Summer is officially here. Warm weather. Thunderstorms. Lazy beach days. Cookouts. Sharing drinks on the porch with friends. Sleeping in the hammock.

….and reading.

For some reason, certain books seem to fit the summer months better than others. I hope I can tempt you to try some of the books below!

Classics:

Summer Crossing, by Truman Capote (read my review)

Capote’s newly discovered novella takes place during a summer in New York and is about the sexual awakening of a young girl.

The Country of Pointed Firs, by Sarah Orne Jewett (read my review)

First published in 1896, this short novel takes place one summer in the fictional seaside town of Dunnet Landing, Maine. Filled with endearing characters and a beautiful sense of place, this is one novel that is best enjoyed on your front porch.

The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck (read my review)

Steinbeck’s best known classic follows the Joad family as they travel west during the Great Dust Bowl Migration.

Older Titles:

Beachcombing for a Shipwrecked God, by Joe Coomer (read my review)

Set in New England on the coast, Coomer’s novel explores how one woman moves on with her life after the death of her husband.

Back When We Were Grownups, by Anne Tyler (read my thoughts)

Anne Tyler is at her best in this novel about a woman who wonders what life would have been like had she made different choices.

Alentejo Blue, by Monica Ali (read my review)

More like a collection of interwoven short stories, Ali’s novel  measures the ebb and flow of small town life under a Portugal sun.

Newly Released:

The Laws of Harmony, by Judith Ryan Hendricks (read my review)

This novel moves from New Mexico to an island off of the West Coast and involves a wonderful cast of characters, great food descriptions and a mystery.

Beach Trip, by Cathy Holton (read my review)

Holton’s novel takes place during the summer along the Outer Banks of North Carolina and unravels the lives of four college friends who are now middle-aged.

The Mechanics of Falling and Other Stories, by Catherine Brady (read my review)

In the mood for a short story? Try Brady’s nuanced and wise collection of eleven stories that explore doubt, fear, faith, and conflict.

Coming this Summer:

South of Broad, by Pat Conroy (release date: August 11, 2009)

Set in 1969 in South Carolina, Conroy explores the lives of a group of high school friends as they grow into adulthood.

The Girl Who Played With Fire, by Stieg Larsson (release date: July 28, 2009)

This follow up to the best selling novel The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, has critics excited. A sharp, intelligent thriller with a unique heroine, this book looks like a winner.

Do you have favorite summer reads? Anything that is coming out this summer that you just can’t wait to read?