Summer reading season is here! In this episode of Our Ultimate Summer Book List 2026, we each share three books we think are perfect additions to your summer reading lineup. Whether you're looking for an engaging page-turner, a thought-provoking read, or simply something fun to enjoy by the pool, we've got recommendations for a variety of readers. We also reveal one book each that we're planning to tackle this summer, giving you a glimpse into our own reading goals. Join us for plenty of book talk, recommendations, and inspiration for your best summer reading season yet!

Titles mentioned in this episode:

The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley

America's First Daughter by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie

The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer

The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

Educated by Tara Westover

Tress of The Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

Mistborn Series by Brandon Sanderson

Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld

Last Summer Boys by Bill Rivers

Playful Parenting by Lawrence J Cohen

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

I'd Rather Be Reading by Anne Bogel

Harry Potter by JK Rowling

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

The Forget Me Not Summer by Leila Howland

The Firefly Summer by Morgan Matson

The Queen's Gambit by Beth Brower

The Unselected Journals of Emma M Lion Beth Brower

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jennie Han

It's Not Summer Without You by Jennie Han

We'll Always Have Summer by Jennie Han

The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Adventuring Together by Greta Eskridge

It's Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn by Greta Eskridge

The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald

Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Man's Search For Meaning by Viktor E Frankl

The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall

Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson

The Killing Series by Bill O'Reilly

Killing Lincoln by Bill O'Reilly

The Light in Hidden Places by Sharon Cameron

Suite Française by Irène Némirovsky

The Blue Castle by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

The Day You Were My Husband by Rosie Walsh

The Love of My Life by Rosie Walsh

The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand

The Pirate Queen by Ariel Lawhon

The Astral Library Kate Quinn

In this episode, we set out to prove one thing: we don’t read science fiction. At least… that’s what we thought. Join us as we explore the sci-fi titles that pulled us out of our comfort zones—and maybe even changed our minds. Were these truly “science fiction,” or just great stories with a futuristic twist? Along the way, we share what surprised us, what challenged us, and whether we’re ready to embrace a genre we once avoided.

So… do we read science fiction? You might be surprised by the answer.

Books mentioned in this episode:

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Dune by Frank Herbert

Emma M. Lion Series by Beth Brower

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

1984 by George Orwell

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

The 2026 Newbery Medal winners are here, and we have thoughts. In this episode, we each spotlight a different honored title and break down what makes it award-worthy (or not!). From unforgettable characters to powerful themes, we’re sharing our honest reactions, favorite moments, and a few surprises along the way. Come chat books with us!

Titles mentioned in this episode:

The Trouble With Heroes by Kate Messner

Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamilo

Little House on The Prarie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Ginger Pye by Eleanor Estes

From The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil by E. Frankweiler

The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting

Trumpeter of Krakow by Eric P. Kelly

Smokey The Cow Horse by Will James

On The Bank of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater

The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes

The Teacher of Nomad Land by Daniel Nayeri

Refugee by Alan Gratz

Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz

The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

The Nine Moons of Han Yu and Luli by Karina Yan Glaser

The Vanderbeekers Series by Karina Yan Glaser

All The Blues in The Sky by Renée Watson

A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez by María Dolores Águila

Pax by Sara Pennypacker

Heartwood Hotel by Kallie George

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card