Summer 2026 Book Releases
The summer 2026 book releases are fantastic, and I cannot wait to dive into these amazing books. This is the post where we divide the book releases by publication date for the entire season!
If you are looking for new release books divided by genre, I put those in a separate post divided by month. You can find the most anticipated book releases for June 2026, July 2026, and August 2026. I have proclaimed that 2026 is the year of books about books. This is a trend that I am still seeing.
I know that it can seem like a lot, but feel free to jump around. There are so many books that Kirsten and I cannot wait to read, it’s hard to pick which to read first.
The books on this list are divided by release date, so you will know when the books are coming out. Have a look around. And as always, if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Kirsten or me!
*Post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you. Some books have been gifted. All opinions are our own.
Summer 2026 Book Releases: June 2026
June 2, 2026
Whistler
Author: Ann Patchett
Release Date: June 2
Genre: Fiction
More info: Prize-winning, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author
Plot
There has never been an Ann Patchett book I haven’t liked. This newest book looks like a must-read. When Daphne and her husband are at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, they notice Eddie Triplett. He was married to her mother for just over a year when Daphne was nine. Daphne is now 53 and has not seen Eddie in many years. The two of them reconnect as adults and look back over their lives and their choices. Their relationship had been brief but important to both of them.
Plot
Mina’s while world revolves around her two best friends, which is totally expected as a 15-year-old. But one kiss changes everything. They no longer share everything and the relationship feels fragile. Mina looks back at this pivitol summer as an adult and learns that learning to love yourself can change everything. this is a debut fiction about girl culture.
The Windsor Affair
Author: Melanie Benjamin
Release Date: June 2, 2026
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: New York Times Bestselling Author of Swans of Fifth Avenue
Plot
This is the story of the abdication of Edward VIII, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, and Wallis Simpson. It is a dual narrative told from the perspectives of the two women. This is the first novel to be written about the famous rivalry, and we cannot wait to read it. We have an entire list of Books About Queen Elizabeth II.
The Chateau on Sunset
Author: Natasha Lester
Release Date: June 2, 2026
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: Reimagining of Jane Eyre
Plot
This is a hotel novel and old Hollywood all wrapped up in one historical fiction you will want on your reading list. Aria is orphaned and sent to live with her aunt, who is a fading Hollywood star and lives in the Chateau Marmont. Aria is torn between staying invisible and whether she is willing to risk her secrets coming out by pursuing love.
Land
Author: Maggie O’Farrell
Release Date: June 2, 2026
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: Award-winning, bestselling author of Hamnet
Plot
This is the story of Tomás and his son, who are working for the great Ordnance Survey in 1865 Ireland. Liam is only ten when his father suddenly changes, and Liam is in charge of finishing the mapping and getting them both home.
Unicorn Hunters
Author: Katherine Arden
Release Date: June 2, 2026
Genre: Fantasy
More info: New York Times bestselling author of The Bear and the Nightingale
Plot
I cannot wait to read this pick from the summer 2026 book releases. It is an alternate history of Anne of Brittany. Anne is the Duchess of Brittany, and France plans on marrying her to their king. While she feigns compliance, she sends a secret proposal to Fance’s biggest rival. Anne plans a unicorn hunt in Broceliande as a diversion so she can marry in secret. But things may not go as she plans.
Plot
In this sci-fi pick from the summer 2026 book releases, when a person immigrates, they leave a copy of themselves behind, called an instance. One person stays behind, and the other goes to the new country. Some instances talk every day, and others never speak to their instance again, preferring a completely new lift. Soyoung Rose Kang is the latter. She is surprised to get a phone call telling her that her grandfather in Korea died. Her Korean instance has another reason for calling her home. Soyoung plans to steal her body and her life.
Tell your friends
Author: Lauren Wilson
Release Date: June 2, 2026
Genre: Thriller
More info: Former Child Star
Plot
Crystal grew up in front of an audience. At home with the Shaws is her mother’s log channel that has been documenting her life for years, including the death of her older sister. She hopes that going to university will be her way out, but her mother insists that she film everything to put on the channel.
Alyssa, Crystal’s new friend and aspiring journalist, is excited to help Crystal with the project until she realizes that Crystal wants to put an end to the show. As secrets are revealed, Crystal doesn’t know who she can trust, and more than just the show is at stake
No Dumb Questions
Author: Jason & Travis Kelce
Release Date: June 2, 2026
Genre: Nonfiction
More info: New Heights podcast hosts
Plot
This looks like a hilarious book from this famous fraternal duo. In this book, the Kelces answer their fans’ biggest questions, like, “If you could make one of your body parts detachable, which would you choose?” If this book is half as funny as their podcast, I am sure I will have stiches from laughing.
The Heirs
Author: Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé,
Release Date: June 2, 2026
Genre: YA Mystery
More info: Deluxe Edition from New York Times Bestselling Author
Plot
The five heirs to Leonates Button’s billions are child prodigies. They were each adopted and trained with the Button Method. When he is murdered at the annual Prodigy ball, none of the suspects are allowed to leave until the murderer is found. Each of the teens has something to hide, but Leonates was very good at making enemies.
