Whether your sights are set on sandy beaches or the simple luxury of air-conditioning, summer is all about going with the flow and seeing where the wind—or, in this case, your next listen—takes you. Transporting us to tropical beaches, luxe pools and even frosty mountains and dragon-filled skies, these are the books we can’t stop obsessing over this season. Tune in and set the backdrop for your summer with the ease of pressing play.
It isn’t summer for me without a novel from Emily Henry. Her latest gift to beach season is a heartfelt romance set in a dreamy locale and featuring an unlikely pair. Daphne’s fiancé dumps her for his childhood best friend, Petra. Daphne decides to move in with Petra’s jilted ex, Miles, fake-dating each other to make the new couple jealous—but it quickly turns into something more. Henry’s knack for writing relatable characters while balancing romantic love with relationships between friends and siblings adds even more joy to this beautiful story. Julia Whelan delivers another flawless performance, bringing the unforgettable cast of Funny Story to life. I think this might be Henry’s best yet! —Margaret H.
When summer finally comes, I like to lean all the way in—so listening to a twisty mystery called The Pool while I’m AT the pool is my idea of holiday heaven. Perfect for fans of dark but juicy domestic suspense like Big Little Lies and The Slap, Hannah Tunnicliffe’s clever novel follows a group of four families 10 years after a tragedy tore them apart. Baz King was the life of the party until he suddenly disappeared from an innocent summer barbecue in Melbourne that no one can forget. Now in their forties and with teenage children, Baz’s friends are still piecing together the puzzle—and their lives—in this shifting-perspective, dual-narration whodunit that’s perfect in audio. —Kat J.
Cozy mysteries and cabanas go together
No matter where you stand on the cabana debate, be glad you didn’t end up in a situation like poor Viola Roberts. The newly successful author is planning on enjoying a writer’s retreat in Florida when she encounters a fellow author dead in a cabana on the beach! She and her best friend Cheryl are the prime suspects, and so she must clear their names by solving the mystery with some help from hot guy Lucas Salvatore. —Melissa B.
A word to my family, friends and fellow listeners—kindly prepare for my entire personality to become Onyx Storm for the entire summer. The hotly anticipated third book in Rebecca Yarros’s much beloved Empyrean series is finally here, and I spent the past few weeks re-listening to books 1 and 2 with some fellow Fourth Wing enthusiasts, so the details are fresh in our minds as we learn the fates of our favourite characters. While I’ve been particularly nervous about a certain brooding, shadow-encased leading man after that cliffhanger in Iron Flame (😱), I also simply can’t wait to see where Yarros takes the series from there. Though we may be in bikinis instead of flight leathers—it’s finally time to fly back to Basgiath. —Katie O.
Forget hot girl summer and brat summer, and say hello to Let Them summer. Well-being guru Mel Robbins is at her most zen with the viral Let Them Theory, a foolproof guide to handling the haters in life. Robbins’s blend of relatable examples, scientific research and practical advice, told through her signature down-to-earth storytelling, makes this audiobook accessible and applicable for listeners from all walks of life. Whether you’re seeking to improve your career, deepen your relationships or just find a more chill, happy zone this summer, let Mel handle it with two simple words: let them. —Rachael X.
Island life, with a side of twists
Alice Feeney has done it again with her latest darkly addictive thriller, Beautiful Ugly. The “Queen of Twists” masterfully intertwines suspense and emotion, and what begins as a seemingly straightforward tragedy takes a shocking turn that left me questioning everything. The alternating perspectives between the deeply flawed main characters, Grady and Abby, provide a multifaceted view of the shifting dynamics of their marriage, with each harbouring secrets, grief and unsettling revelations that challenge one’s perception. Richard Armitage gives an amazing performance as Grady Green, with his desperation and guilt pulling me into his unraveling world. Beautiful Ugly is a sharp, thought-provoking look at how people change in relationships and the lengths they’ll go to for love—or revenge. —Dawn G.
If you can’t stand the heat, get out by listening. In this adventurous thriller, three friends decide to take on Denali, the tallest mountain in North America. With determination, skill and vital supplies, they begin the journey. Only thing, Mother Nature makes an appearance and no matter how well they've prepared, she’s winning. It can get so cold that people are flash-frozen in minutes. But it gets really twisty when one of the friends volunteers to go and seek help, or so the story goes. You’ll try and guess where it’s going and why. My advice, just go with the snow. I actually got a chill while listening as the drama unfolded. The narrators are very convincing, and it feels as if they recorded right from Denali with the sounds of that frozen, forbidding place. Brrr. —Yvonne D.
In the mood for a little friendly competition?
Don’t forget to pack your favourite snacks and sweet treats (or possibly some hot cross buns?) if you tuck into Lucy Parker’s Battle Royal. This Aussie author brings enemies-to-lovers perfection to this British baking competition in a judge vs. judge romance. The impeccable narration of Billie Fulford-Brown is the icing on top of this delectable confection. —M.B.
The antidote to wedding season blues
Feeling salty about beachfront displays of affection? As am I, along with Phoebe Stone, the spiraling protagonist of Alison Espach’s latest novel, who, newly single and depressed, has hot summer plans to self-sabotage in style at an elegant Newport resort. However, upon her arrival, she unexpectedly befriends a cohort of wedding people, who would rather count Phoebe as an extra head for the caterers than have her potentially ruin the ceremony by being left unattended and heartbroken. It doesn’t take long for Phoebe and the bride to bond over their underlying anxieties, and Helen Laser’s spot-on delivery makes it easy to fall for the vibrant cast of characters. —Haley H.
I’ve been on a rom-com kick this year (every year?), but no matter my listening mood, Christina Lauren is always an auto-download for me. This time, the best friend writing duo takes us to a private resort in Indonesia, where the setting serves as a luxurious backdrop to a fake-relationship plot, layered with complex family dynamics, corporate greed and artistic ambitions. The love story is, of course, swoon-worthy, but I really appreciated our heroine Anna’s journey to trusting both her own voice and talents. Patti Murin and Jon Root perform their third CLo collaboration, giving voice to Anna and Liam in a dual POV, and I’m already hoping the whole gang reunites on a sequel featuring some of the other characters. I recently got to interview the authors, and their passion reinforced both my love of them and of the genre. There is something so special about happily-ever-afters and the authors who get us there. —K.O.
In this audio romance that feels appropriately meta, computer science student Penny Jane needs funding for her new audio-only dating app, Waves. Enter Sebastian Harkin, a confident business major with something to prove to his tech mogul father. While their partnership starts as strictly business, the late-night development sessions spark an unexpected connection between the spiky, defensive Penny and the surprisingly endearing Sebastian. This delightful romp unfolds as only an audio romance can. —M.B.
