☀️ Summer Reading 2025 ☀️ 8 Hot Book Recommendations for You! July 31, 2025 Reading Time: 9 min ShareTweetPinShare0 SharesSkip straight to the list of books >>Looking for some good books to read over the holidays? Well, here ‘s a mix of 6 fabulous fiction & 2 non-fiction books to give your summer reading a boost! Escape into romance, romance and adventure, or dystopian futures with strong female heroines. Hop across the water and meet quirky Parisien characters and read a collection of gothic short stories. Discover the depths of 1990s icon Pamela Anderson. And finally, if you’re feeling the need for something really serious, try learning how America’s poor came to be that way—and why they’re stuck there.So, there’s something for everyone. And please comment below with your book recommendations!NOTE: The links below go to Bookshop.org (USA), so you can learn more about the book—and purchase online. I am now an affiliate for Bookshop.org! It’s a great alternative to Amazon as they give money back to small booksellers—and they also have a UK site.Although if you can I recommend directly supporting your local bookstore or buying second-hand through AbeBooks which is also good for our planet.Do you love reading—or listening to audio books?I’ve been an avid reader since I was young, and love to read every night in bed. My favourite time of the week is still a weekend morning, reading in bed with a great book and a good cup of tea. What about you?Books teach us about our world—and the people in it!Not only entertainment, pleasure or an escape from the stresses of life, fictional stories offer us insight into other worlds: different lives, cultures, times (past or future) or an entirely different world.And non-fiction gives us knowledge, ideas and inspiration! In particular memoir and biographies give us deep insight into other life experiences.Different to movies, books tend to be more immersive, connecting us even more deeply to characters because we literally see inside their minds: their habits, reactions, quirks and thought processes. And all this makes us more empathic and possibly even brainier! Reading novels enhances brain function, brain connectivity, and mental agility. Dr Irena O’Brien (cognitive neuroscientist)So, what’s not to love?Books make learning fun!From a Fierce Kindness perspective, if you want to make a difference, it helps to understand our world—and how it came to be. So, if you’re wondering about big topics like addiction, poverty, colonisation, racism or what it’s like to be gay or queer, one of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to educate ourselves is to read novels written by people with personal experience—or stories that explore collective history.And here are my Summer 2025 Reading RecommendationsStarting with 5 Fiction Novels & 1 Book of Short Stories!Genre: Romance with a touch of seriousness…Buy on Bookshop1) It Ends With Us, A Novelby Colleen HooverIf you’re looking for a beach read which is both romance and something a bit more serious, then this might be for you.We follow Lily Bloom as a teenager and into adulthood as she navigates two loves in her life. I don’t want to give the “edge” away or spoil the story but it does take a darker turn and Lily must make some difficult decisions about the man she loves, who she can trust and more.It’s a thoughtful novel, and if contemporary romance is your thing, a great summer read.A movie was also made and released last year to mixed reviews (the critics did not love it so much, but the audience, largely, did).Awards: The novel won the 2016 Goodreads Choice Award for Best Romance. Translated into more than 20 languages this book has been a number one best seller on Amazon and The New York Times.Genre: Dystopian Future, Afrofuturistic, Feminist, Societal, Family Life, African AmericanBuy on Bookshop2) Parable of the Sowerby Octavia E. ButlerWritten in 1993, this dystopian future book is set in 2024 in the Unites States. We follow Lauren Oya Olamina, an African American teenager, as she attempts to survive the loss of her home, family—and becoming a leader, creates a new one.Society has become extremely unstable due to climate change, increasing wealth inequality and corporate greed. Our heroine is forced to leave her home and builds a group of followers as she shares her belief system: Earthseed—where she shares that God is change.While the subject matter is both prescient and often dark, there is a thread of hopefulness that runs through the book. So, if you love dystopian future novels, and strong female characters, this is for you!Banned in some American schools and libraries (presumably because it tackles themes like racism, climate change, poverty, greed and societal collapse), this book has also been adapted into an opera and a graphic novel.Awards and Accolades: Published in 1993, it was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year, was nominated for Nebula Award for Best Novel and in 2020(!) it finally became a New York Times best seller.Genre: Dystopian Future, Feminist, SocietalBuy on Bookshop3) The Handmaid’s Taleby Margaret AtwoodSo, if you haven’t read this, now is a good time. And if you have read this, there is no better time to re-read this classic.Another dystopian future novel, this time focusing on influence, control—and the role of women in society. This time our heroine is called Offred (her strange name is explained later in the book) and she is one of the “handmaids”—women who are still fertile—and their role in society is therefore to have children.This book is both dark and gripping. The first time I read The Handmaid’s Tale, I remember staying up late into the night, unable to put it down. Filled with memorable characters, many of whom have unclear motivations which makes it particularly nail-biting: who can be trusted?As our political world shifts to the right, we need to be watchful that women’s rights are maintained, and not reduced or removed.Also adapted into a TV series, this book serves as a chilling reminder of how easily everything women have fought for can be lost…Awards and Accolades: An ongoing bestseller, this book won the Governor General’s Award for English-language fiction, The LA Times Book Prize for Fiction, Arthur C. Clarke Award, was nominated for the Booker Prize and Nebula Award and many more!Genre: Romantasy (Romance/Fantasy), YA (pretty hot and