Which New Novel Should You Pick Up This Summer?

Having trouble deciding what to read this summer? Take this quiz to find the new release best-suited to you!

An author you’re really enjoying right now is:

Alexandra Kleeman

Gillian Flynn

Neil Gaiman

Adam Silvera

Jasmine Guillory

These days, you’re drawn to book covers that:

Feel like a moment of frozen action

Blend modern and classic styles

Feature bright, unusual colors

Are simple but bold

Show off the characters

If you could take a class in any subject, it would be:

Native American History and Mythology

The Science of Attraction

Parenting

Persian Culture

Pharmaceuticals

You like reading about protagonists who:

Fall in love when they’re least expecting it

Are in danger and must work to avoid disaster

Must face their past to move into their future

Confront their demons

Are on a journey to self-discovery

Your favorite summer activity is:

Planning for the apocalypse

Resting and relaxing

Practicing your Klingon

Playing sudoku

Babysitting

You never go to the beach without:

Your dramatic family

Sunscreen, especially since you might fall asleep

Your best friend

Your pickup truck

A towel big enough for two

Your favorite ice cream flavor is:

Something natural (no thanks to bubblegum or cotton candy)

Whichever flavor your mother likes least

Peppermint

Whatever

Rosewater

My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh

"Odds are, you already know Ottessa Moshfegh as the author of Eileen and Homesick for Another World. Now, she’s back with a novel about a young woman who is living on the Upper East Side in New York City and decides to take a break from the life she’s been living there. In order to do that, she quits her job at an art gallery (she doesn’t need the money—she inherited plenty when her parents both passed away) and decides to hibernate. Mostly, she plans to take pills and sleep, in the hopes that when she awakes, she’ll feel better about her life. My Year of Rest and Relaxation is destined to be one of the summer’s most buzzed-about books."

Want more recommendations? Check out our list of must-read summer books!

Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage

"Hanna Jensen is seven years old and she doesn’t speak. She loves her father Alex very much. She doesn’t love her mother Suzette. In fact, she is actively planning to get rid of Suzette permanently. She has been expelled from multiple schools for disciplinary issues, and now she spends her days at home. Hanna’s intentions are murderous, but Alex can’t see any of it—he sees Hanna as innocent and sweet. Will Alex realize what Hanna is up to before she manages to off Suzette? You’ll have to read to find out. We bet that parents will find Baby Teeth particularly unsettling."

Want more recommendations? Check out our list of must-read summer books!

Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse

"Nebula-winner Rebecca Roanhorse kicks off her Sixth World series with a post-apocalyptic novel that explores life in Dinétah, the former Navajo nation. After flood waters leave the world uninhabitable and in ruin, Dinétah is one of the few surviving places. Now, monsters roam the land and gifted Diné must use magical powers to protect their people. When Diné begin to go missing, Maggie Hoskie (who is blessed with a powerful ability) teams up with medicine man Kai Arviso to find out who or what is behind the disappearances. Sure to delight fantasy lovers, Trail of Lightning is one of the buzziest books of the season."

Want more recommendations? Check out our list of must-read summer books!

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

"If dating were an algorithm, Stella Lane would have it mastered. Instead Stella, a 30-year-old econometrician with Autism Spectrum Disorder, decides to conduct her own relationship study. She hires escort Michael Phan to tutor her in the finer points of sex and dating. For Michael, an extended gig means a steady flow of money to help his mom, who’s been diagnosed with cancer. The two attempt to keep things professional at first, but soon genuine feelings begin to develop. Inspired by author Helen Hoang’s own experiences with Autism Spectrum Disorder, this sweet and steamy debut novel will charm contemporary romance lovers. (Psst: We have the first chapter of The Kiss Quotient over on BookishFirst!)"

Want more recommendations? Check out our list of must-read summer books!

Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram

"Darius Kellner doesn’t feel as though he fits in at his high school in Portland, Oregon and he doesn’t have high hopes that things will be any different when his family flies to Yzad, Iran to visit his dying grandfather. He struggles at first to connect with his Persian family, but things begin to turn around when he meets their neighbor, Sohrab. Slowly, Darius begins to leave his insecurities behind and embrace the things that once made him feel odd and different. In the country of his ancestors, Darius finds himself. This book is one of our must-reads, and it’s on quite a few authors’ favorites lists as well. Nic Stone, author of Dear Martin, raved that Darius the Great Is Not Okay 'powerfully demonstrates how connecting with where you come from can illuminate who you are and help you figure out where you’re going.' (Psst: We have the first few chapters over on BookishFirst!)"

Want more recommendations? Check out our list of must-read summer books!