at the right time. This year’s full Summer Reading Guide features 35 new and noteworthy titles, but for those drawn to simplicity and substance, the Minimalist edition distills that down to just six carefully selected reads.
Each of these six novels has been chosen for its engaging storytelling, thematic richness, and emotional depth. They’re easy to get into—but hard to forget. From time-bending fiction to family dramas and speculative storytelling, these books promise not only entertainment but thoughtful reflection. Let’s dive into the selections.
The Other Side of Now by Paige Harbison
Imagine Sliding Doors meets The Holiday—that’s the premise of this emotionally layered novel. After a disastrous 30th birthday, Meg flees to a sleepy Irish village she once dreamed of calling home. But what she finds is not the quiet escape she anticipated. Everyone already knows her. She has an apartment, close friends, even an ex-boyfriend who clearly has history with her. Most shocking of all: her best friend, presumed dead for years, is alive and well. Harbison’s novel explores the nuances of choice, happiness, and what it truly means to live the life you want. A page-turner with philosophical heart. Releases June 3.
These Heathens by Mia McKenzie
Set in the American South, this vibrant novel follows teenage Doris, a brilliant student whose life detours due to family obligations. When she becomes pregnant, her former teacher escorts her to Atlanta for an abortion—an act that transforms Doris’s world. There, she encounters civil rights icons, queer Black communities, and a version of kindness she never imagined. McKenzie’s storytelling is fierce and tender, filled with vivid characters and radical empathy. It’s a coming-of-age story that challenges expectations and celebrates personal awakening.
The Phoenix Pencil Company by Allison King
Inspired by the author’s family history, this debut blends historical fiction and soft fantasy with a touch of mystery. In wartime Shanghai, a pencil company holds a magical secret: its products retain the memory of the words they once wrote. When reforged, these pencils can replay those memories—sometimes with dangerous consequences. Themes of legacy, privacy, and intergenerational ties are woven through this genre-bending tale, along with a touch of queer romance and a heartfelt grandmother-granddaughter bond. Beautifully imagined and deeply resonant. Releases June 3.
Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson
Kevin Wilson’s trademark humor and heart are on full display in this quirky tale of four half-siblings who meet for the first time and take a road trip to find their elusive father. Traveling cross-country in a beat-up PT Cruiser, they encounter misadventures, unexpected bonds, and the messy business of family. The narrative manages to be both whimsical and emotionally grounded, capturing the strange alchemy of strangers becoming kin. Wilson strikes a perfect balance between laugh-out-loud moments and tearful realizations. Out May 13.
What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown
In this high-stakes family drama, Jane is raised in isolation by her survivalist father in rural Montana. Her worldview is shaped by his distrust of modernity and obsession with self-sufficiency. But everything changes when he brings home a computer—an anomaly in their off-grid life. Through online exploration, Jane uncovers unsettling truths about her father and her past. Set against a rich 1990s backdrop, Brown’s novel unravels the complex dynamics of parental influence, autonomy, and the allure of connection. A gripping story about truth, technology, and the power of breaking free.
The River Is Waiting by Wally Lamb
Wally Lamb returns after nearly a decade with a devastatingly powerful novel. It begins with an unimaginable tragedy—a father, under the influence, causes a fatal accident that upends his family and sends his son, Corby, to prison. Behind bars, Corby’s sorrow and guilt are compounded by systemic injustice. Yet, amidst the darkness, moments of connection—through art, books, and unexpected friendship—offer glimmers of hope. Lamb’s writing is unflinchingly raw and deeply humane. While this is not an easy read, it’s one that lingers long after the final page.
Why Go Minimal This Summer?
Choosing just a handful of books in a sea of options might seem counterintuitive. But less is more when each title has something profound to say. These six stories span continents, time periods, and emotional registers—but all are united by a rare combination of readability and resonance. Whether you’re lounging on the porch, traveling, or simply stealing moments between the demands of daily life, this guide offers six companions worth your time and attention.
So, if you’re ready to embrace a summer of intentional reading, the 2025 Minimalist Summer Reading Guide might be exactly what you need. Fewer choices. Better stories. Deeper impact.
Happy reading.
