Whether students are spending summer at the beach, by the pool or even staying at home, reading a good book is a good way to entertain anyone this summer. The Bruin has compiled a list of five books that anyone could enjoy over the summer. From romance to murder mystery, The Bruin has you covered for the summer of 2025.
“I love reading in the summer, especially since I don’t have time during the school year,” said Meredith Hire, a junior at WHS. “I’m looking forward to relaxing and reading.”
#1
The Summer I Turned Pretty, written by Jenny Han, follows a teenage girl, Isabelle Conklin– Belly– and the love triangle between two of her childhood best
friends, Conrad and Jeremiah Fisher. This book follows Belly throughout her summer with the Fisher family at their summer house and displays her maturing into a young woman throughout the three books. The series includes the books: The Summer I Turned Pretty, It’s Not Summer Without You and We’ll Always Have Summer.
“I liked how the plot developed throughout the book, which made it a quick read,” said Alyvia Owen, a junior at WHS.
#2
Malibu Rising, written by Taylor Jenkins Reid, is set in the 1980s and follows four famous siblings throwing a party to celebrate the end of their summer. But just 24 hours later, family drama alters their lives as they know them. The book also includes flashbacks to the family’s life and to parties in the 1950s and 1960s.
#3
The House of Eve, written by Sadeqa Johnson, is set in 1950s Philadelphia and Washington D.C., and follows two women, Ruby and Elanoir. Ruby is on track to be the first person in her family to attend college, but a love affair drags her back into poverty. Elanoir attends Howard University when she falls in love with William Pride, who is a part of one of D.C.’s wealthiest families but has difficulty fitting into their world. When both worlds collide, they make decisions that will change their lives.
#4
Written by the same author of One of Us is Lying, Karen McManus, Two Can Keep A Secret follows Ellery, who is moving to a small town to live with her grandmother, whom she barely knows, and where her aunt went missing at 17. Five years earlier, the homecoming queen was killed making the town known; then, just before school begins, another girl goes missing. Ellery becomes interested in all the murders and missing persons’ cases, only to find out everyone has secrets- especially her grandma and mother.
#5
The Summer of Yes, written by Courtney Welsh, follows Kelsey Worthington after she experiences an accident and is hospitalized. She ends up meeting Georgina Tate, whose liver is failing, and she does not have long to live. They decide to do things they have wanted to do their entire lives, together, and live a life they will not regret or forget.
