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Best Summer Reading: Light, Fun and Easy-to-Love Books

Summer reading should be easy to pick up and hard to put down. These books are light, funny or full of sunshine and travel.

Each book has a one-line hook and a plain note on what you get from it, so you can choose without opening every page.

Best for: Readers who want an enjoyable book for vacation.

This list: 15 books picked by hand for the season.
Order: Not a ranking.

15 books

Three Men in a Boat
1889
Three Men in a Boat
Jerome K. Jerome
Classics · Light
Three friends, a dog and a boat on the Thames
What you get: Light, witty and delightful, a perfect cure for a gloomy mood.
Amazon Description
1932
Cold Comfort Farm
Stella Gibbons
Classics · Light
A sophisticated young woman takes over a gloomy farm
What you get: Sparkling country comedy that will cheer you up.
Amazon Description
1956
My Family and Other Animals
Gerald Durrell
Nonfiction · Light
A boy and his eccentric family on a Greek island
What you get: A joyful, warm and humorous story of nature and eccentric family life.
Amazon Description
1958
Mrs. ’Arris Goes to Paris
Paul Gallico
Literary Fiction · Warm
A London cleaning lady dreams of a Dior dress
What you get: A delightful, uplifting story full of warmth and fashion.
Amazon Description
1958
Nine Coaches Waiting
Mary Stewart
Romance · Tense
A governess in a French château
What you get: A classic, atmospheric thriller with a spirited heroine.
Amazon Description
1962
The Moon-Spinners
Mary Stewart
Romance · Tense
A holiday on Crete and a wounded man
What you get: A pleasant, easy adventure set on a Greek island.
Amazon Description
1966
The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax
Dorothy Gilman
Mystery & Thriller · Light
A grandmother becomes an accidental spy
What you get: A brisk, funny spy caper that is endlessly charming.
Amazon Description
1989
A Year in Provence
Peter Mayle
Nonfiction · Light
A year in a farmhouse in Provence
What you get: A charming, funny and delicious escape into village life and good food.
Amazon Description
1998
The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency
Alexander McCall Smith
Mystery & Thriller · Warm
A woman opens a detective agency in Botswana
What you get: A cozy, uplifting series start with a heroine you will love and a sunny setting.
Amazon Description
Tears of the Giraffe
2000
Tears of the Giraffe
Alexander McCall Smith
Mystery & Thriller · Warm
More cases for Mma Ramotswe
What you get: A warm, soothing continuation filled with kindness.
Amazon Description
2009
The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared
Jonas Jonasson
Literary Fiction · Light
A man escapes from his nursing home on his hundredth birthday
What you get: Cheerful, quirky storytelling with a hero who shows that it is never too late for adventure.
Amazon Description
2012
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
Rachel Joyce
Literary Fiction · Melancholic
A retired man sets out to walk the length of England
What you get: A touching, quietly funny journey about hope, regret and the kindness of strangers. It leaves you feeling uplifted.
Amazon Description
2014
The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry
Gabrielle Zevin
Literary Fiction · Warm
A bookseller’s life changes when a package arrives
What you get: A charming celebration of reading and second chances that is full of warmth. Ideal for a comfortable evening.
Amazon Description
2020
The Thursday Murder Club
Richard Osman
Mystery & Thriller · Light
Four retirees solve cold cases
What you get: A funny, warm mystery with a lovable crew of amateur sleuths. It is cozy, clever and full of heart, and it is perfect for a relaxed, easy read.
Amazon Description
2021
The Man Who Died Twice
Richard Osman
Mystery & Thriller · Light
The retirees face a second case
What you get: A charming, clever puzzle with a warm group of friends and plenty of humor.
Amazon Description