Love and Other Words, by Christina Lauren: the modern-day setting for this book is in San Francisco, but a lot of the book is told in flashbacks that occur in a summer home outside of San Francisco, and it gives me all the summer/vacation vibes. Plus there is a reading nook, so yes, yes please.

The Celebrants, by Steven Rowley. This is the same author from The Guncle and The Guncle Abroad, which I’ve loved. This book is a little more serious, but a lot of the story line takes place in a vacation home in Big Sur. I don’t consider this a light beach read, but I did really enjoy the various topic of friendship, how those relationships evolve over time, and the very real issues that we all face as we grow older.

Edge of Summer, by Viola Shipman: although this was not my favorite book, plot-wise, it does take place around Lake Michigan, and I loved the small lake-town vibes.

Cicada Summer, by Maureen Leurck: this book is set near Geneva Lake in Wisconsin. Here’s my recap from August of last year:

This was a small town setting book and I LOVED it. This book was all about second chances, and I loved reading about a major home renovation project to restore a historical home. It also solidified my desire for a lake house. I NEED a lake house.

Tom Lake, by Ann Patchett. This book is set on an orchard in Northern Michigan, but there is a lake near the house that the family walks to. So it makes the cut! I really loved the quiet drama of this book, and exploring deep family ties and relationships.

Last Summer at the Lake House, by Heather Dixson: this book is set at the family lake house in Summerville (you guys…I don’t remember details…but I’m pretty sure that Summerville is a fictional lake town….but you know…still a lake town!). I’m also seeing quite a pattern with the blurbs I’ve typed before and I gotta say….manifestation is obviously NOT working for me…

There were so many great quotes in this book about family life, dynamics, and the messiness of life. I felt that it was authentic and real, even if I though it went a little slow at times.

Gaaaaah, just gimme gimme gimme a lake house, pleeeeeease. I’ve been lusting over a cabin in Lake Arrowhead or Idylwild for a few years now, and reading books like these just gets me all hyped up. I want the memories and the traditions and the weekend/summer/winter getaways.

Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club, by J. Ryan Stradal. This one takes place in Minnesota, so not your typical beach read, but one of the characters talks about spending summers in her youth there, and the small town and diner definitely give me summer vibes.

Just for the Summer, by Abby Jimenez. This book features a cottage on an island, also in Minnesota! Lots of pontoon boats, BBQ, pool, and quirky cottage reading in this book. This one definitely has some spicy scenes, and although it’s been a summer blockbuster in the book scene, it was a two mugger for me.

Good for You, by Camille Pagan. Setting: Lake Michigan beach house. I had a streak of Lake Michigan reads last year, and it’s definitely given me an itch to check it out at some point in my life. This has a sweet romance plot, along with a “what am I doing with my life,” which I can always relate to, and enjoy reading about.

Beach Read, by Emily Henry. This book is set in a fictional beach town that the author stated is an amalgamation of Michigan beach towns. Another spicy read with all the summer vibes, plus some enemy to lovers vibes.

The Summer Place, by Jennifer Weiner: this family-centered drama takes place during the summer in Cape Cod. This was a three mugger for me last summer. The Summer Place follows a family along a few days leading up to a wedding taking place at the family beach house. I have a terrible memory, so I’m not 100% sure, but I THINK this is the book where the house is sentient in the beginning and the end – and it’s a really sweet touch for the opening and closing of the story.

The Paper Palace, by Miranda Cowley Heller: this one has some common plot lines as The Summer Place, as they both deal with infidelity and both are set in Cape Cod. But The Paper Palace actually has a bunk house. ON. A. LAKE. I still think of the ending of this book often.

Today, Tonight, Forever, by Madeline Kay Sneed: this story is set along the beaches of Watercolor, Florida, so not my typical cabin/lake destination setting, but still gave me very summery-y vibes. This book also has LGBTQ characters.

Happy Place, by Emily Henry. Friends hanging out at a cottage in Maine? Um, yes again. Please. Loved this book – but definitely spicy.

Elizabeth of East Hampton, by Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding. This is a Jane Austen retelling of Pride & Prejudice, and although I haven’t read Pride & Prejudice (gasp! I know!), I really enjoyed this book set during a summer in the Hamptons. There’s surfing, a small beach town, and a swoony beach house. This book publishes on August 6, 2024.

Sandwich, by Catherine Newman. I haven’t read this one yet, but I’ve been hearing about it from ALL my bookish sources, and it really is right up my alley. I hope I can read it later this summer.