You’re here, which means that you—like us—know that the perfect summer day depends on having the perfect summer read. We get it. What’s better than soaking up some sun (or sitting close to the air conditioner) and devouring an excellent read? Whether you’re looking for your next book to read in the sand or nestled somewhere in the shade, we’ve got the summer book for you.

So take a peek at our selection—we’ve got something for every type of reader, from bone-chilling mysteries to LGBTQ love stories and everything in-between. (Psst—we’ve included links to buy these books on Amazon and Barnes & Noble, but you can always buy directly from the source: just click HERE). 

Love a good mystery? Check out these page-turners:

What’s better than getting caught up in a good mystery? Packed with riveting whodunits and compelling characters, these collections will add a splash of suspense to any summer afternoon.

Dark City Lights by Lawrence Block is a collection of twenty-three heart-pounding mysteries, all set in New York City.

Crime Plus Music edited by Jim Fussili features twenty sinister short stories that twist music with mystery noir.

Florida Happens by Greg Herren spins twenty-one tales of mysteries set in Florida—where nothing is too peculiar to be impossible.

Order Dark City Lights HERE; Crime Plus Music HERE; Florida Happens HERE

Want to boldly go where no one has gone before? Adventure with some stellar science fiction:

Three Rooms Press is proud to represent Robert Silverberg. Silverberg, literally a Grand Master of Science Fiction, is a giant of the genre whose works will have you wondering what-if…what-if…these collections will make those summer skies feel a bit more secretive and strange. 

Edited by Silverberg, This Way to the End Times: Classic Tales of the Apocalypse features work from sci-fi greats like Ursula K. Le Guin, Connie Willis, Jack Vance, and more. With twenty-one compelling stories speculating about the end of the earth, you’ll appreciate those beach days more than ever!

First Person Singularities contains eighteen of Silverberg’s stories, all told in the first-person singular. Soon you’ll be telling people: “I can’t tell you how much I loved it.”

Time and Time Again pulls you down the time-travel rabbit hole with sixteen of Silverberg’s best stories about adventures in time. Hours will fly by as you devour his incredible worlds, making you wonder—where has the time gone? (Plus, Time and Time Again recently won the Indie Awards GOLD PRIZE from Foreword Reviews!)

Order This Way to the End Times HERE; First Person Singularities HERE; Time and Time Again HERE

It’s #WorldPride2019! Delve into these LGBTQ+ titles:

This summer is HUGE for LGBTQ+ history—and literature! As the world celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising and WorldPride2019, celebrate by immersing yourself in some captivating stories about identity, self, and friendship. 

Weird Girl and What’s His Name by Meagan Brothers is the story of two teenage outcasts, Lula and Rory, who find solace in each other and their shared love of science fiction. However, Rory has secrets that threaten to disrupt their friendship, and Lula feels she has much to discover about herself.

In Quiver by Julia Watts, an unlikely friendship forms between Libby, the eldest child of a strictly evangelical family, and Zo, her new, gender-fluid neighbor. On opposite sides of the political and cultural spectrum, Libby and Zo’s friendship reflects the conflicts that abound in today’s society.

Nirvana Is Here by Aaron Hamburger follows Ari Silverman, who seeks to reconnect with his first crush, Justin. In doing so, he reexamines secrets that bloomed between them in the segregated suburbs of Detroit in the 1990s.

Everything Grows by Aimee Herman tells the tale of Eleanor Fromme, whose bully has just killed himself. In response, Eleanor begins to write him letters, which explore her identity, sexuality, and wonder about the world.

Order Weird Girl and What’s His Name HERE; Quiver HERE; Nirvana Is Here HERE; and Everything Grows HERE

Make a splash at the beach and check out these alternative reads:

You zig when everyone else zags, so stand out from the beach crowd by picking an offbeat book to slide into your tote bag this summer. Not only are these works great conversation starters, but they’ll absolutely spice up your summer book list. 

Punk Avenue by Phil Marcade: From your spot in the sun, explore the early punk rock scene. Marcade takes readers on punk rock adventures from coast to coast, rubbing elbows with some of the most famous bands of the era.

In The Obama Inheritance, edited by Gary Philips, readers are drawn into fifteen satirical pulp-noir stories riffing on the bizarre conspiracy theories spun about the nation’s 44th president, Barack Obama.

You should read Songs of Selfie, edited by Constance Renfrow, if you’re hoping to boast at dinner parties “Oh, yes, I read pieces by this author ages ago.” The anthology is full of work from up-and-coming writers who ponder, poke at, and piece out what it means to be a young person in America today.

Order Punk Avenue HERE; Obama Inheritance HERE; and Songs of Selfie HERE

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