steamy!), AdventureBuy on Bookshop4) A Court of Thorns and Rosesby Sarah J. MaasAnd now for something a bit lighter! This (new genre) Romantasy follows our heroine, Feyre Archeron, as she navigates a Faerie world of power and intrigue. And of course love, lust and danger.Definitely a YA (heavy on the adult) novel, this is the first in a series of 5 novels, and there is a lot of spiciness, aka romantic encounters—described in detail. If I had read this as a teenager, my mom would have been shocked to know what was inside these pages, so you have been warned…Feyre recreates her own version of family, finds her power and strength, love and, of course, saves the Faerie world.On a personal note, whilst I enjoyed this series (I bought the box set on recommendation), I prefer my stories to be deeper and more meaningful—and without outdated ideals of physical beauty and manliness…But, there are many, many millions of MASSIVE fans of this series who would disagree with me. The book series even has its own acronym: ACOTAR.So if you’re looking for a spicy, light read for the beach set in a fantasy world, this may be for you!Awards and Accolades: Goodreads choice awards and lots of YA Awards. Bestseller everywhere!Genre: Thoughtful, Class, Coming of Age, French CultureBuy on Bookshop5) The Elegance of the Hedgehogby Muriel BarberyDo you love Paris? Enjoy reading about and considering class and wealth differences? Food? Art? Unlikely friendships?This is one of my favourite books of all time with beautiful prose, complex and quirky characters, as well as being thoughtful, evocative and strangely tender.First there is Paloma, 12 years old, super smart and observant. We have Renee, a building supervisor of the Paris apartment block that Paloma lives in. And then we have Ozu, a wealthy Japanese man who moves into the apartment block, who values people for who they truly are, bringing kindred spirits together.Considered a philosophical fairy tale that shows (not tells) us what really matters in life, I just loved this endearing, funny and beautifully written novel.Awards and Accolades: The Elegance of the Hedgehog won various prizes in France in the year it was published. Her books are published in 12 languages.Genre: Gothic short storiesBuy on Bookshop6) The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories: 75th-Anniversary Editionby Angela CarterIf you loved Women Who Run With the Wolves (by Clarissa Pinkola Estes), you will also love this collection of gothic short stories!This (mostly) feminist rewriting of cautionary and inspirational fairytales is a pleasure to read (even for someone like me, who is not usually a fan of short stories!).Angela’s prose is haunting and evocative—and keeps us on the edge of our seats. And I love that in these stories, our heroines are bold and clever. We experience humour, delight and terror as they encounter—and eventually overcome their challenges.PS. The only shortcoming (for me!) of the book is that I would love some helpful analysis of the tales—both what they are intended to teach us, and why the author rewrote them as she did.Also, I love the cover of this edition!An absorbing and surprising memoir:Genre: Memoir, CulturalBuy on Bookshop7) Love, Pamela: A Memoirby Pamela AndersonSo, I read this memoir of a Canadian (and worldwide) icon and I’ll be honest, I now see Pamela Anderson in a whole new light.Interestingly she had wanted to write the entire memoir as a poem, but instead, each chapter starts with some poetry that sums up what she is feeling.She had an interesting, challenging childhood, growing up rurally with young parents who loved to party. Her experiences with men as a young woman were abusive and occasionally violent. Yes, that.When she picked herself up and headed to the big city, she was preyed upon by men with power—although she wasn’t entirely their victim either. Pamela did what she needed to do and found a way, found people to rely on, and found her strength.Eventually she got her big break, and became the icon we all know her as. She has kept her gentle and genuine heart, loves nature, her children—and is an activist for both animals and women’s rights.Yes, this memoir has ‘flaws’. But that is memoir: the writer gets to choose what to include/exclude, how deep to go, what to share. So while I’d love to see more critical analysis of her experience as a Playboy bunny (and her relationship with Tommy Lee etc.), and I’m not sure I love the poetry, this memoir lets you see what shaped Pamela Anderson—and who she is, on her terms. Bravo!And sidenote: at 58, Pamela has been going make-up free to events like the SAG Awards and The Met Gala, showing the world a different way to age beautifully.And finally, if you’re looking for something more serious…Genre: Economics, Poverty, Social Class, Society, AmericaBuy on Bookshop8) Poverty, by Americaby Matthew DesmondI am partway through this latest book by Pulitzer Prize–winning author Matthew Desmond, as I write.Matthew wrote this book to answer the question: Why is there so much poverty in America? And I think ultimately, he wants you to be angry about how it happened…Heartbreakingly filled with true stories of people who have nothing, how they got there and why they end up staying there.This is not an easy read. Not the words themselves, but the content that makes you think, makes you wonder, might make you feel angry or frustrated or guilty.And you don’t need to be American to appreciate the lessons in this book. Because while the United States has its own unique issues, poverty in wealthy industrialised countries (and the gap between the rich and the poor) seems to be increasing everywhere.If poverty bothers you, if learning how we got here is important to you, this book is for you.PS. This book is a short read, just 188 pages long (including the epilogue!), the remaining 100 pages being acknowledgements, references (and there are a lot!) and the index.Awards and Accolades: Goodreads Readers Choice Awards for Nonfiction.Get the Summer 2025 Reads on Bookshop.org Wrap-upSo, what books are you reading? Which books on this list have you read or inspire you?Share your book thoughts & summer read recommendations in the comments below!Liked these Summer Read Recommendations? You may also like:2024 Summer Reads2023 Summer Reads2022 Summer ReadsChange the world. 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