YOUR Thoughts on 2026’s Book of the Summer

Hi Book Pals,

While the end of summer remains hotly debated across the internet, I’d argue that the summer publishing season ends August 31. So, last Sunday, I sent out a poll asking YOU what our 2026 Book of the Summer is.

And it turns out 351 of you had thoughts.

First of all, 89% of you believe we have a Book of the Summer.

That doesn’t sound particularly remarkable until you consider that last year we largely agreed that 2025 didn’t have one.

OK, so what is the Book of the Summer?

What’s it about: A fifty-something woman runs into her former stepfather at The Met Museum, leading her to revisit memories of a car accident in her childhood.

Why you picked it:

• One respondent mentioned appreciating that this book was controversy-free and just a good time.

• Another mentioned the reflective nature of this book on its theme of family.

My take: I really enjoyed this book, especially the stepfather character. But this feels like it had a quieter release than Patchett’s previous novel, Tom Lake. A new Ann Patchett is always going to be a big deal in the book world, but for it to be a true BotS, I’d want to see it putting up higher-than-typical numbers for an Ann Patchett novel.

What’s it about: A hyper-competent single mom moves back to her Rhode Island hometown for the summer to help her dad and brother after a house fire and lands a gig fake dating a scion of the town’s founding family.

Why you picked it:

• “I’ve read a ton this summer and Dolly is the only book that I absolutely loved (and honestly the only one I remember/have been recommending, what else did I even read?!), so that makes it my BOtS!” -Katie

• Another respondent commented on loving its coastal setting.

My take: I all-caps LOVED this book! Is it just me or does Annabel Monaghan keep getting better and better? But I’m not sure that this book really made waves outside of romance reading circles. Also: how excited are we about the recent adaptation news?!

What’s it about: A young writer comes from New York City to a small town in North Shore Massachusetts for a writing fellowship and finds herself embroiled in a longstanding friend group’s drama when she starts dating the local golden boy, just as another member of the group discovers she’s pregnant with his baby.

Why you picked it:

• “It was the ultimate summer read—felt a lot like The Wedding People. BUT, big caveat: I am a millennial from MA and felt like I was reading about my people, so that may be skewing my opinion and how it went around my circle.” - Merav

• “Everyone I’ve lent this book to (including my 16-year-old daughter) has *flown* through it. It has that impossible-to-put-it-down energy, which is a book-of-the-summer hallmark. It also fully stuck the landing, making it equally fun and satisfying.” - Libby

• I loved a comment that called it “Buzzy, beachy, just substantial enough.”

My take: This sits perfectly at the center of my personal Venn Diagram of soapy and thought-provoking. And with the switch from Brooklyn to a coastal setting, I was getting serious Elin vibes from this multi-POV novel. (A huge compliment in my book.) Also, throughout the summer, so many of you reported seeing people reading this IRL on beaches or at pools.

What’s it about: An 11-year-old orphan, a newcomer trying to reign in her social climbing sister, and a down on her luck woman with little to lose come together in 1933 Oxford, Mississippi and take control of their destinies despite their economic circumstances.

Why you picked it:

• “The length seems overwhelming but by the end I was so invested in the characters I didn’t want it to end!” -Kim

• Another person called it the most absorbing book they read all year.

My take: This is the only one of the bunch I haven’t read. (I’m intimidated by the length and don’t usually love historical fiction, but wow is that 4.62 Goodreads rating making me consider diving in.) But I’ve been seeing this spreading across my social feed like wildfire netting glowing praise from everyone who’s reads it.

What’s it about: A trad wife influencer wakes up in 1855 and has to live the life she idealizes online.

Why you picked it:

• “It has been everywhere and there have been plenty of thinkpieces about it. It does feel very much like the vibe of Summer 2026: apocalyptic.” -Mayela

• “Rarely has a book that has so much internet buzz also actually been read by so many people I know in real life. Even my husband listened to the audiobook, and we rarely read the same things. And the reviews were polarizing!“ -Kinsey

• “The crossover appeal for Yesteryear is wild. Everyone seems to have read it: all ages, those who don’t read much, those who only read nonfiction, etc. And perhaps more importantly, they *all* have an opinion about it!” -Kara

My take: Love it or hate it, this book is driving conversation. It’s also driving sales—a recent New Yorker profile of the author revealed it’s sold 1.4 MILLION copies to date. Even my non-reading friends are aware of this book! I totally agree that it’s our book of the summer.

How do you feel about these rankings? Anything to add? I’ll see you in the comment section!

Until Sunday,

Becca