What Makes a Book a Summer Read? + Our Favorite Picks for 2025

This week on Reeding Between the Lines, I’m joined by my mom and fellow book-lover Nicole for a cozy, laughter-filled episode all about summer reading—what defines it, what we’re loving, and what’s on our TBR as the weather warms up.We unpack the idea of the “beach read,” share our personal picks (spoiler: thrillers, fantasy, and romantic chaos all made the list), and talk about how our reading habits shift in summer mode. Whether you're packing for vacation, chasing kids around the yard, or just trying to carve out some porch-reading peace, this episode is for you.✨ In this episode:• What makes a book a good “summer read”?• Light vs. escapist vs. emotionally rich—what works and when• Mood reading while traveling• Our favorite books from past and upcoming summers• Series we're continuing this season (looking at you, Rebecca Ross and S.D. Smith)• Quick-fire recommendations: thrillers, romance, fantasy, and contemporary gems📚 Some books we mention:One to Watch by Kate Stayman-LondonReckless Girls by Rachel HawkinsA River Enchanted by Rebecca RossThe Green Ember by S.D. SmithDrowning by T.J. NewmanJust for the Summer by Abby JimenezColton Gentry’s Third Act by Jeff ZentnerThe Rom-Commers by Katherine CenterMargo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi ThorpeThe Ex-Girlfriends’ Murder Club by Gloria ChaoUpcoming: Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson, It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan🎧 Listen now and build your ultimate summer TBR with us.📲 Follow us on Instagram: @reedingpod🍎 Listen on Apple Podcasts: Reeding Between the Lines📓 Grab your Free Book Tracker Spreadsheet: https://reeding-between-the-lines.kit.com/tracker#SummerReads #BeachReads #BookPodcast #ReedingPod #BookRecommendations #CozyReads #MotherDaughterPodcast #FantasyBooks #ThrillerReads #RomanceNovels #MoodReader #BookishChat #ReadingTBR