At the end of last semester, I was in the depths of one of the worst reading slumps of my life. The stress of impending finals and hundreds of pages of reading left me never reaching for a book in my free time.

But thanks to the transition to summer and the free time that accompanies it, I could return to my favorite hobby and finally tick some books off of my 2025 TBR list. This summer’s reads spanned from light and easy one-off romances to some more intense fantasy novels.

Here’s my review of some of my summer favorites that got me out of my reading slump. 

Sunrise on the Reaping, Suzanne Collins. 

Sunrise on the Reaping was the first book I dove into this summer, having waited since its March release for some free time to read it. I’ve always been a huge Hunger Games fan, so I was a little nervous that this book might not live up to my expectations, but Haymitch’s story did not disappoint. 

Collins demonstrated her ability to successfully write a prequel that ties everything together from the original series with The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. I found this one even more enjoyable, as it explains so many of Haymitch’s actions in the trilogy and adds even more depth to his character. My favorite part was the epilogue, and I can only hope they include it in the movie coming out in November! 

I Didn’t Know I Needed This: The New Rules for Flirting, Feeling, and Finding Yourself, Eli Rallo

The next book on my list was TikTok influencer Eli Rallo’s debut novel, I Didn’t Know I Needed This. Rallo is a theatre kid from New Jersey who studied journalism in college, so as a fellow New Jerseyan involved in student journalism, it’s not hard to see why I love her videos. 

Rallo has truly mastered the art of writing as if she were emailing a close friend advice in a way that is neither condescending nor boring. One of my favorite series on her TikTok is lists for things like “how to have the perfect Sunday reset” or “everything you need to do before fall.” This book felt like a more fleshed-out list on surviving young adulthood, with advice on friendships, living away from home, relationships, and more. 

Carrie Soto Is Back, Taylor Jenkins Reid 

Now that I had two books under my belt for May, I was starting to hit my groove and get back into my usual reading routine. This next book came with me on vacation to Aruba and was the perfect beach read, leading me to finish it in just 24 hours. 

If you love an underdog story, Carrie Soto Is Back is perfect for you. The book follows retired tennis-great Carrie Soto as she leaves retirement and returns to professional tennis to defend her title for the most Grand Slam wins of all time. Readers follow Carrie as she learns exactly what she was missing the last time she competed. 

Reid is one of my favorite authors, and this is another excellent work. I’ve already added a few more of her titles to my list for the fall!

Onyx Storm, Rebecca Yarros 

The Fourth Wing books were some of my favorite reads of last year. So when the third book, Onyx Storm, came out in January, I could hardly contain my excitement. 

And yet, as I tried to get into it all semester, I was only met with failure. I would read one chapter every two weeks at most, and to be honest, I think this book prompted the reading slump I mentioned earlier. This summer, I finally settled in to finish it, and while I do think the ending was worth it, it was definitely my last place book so far in the series. 

One Italian Summer, Rebecca Serle 

With the approach of the Fourth of July, I was craving a classic beach read to get me through the long weekend. One Italian Summer had been sitting on my shelves since last summer, and I had forgotten I owned it. I threw it in my bag along with some sunscreen and a towel, and thank goodness I did. 

This book follows a daughter traipsing around Italy, following her mother’s route from a trip decades prior. Readers follow the journey as she discovers more about herself and her mother, but my favorite part of this novel was Serle’s descriptions. The writing transported me away from the packed beaches of the Jersey Shore to the beautiful Amalfi Coast.

Say You’ll Remember Me, Abby Jimenez 

It wouldn’t be summer if I didn’t find my way to an Abby Jimenez novel. Some critique her writing as being formulaic, but I think she has such a way with writing unique and relatable characters that you can’t help but love. 

This book started with a whirlwind first date with a long-distance relationship that tested the characters (and my) patience. Even so, it had such heartwarming and lovable characters that you can’t help but root for them. In my opinion, the drawn-out wait made the ending even sweeter. 

Throne Of Glass, Sarah J. Maas 

My final noteworthy read of the summer was Throne of Glass. Now, some may question starting an eight-book series right before returning to school—probably poor planning on my part—but this first book cast all of my doubts aside. 

This was another 24-hour speed read where I woke up, started it, and was consumed by it until I eventually finished it that night at 3:00 a.m. The characters are so dynamic, and the way the storyline unfolds is mapped out tremendously well. 

Maas has truly outdone herself with this series. Since I finished the first one a little under a month ago, I’ve read the next three in the series, and her attention to detail continues to amaze me. The way seemingly random details are pulled back in as the plot progresses is genuinely a work of genius.