June 9, 2026
Villa Coco
Author: Andrew Sean Greer
Release Date: June 9, 2026
Genre: Fiction
More info: Pulitzer Prize-Winning author of Less
Plot
This is a literary fiction whose narrator is “our young man”. He takes a job in the Italian countryside as a personal assistant to Coco, a wealthy widow known as Coco to her friends. He is given strange tasks like reading the house of a marten and attending a funeral to steal the urn. Coco’s final plan is to locate the lost love of her life so they can be reunited. This book looks like an absolute delight and is a must-read for your TBR.
Daughters of the Sun and Moon
Author: Lisa See
Release Date: June 9, 2026
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: New York Times Bestselling Author
Plot
This story takes place in 1870 in Los Angeles, where three Chinese women arrive at a time when anti-Chinese sentiment is strong. Dove, foot-bound, is the daughter of a scholar. Petal has been sold twice, and Moon speaks fluent English but walks with a limp due to a failed foot binding. The Night of Horrors brings the three women together.
White Lights
Author: Lauren Kate
Release Date: June 9, 2026
Genre: Romantasy
More info: Bestselling author of the Fallen Series
Plot
When Rafe de la Cruz recruits Desdemona for an elite film school, Acheron, she has no choice but to accept- even if she has never heard of the school. Her brother was attacked, and she is the only suspect. As Dez learns more about the school, she finds herself trapped in a deadly competition.
Off the Record
Author: Sara Goodman Confino
Release Date: June 9, 2026
Genre: Romance
More info: Bestselling Author
Plot
This is a historical romance set in the 1960s! This novel turns the Cold War into an undercover espionage romance, and I cannot wait to read it. Judy Greenberg is an aspiring reporter who is working as a secretary. When she answers her boss’s phone, she hears a message delivered in a Russian accent. She is sure she has a scoop. Jack Fields, a reporter, knows that Judy’s instincts are very good. The two of them follow the leads in a dangerous spy game that could make her career and maybe even help her fall in love.
June 16, 2026
Plot
Eve is living in Massachusetts with her two kids while her husband pursues her music in New York City. She is bored and lonely when she runs into a childhood friend, Demeter. Demeter is distressed because her daughter cannot go outside during the day. A number of people in the town are experiencing the same thing. Eve is determined to find answers. What is she willing to do to find a cure?
Plot
At the Aldon Lakes Country Club, Danika appears to have it all. Augie, on the other hand, has lost it all. She wants to keep her head down and find a way to leave her hometown for good. Both Danika and Augie are obsessed with Chat, the male Nanny Danika hired for the summer. Soon, that obsession will lead to spilled secrets, and everyone will have to deal with the consequences.
Songs of the Dead
Author: Brandon Sanderson and Peter Orullian
Release Date: June 16, 2026
Genre: Fantasy
More info: #1 New York Times Bestselling Author
Plot
This is a contemporary fantasy from the summer 2026 book releases that I cannot wait to read. Jack Solomon is killed and wakes up to a new reality in which light and music make magic. All the eras of history are located in layers beneath modern London, and those who reside there are angry with the present world. They are creating a powerful society of magic weilders who can cross realms and fight for history.
The Butler
Author: Clare Mackintosh
Release Date: June 16, 2026
Genre: Thriller
More info: New York Times Bestselling Author
Plot
I love Clare Mackintosh and cannot wait to read this book from the summer 2026 book releases. Baxter is a butler for the ultrawealthy in the South of France. But when Baxter is assigned to Villa Sérénite and one of the guests is found dead in the pool, Baxter has to assist the Gendarmes to find the murderer.
Murder at the Spirit Lounge
Author: Jess Kid
Release Date: June 16, 2026
Genre: Mystery
More info: Book 2 of Nora Breen Investigates
Plot
Dolores Chimes is a famous medium. When a reading goes wrong, Dolores is killed, and soon six people who were at the seance die from a supernatural death. Nora needs to find the serial killer before Detective Rideout, the last person alive from the seance, is the next victim.
The Someday Garden
Author: Ashley Poston
Release Date: June 16, 2026
Genre: Romance
More info: New York Times Bestselling Author
Plot
If there was a book that shouted my name, this would be it. This is the romance I have been waiting for all year. Sophie Drear has taken a temporary job restoring the grounds of Lilymoor House in Maine. Not only does she find amazing gardens, but she also finds a secret, unfinished garden with a man trapped inside. The owner of the mansion has ideas about who should take over the estate when she is gone, but Sophie may be the only one who can restore the gardens and the grounds. This is a perfect pick if you love books set in Maine or set in a garden!
The Missed Connection
Author: Tia Williams
Release Date: June 16, 2026
Genre: Romance
More info: New York Times Bestselling author
Plot
This romance looks like it will be nonstop fun and I cannot wait to get my hands on it. Sasha is a casting agent who has no time to find love. But when she sits next to a man who is exactly her type, sparks fly. When they don’t exchange information, Sasha knows she needs to find him. She emails her work friend for help, but accidentally writes to everyone in the company. Everybody is searching for the man in seat F. Not one to just sit back, Sasha hires a detective to help her, and he may complicate matters.
