No Skim Reading Here: 5 Stories Worth Your Summer

Fiction picks for design lovers, daydreamers, and sun-chasers

As summer stretches out with longer days and slower moments, it’s the perfect time to escape into a great novel. But if you’re someone who appreciates aesthetics, atmosphere, and a good story told beautifully, you want more than just a quick beach read—you want a book that feels like an experience.

Whether you're lounging by the pool, traveling light, or soaking up quiet moments at home, these five fiction picks deliver on mood, emotion, and that all-important "can't put it down" energy.

1. The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller

A Cape Cod summer house. A tangled love triangle. Family secrets and emotional stakes as high as the tide. This book is raw, romantic, and immersive—perfect for readers who love a story wrapped in sensual, seaside atmosphere and moral complexity.

2. Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

Set on a Michigan cherry farm during a summer in lockdown, this reflective novel follows a mother sharing the story of her past life and lost love. It’s graceful and deeply human, with vivid, summery scenes that stay with you. A soft, soul-stirring read best paired with a cold drink and quiet afternoon.

3. The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles

Paris in the 1940s, books as acts of resistance, and a love letter to libraries—this historical novel is a dream for anyone who loves vintage detail and literary charm. Dual timelines and heartfelt storytelling make this one a layered, meaningful companion for summer travels.

4. The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

A house with history. Sibling loyalty. A decades-long unraveling of what it means to be exiled from the place you once called home. The house itself is practically a character, draped in velvet, mirrors, and memory. Interior design lovers: this is your novel.

5. Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

Family legacy, secrets, and a mysterious cake recipe passed through generations. Set across the Caribbean, London, and California, this novel is rich in flavor and feeling. It’s a sensory read that feels both epic and intimate—perfect for summer days when you're craving depth and a touch of wanderlust.