25 Summer Releases to Have on Your Radar

A collage of the covers included in this article

NetGalley members are always looking ahead for exciting new releases to add to their TBR piles. Here are 25 summer books that readers won’t want to miss—some are even already available to view on NetGalley! Take a look and take note of the books you want to read this summer.

Hell of a Book by Jason Mott

Jason Mott’s fourth novel explores repressed trauma through the eyes of an unnamed Black author who is on his first book tour. His imagination has a tendency to run away from him, making him question if the Black boy he keeps seeing at tour stops (who resembles a boy killed by police) is real or not.

Sword Stone Table edited by Swapna Krishna, Jenn Northington

Take a trip to Camelot this summer with this anthology of Arthurian short stories. Spanning a variety of genres, this collection is sure to delight fans of the original with reimaginings that include modern-day Arthur and Merlin, the Lady of the Lake as a Ugandan sorceress, Excalibur as a ceremonial drum discovered by a First Nations boy, and more!

The Queer Principles of Kit Webb by Cat Sebastian

Percy, Lord Holland, needs to steal a book, and decides there’s no better person to ask for help than former highwayman Kit Webb. Now a coffee shop owner, Kit has left his thieving days behind him, but he agrees to show Percy the ropes—not realizing the aristocrat will soon steal his heart.

Dead Dead Girls by Nekesa Afia

Nekesa Afia’s debut takes readers to 1920s Harlem. Louise Lloyd’s nights at the speakeasy are put on hold when she’s arrested and given an ultimatum: Help solve the string of murders plaguing her community or be brought before a judge. The killer’s victims are all Black girls like her, and she knows accepting the job puts her own life at risk, but she doesn’t have a choice.

The Dead and the Dark by Courtney Gould

Teens are going missing in Snakebite, Oregon, and Ashley Barton believes it has something to do with the return of the Ortiz-Woodleys, known for their popular ghost hunting TV show. She teams up with the Ortiz-Woodleys’ daughter Logan in the hopes of uncovering the truth of who is haunting the town and what’s happening to the teens who disappear.

Island Queen by Vanessa Riley

Fans of historical fiction will want this book at the top of their TBR. Island Queen draws inspiration from Dorothy Kirwan Thomas, one of the most powerful and wealthy landowners in the West Indies in the 18th century. Riley’s novel follows Doll from her birth to the years she spent building her empire. 

The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo

Nghi Vo’s debut novel is a magical reimagining of The Great Gatsby told from the perspective of golf pro Jordan Baker. Jordan relishes the freedom that she has, and isn’t swayed when her childhood friend Daisy attempts to set her up with Nick. Instead it’s Jay Gatsby, who doesn’t hide his interest in getting to know Nick, that intrigues Jordan.

The Dating Dare by Jayci Lee

A game of Truth or Dare results in Tara Park agreeing to four no-strings-attached dates with Seth Kim, her best friend’s brother-in-law. Seth is leaving for Paris in a month, making a casual arrangement ideal, especially with a woman who doesn’t want a serious relationship. But neither expects how hard it’ll be to say goodbye when the month is over.

The Fiancée by Kate White

A getaway with her husband’s family at their massive estate is exactly what Summer needs after struggling to find work as an actress in Manhattan. But their peaceful holiday takes a dark turn when a guest dies under mysterious circumstances, and Summer turns a suspicious gaze on Hannah, her brother-in-law’s fiancée.

The Wild Ones by Nafiza Azad

Readers looking for YA fantasy can look forward to Nafiza Azad’s latest. While escaping from the man her mother sold her to, Paheli met a boy named Taraana who gave her a box of stars. Using the stars to go to the magical Between, Paheli began to help girls like herself. When they discover that Taraana is in trouble, Paheli and the girls known as the Wild Ones race to save him.

A Woman of Intelligence by Karin Tanabe

Katharina Edgeworth once worked as a translator for the United Nations, but now, in 1954, she feels trapped in the routine she’s fallen into with her husband and sons. When the FBI approaches her with a chance to catch a Soviety spy, she can’t resist taking up the challenge.

The Second Rebel by Linden A. Lewis

The second book in Linden A. Lewis’ space opera trilogy picks up where the first left off with Astrid working to take down the Sisterhood from the inside. Hitting shelves in August, now is the perfect time to catch up on book one so you’re prepared to dive into this action-packed sequel.