Romantic Hero
Author: Kristy Greenwood
Release Date: June 16, 2026
Genre: Romance
More info: Bestselling Author of GMA book club pick Love of My Afterlife
Plot
Gertie is a romance writer with writer’s block ever since her breakup. Now, she cannot write a word, and her deadline is coming up fast. When she wakes up to find a cowboy on her sofa, she is shocked, and even more so because he is the villain in her unfinished novel. River wants to go home, and Gertie wants to finish the book. They decide that he will help her get her ex back so she can finish the novel, and he can go home. But will the ending be what she expected?
June 23, 2026
When You Loved Me
Author: Beatriz Williams
Release Date: June 23, 2026
Genre: Fiction
More info: Best-selling author of Husbands and Lovers
Plot
Lucy is a young widow who returns to her father’s estate with her young daughter. When she arrives, she is shocked to discover that the property has debts she cannot repay and an ex-football player, Ben, living in the caretaker’s cottage. The rumors of buried pirate treasure on the island nearly tore her family apart.
Thirteen years ago, her feelings for Ben ruined her friendship with her best friend, Laura. Now Lucy must confront old feelings if she wants to move forward.
A Pair of Aces
Author: Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murphy
Release Date: June 23, 2026
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: From the bestselling authors of the Personal Librarian
Plot
Eunice Cater is the assistant district attorney for New York City and Manhattan’s first black female prosecutor. She wants to take down Lucky Luciano, who is the head of New York’s largest organized crime family. Polly Adler has a high-class brothel business, but when Lucky goes too far and puts her girls in danger. Polly wants to see him taken down. Eunice and Polly will work together to get a conviction.
Retro
Author: Jessica M. Goldstein
Release Date: June 23, 2026
Genre: Speculative fiction
More info: Debut
Plot
Ash takes a job with a luxury time travel agency, where she leads trips to the past. Have a 20s party for your twenties, or take a bachelorette party to a real cowboy romance in the Old West. But when Ash realizes that these trips are leaving her with memory lapses and are threatening her relationships in the present, the past may not be the escape she thought it was.
It Could Have Been Her
Author: Lisa Jewell
Release Date: June 23, 2026
Genre: Thriller
More info: #1 New York Times Bestselling Author, The Best Lisa Jewell Books Ranked
Plot
Jane Trevally is walking her dog when she sees a small white dog without the girl it was staying with. When she decides to return the dog to its registered owner in London, she recognizes the house because of her dark history with it.
The man who answers the door gives information that does not seem true, and leaves Jane with more questions and answers. The girl is nowhere in sight. Jane is determined to find the missing teenager and unburied the secrets of that house.
Nine Lives
Author: Catherine Steadman
Release Date: June 23, 2026
Genre: Thriller
More info: Bestselling author of Something in the Water, a Reese Book Club Pick
Plot
Frankie has moved into a fancy London Neighborhood after a bad divorce. When her Persian cat, Blue, comes home one night with “Help Me” scratched into his collar, Frankie grows concerned. She attaches a “cat cam” collar to Blue. This is part voyeur and part determination to reveal their secrets.
June 30, 2026
The Shampoo Effect
Author: Jenny Jackson
Release Date: June 30, 2026
Genre: Fiction
More info: Best-selling Author of Pineapple Street
Plot
Van Whittaker is friends with the same people he hung out with as a kid. When Caroline arrives in Greenhead, Mass, she falls for him immediately. But when Van’s ex-girlfriend, Bailey, finds out she is pregnant with his baby, Caroline is kicked out of the group. She exposes the groups’ secrets to the entire town and works them all into a tizzy. These old friends may finally have to grow up.
Summer 2026 Book Releases: July 2026
July 7, 2026
Man overboard
Author: Kathleen Rooney
Release Date: July 7, 2026
Genre: Fiction
More info: Bestselling Author of Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk
Plot
I loved Lillian Boxfish, so I cannot wait to get my hands on this book. Patrick Kilpatrick, Kick for short, is alone in the sea after falling off, or jumping off, a Thanksgiving cruise with his family. Thank goodness he was a college swimmer. As he treads water to stay alive, he has only his memories and regrets to keep him company. This pick from the summer 2026 book releases will make us think about what it means to stay alive and keep going.
Crash Into Me
Author: Robinne Lee
Release Date: July 7, 2026
Genre: Fiction
More info: Bestselling Author of “The Idea of You“
Plot
When Cecilia is in a car accident shortly after moving to Los Angeles, she is shocked when she recognizes the person in the other car as a model. She met 20 years ago on a photo shoot. She is now married to a French film director and living in Los Angeles, which is so far from her Jamaican immigrant upbringing and early life in Connecticut. She develops an intense, physical, and emotional entanglement with the model, Anouk. Will this give her the answers about herself that she has been looking for?
