It’s summer reading challenge time! I normally participate in 20 Books of Summer #20BOS26 and Big Book Summer Challenge, but this time I’m adding in Summer of Horror 2026 and reading the (adult) books from #SummerScares. Plus June is also #readcaribbean month. So here’s what my reading list looks like – and of course, I reserve the right to add, subtract, divide or multiply!
Summer TBR
1. A Box Full of Darkness, Simone St. James. June Key Word Reading Challenge (darkness) #summerofhorror
I’ve loved all 5 books I’ve read by St. James. A Box Full of Darnkness is her latest, set in the same town as one of her other books – The Sun Down Motel.
2. American Rapture, C. J. Leede. #tbr – June Motif Reading Challenge (Under the Neon Lights) #summerofhorror
After I read that CRAZY book Maeve Fly, I looked for other books that Leede wrote, and dropped this one on my “to be read” list.
3. Honey, Imani Thompson. #readcaribbean #summerofhorror
June is #readcaribbean month, but I’m doing it all summer long. This is a debut novel from a British author of Jamaican heritage.
4. Good Good Loving, Yvvette Edwards. #readcaribbean
A new to me author by a British author with ties to the island of Monsterrat.
5-11. All the 7 remaining novellas on the list of 15 Novellas Nominated for 2026 Locus, Nebula and Hugo Awards
I have enjoyed all the ones I’ve read so far.
12. Molka, Monica Kim. July Motif Reading Challenge (Literary Road Trip) #summerofhorror
After reading Kim’s other book, The Eyes Are the Best Part, I put her latest book on my to be read list.
13. The Rainfall Market, You Yeong-Gwang. July Key Word Reading Challenge (Fall) #tbr
I don’t remember how I came across this, but it’s been on my “to be read” list for a long time.
14. Such a Fun Age, Kiley Reid. #frommybookshelf #diversebooks
This is one of the books sitting unread on my bookshelves, and one of my goals is to read more books by authors of colors. This one has gotten
15. The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, Kiran Desai #frommybookshelves #diversebooks #bigbooksummer
This book was on many “best books of 2025” lists.
16. The Enchanted Greenhouse (Spellshop #2), Sarah Beth Durst. August Key Word Reading Challenge (Enchant)
The read the first book in the series earlier this year and really enjoyed it.
17. Never Whistle at Night, ed. Shane Hawk & Theodore C. Van Alst. August Motif Reading Challenge (Celestial Covers) #summerofhorrors
This is a #summerscares selection (one of the 3 adult books)
18. A Botanical Daughter, Noah Medlock. #summerofhorror #summerscares
This is the other #summerscares selection that I haven’t read yet.
19. Angel Down, Daniel Kraus. #awardwinner
Angel Down won the 2026 Pulitzer Prize (Fiction). I also enjoyed the 2 books I’ve read by Kraus, Whalefall and Rotters.
20. Dungeon Crawler Carl, Matt Dinniman. #bigbook
I picked this up because of the hype, but it looks like a fun read.
Extras
If any of the books above don’t work for me, I’ll substitute it with one of the following:-
- Margot’s Got Money Troubles, Rufi Thorpe. #booktoscreen
- People We Meet on Vacation, Emily Henry. #booktoscreen #tbr
- Frying Plantain, Zalika Reid-Benta. #readcaribbean
- These Ghosts Are Family, Maidy Card. #readcaribbean
- Harlem Shuffle, Colson Whitehead #diversebooks
Do you have a summer reading list? Which books made the cut? Which of the books should I prioritize?
