For some people, a summer read is something frothy, with a guaranteed happy ending. For others, it’s a book they read in the summer. For me, a summer read is something that grabs you. It can be a romance with a happy ending, a thriller, nonfiction, whatever: It just has to pull me in.
I also love taking the excuse of summer to embark on cooking and baking adventures with friends, often while celebrating the summer holidays. And local authors make the books even better! Here’s a roundup of summer reads for kids and adults to accompany your beach trips, holiday getaways and culinary adventures.
Summer holidays
“ABCs of Queer History” by Dr. Seema Yasmin, Workman Kids
This beautiful book tackles queer history in a fun, inclusive way. Kids can learn all about what Pride parades were born from and why it’s so important to know and celebrate our history. This book is serious and celebratory, perfect for kids and adults of all ages!
“Juneteenth Is” by Natasha Tripplett, Chronicle Books
By the time you read this, Juneteenth will likely have passed, but it’s an important American holiday. This award-winning book is a wonderful way to talk about it with kids and families. It celebrates the joy of the holiday while not forgetting the history that brought us here, or the present we’re in.
“I’m an American” by Darshana Khiani, Viking Books for Young Readers
What better way to celebrate Independence Day than by celebrating the beautiful people who make up America and why we still strive for the promise of America.
Picture books
“Soy Sauce!” by Laura G. Lee, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
A celebration and history of everyone’s favorite condiment! I almost put this book in the cooking adventures section later in this article because you will be inspired to do a soy sauce taste test (or maybe even make your own?!), but perhaps the adventure can just be trying not to spend a fortune at 99 Ranch Market.
“Bitty Bot’s Big Beach Getaway” by Tim McCanna, Paula Wiseman Books
Bitty Bot is the cutest little robot you ever did see. If you and your family are heading to the beach this summer, this is the book you want to take with you for some family reading time!
“Space for Everyone” by Seina Wedlick, Random House Studio
If you are moving this summer (or if someone you love is moving), I highly recommend this beautiful book about how even if a kitchen table is in a different house or a different city, it always has space for everyone.
“Becoming Boba” by Joanna Ho, Orchard Books
What better way to learn about the awesome history of your kids’ favorite drink? (And probably your favorite drink.) This book has a super fun story with layers of meaning. You will want some boba with it, so you should probably get that first.
“Icy Fruit” by Charlotte Cheng, Rocky Pond Books
Another one you’ll want a delicious treat on hand for! This book is a celebration of summer, fruit and family and makes for a beautiful family read.
Early and middle grade reads
“Ava Lin, Super Duper Happy” by Vicky Fang, Candlewick
Number three in this beloved early chapter book series just released! Though Ava is still in school, this book has enough action for a fun read. It’s perfect for ages 6 and up and makes a great read aloud and a great solo read.
“It’s Boba Time for Pearl Li!” by Nicole Chen, Quill Tree Books
A great, inspiring book for any kid who is trying to figure out their own path. Pearl spends the summer before seventh grade at her favorite tea shop, creating her art and even a business! This book was one of Linden Tree’s Top 10 bestsellers for the 2024-25 school year at our book fairs, and it’s great for anyone ages 9 and up.
“Farther Than the Moon” by Lindsay Lackey, Square Fish
A heartfelt family story about two brothers, astronaut dreams, the stars, epilepsy and cerebral palsy. This one is great for any kid who loves space camp, dreams and realistic, hopeful stories. Perfect for ages 10 and up.
“Al Capone Does My Shirts” by Gennifer Choldenko, Puffin Books
An oldie but a goodie! Read book one (or all four!) and then plan a family field trip out to Alcatraz this summer! Perfect for ages 10 and up, but it can definitely be a family read aloud.
“Kaya of the Ocean” by Gloria Huang, Holiday House
A beautiful story about the beach, anxiety, assimilation and a Chinese goddess. While the Hawaiian setting might be the only thing about this amazing debut that screams summer to some, for me it’s the setting and that it’s a gripping story you can’t put down (preferably read on the beach though). Great for ages 9 and up.
“The Queen Bees of Tybee County” by Kyle Casey Chu, Quill Tree Books
From local Queen Panda Dulce comes this sweet story about a middle school basketball star who loves nail polish and pop songs who gets shipped off to his eccentric grandma for the summer, where she introduces him to the glories of the small town beauty pageant where he finds himself. This is a fantastic debut that is very timely but also feels timeless. Perfect for ages 9 and up!