An Infinite Love Story
Author: Chanel Cleeton
Release Date: July 7, 2026
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: New York Times Bestselling Author
Plot
Another book about space!!! In 1968, the entire country is watching as Joe Mitchell goes into space. When his spacecraft loses contact, everyone I’m bored is presumed dead. Joe’s wife, Vivian, cannot accept that he is gone. When she starts receiving messages that only Joe could send, she is determined to do everything she can to bring him back alive.
The Memory Bookshop
Author: Song Yu-jeong, Translated by Shanna Tan
Release Date: July 7, 2026
Genre: Healing Fiction
More info: Korean Bestseller
Plot
I cannot wait to read this book that explores the power of books and the magic of living. Jiwon has been grieving since her mother died. When she finds herself in a mysterious bookshop, she is given the opportunity to travel back to three chapters of her life. In exchange, she must give up time in the future.
Helpless
Author: Jessica Knoll
Release Date: July 7, 2026
Genre: Thriller
More info: New York Times Bestselling author of Luckiest Girl Alive
Plot
This looks like a creepy psychological thriller from the bestselling author of Luckiest Girl Alive. Faye and Henry are living the lives they had planned. But when they come back to their university campus for a professor’s funeral, they find themselves back together- after Henry drugs and abducts Faye. Their relationship is toxic and quickly spirals as truths are revealed.
Plot
It has always been just Sylar and her rockstar dad, but when her dad dies in an accident, she learns that her mother is still alive. Now, Slylar is uprooted and sent to live with a virtual stranger. To overcome her feelings of anger and grief, she decides to enter a baking competition. Soon, she will find friendship and answers to questions she did not know she had. This pick from the summer 2026 book releases is perfect for our list of Novels about Grief
The Lure of Wolves and Whispers
Author: Amanda Connolly
Release Date: July 7, 2026
Genre: YA Romantasy
More info: Martyred Isle Book 1
Plot
This debut novel is a romantasy perfect for fans of Throne of Glass. Maeve’s sister has been gravely injured, and she will do everything she can to buy the forbidden magic that will save her. In exchange, she trades her life to a rebel leader and is thrown into a competition to become the next queen.
July 14, 2026
The Parisian Heist
Author: Jo Piazza
Year: 2026
Genre: Fiction
More info: Bestselling Author
Spice Rating:💋💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Emma is a scrappy young artist making her way in Paris, working as a maid to help pay for art school. She lives with two other female artists, each talented in their own right and each working to support their artistic pursuits. When Emma’s client, Stella Swanson, the recent widow of a famed art dealer, asks her for help in taking control of the art empire she helped to build, Emma is torn between helping Stella and falling for her charming step-grandson, whose father is working to cut Stella out of her inheritance.
Stella will do whatever it takes to unveil some of her deceased husband’s family secrets, and she’s trying to bring Emma and her friends along on her not-so-legal path to taking them down. While Emma is working out what to do in the present day, her story is cut between that of Jo van Gogh as she works to fulfill her late husband, Theo’s, dream of making his brother Vincent a famed artist.
Jo was a real-life unsung hero in the creation of Vincent as a god-like figure in the world of art, and her struggles, narrated by her fictitious nanny/assistant, intertwine with Emma’s present-day story in the most rewarding way.
Why Kirsten loves it
This propulsive novel had me flipping through the pages. I adore biographical fiction and art heist novels, and this was the perfect combination of both, with a major dose of feminism thrown in. I was enthralled by Jo’s tenacity as she became the driving force behind making Vincent van Gogh a household name, but even more, I was ensnared by the modern plotline of Emma and Stella reclaiming their power.
If you are looking for an escapist read that will also inspire you to fight the patriarchy, this should be an immediate purchase! You learn a lot, you’ll have fun while reading, and you’ll come away with renewed energy as you realize the power of women working together.
Find this book in: Books Set in Paris / Books Set in Museums
The Half Life
Author: Rachel Beanland
Release Date: July 14, 2026
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: Bestselling Author of Florence Adler Swims Forever
Plot
When Eileen O’Malley meets Paul Archer, a naval officer, it is not long before they are married and moving to Italy so Paul can be aboard a submarine. Eileen is determined to make the small island of La Maddalena feel like home. When Italian scientists become concerned about possible nuclear contamination in the water, Eileen has to choose between her loyalty to her husband and country, and the Italian locals who have made her feel like she’s home.
Dominion
Author: Jean Kwok
Release Date: July 14, 2026
Genre: Fantasy
More info: Silk and Iron Trilogy #1
Plot
This book is being described as Fourth Wing meets Chinese Mythology crossed with The Hunger Games. Rubi has no memory after her homeland was destroyed. Now she is a refugee in the Dominion of the Silver Tyger. When she draws the attention of the supreme metal mage, she finds herself in a brutal trial with tygers choose their riders and the rest are killed.
This Changes Everything
Author: Lisa Scottoline
Release Date: July 14, 2026
Genre: Thriller
More info: #1 bestselling author
Plot
Julia and Courtney are best friends. Julia lives in Tuscany, and Courtney is back in the United States. When Courtney arrives at her grandmother’s house in PA, she finds her grandmother dead and her killer escaping. Julia rushes home to be with her friend. Despite the fact that the police think it was just a burglary gone wrong. The two women think there is something else going on. Soon, Julia becomes the Target of a conspiracy, and she is fighting for her life. This is a thriller that is also about female friendship.
