These are the 10 best books for summer 2025
Books for summer: These are our 10 recommendations.
Where would you like to dream of this summer ? With a group of girls to a ranch in 1960s California? With a daughter, her father, and his lover to a house on the Côte d'Azur? Or would you prefer an abandoned seaside hotel in a former Bavarian spa town? All of this is possible – with these ten books recommended by VOGUE for summer 2025.
No & But
What it's about: Iris, a young woman in her mid-30s, runs a seaside hotel in a Bavarian spa town. But the summers are getting warmer, and since the neighboring forest has been burning, guests are staying away – until suddenly a woman and her young daughter rent a room. But something seems to be wrong with the two of them. And Iris wonders whether she should protect them or betray them.
Why you must read it: With only 200 pages and easy language, "Ewig Sommer" is the perfect book to devour on a summer weekend. What's more, Gänsler's novel belongs to the "climate fiction" genre , which has received increasing attention in recent years (not without reason) and addresses the consequences of the climate crisis in a fictional and therefore particularly tangible way.
#2 "The Trio" by Johanna Hedman (2022)Luchterhand
What it's about: "The Trio" is – as the title suggests – about a trio. Thora and August live in Stockholm, are culture-loving and privileged, and have been a couple for years. Then Hugo moves in as a lodger with Thora and her parents. Soon, the three spend every free minute together and grow increasingly close physically. But the differences in their social backgrounds and growing feelings increasingly test the trio's fragile balance.
Here's why you have to read it: Not only is it the perfect summer book (the characters lie in the sun, sit in cafes, ride bikes through the city), but it also explores typical themes that people face in their youth and in their first romantic relationships: jealousy, loneliness and alienation.
#3 "Bonjour Tristesse" by Françoise Sagan (1954)Ullstein
What it's about: Cécile goes on vacation with her father to the Côte d'Azur. They enjoy warm days by the sea and balmy evenings on the terrace. However, their harmony is soon interrupted when Anne, her father's new girlfriend, arrives. Anne's strict discipline and her determination to encourage Cécile to study lead to growing resistance. So, Cécile and her lover hatch a plan to separate them.
Why you must read it: The fact that Françoise Sagan was just 19 years old when the novel was published in 1954 is reflected in the authentic language and the believable character of the young protagonist. One more reason to read the book soon? The remake, starring Chloë Sevigny and Lily McInerny, will be released this summer.
#4 "The Girls" by Emma Cline (2016)dtv
What it's about: California, 1969: Evie Boyd is 14 years old and feels like she's never truly seen by her parents or her friend. When she happens upon a group of extraordinary girls, she's immediately fascinated by their free, rebellious spirit. Eventually, they take Evie to the remote ranch where they live—a place that soon turns out to be a cult-like commune controlled by a leader.
Why you have to read it: Emma Cline's debut is perfect for anyone who doesn't want to be bored by the pool, but wants to read a summer book that captivates them - without having to forgo a haunting atmosphere and strong language.
#5 "Play It As It Lays" by Joan Didion (1970)Ullstein
What it's about: Maria Wyeth, a model and actress in 1960s Hollywood, is losing control of her own life. Her marriage is beyond saving, her daughter is taken away from her, and her friendships seem superficial. Only driving aimlessly on the highway in the morning gives her – for a brief moment – a sense of freedom.
Why you must read it: In her typically detached and pared-down language, Didion tells the story of a woman who has already given up on herself and unpretentiously depicts 1960s Los Angeles. "Play It As It Lays" isn't your typical cheerful summer book; rather, the oppressive heat and paralyzing atmosphere reflect the main character's stagnation and inner emptiness.
#6 "On the Savage Side" by Tiffany McDaniel (2023)Orion Publishing Group
What it's about: Based on the unsolved murders of the "Chillicothe Six," McDaniel's novel tells the story of two twin sisters, Arcade and Daffodil, who grow up in a small Ohio town plagued by poverty, drugs, and violence. One summer, their friends disappear, one by one, and are found dead in the river. The two can rely on no one but each other – while the killer draws ever closer, potentially hiding inside anyone.
Why you must read it: "On the Savage Side" isn't available in German, but it's highly recommended for those who also read in English. In this harrowing and touching true crime story, the female victims, rather than the perpetrators , are finally the focus of the narrative. (Please read the trigger warnings beforehand.)
#7 "We, We, We" by Dizz Tate (2023)Ecco Publishing
What it's about: In a small, hot Florida town—surrounded by theme parks and single-family homes—a group of bored teenagers roam the streets, observing Sammy, a priest's daughter. She's a few years older, beautiful, and popular—everything they aspire to be. With Sammy's disappearance, the group dynamic becomes unbalanced.
Why you must read it: Dizz Tate's debut is the perfect summer book for anyone who reads less for the plot and more for the atmosphere. And the atmosphere is simply magnificent – and the unique "we" narrative perspective makes it particularly surreal and dreamy.
#8 "Love Child" by Maureen Duffy (1971)Reclam
What it's about: The villa in Italy seems like a paradise – but Kit feels increasingly marginalized, excluded by his mother and her friend. So Kit begins to take revenge on them – with devastating consequences.
Why we're excited: Teased as being similar to "Bonjour Tristesse," this newly published 1971 novel by Maureen Duffy by Reclam is a joy to behold. Kit's gender and motives remain vague—which makes the novel a perfect topic for discussion at your next book club.
#9 “Sunburn” by Chloe Michelle Howarth (2023)Pola
What it's about: Lucy grows up in a conservative Catholic family in a small town in Ireland in the early 1990s. Her path in life seems predetermined: stay here, get married, become a mother. But Lucy feels alienated—from her family, her religion, and the expectations she faces. During a long, hot summer filled with furtive glances and intense emotions, she falls in love with her school friend—and this affection is reciprocated. With graduation approaching and the possibility of leaving Crossmore, Lucy must choose between two places, two people, and two futures.
Why you must read it: This coming-of-age story, characterized by a sun-drenched atmosphere and lyrical writing, portrays small-town life, growing up, and the search for identity. And it reads like the female—and perhaps even better—version of André Aciman's "Call Me by Your Name."
#10 "Furye" by Kat Eryn Rubik (2025)Dumont
What it's about: A successful but lonely music manager finds herself shaken by a phone call. She returns to the city by the nameless sea, where she grew up in poverty. There she encounters old acquaintances, repressed memories—and a love that has never faded.
Why we're looking forward to it: The cover alone suggests a summer read; but the setting, the quiet nostalgia, and the main character's inner conflicts also speak for a book that fits well with this season and is something to look forward to.
Release date: July 15, 2025
More topics on VOGUE.de:
vogue