YA and adult reads
“Love & Other Natural Disasters” by Misa Sugiura, HarperCollins
I love the fake dating trope because it’s always hilarious, and in this book two girls who are sort of enemies decide they know exactly how to make one’s ex and the other’s crush jealous: be blissfully happy in front of them. What could go wrong? This book takes place in San Francisco and is at times too relatable as a San Francisco summer comedy of errors.
“Under a Painted Sky” by Stacey Lee, Speak
I love all of Stacey’s books, but this one is still one of my favorites. It’s a perfect summer read for any teen or adult looking for a little bit of action, a little bit of history, a little bit of love and a whole lot of a great read. Great for ages 12 and up.
“I’ll Give You the Sun” by Jandy Nelson, Dial Books
This recommendation comes from one of my teen employees Mihika! It’s her favorite thing to recommend to any teen or adult in need of a good summer read (and I quite agree!) This multi-award-winning story is thoughtful, sad and ultimately hopeful for what can be built out of wreckage. Great for ages 14 and up.
“Patron Saints of Nothing” by Randy Ribay, Kokila
This is a tough, gripping book about family, immigrant identity and what it means to grow up. Though our main character is American, he spends most of the book in the Philippines, trying to understand what happened to his murdered cousin. Part mystery, part family saga, this is a book that will draw you in and keep you there. Best for ages 14 and up.
“The Martian” by Andy Weir, Ballantine Books
Another oldie but goodie! I assume I don’t actually have to talk to you about this one: Just take this as your sign to read this excellent and fun book! (Yes, even if you’ve seen the movie!) Great for ages 13 and up.
“Sorry, Bro” by Taleen Voskuni, Berkley Publishing Group
Still one of my favorite romances! Charming and sweet but with a deep well of seriousness and heart, I recommend this one all the time to everyone. Great for ages 16 and up.
“Valley Verified” by Kyla Zhao, Berkley Publishing Group
Fashion and tech collide in this fun and at times too relatable romp. It’s perfect for a beach or your couch, a plane or the plush bed of your fancy hotel room, and you will have such a good time! Great for ages 15 and up.
“The Palace of Eros” by Caro De Robertis, Atria/Primero Sueño Press
A beautifully written queer retelling of Psyche and Eros, perfect for those of you whose last great summer read was anything else to go with Greek mythology (you know who you are!). I would recommend this for ages 18 and up.
“The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco” by Michelle Chouinard, Minotaur Books
This is such a fun romp through the city! A tour guide who makes her living off of murder tours of her serial killer grandfather’s greatest hits, and now there’s a copycat killer out there? Yes, please! For all you fun mystery lovers out there, don’t miss this one! Great for ages 16 and up.
“Mayor of the Tenderloin: Del Seymour’s Journey from Living on the Streets to Fighting Homelessness in San Francisco” by Alison Owings, Beacon Press; “Viewfinder: A Memoir of Seeing and Being Seen” by Jon M. Chu, Random House
I mentioned I love nonfiction, and I know I’m not the only one! In “Mayor,” journalist Alison Owings delves into the harrowing and inspiring story of Del Seymour, and of the Tenderloin itself. In “Viewfinder,” director Jon M. Chu shares his journey to now, from growing up at Chef Chu’s, to going to film school, to directing “Wicked.”
Cooking adventures
“Coastal: 130 Recipes from a California Road” by Scott Clark, Chronicle Books
This cookbook, from Dad’s Luncheonette chef/owner Scott Clark, is so gorgeous that it does double duty as a coffee table book. You will want to make anbd eat all the things, but you will also lose yourself in the stories and photos.
“The Forest Feast Gatherings” by Erin Gleeson, Harry N Abrams
My friends and I love a summer dinner party! Erin’s accessible vegetarian recipes are perfect inspiration for dishes to bring when you’re dropping into a backyard cookout (or throwing a party yourself for a good excuse to make everything!).
“Kowbird: Amazing Chicken Recipes from Chef Matt Horn’s Restaurant and Home Kitchen” by Matt Horn, Harvard Common Press
Bay Area barbecue master Matt Horn will teach you everything you need to know about chicken in this delicious cookbook, plus some of the greatest sides (fried green tomatoes! Red beans and rice!) I have ever eaten.
Grace Lane is the store manager of Linden Tree Books in Los Altos. She can be reached at grace@lindentreebooks.com.