Hot Girl Murder Club
Author: Ashley Winstead
Release Date: July 14, 2026
Genre: Thriller
More info: National Bestselling Author
Plot
Scout is an aspiring singer and actress who is catapulted to fame for all the wrong reasons. Ever since her sister died at a Hollywood party 10 years ago, she has been trying to find her killer. Now, after a string of murders in LA, point to Scout. She could be going down as the world’s most famous murderer unless she can prove she is not guilty.
The Romance Revival
Author: Christina Lauren
Release Date: July 14, 2026
Genre: Romance
More info: Instant New York Times Bestselling Author
Plot
Emery and Luca have been married for three years, but Emery has become obsessed with her top-secret job and is neglecting Luca. In a tragic accident, Luca dies, and Emery is determined to bring him back. She uses science to bring him back and breaks every rule in doing so. The only problem? He can’t remember who she is. Now, Emery has one shot at a second chance at love.
Plot
Blair is a rom-com star trying to get into producing, but no one will take her seriously. She has become friends with Jack Branksone, a bestselling author who refused to participate in her celebrity book club. He admits that he has a case of writer’s block. Blair invites him to stay at her pool house, where the two Bond over movie nights and dinners. This is another book about books from the summer 2026 book releases. I cannot wait to get my hands on this one.
Extracurricular
Author: Rachel Lynn Solomon
Release Date: July 14, 2026
Genre: Romance
More info: New York Times Bestselling Author
Plot
Ramona Wilder has been a star since she was a kid, but is ready for a normal life. She has decided to start college at 26. Nick is a professor who is recently divorced. When he has a department meeting about a new celebrity enrolling, he plans to treat her like any other student until she walks into the class and causes an uproar. When a crisis brings them together, they realize there is attraction. But they will each have to confront their old life before they can move forward together.
July 21, 2026
Destination Funeral
Author: Paige Harbison
Release Date: July 21, 2026
Genre: Fiction
More info: Perfect for Best Time Loop Books
Plot
When Babe dies, four friends come back together for the reading of her will. They never thought that they would see each other again after a fallout years ago. But what should have been one weekend turns into a lot more when they wake up to discover it is Saturday, again.
The Masala Chai Mystery Club
Author: MJ Soni
Release Date: July 21, 2026
Genre: Mystery
More info: Perfect for fans of The Thursday Murder Club
Plot
Neeti is a retired librarian, looking forward to her book club with her chai-loving friends. When a childhood friend turns up dead, it is eerily similar to her most recent Book Club book. Even though he was unliked, he was a childhood friend, and she is determined to find his killer. She enlists her Book Club friends to find the murderer before they get themselves in more trouble than they can handle.
Plot
Fiona Winslow has returned to her family estate, Wurimbirra, after a difficult year. She plans on restoring it when she discovers a curious book called The Midnight Estate. The story in the book is very similar to her own. This is a dual timeline narrative with a mystery and secrets. It is also a book within a book which is a sub genre that I love to read.
Plot
Annie Morrissey was a best-selling author of murder mysteries. When she dies tragically, her daughter Naimh moves into her house to help deal with the estate. When her mother’s final book lands on the doorstep and Leah Rebeccah Overton appears in the kitchen, Naimh is a little bit concerned. After all, Leah is the fictional heroine of her mother’s books, and Naimh is the only one who can see her. She realizes she cannot ignore the sleuth, especially when her mother’s death may not have been an accident after all.
Just a Highland Fling
Author: Naina Kumar
Release Date:
Genre: July 21, 2026
More info: Books About Road Trips
Plot
Neelu is in Scotland for her estranged father’s wedding and accidentally says some things during a drunken tirade that get him left at the altar. Together, they decide to track down his bride. But Jacob, the gorgeous bagpiper with whom she recently had a one-night stand, is the third member of this road trip. This pick from the summer 2026 book releases has the Scottish Highlands, a forced proximity romance, and a road trip. I cannot think of anything better.
Dad, Love, Me
Author: Matthew Quick
Release Date: July 21, 2026
Genre: Memoir
More info: From the author of Silver Linings Playbook
Plot
This is a memoir written in the form of a letter to his ailing father. Quick takes us on a journey through his anxiety, depression, and substance abuse as he tries to make peace with his abusive father, who was recently diagnosed with dementia. This looks like a powerful and moving memoir from the summer 2026 book releases.
July 28, 2026
The Good Parts
Author: Evann Normandin
Release Date: July 28
Genre: Fiction
More info: Dual Timeline, Sual POV
Plot
I cannot wait to read this pick from the summer 2026 book releases. Landon is shocked when he receives a letter from Rose informing him that she has undergone a procedure to erase him from her memory. He is determined to win her back, even if he is starting from scratch.
Landon and Rose quickly become friends, but it seems that Rose is starting to have strange side effects the closer they become. The story is told in two timelines: his from the present, and hers from the past.
