Wherever your dream vacay takes you, there’s a book that belongs in your carry-on. Choose your ideal destination to find it.
A penthouse in the heart of Tokyo: The Vacation Shift by Lily Chu
Quill Tree Books, $20
This summer is Ivy’s last chance to DTR with her situationship, but her mother has other plans (aka a boring bus tour through Japan). When her mom falls for a fellow tourist, Ivy devises a scheme to break them up—with the help of said tourist’s super cute son, of course.
A five-star hotel in the Hollywood Hills: Good Luck, Babe! by Erin Baldwin
Viking BFYR, $13
A crush confession ended Noelle and Yumi’s decade-long friendship. Now, the ex-pals are competing on The Adventure–verse (which, coincidentally, used to be their fave reality TV show). To win the cash prize, they’ll have to fake date—and make it very convincing.
A historic manor with major dark academia vibes: Of Venom and Vengeance by Mikayla Bridge
Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $22
As heiress to the Pallo crime family, Inna is no stranger to bloodshed. But her sister’s death is different—especially since someone is lying about it. Inna will do anything to expose the truth, even if it means teaming up with revenge-seeking Rylan.
A luxe lake house with to-die-for views: Lies Between Us by Jessica Goodman
G.P. Putnam’s Sons BFYR, $20
The Gold sisters and Silver brothers were inseparable, until a killer beach party (and we mean that literally) changed everything. One shocking reveal follows another, and suddenly everyone is a suspect in the murder that threatens to rip the two families apart forever.
A beach bungalow on a tropical island: Kingdom of Waves by Melissa de la Cruz
Roaring Book Press, $21
Two rival thieves with undeniable chemistry set off on the treasure hunt of a lifetime. They’re each after the same long-lost, enchanted relic with the power to restore a fallen kingdom, but for vastly different reasons. One wants it to save his people. The other needs it to save herself.
A staycation involving no packing and no planes: Seconds to Spare by Rachel Reiss
Wednesday Books, $21
Aboard Aloha Airways Flight 1333, 18-year-old Evelyn Werth is trapped in a 28-minute time loop—one filled with a violently shaking plane, a collapsing passenger and a terrifying finale. It’s up to her (and fellow traveler Orion) to break the cycle and make it out alive.
A country cottage next to a strawberry field: Every Reason to Stay by Lane Clarke
Little, Brown BFYR, $20
For Skylar, losing her dad was hard enough. Being shipped off to Virginia to live with her estranged mother only makes things worse. Surrounded by unfamiliar faces and desperate for an escape, Sky- lar becomes determined to bake her way into a legendary Parisian pastry school.
A cozy mountain cabin with an overflowing library: The Chismosas Only Book Club by Laekan Zea Kemp
G.P. Putnam’s Sons BFYR, $19
With high school approaching, Cat, Sofia, Ana and Mari (aka the “chismosas”) are clinging to their beloved book club. As cracks begin to form in their crew, Cat calls on the spirit of her ancestors and their ancient magic to keep the bond strong.
Hey, girl! Just to let you know, this originally ran in our June/July 2026 issue. Read our print mag for *free* today when you click HERE!
More rad reads, right here:
🌻 These books belong on your summer TBR
🌻 5 literary classics that *still* hit different
🌻 These reads will put you in a total summer mood
