We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Culture and Lifestyle Activities and Entertainment Books 21 Pool Reads You Won’t Want To Put Down These books are sure to make a splash this summer. By Kait Hanson Kait Hanson Kait Hanson is a lifestyle reporter with more than ten years of experience writing stories on entertainment, travel, food and more. Her work has been featured by Vanity Fair, CNN, TIME, TODAY and more. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on June 14, 2024 Getty Images Summertime and the living is (mostly) easy. If the hotter temperatures have you dreaming of days at the pool with a good book–you aren’t alone. At Southern Living, we have visions of pool chairs dancing in our heads. With the official start of summer just around the corner, it's time to update your poolside reading list with some of the hottest new releases of the year. Overwhelmed by book lists on top of all the end-of-school year madness? We thought you might be, so we’ve done the digging for you. Whether you’re seeking out a heartwarming romance, a gripping thriller, or an engaging work of fiction, this season’s pool-reading selection has something for everyone. This roundup of 21 books to read by the pool promise to be the perfect companions for lazy afternoons by the water, keeping you entertained and hooked from start to finish. 50 New Beach Reads Perfect For Summer 2024 The Housemaid Is Watching by Freida McFadden Amazon View On Amazon $13 A former housemaid’s dark past is behind her when she moves her family into a suburban neighborhood–or is it? Take note: This is the third installment of “The Housemaid” series, so grab the first two if you haven’t yet. The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren Amazon View On Amazon $13 A grocery store heir fakes a relationship with his free-spirited ex in a bid to take home a big inheritance…but at what cost? In The Lonely Hours by Shannon Morgan Amazon View On Amazon $18 The dark secrets of a haunted castle in Scotland surface after it is inherited by a woman and her daughter. One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware Amazon View On Amazon $18 What begins as a reality show turns into five couples trapped on an island as a mysterious killer hunts them one by one. The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center Amazon View On Amazon $20 One woman breaks all her own rules about love and dating when she gets the opportunity to rewrite a famous screenwriter’s script. Savor It by Tarah DeWitt Amazon View On Amazon $14 A staged rendezvous leads to romance in a small town in this hysterical and heart-warming summer tale. Tourist Season by Brenda Novak Amazon View On Amazon $15 A summer of reconnecting with her fiancé by the ocean sounds ideal, until old secrets wash ashore and make her question it all. Mistakes We Never Made by Hannah Brown Amazon View On Amazon $16 A road trip gives two lifelong rivals a second chance at love as they try to track down a missing bride. Husbands and Lovers by Beatriz Williams Amazon View On Amazon $23 Two women separated by more than 50 years are brought together by an exotic family heirloom. The Unwedding by Ally Condie Amazon View On Amazon $18 When a recent divorcee takes a trip to Big Sur, she quickly realizes her life isn’t the only one spiraling out of control when she finds a dead body in the pool. The God of The Woods by Liz Moore Amazon View On Amazon $20 When a summer camp announces a camper has gone missing, it unearths years’ worth of secrets, tension, and drama for one community. Very Bad Company by Emma Rosenblum Amazon View On Amazon $23 A fictional close-up of corporate culture after a high-level executive vanishes during an employee retreat. But How Are You, Really by Ella Dawson Amazon View On Amazon $26 Charlotte Thorne confronts old demons–including an ex and estranged family–while attending a five year college reunion. What Fire Brings by Rachel Howzell Hall Amazon View On Amazon $29 A writer’s search for her missing friend in a remote canyon becomes her own tale of survival. The Women by Kristin Hannah Amazon View On Amazon $19 When one woman goes to Vietnam to fight for her country, she comes home to a divided nation that wants to forget the war–and those who gave it all. This Used To Be Us by Renée Carlino Amazon View On Amazon $17 A family crisis brings together a separated couple in a tale that dissects family, marriage, and true love. Such A Bad Influence by Olivia Meunter Amazon View On Amazon $21 When an internet influencer disappears during a livestream, her sister is forced to discover the hard truths of a sibling she thought she knew. The Limits by Nell Freudenberger Amazon View On Amazon $15 Three very different lives collide when the current and past wives of a NYC-based cardiologist find themselves together on an island in French Polynesia and are forced to reconcile relationships with each other and the world. The Fury by Alex Michaelides Amazon View On Amazon $15 A famous movie star and all of her closest friends are enjoying a sunny getaway to a private island in Greece–but things heat up when a murder occurs. The Summer Pact by Emily Giffin Amazon View On Amazon $7 A group of friends marred by tragedy reunite a decade later to discover what it means to heal and forgive. First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston Amazon View On Amazon $18 Southern girl Evie Porter has everything a girl could want: the perfect life, the perfect job, the perfect boyfriend, and home. The only problem is-Evie Porter isn’t real. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit