Super Woman Diareis #19: Our Summer Reading List (Light, Spicy, Twisty & Everything In Between)

It's officially summer reading season — and Kelly and Jess are giving you their full list. From spicy hockey romance to psychological thrillers, cozy small-town reads to historical fiction, there is genuinely something here for every kind of reader. Plus: why reading might be one of the most underrated wellness habits of all, and how to romanticize your reading life this summer even if you're only sneaking in 10 minutes at a time. In This Episode: The science behind reading as a wellness tool — including a study showing it reduces psychological stress by 68% in as little as six minutes Kelly's reminder that June is the month of joy — and that reading is one of the easiest ways to romanticize your everyday life Jess's confession: she always reads the book before the show drops, and she will always be disappointed by the adaptation. Every time. No regrets. The Off Campus series by Elle Kennedy — Jess's top spicy vacation rec (first book: The Deal; now streaming on Prime Video) Kelly's best beach bag pick: Typewriter Beach — a 1957 historical fiction set in Hollywood and Carmel by the Sea Jess on Freida McFadden's The Boyfriend — twisty, bingeable, and won't emotionally wreck you Kelly's pick for the book you'll lose an entire weekend to: Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett (The Help) Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke — a contemporary fiction born out of the "tradwife" trend, perfect for readers who want something with a little more edge Jess's cozy comfort rec: The Strawberry Patch Pancake House by Lori Gilmore (book four in the Dream Harbor series) Kelly goes a little darker: Bright Young Women — a page-turner rooted in Ted Bundy's crimes, set in 1978 Tallahassee Jess's pick for those who want some cozy cowboys: The Lucky Shamrock by Carolyn Brown Kelly's final rec: Alan Opts Out — a funny, relatable story about a successful man who steps off the treadmill and what happens next Books Mentioned: The Deal (Off Campus series) — Elle Kennedy Typewriter Beach — Meg Waite Clayton The Boyfriend — Freida McFadden Calamity Club — Kathryn Stockett Yesteryear — Caro Claire Burke The Strawberry Patch Pancake House (Dream Harbor series) — Lori Gilmore Bright Young Women — Jessica Knoll The Lucky Shamrock — Carolyn Brown Alan Opts Out — Courtney Maum Brighter Move — Jess: Give yourself permission to read what sounds fun — not what sounds impressive. Light and fluffy is a completely valid summer choice. Brighter Move — Kelly: Even 10 minutes counts. Find the nooks and crannies in your summer and bring the joy back to reading. This is the month of joy — and your book list is part of that. Free Download: Grab our Joy Dressing Trend Cheat Sheet — perfect to screenshot and save for those "what do I even wear?" summer mornings. Sign up for our newsletter at chasingbrighter.com/newsletter and it's yours. Check out the full book list on our blog at chasingbrighter.com 📱 Instagram: @chasingbrighter 🌐 chasingbrighter.com 💌 Newsletter: chasingbrighter.com/newsletter   summer reading list, beach reads 2026, book recommendations for women, what to read this summer, best vacation books, cozy romance books, spicy romance recommendations, psychological thriller books, Elle Kennedy Off Campus series, Freida McFadden books, Kathryn Stockett new book, historical fiction summer reads, small town romance books, Carolyn Brown books, chasing brighter podcast, women's lifestyle podcast, romanticize your life, joy habits summer, reading for mental health, stress relief reading, books that reduce anxiety, summer book club picks