ELLE editors have compiled a list of recommended summer reading, spanning diverse genres including romance, fantasy, nonfiction, and literary fiction.

ELLE editors have released a curated list of book recommendations for the summer of 2026. The selection includes a wide range of titles, from romantic fantasies and Hollywood-set dramas to collections of nonfiction essays and historical novels.

Fiction and Romance Highlights

The list features several romance and contemporary fiction titles. Carley Fortune’s 'Our Perfect Storm' follows childhood friends Frankie and George on a trip to Vancouver Island, while Kennedy Ryan’s 'Score' explores a Hollywood romance between a musician and a screenwriter. Annabel Monaghan’s 'Dolly All the Time' tells the story of an overachiever in a fake-dating arrangement, and Mary H.K. Choi makes her adult-fiction debut with 'Pool House,' focusing on the relationship between an actress and her daughter.

Fantasy and Historical Fiction

In the fantasy genre, Veronica Roth’s 'Seek the Traitor’s Son' is highlighted as an adult romantic fantasy set in a dystopian future where a mysterious Fever has divided survivors into two nations. Historical and literary works include Tayari Jones’s 'Kin,' set in 1950s Louisiana, and the final installment of Leïla Slimani’s 'Country of Others' trilogy, 'I’ll Take the Fire,' which follows a French Moroccan family.

Nonfiction and Essay Collections

The editors also recommend nonfiction works, including Jesmyn Ward’s 'On Witness and Respair,' a collection of essays and speeches written over more than a decade. Namwali Serpell’s 'On Morrison' is noted for its analysis of author Toni Morrison.