Great SUmmer Reads 2025: Start Here

Prior to his death from brain cancer at 60, Doyle agreed to let his friend compile this diverse collection of his essays. In them, he explores a spectrum of topics, from Oregon’s celebrated fish, Herman the Sturgeon, to the rapid pulse of hummingbirds and the intricacies of divorce. Informed by Zen and Catholicism, his evocative prose aims to reveal the extraordinary within the everyday.
- Allison Miller

This is the second book in the Jaipur Trilogy. Although I read all three, this one, which I started with due to its availability at my local library, proved to be my favorite. The series can certainly be enjoyed out of order. A blend of mystery and drama, the second book follows a former street child as he investigates the collapse of a theatre balcony that resulted in several deaths and injuries. Set in 1960s India, the rich details of jewelry, henna, and spices create a vivid backdrop.
- Allison Miller

The language of this book beautifully captures a harrowing look at the drug and opioid epidemic in hard-hit Appalachia, as well as the failures of the foster care system. It cleverly mirrors the structure of Dickens' David Copperfield to tell the story of Demon, the novel’s main character. The SU Book Club read it in 2023, and I’ve since read and listened to the audiobook three times now, and each experience grips me in heart-wrenching—and sometimes unexpected—ways.
- Serena Bettis

I love food and Iike Stanley Tucci and his appreication of Italian culture and cooking. This is his second book and traces his meals for a year--from meals on movie sets to dinner parties with stars, it is fun to see how he appreciates or disadains some of the meals he eats and why!
- Christine Bowman

I love that it is set in Great Britain, and all the characters are incredibly relatable. It's a story about perseverance, forgiveness, and acceptance with plenty of humor mixed in.
-Jean Whewell, Access Services Manager

This story was both hard to read but nearly impossible to put down! The storytelling, character development, and accurate representation of small-town challenges are so well done. I adore the relationship between the protagonist, Titus, and his father because their interactions really feel genuine - as if I was watching their lives unfold. If you're a fan of crime fiction/thrillers with MAJOR plot twists, then "All the Sinners Bleed" is definitely for you. Content Warning: depictions of physical and emotional abuse towards children, graphic violent acts, racial slurs and hate speech.
-Jennifer Frias, Academic Success Coordinator

My dear friend, Anna Cortes-McCrary, strongly recommended this to me, and I'm so glad she did! Although the romance genre is not my usual go-to, this story won me over with the diverse representation and complexities of the characters, especially in the protagonist Marcela. I felt immersed in her world and even found myself relating to her as a fellow curvy Latina. If you're looking for a fun and compelling love story with a dash of angst and a sprinkling of spicy moments, this is definitely for you!
-Jennifer Frias, Academic Success Coordinator

"I loved how a book, a story, a set of words in a sentence organized in the exact right order, made you miss places you've never visited, and people you've never met." This book is light, at times, but not always. It's romantic, and funny. It's also time-travely. Very well-written, creative and smart. What else could you want in a SUmmer read?
-Eileen Roybal

I highly recommend the audiobook; the talented narrator gives each character a unique voice. The story is sweet and made me laugh out loud. I started listening to it again as soon as I finished it. I'm reading the sequel now and hope the writer makes a prequel. It's not too deep and perfect for a light summer read. I think it's technically a YA (young adult) book, but any age could enjoy it. If you read it, let me know so we can chat!
-Jenny Terry Roberts, Professional Advisor

A modern adaptation of Wuthering Heights, but set in the competitive world of ice dance (a more dance-based form of partner figure skating). This book is filled with complicated relationships and the ups and downs of Olympic training. Written in a documentary style, the book shifts between the world's perception of Kat Shaw and Heath Rocha and the truth according to Kat. An incredible book that I could not put down!
- Beth Grant, Academic Advisor

A fascinating, genre-bending novel that has something for everyone: undercover aliens running a donut shop, a trans teen escaping into music, a violin teacher who makes a deal with a demon. At its root, it is about a search for belonging, and it takes through the swath of human emotion with humor.
-Randall Ischy, Project Director for Violence Against Women Act

A magical fantasy set it a world based on Latine mythology, this first book of a trilogy has apocalyptic prophecies, magical animism, mythical heroes and villains, and a love story. A unique and engulfing novel!
-Randall Ischy, Project Director for Violence Against Women Act

Girl from out of town shows up and moves into a garage apartment this guy is renting out. Guy walks in and is shook to find her there. Turns out the guy was never renting it out, his son did it in secret (to make $$$). Story unfolds from there and follows the characters as they go about their personal journeys.

This book felt like a breathe of fresh air for the contemporary romance genre. Not only was it actually WRITTEN super well, but it kept me intrigued the entire time AND had such *kick your feet and giggle worthy characters.* Best standalone book I've read in a LONG time."
- Madison Buechler, Assistant Director of Admission

This was my mid-semester reading treat! The beautiful writing, the wonderful relationship between the main character and the hare she rescues (while allowing her to be free), and the parallel journeys of their lives make this story truly heartwarming. Highly recommend!
-Debika Sihi

Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry is a smart, emotional story about two writers, Alice and Hayden, vying to tell the life story of reclusive heiress Margaret Ives. Set on a remote island full of secrets, rivalry, and buried truths, the novel blends mystery, romance, and literary ambition with Henry’s signature heart, humor, and depth of characters. It's a novel that invites readers to grieve, to heal, and to fall in love with life all over again.
-Carmen Velez, Director of Organic Chemistry Labs

This book was so enjoyable to read! There’s a sweet romance, a single mom you can’t help but root for, and the whole story is set around a call-in romance hotline on a radio station in Baltimore. It's a Sleepless in Seattle inspired romance. Just a fun rom-com read!
-Megan Firestone - Head of Distinctive Collections & Archives

It dives into how Austin has changed over the years and what’s behind all those changes. As someone who has lived in Austin many of the changes the book talks about it really hit home. Plus it was picked as a 2025 TLA Topaz Best Non-Fiction book!
-Megan Firestone - Head of Distinctive Collections & Archives

I am a huge fan of Schwab in general, and when she came back with a new novel set after her Darker Shade of Magic series, I was so ready for it! You do not need to have read that trilogy first (though if you have, you'll rejoin your favorite characters years after those books end). If you like a fantastical story with action, adventure, magic, and political intrigue, I think you'll enjoy this one!
-Carin Perilloux, Associate Professor of Psychology

A U.S. naval counterintelligence officer working to safeguard Pearl Harbor; a Japanese spy ordered to Hawaii to gather information on the American fleet. On December 7, 1941, their hidden stories are exposed by a morning of bloodshed that would change the world forever. Scrutinizing long-buried historical documents, NCIS star Mark Harmon and co-author Leon Carroll, a former NCIS Special Agent, have brought forth a true-life NCIS story of deception, discovery, and danger.
-David Williamson