Meet Me in Paris
Author: Kristin Harmel
Release Date: July 28, 2026
Genre: Fiction
More info: New York Times bestselling author
Plot
I love Kristin Harmel and cannot wait to read this book from the summer 2026 book releases. The book takes place over one week in Paris with several intertwined stories. These are stories of love, loss, heartbreak, and courage. It has been described as Love Actually meets The Notebook, and I cannot think of anything better.
Sea of Charms
Author: Sarah Beth Durst
Release Date: July 28, 2026
Genre: Fantasy
More info: Deluxe Edition, bestselling author, Book 3 of Spellshop series
Plot
I love the first two books in this series, as well as Durst’s first YA book, so it is no surprise that this cozy fantasy romance is at the top of my TBR. Marin is a supply runner who sails to the islands delivering goods. When she goes to the Capital, she finds a revolution underway, and her friend Dax in trouble. She agrees to take him on as a member of her crew if he pretends to be her boyfriend at the end of the harvest festival back home. If this book is anything like her other books, it has crossover characters but can be read as a standalone!
Plot
This is a multigenerational family saga with a touch of magic. When Japanese soldiers invade her hometown in 1940, Ha Yut Ying escapes by turning invisible. When the war is over, she is sent to live with her father and stepmother, who turned her into the family servant.
In San Francisco, 20 years later, Marigold sees her mother disappear before her eyes. As her mother’s condition deteriorates, Marigold must uncover her other secrets to save her.
Summer 2026 Book Releases: August 2026
August 4, 2026
The Seekers of Deer Creek
Author: Thoa Thai
Release Date: August 4, 2026
Genre: Fiction
More info: New York Times Bestselling Author and Read with Jenna Pick Banyan Moon
Plot
Vivi and Calla had a falling out after their father’s death, so Vivi is surprised when Calla appears on the steps of the museum where she works with a letter from her father’s belongings. In the letter is a description of a lost work of art from a famous Vietnamese painter. Calla believes that their father wanted them to work together to find the painting.
Vivi is an art conservator who has worked hard to block out her past and could not be more different from her artist sister, who is also a recovering addict. This is a story of sisters that spans from Wisconsin to France and is a must-read from our list of summer 2026 book releases.
Etna
Author: Paul Yoon
Release Date: August 4, 2026
Genre: Literary Fiction
More info: A Most Anticipated Book of 2026 by the New York Times
Plot
This book is set in the present day in a fictional country and is told through the eyes of a dog. Etna is an ex-military dog who decides to return home after years of war. Etna travels across the country and encounters people and animals. He examines what it takes to trust again.
Meet Me in the Garden
Author: Nina LaCour
Release Date: August 4, 2026
Genre: Fiction
More info: Best-selling, award-winning author
Plot
Odette has always dreamed of being an artist and is in love with a woman, secrets she can only share with her cousin, Delphine. Delphine is in love with a white man. Five years later, the cousins have drifted apart. Odette is widowed and Delphine is living as a passing white woman. This is a story that spans decades, inspired by the authors family.
Take What You Can
Author: Naima Coster
Release Date: August 4, 2026
Genre: Fiction
More info: People Most Anticipated of 2026
Plot
Val and Milly became best friends as the only Black students on a study abroad trip to France. Now, years later, they are both married and pregnant with baby girls. Milly suggests that Val move to New York so they can raise their daughters together. But when she arrives in New York, the women both question if their friendship can survive without Helene. She was the mother figure who guided them and loved them while they were in France.
Now, Milly and Val have very different lives and they must come to terms with the rift that started all those years ago. This is a perfect book for our list of books about sisters and sisterhood from the summer 2026 book releases.
Sunlight Finds You
Author: Laura Moriarty
Release Date: August 4, 2026
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: Bestselling author of The Chaperone
Plot
In 1949, 17-year-old Nora falls for Leonard, a recent transplant from New York. While Leonard’s mother is welcoming, Leonard’s father is suspicious of her. When his distrust seems warranted, Nora is forced to cut all contact. This is the start of a chain of events that shape the rest of Nora’s life.
Nora is telling the story about her past as an older woman. It is a book about forgiveness and living life to its fullest.
The House of Boleyn
Author: Tracy Borman
Release Date: August 4, 2026
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: Acclaimed Tudor Historian
Plot
In this historical fiction pick from the summer 2026 book releases, Borman brings to life the Boleyn family as never seen before. Thomas Boleyn arrived in London in 1509 with his two daughters, Anne and Mary. Over the next thirty years, we see the rise and fall of the family with all the drama we would come to expect from this time period.
Time Travel for Beginners
Author: Jaclyn Moriarty
Release Date: August 4, 2026
Genre: Fantasy
More info: Perfect for Best Time Travel Books
Plot
The Time Travel Agency is located in Sydney, Australia. Book a trip, and you can go anywhere you want in the past without fear of altering the present. Anna is a single mom who has been offered a job at the agency. Teddy is a customer, and Jade thinks the agency offers false hope. The three characters enter time, and their paths are directed towards one another.
