Old Town Books’ Annual Summer Reading Guide
There’s a moment every year when summer starts to feel real, and for us, it’s when the stacks of advance copies take over the store, the spreadsheets multiply, and conversations about books get a little more… spirited.
Our annual Summer Reading Guide is the result of months of reading, debating, and refining.
As a team, we work our way through hundreds of titles, passing books back and forth, flagging favorites, and making the case for the ones we can’t stop thinking about. There are color-coded spreadsheets. There are passionate defenses of unlikely contenders. There are, occasionally, strong opinions.
The goal is always the same: to build a guide that feels thoughtful, varied, and genuinely useful to the readers who walk through our doors.
What we end up with is something we’re incredibly proud of: A collection of books that reflects not just what’s new, but what’s worth your time.
This year’s guide includes something for every kind of reader. If you’re looking for a page-turning novel to bring to the pool, you’ll find it here. If nonfiction is more your speed, there are deeply reported, conversation-starting picks. There’s immersive fantasy, feel-good fiction, literary standouts, and the kinds of books you press into a friend’s hands with a “just trust me.” Whether you’re planning your next beach read, building a summer stack, or trying to get out of a reading slump, the guide is designed to meet you where you are.
One of the best ways to experience it, though, is in the store. We’ve built out dedicated displays for the guide, and each title is accompanied by a shelf talker written by our booksellers - the same people who read and vetted every selection. These notes are personal, specific, and often the deciding factor for someone picking up a book they might not have otherwise found.
And for those who like a bit of structure (or a little extra motivation), we’re bringing back our Summer Reading Bingo board for kids and adults alike. The idea is simple: follow the prompts, fill your board, and see where it takes you. It’s a fun way to branch out into genres you might not usually pick up or finally get to that book that’s been sitting on your nightstand.
Complete a bingo, and you’ll win prizes from our friends at Continues Arcade - a perfect pairing for a summer built around books and a little play.
At its heart, the Summer Reading Guide is an invitation. To read widely. To try something new. To reconnect with the feeling of getting completely lost in a book.
Check out a few sample titles below, and visit us in store or online at oldtownbooks.com for the full guide.
If you want a hopeful read after your next bird watching walk: Try The Return of the Oystercatcher by Scott Weidensaul
If you crave a happy ending: Try Casually Yours by Vivan Jai Lac
If you’re planning your next summer picnic: Try Pimento Cheese: The Southern Spread by Rebecca Lang
If you’re looking for a gossipy murder mystery: Try Rachel West and the Fallen Starlet by Emma Mills
If you want a cozy summer fantasy: Try The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne by Summer N England
If historical family sagas are your favorite: Try A Far-Flung Life by M.L. Stedman
And for kids:
If your kid wants to laugh their fins off: Try Sashimi by Dan Santat
If your James Ponti lover is looking for a new heist to solve: Try Theft of the Ruby Lotus by Sayantani DasGupta
If your kiddo is sleepaway camp bound: Try Really Rubie by Maddie Frost
If your tween dreams of being the next Studio Ghibli: Try Inbetweens by Faith Erin Hicks
If your tween craves a survival story to rival any video game: Try Anna-Jane and the Endless Summer by Paige Classey
If your tween wants a swoony clean romance: Try Love Me Tomorrow by Emiko Jean
We’d love for you to stop by, browse the displays, and find the book that will define your summer reading!
SEE ALSO: Street Style: Meet Ally Kirkpatrick and Melissa LaSalle of Old Town Books
