By Ashley W.
Check out our team’s list of books they think you should check out this summer, ideally by a pool or on a beach!
Quick summer read that inspires you to think deeply about nature and community. — Michael
If you've ever wondered how choices made long before you were born have shaped your life today, Zeal is the book for you. It is set across 150 years of American history, following two lovers separated after the Civil War — and their descendants in modern-day Harlem who carry that loss forward without even knowing it. It's a story about family secrets, resilience, and lost and recovered love. — Joan
A fun, quirky, and genre-defying short story collection retelling historical figures through a feminist lens. — Susan
This Booker Prize-winning novel offers an urgent message. Beautifully written and hard to put down, the book highlights an ordinary Irish family's life as a fascist government clamps down. A mother, Eilish, is left to hold everything together after her husband is taken. The story puts you inside Eilish's mind where the horror of losing your family, your freedom, and everything once familiar feels frighteningly real. If you want a book that shows what the rise of authoritarianism might look like — and what any of us would actually do to protect the people we love — this one is devastating in a good way. — Joan
A fun, quirky, and genre-defying short story collection retelling historical figures through a feminist lens. — Susan
Anna and Din are so fun. It is a murder mystery in space, with giant leviathans and a murderous plant. You'll never guess the ending. — Jess
Shesheshen is a sassy shapeshifter who is trying to figure out human characteristics while saving her offspring and managing a romance. — Jess
A great mix of memoir and cookbook, with Tucci's strong and distinctive voice throughout. Great if you like cooking, acting/Hollywood, Italy, or celebrity memoirs. — Beth
The best book about writing I have come across. Every student entering college should read this. — Matt
If you are looking for a sweet, quick escape from the modern world, I recommend this clever series set in Victorian London. Emma M. Lion is a plucky heroine who returns to St. Crispian's neighborhood to reclaim her childhood home. We can't help but root for 20-year-old Emma as she navigates grief, incorrigible relatives, and a depleted inheritance, all while recording her lightly filtered musings in a series of diary entries. Lovers of Jane Austen will immediately want to check out the audiobook version, but I also recommend the series to anyone who loves "found family," quirky characters, and witty dialogue. — Erica
A tense mystery that keeps you guessing the whole time. It also isn't just about the plot — the characters and their secrets make it feel really real and stick with you after you finish. I read it all in one sitting! — Annika
It's fascinating how small moments can completely change the trajectory of a person's life. — Cari
I love historical fiction, and this book is beautifully written. It's set in Germany during World War 2, and tells the story of three women who hide out together while the war rages around them. It covers themes of complicity, guilt, friendship, trauma, loss, and rebuilding. — Katie B
Relevant and fascinating — a look at AI applications and the people utilizing it to improve our human experience. — Ellen Silverstrand
An incredibly moving and inspirational story of two sisters who survived Auschwitz. Rena's story reminds us to take heed of the lessons learned from historical tragedies and emphasizes the sustaining power of family and faith. — Patsy
A fascinating nonfiction account of a British couple lost at sea who survived in a small lifeboat for over 100 days. I was fascinated by both the psychological and practical details of their survival — how they created shelter, how they fed themselves, and how they maintained resilience with death around the corner at every moment. — Katie B
A gripping thriller set on an island near Antarctica. The story follows a family whose job is to close down a seed vault before their island gets engulfed by rising seas. It's about climate change and how it is reshaping our world, but it's also about this small, brave family and what happens when a stranger literally washes up on their island. — Katie B
A really unique look at the history of taxonomy and order, and the negatives of humanity's need to categorize and create hierarchies for all living things. If you're going into the environmental or biological field, this is a must-read! — Eleanor
This novel is quietly devastating and deeply beautiful. It follows Victoria, a young woman who aged out of the foster care system, and her relationship with the Victorian language of flowers, where every bloom carries a specific meaning. The story weaves between her painful past and her present as she slowly, reluctantly learns to let people in. It's the kind of book that stays with you long after you finish it. — Emma
Unexpected, lots of plot twists, well written, with great scenery throughout. — Sarita
A good book about generational storytelling and the secrets that lie within the stories. Beautifully written, real and raw. — Sarita
An extraordinary work of fiction. I'm not partial to the "gifted child" trope, but this book is exceptional. The second book made me, as a 17-year-old, read ~400 pages in a single day. It is the benchmark that I compare all other works of fiction to, for better or for worse. — Nathan
This book has it all—ghosts, humor, ruminations on the purpose of life and the idea of goodness. Vigil will keep you thinking long after its quick 200-page narrative is over. — Ashley
One of those books that sticks with you long after you finish it. An easy read with a message that feels especially relevant for both high school students and adults — thoughtful, uplifting, and offering readers of any age a fresh perspective on their own story. — Staci
Practical tips for surviving college, with lots of funny stories. There's a student version and a parent version—great for both! — Kristen
Especially relevant here in the Midwest and a must-read for any student who thinks they want to one day work in healthcare. — Maija
Weaves together history and public health to explore many of the fault lines in our society and world.
— Dan
We take the Great Lakes for granted — a fascinating and tragic story with a lot to teach about the history of the Upper Midwest.
— Dan
A classic fractured fairy tale retold from the perspective of Cinderella's evil stepmother. A book that makes you question what really makes someone evil.