You’ll Be Sorry
Author: Lisa Gardner
Release Date: August 4, 2026
Genre: Thriller
More info: Bestselling author
Plot
Raquel and Theo Collins are moving to a remote Town in New Hampshire to start over after a terrible tragedy. They move into the Dixon family lodge, a once pristine getaway in the mountains, until the owners and their four children disappeared in a trial of bloody footprints three decades ago. When a stray dog finds a skeleton on the property, the Collins, police and the village must work together to figure out what happened all those years ago.
The Unknown
Author: Riley Sager
Release Date: August 4, 2026
Genre: Thriller
More info: Bestselling author
Plot
Marin Keane is a struggling actress who is excited when she gets a role in a movie about the unsolved disappearance of five women from an island off Vermont in 1926. The women disappeared with only their dresses hanging from trees. Rumors of murder or the supernatural have kept the disappearances a mystery for the last 100 years.
From the minute Marin arrives on the island, she knows that something is not right. And the disappearances start again. Can Marin figure out what is going on before she becomes another footnote in history?
How to Find Love in the Cereal Aisle
Author: Alissa Derogatis
Release Date: August 4, 2026
Genre: Romance
More info: Perfect for our list of Best Rom-Com Books
Plot
Ainsley is a romance writer who has lost her spark after her boyfriend broke up with her. To get her inspiration, her best friend suggests that she stage a real-life meet-cute to spark her writer’s block. But with each failed attempt, she wonders if she is on the right path.
August 11, 2026
Hocus Pocus
Author: Brinda Charry
Release Date: August 11, 2026
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: based on the renowned Insian Stage Magicians performing in the US in the 1800s
Plot
Samuel Thomas is a young magician who travels from India to London and eventually to Boston in 1816. Walter Mepham is the proprietor of the New Boston Museum, which is nearly bankrupt. He is desperate to find a way to keep it open, and Samuel is the perfect person. The relationship between the men quickly becomes complicated. Walter becomes slightly obsessed with Samuel, and Samuel is dependent on Walter. What are they both willing to do to achieve success?
Dreamland
Author: Olivie Blake
Release Date: August 11, 2026
Genre: Fantasy
More info: Deluxe Edition
Plot
Anya receives an invitation to work for the de Witt family, a powerful film dynasty in L.A. She spends her days and nights with the family, where she meets Jude, the family’s most closely guarded secret. There is an attraction between Anya and Jude despite the warning signs that indicate Jude has been cursed. Now, Anya has to decide if she is willing to ignore the horrors in LA and the red flags to get what she wants.
Matchmaker’s Cottage
Author: Kat Sloane
Release Date: August 11, 2026
Genre: Romance
More info: Cozy Fall Romance
Plot
Julia runs a bed and breakfast in upstate New York, but she is not doing well financially. When Ethan Duchamp, her ex, suggests her romantic inn will be the perfect place for his matchmaking plans for his A-List clients, neither of them expects their connection to rekindle. This is on my list of summer 2026 book releases.
Three Tenses
Author: Ed Park
Release Date: August 11, 2026
Genre: Memoir
More info: Pulitzer Prize Finalist
Plot
In this book, add park tells his story through a compilation of anecdotes. This memoir almost never came to be. Park had been writing his story and saved it to a floppy disc in 1998. It was lost for more than 20 years until he came across a printed copy in a manila folder. Now, Park’s story is told with beautiful prose- an indication of the artist he would become.
August 18, 2026
Immortal Rose
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Release Date: August 18, 2026
Genre: Fantasy
More info: #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of Lore
Plot
The Rosebourne family is descended from Faerie ancestors with the ability to make a fragrance filled with magic. When a murder leaves the kingdom vulnerable, the royal spy master, Hugh Thornton, must find the only person who can help, Viola Lockwood. She is the last living descendant of the Rosebourne family.
Viola agrees to craft an immortal rose and save the kingdom in exchange for the fortune that should have been hers. Together, they must find the ingredients while avoiding attempts on her life.
The Divine Gardener’s
Handbook: Or What To Do If Your
Girlfriend Accidentally Turns Off the Sun
Author: Eli Snow
Release Date: August 18, 2026
Genre: Fantasy
More info: Deluxe Edition
Plot
Cyprin has always dreamed of working in the Divine Gardens, tending to plants overseen by God. She cannot stand the thought of living in the megacity anymore. When Cyprin has a chance to enter the annual flower pageant, she will do anything to win her spot in the garden. Soon Cyprin and the head gardener are drawn into a plot to take down God, a guy with a nice garden, and realize that they may be more than enemies.
That Night
Author: Gillian McAllister
Release Date: August 18, 2026
Genre: Thriller
More info: Now Streaming on Netflix
Reese Withspoon Book Club Author, Read with Jenna Book Club Author
Plot
This is a thriller that questions what you would do to protect your family. Frannie is on vacation in Europe when she hits a man with her car. She makes a call to her brother and her sister, who immediately come to help her. They find her over a dead body and bury it with the promise to never tell anyone. When the police start questioning them, the lies fall apart, and they begin to doubt each other.