The Viscount Made Me Do It by Diana Quincy

Hanna Zaydan is the best bonesetter in London, but it is taking all of her willpower to keep things professional with her attractive new patient, who seems hellbent on seducing her. What she doesn’t know is that he believes she’s keeping a secret that could lead him to his parents’ killer.

Suburban Dicks by Fabian Nicieza

Marvel fans who love a good mystery will want to check out this debut from Fabian Nicieza, the co-creator of Deadpool. Two amateur detectives are on the case when a gas station attendant is murdered in New Jersey. Andie once dreamed of working for the FBI, and now finds herself teaming up with local journalist Kenneth to crack the case.

Love and Other Natural Disasters by Misa Sugiura

Can a fake relationship become a real one? Nozomi Nagai is doing her best to prove it can! When Willow asks if Nozomi will pose as her girlfriend to make her ex jealous, Nozomi instantly says yes, while secretly hoping that she can win Willow’s heart in the process. 

The Temple House Vanishing by Rachel Donohue

This gothic debut takes readers to an Irish boarding school. Twenty-five years ago, Victoria and her friend Louisa developed a crush on their art teacher, Mr. Lavelle. Louisa and Mr. Lavelle disappeared suddenly and without a trace. Victoria’s done what she can to put the memories behind her, until a journalist begins digging for answers.

The Devil You Know by Kit Rocha

Kit Rocha’s Mercenary Librarians series continues this August with the second installment. Set in a post-apocalyptic United States, The Devil You Know introduces readers to Maya and Gray, who team up to take down a group trafficking genetically enhanced children. 

I Kissed a Girl by Jennet Alexander

Sparks fly between a makeup artist and an actress in this contemporary romance. Lilah Silver dreams of getting off the B-list and is hopeful that her latest role will be her ticket to the next stage of her career. Horror-buff Noa Birnbaum vows to do whatever she can to help Lilah shine, and soon finds herself cherishing the days when Lilah is in her makeup chair.

The Bombay Prince by Sujata Massey

Set in 1920s Bombay, the Perveen Mistry series follows India’s first and only female lawyer as she seeks to bring justice to her clients and their families. In this third installment, Perveen is investigating the death of an 18-year-old student just as protests over colonial rule break out.

Cazadora by Romina Garber

Romina Garber returns this August with the follow-up to Lobizona that takes readers deeper into Septimus society. Picking up where the first book left off, Manu and her friends arrive in Argentina. On the run from the Cazadores, they must find allies quickly as they brace for the inevitable confrontation.

The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid

Ava Reid drew inspiration from Hungarian history and Jewish mythology for this fantasy about two outcasts who team up to stop a prince with dark ambitions for seizing the throne. Gáspár and Évike strike up a tentative trust as they make their way through forests filled with monsters and across the tundra to the capital. 

If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy

Julie Murphy’s first novel for adults is a romantic retelling of “Cinderella.” Aspiring shoe designer Cindy volunteers to be a contestant on the reality tv dating competition that her stepmother produces in the hopes of launching her fashion career. She’s shocked when the show’s bachelor turns out to be Henry, who she’s met before. 

The Family Plot by Megan Collins

Secrets are unearthed when the Lighthouse family reunites to bury their late patriarch. The discovery of the murdered body of Dahlia’s missing twin brother brings Dahlia to wonder which member of her true-crime-loving family is hiding the truth of what happened to Andy. 

The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer

In this YA sci-fi novel, rivals must put aside their differences for the sake of a rescue mission. Ambrose and Kodiak’s respective countries are sending them to Titan to respond to a distress signal. But once abroad the Coordinated Endeavor, it’s clear that something has gone terribly wrong.

Seven Days in June by Tia Williams

Twenty years ago Eva Mercy and Shane Hall spent a life-changing week together. When they reconnect at a literary event in New York, sparks reignite between them. Tia Williams explores the lingering effects of trauma and the path towards healing through the eyes of two writers unsure of what their next chapter looks like.

Kelly Gallucci

Kelly Gallucci is the Executive Editor of We Are Bookish, where she oversees the editorial content, offers book recommendations, and interviews authors and NetGalley members. When she's not working, Kelly can be found color coordinating her bookshelves, eating Chipotle, and watching way too many baking shows.

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