It is time to put away the quarantine reading lists and celebrate society’s reopening with the best summer books for 2021. We have curated a list of our top 10 favorites below. Most of the titles were published in either 2020 or 2021, but there is one gem from yesteryears because it’s timeless.

Summer is one of my favorite times to read. Whether I’m on the beach, sitting in a park, or indulging at an outdoor cafe, it feels good to read under the sun. I hope our best summer books for 2021 will help you rest, reflect, and recharge.

(Disclaimer: some of the links in this article are affiliate links that may provide me with a small commission at no cost to you. However, I have vetted every book and believe they are the best summer books for 2021.)

1. A Theater for Dreamers by Polly Samson (published May 11, 2021)

Want to transport yourself to a Greek island? This book celebrates the 1960s and the cultural and artistic revolution that was on the verge of renaissance-like explosion. The artistic enclave of the Greek island Hydra is the setting for a unique scene that calls into question the nature of everything – from art and relationships, to “coming of age” and the loss of innocence.

2. The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race by Walter Isaacson (published March 9, 2021)

Immerse yourself into the world of gene editing and discover the female scientist who helped pioneer an invention that will transform the human race, CRISPR. This tool can edit DNA, and will only lead to more medical miracles (like curing certain cancers), in addition to ethical dilemmas and moral questions. For example, should humans be able to choose eye color or how tall their children will be?

This book adds to Isaacson’s already impressive library of biographies on great thinkers, innovators, and politicians. Finally he has honed in on a female subject and rightfully so in Jennifer Doudna’s case. She only advanced a male-dominated field (genetics) and potentially will have an even greater impact on human civilization than any of Isaacson’s past subjects (which is saying something): Benjamin Franklin, Henry Kissinger, Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs, and Leonardo da Vinci. We previously explored Isaacson’s work on Franklin in the political context of the Obama administration. One thing is for certain – don’t miss The Code Breaker.

3. The Midnight Library: A Novel by Matt Haig (published September 29, 2020)

What could your life have been? This book does a fantastic job of questioning reality itself and examining what life might have been had you made different choices at certain pivotal points. Would your life have been better? Should you have married the other guy or girl? Should you have quit your career and pursued that passion project or vice versa? With the goal of attempting to answer what is truly fulfilling in life, this book is ambitious and captivating, the perfect blend for “best summer books” qualifications.

4. The Guncle by Steven Rowley (published May 25, 2021)

Many of us have or know someone with a gay uncle. And more often than not, those gay uncles are the spice of life. This book tells the story of the cool gay uncle who suddenly assumes guardian responsibilities once tragedy strikes the parents of his niece and nephew. Suddenly the “Guncle” has a new perspective on life thrust upon him. This is a great story of familial support, the power of love, and how we can help loved ones survive the most difficult parts of life.

5. Agent Sonya: Moscow’s Most Daring Wartime Spy by Ben Macintyre (published September 15, 2020)

Spy thrillers are one of my favorite genres, largely thanks to Vince Flynn’s addictive Mitch Rapp books. While Vince Flynn’s books are inspired by real life clandestine activities, Agent Sonya is actually based on a true story. It focuses on a female Soviet intelligence officer who, together with her husband, was running agents across Europe during World War II and the Cold War. She was hunted by almost everyone – Americans, British, Germans, Japanese, you name it – and nobody caught her. The influence this elite Soviet spy (codename “Sonya”) had on the Cold War cannot be understated. With Sonya’s diaries as primary source documents used by the author to write this story, this spy thriller is not only engaging and exciting, but real.

6. The Gastronomical Me by MFK Fisher (published originally in the 1940s)

PolisPandit recently published a review of this O.G. book that set the bar for food writing. It is one of the few books on this list not published in 2020 or 2021. The book transports you to exotic locales like Dijon, France and Guadalajara, Mexico. Its stories will entertain and inform – the art of ordering well from a menu, how to take confident pleasure in dining out alone, the best way to eat an oyster; these topics and many others will not only focus on the food, but on what it means to be hungry and how food can be a vehicle for understanding another person, place, or culture. Bring your appetite.

7. People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry (published May 11, 2021)

There has to be at least one romance on the list because what is a summer without love? This book is pure bliss, laugh-out-loud funny, and enjoyable to read. It explores friendship and love between two people that could not be more opposite – the guy lives in their small hometown and rarely takes risks, while the girl lives in New York City and suffers from a serious case of wanderlust. Opposites attract though, right? How that plays out in this case is a fun and hilarious ride, which is why it qualifies as one of the best summer books.

8. Crying in H Mart: A Memoir by Michelle Zauner (published April 20, 2021)

I love H Mart. The Korean grocery chain always reminds me of a local Japanese equivalent I grew up with in Seattle, Uwajimaya. This book honors H Mart metaphorically as the author describes growing up as a Korean American, losing her mother who helped shape her identity, and how she forged her own sense of self.

In addition to a writer, the author moonlights as an indie rockstar with Japanese Breakfast. If that alone doesn’t convince you to buy and read the book, I don’t know what will.

9. How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States by Daniel Immerwahr (published March 3, 2020)

I love history books that take a unique perspective and articulate novel themes that were previously missed, ignored, or avoided by mainstream historians. That’s one reason why I fell in love with A People’s History of the United States when I first read it. How to Hide an Empire had a similar effect on me. It tells the story of America’s global empire in a manner I have never heard in any history class or book.

The way America has exercised its “empire” is unlike any empire that came before it. Instead of colonizing the world as its European predecessors had done, it has exercised influence in all corners of the world through culture, technology, transportation, and more. This book shines light on forgotten moments in U.S. history, including America’s presence in the Guano Islands, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico. Oftentimes these episodes paint a darker picture of America’s empire, but they are nonetheless important parts of its past that should not be forgotten. This book is an insightful and thrilling read that you will not forget either.

10. Imposter Syndrome by Kathy Wang (published May 25, 2021)

Welcome to worlds of big tech and espionage. This book has all the high drama inherent to the “move fast and break things” Silicon Valley world, with the added thrill of Russian spying. The main character is an Elizabeth Holmes type who is also an undercover Russian spy feeding intelligence to the Kremlin. An employee at the lower levels of her organization (Tangerine) identifies the lax privacy channels the main character is exploiting and is then soon on her trail. This satirical thriller about Silicon Valley and women in tech will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final page.

We hope you enjoyed our top 10 best summer books. Happy reading, wherever this summer takes you.