My Sister is Going To Kill Me
Author: Nina Simon
Release Date: August 18, 2026
Genre: Thriller
More info: Reese Withspoon Book Club Author of Mother Daughter Murder Might
Plot
Liv and Mandy take a yearly sister trip together. This year, they are going rafting down the Grand Canyon. When a member of their group is found dead, the trip becomes a murder investigation. Everyone has a secret to the point that Liv and Mandy hardly trust each other. But they must if they are going to catch a killer.
Something About September
Author: Julia McKay
Release Date: August 18, 2026
Genre: Romance
More info: Internationally bestselling author of Christmas at the Ranch
Plot
I cannot wait for this cozy fall romance. I hear the sweater weather calling. Rebecca has to return home to fix up her late grandmother’s diner, but the only contractor in town is Cort Adams, the man who rejected her one year ago. He has changed a lot from being a football star. She tutored while in high school. Once she comes home, she realizes that maybe she has been chasing the wrong dreams all along.
How to Find Romance in a Bookshop
Author: Poppy Alexander
Release Date: August 18, 2026
Genre: Romance
Plot
Petra’s career as a literary agent is almost nonexistent after a social media typo went viral. Now she is looking after a bookshop by the sea for six months. When she meets Ross McLeod, who had an award-winning debut novel and nothing since, the two develop a friendship. We have a slow-burning romance in a bookshop by the sea. This is an amalgamation of romance tropes that is sure to be a hit from this list of summer 2026 book releases.
Mothers of Invention:
A History of Creativity from the
Greek Muses
Author: Dr. Moiya McTier
Release Date: August 18, 2026
Genre: History
Plot
This book from the summer 2026 book releases is unlike anything I have seen before. In this book, told from the point of view of the Greek Muses, Dr. McTier tells the story of how humans have set ourselves apart from other animals with our ability to create. She explores the history of science, art, religion, democracy, and physics from the Muses point of view.
August 25, 2026
Portrait of a Witch Undone
Author: K.S. Shay
Release Date: August 25, 2026
Genre: Fantasy
More info: Discovery of Witches meets the Thomas Crown Affair
Plot
Maeve Ryan was the strongest witch of her generation until a spell went awry. With that spell, Maeve’s reputation was destroyed, and she gave herself unbound wild magic that hurts those around her and herself. Maeve’s best friend, Ash, has been researching why the spell went awry.
The research leads her to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and a link between a decades-old art theft worth 500 million. When Ash disappears through a painting’s empty frame, Maeve follows her. She risks everything for her friend and her coven.
Heart of Glass
Author: Jennifer Hillier
Release Date: August 25, 2026
Genre: Thriller
More info: New York Times Most Anticipated Book of 2026
Plot
Lorelei, Nicolette, and Barb were best friends spending a night at an amusement park. There, they met a drifter named Sam. When Lorelai’s body is found a few days later, Barb and Nicolette are shocked that Sam is arrested for her murder and the murders of four more young women. They call him the carnival killer. But when he recants his confession, Barb and Nicolette have to come to terms with the secrets they have kept buried for years.
The Silent Appeal
Author: Janice Hallett
Release Date: August 25, 2026
Genre: Mystery
More info: Best-selling author of The Appeal
Plot
The Fairway players are back again, putting on Agatha Christie’s The Hollow. Once again, they will find themselves with another murder, blackmail, and more. Can they find out what happened on the opening night of the play and make sure that the right person gets the blame? If you love Hanice Hallett as I do, this is sure to be on your reading list from the summer 2026 book releases.
Once Swindled
Author: Laura Sebastian
Release Date: August 25, 2026
Genre: Fantasy Romance
More info: New York Times best-selling author (Lack and Luster Book 1)
Plot
Is there anything not to love about a Second Chance Romance Book set in a magical Gilded Age? Arden’s family fortune is dwindling. His only chance to save his family is to marry a highborn Luster girl that his great-aunt chooses for him. But when he goes to meet his chosen bride, another woman catches his eye. Mavis lacks magical abilities, so she must use well-thought-out cons to get by. Arden and Mavis need to put their differences aside for one Kahn to save them both.
The Cozy Nook Bookshop
Author: Jeanine Chin
Release Date: August 25, 2026
Genre: Romance
More info: Heart’s Hope Crossing #1
Plot
A cozy fall romance in a bookshop? Sign me up. Emma has moved to Hart’s Hope Crossing, Vermont, where she will be running a bookshop. She finally feels like she is starting to relax again after losing her friends, apartment, and boyfriend in NYC. When she collides with Hunter Hall, the town legend says they will fall in love. She is not opposed to this tall and handsome forest ranger, but he has baggage. Can they take the first step towards happiness?
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most anticipated summer 2026 book releases?
There are so many books that Kirsten and I are looking forward to reading this summer. These are a few:
Villa Coco by Andrew Sean Greer
Whistler by Ann Patchett
The Paris Heist by Jo Piazza
Helpless by Jessica
Man Overboard by Kathleen Rooney
Something about September by Julia McCay
Sunlight Finds You by Laura Moriarty
The Silent Appeal by Janice Hallett
The Immortal Rose by Alexandra
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