Summer is officially here. The days are longer, the sun is warmer, and somehow, everything feels more possible. For readers, this season is pure magic. It’s the time to create your own summer bookish bucket list. We finally have the excuse to devour book after book.
Here’s the thing: reading doesn’t have to mean sitting alone in your room with the blinds drawn. This summer, why not turn your bookish habits into an adventure?
Whether you’re looking to try something new, connect with other readers, or just make your summer reading feel a little more special, this summer bookish bucket list is for you. Here are 10 activities to explore, with book recommendations for each.
1) Read by a pool or beach
There’s a reason beach reads are a thing. Something about sun, water, and pages hits different. The key is picking a book that’s immersive but not too heavy—something you can dip in and out of without losing the thread.
Try this: Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood (if you want something juicy and dramatic) or Beach Read by Emily Henry (if you want romance with depth).
Why it works: The setting matches the story. When you’re reading about sun, sand, and summer flings while actually sitting in the sun, the whole experience becomes immersive. Plus, the heat makes you want to stay put and keep reading.
2) Get a library card (or finally use yours)
Library cards are free. They give you access to thousands of books, audiobooks, and e-books, and yet, so many readers don’t have one.
If you don’t have a library card, get one this summer. If you do have one, use it. Check out a physical book. Borrow an audiobook. See what your library’s summer reading program has to offer.
Try this: Check out Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden or City of Bones by Cassandra Clare—both are popular enough that your library will likely have copies.
Why it works: Libraries are one of the few truly free resources left. They’re democratic, accessible, and full of hidden gems. Plus, borrowing books is better for your wallet and the environment.
3) Host a bookish picnic
Take your reading outdoors with a bookish picnic. Bring a blanket, some snacks, and a stack of books. Invite friends or go solo. Read aloud to each other. Swap books halfway through. Or just sit in comfortable silence with your own pages.
Try this: The Great Outdoors by Kayla Olson, various authors (for nature-themed stories) or The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune (wholesome, feel-good, perfect for outdoor vibes).
Why it works: Picnics are low-pressure social events. You don’t have to talk the whole time. You can read, eat, and exist in the same space as other people who also love books. It’s community without the pressure of a formal book club.
4) Start a summer book club
This summer, start one with friends. Pick a book, pick a date, and keep it simple. Meet at a park, a coffee shop, or someone’s backyard. Bring snacks. Talk about what worked, what didn’t, and what you’re reading next.
Try this: Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden (psychological thriller that will spark debate) or The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (if your group wants something familiar with plenty to discuss).
Why it works: Summer is when everyone’s schedules loosen up. People are more available, more relaxed, and more open to trying new things. A book club gives you a reason to gather and a shared experience to bond over.
5) Read a book in one day
This one is a challenge, but it’s so satisfying. Pick a shorter book. Clear your schedule. Find a comfortable spot. And just read. Don’t stop until you finish.
Aim for something under 300 pages. Fast-paced helps. You want something that hooks you from the first page and doesn’t let go. Thrillers, YA fantasy, or contemporary romance are all solid bets.
Try this: Animal Farm by George Orwell (fast-paced, allegorical dystopian novella) or The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie (under 300 pages, enthralling mystery).
Why it works: Finishing a book in one day is a rush. It reminds you why you fell in love with reading in the first place. Plus, it’s a great way to tackle a shorter book you’ve been putting off.
6) Reread a childhood summer favorite
Nostalgia reads hit different in the summer. There’s something about warm weather that makes you want to revisit the books you loved as a kid—the ones that defined your summers.
Maybe it’s a series you devoured. Maybe it’s a standalone that made you fall in love with reading. Whatever it is, pick it up again and see how it feels now.
Try this: Cinder by Marissa Meyer (if you want to revisit a sci-fi retelling of Cinderella) or City of Bones by Cassandra Clare (if you want to relive the Shadowhunter world).
Why it works: Rereading a childhood favorite is like time travel. You remember exactly where you were the first time you read it. You notice details you missed. And you get to see how the book shaped who you are as a reader today.
7) Create a summer reading journal spread
Book journaling is having a moment, and for good reasons. It’s a way to document your reading life, capture your thoughts, and look back on what you’ve read.
You can keep it simple: write down the title, author, and a few sentences about what you thought. Or you can go all out: print photos, add stickers, create mood boards, and design beautiful spreads.
Try this: Pair your journaling with How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen by David Brooks (which will give you plenty to reflect on) or Cue the Sun!: The Invention of Reality TV by Emily Nussbaum (for something thought-provoking).
Why it works: Journaling helps you remember what you read. Let’s be real—we finish books and forget them almost immediately. A reading journal fixes that. Plus, creating spreads is a creative outlet in itself.
8) Visit an independent bookstore you’ve never been to
Independent bookstores are magical places. They’re curated, personal, and full of surprises. This summer, make a trip to one you’ve never visited before.
Don’t go with a specific book in mind. Just browse. Talk to the staff. Ask for recommendations. Pick up something that catches your eye—even if it’s outside your usual genre.
Try this: Ask the bookseller for a recommendation based on The Great Outdoors or Problematic Summer Romance—they’ll know exactly what to hand you.
Why it works: Independent bookstores are dying. Supporting them matters. But beyond that, they offer something algorithms can’t: human connection. A bookseller who knows your taste is worth more than any algorithm.
9. Leave a book in a little free library
Little Free Libraries are those tiny wooden boxes you see in neighborhoods, filled with free books. Take one, leave one—that’s the rule.
This summer, leave a book you loved. Write a note inside it. Explain why it mattered to you. And then wait. Somewhere, a stranger will find it and read it because of you.
Try this: Leave a copy of The Hunger Games or Just for the Summer—books that are accessible, beloved, and likely to be picked up by someone new.
Why it works: It’s random kindness. It’s community. It’s the literary equivalent of paying it forward. You never know who might need that exact book at that exact moment.
10) Attend a local author event or book signing
Local bookstores often host author events. Readings, Q&As, signings. They’re intimate, free (or cheap), and fascinating.
This summer, find one and go. Even if you haven’t read the author’s book. Even if you’re nervous. Just show up. Listen. Ask a question if you want. Get a signed copy if you can.
Try this: Look for events featuring authors of books you’ve read. Even if they’re not touring near you, many events are now virtual.
Why it works: You get to see behind the curtain. You hear an author talk about their process, their struggles, their inspiration. It humanizes the books you love and reminds you that stories come from real people.
Go make it happen
Summer is short. The days are long, but the season flies by. Before you know it, the leaves will change, and you’ll be back to reading under blankets instead of under the sun.
So make this summer count.
Try one of these bucket list items. Or try all of them. Read by a pool. Host a picnic. Start a club. Revisit an old favorite. Visit a bookstore. Use your library. Leave a book for a stranger. Go see an author.
However you do it, make this summer a reading summer. Not just a summer where you read, but a summer where reading becomes an adventure.
Because the best books don’t just live on your shelf. They live in the moments you create around them.