— Alanna
Wellesley Books is a locally-owned, independent bookstore nestled in the heart of Wellesley, Massachusetts. Open since 2010, it's known for its knowledgeable booksellers, outstanding children's section, and a carefully curated selection of new fiction, nonfiction, and gifts. Whether you're browsing the shelves or hunting for your next favorite read, Wellesley Books is a true community hub for readers of all ages.
Seventeen-year-old Emma Nakamura-Thatcher doesn't believe in love — until she starts receiving mysterious notes claiming to be from her future soulmate. As letters pour in with secrets only she could know, she's forced to reckon with an impossible question: which boy in her life is writing from across time? A lightly magical, warmhearted romantic comedy from the author of Tokyo Ever After.
High school junior Virginia Tillis heads to her grandmother's Florida retirement community expecting a quiet summer — and finds herself in the middle of a real murder mystery among a crew of theater retirees who play a game called Killing Me Softly. Adding to the chaos is Felix, the charming grandson of one of the residents, who turns out to be her biggest competition. A cozy mystery with a splash of romance, perfect for fans of The Agathas.
Aisling has always believed she's the beloved crown princess — until a mysterious girl named Forgive-Me-Not breaks into her bedroom with a shocking truth: Aisling is a changeling, and Forgive-Me-Not is the real heir to the throne. Forced onto the run together, their anger slowly gives way to sharp banter, vulnerability, and an undeniable attraction. A lush sapphic enemies-to-lovers YA fantasy graphic novel.
Finley has always drifted comfortably in her boyfriend's shadow — until a last-minute trip to a family vacation house she never knew existed turns her summer upside down. Surrounded by new cousins, a found family of diner workers, and an undeniably handsome guitarist named Ben, she begins to discover who she is outside of someone else's plans. A #1 New York Times bestselling coming-of-age love story about learning to stand on your own.
Six months after a contestant was found murdered on the set of The Escape Game, season five is underway — and Sierra Angelos, the victim's sister, isn't there to win. She's there for justice. As the new contestants solve increasingly deadly escape rooms, secrets from the previous season begin to surface. A #1 New York Times bestselling YA murder mystery packed with sabotage, betrayal, and puzzles to die for.
Olivia Lupo has put college on hold to stay close to her grandmother Annie, who has dementia — but when a family trip to Martha's Vineyard brings her to the island Annie always called magical, she starts to see why. Tracing her grandmother's footsteps, she also reconnects with Connor, a boy from her past who wants very much to be part of her future. A tender summer romance about memory, letting go, and unexpected love.
Hannah's spring break trip to Mexico is going perfectly until she, her best friend, and two others board a private sailboat — and the storm rolling in from the horizon turns out to be the least dangerous thing on the boat. A propulsive thriller about four teens whose survival instincts are tested as danger closes in from every direction, perfect for fans of high-stakes YA suspense.
Set at a dreary adult day care center in Los Angeles, this New York Times bestseller follows Carlos, a young aide trying to befriend Jorge — a gentle, nonspeaking man prone to escape attempts — while navigating the rich, often overlooked world of the disabled community around them. Funny, moving, and deeply humane, it's a portrait of connection in an unlikely place. (Fans of Wonder by R.J. Palacio will find a lot to love here.)
Alix Watson has spent her whole life turning to books when people let her down — so when she stumbles through a hidden door in the Boston Public Library and discovers a magical realm where the desperate can escape into their favorite stories, it feels like home. But a shadowy enemy threatens everyone the Astral Library has ever sheltered, and Alix must chase danger through the worlds of Jane Austen, Sherlock Holmes, and The Great Gatsby to protect it. A whimsical, bookish adventure that's been compared to The Midnight Library.
When coordinated cyberattacks set off alarms around the world and the signal traces back to China, world leaders summon Vivien Li — a Tiananmen Square dissident turned renowned human rights activist — to the White House. But it's her estranged daughter Alice who may hold the key to preventing global catastrophe. A gripping geopolitical thriller that races from D.C. to Hong Kong, co-written by the author of the beloved Gamache series.
In the 1920s, it was archaeologist Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon who made headlines for discovering Tutankhamun's tomb — but behind the scenes stood Lady Evelyn Herbert, whose curiosity and daring made the find possible. Nearly 3,000 years earlier, another woman was being erased from history: Hatshepsut, Egypt's lost pharaoh. This dual-timeline historical novel follows Evelyn's obsession with uncovering Hatshepsut's secret tomb, at great personal risk.
At seventeen, Ruth lost her mother and was shipped off to Block Island, where she found refuge, creativity, and first love. Now twenty-seven, she returns for another summer — only to find that the past she thought she'd outrun is waiting for her. A lush, romantic novel about grief, second chances, and the summers that shape us, set on a sun-drenched island off the coast of Rhode Island.
Jenny Lawson — celebrated author, humorist, and self-described walking contradiction — shares more than one hundred heartfelt tools and tricks she relies on to keep going when depression, anxiety, and ADHD make everything feel impossible. Warm, witty, and genuinely useful, this is her first book of advice, full of the same dark humor and radical honesty that made her a beloved voice for people who struggle. An instant New York Times bestseller.
Twice-widowed and quietly broke, Lady Etheldreda Tremaine is doing everything she can to secure her daughters' futures — managing a crumbling manor, an ungrateful stepdaughter, and a razor-taloned falcon, all while keeping up the appearance of respectability. This is the Cinderella story retold from the stepmother's perspective, and it flips everything you thought you knew. A Reese's Book Club pick and one of the most talked-about debuts of 2026.
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