My Honest 2025 Summer Reads Book Review
Here’s my honest review of the 5 summer reads I’ve read with my book club this year. These five bestsellers, including Just For The Summer, Great Big Beautiful Life, and Wild Dark Shore, have been everywhere lately, so I wanted to see if they’re actually great reads. I’ll tell you what I loved, what missed, and my honest thoughts. If you’ve been wondering whether these summer reads are really worth picking up, you’re in the right place!
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June 2025 Book Review
What Bestseller Summer Reads We’re Reading
It’s our monthly book club this week, and there’s nothing more relaxing than chatting about the books we’ve read over dessert. Since it’s book club time, I’d also love to give you my reviews of all the summer reading I’ve done this season. I read 5 books in total these past few months, all on bestseller lists, from authors that I either love, or am excited to read.
Between contemporary romance, women’s fiction, psychological thrillers, and atmospheric survival stories, these books gave me everything from chills to boredom. If you’re wondering which summer reads truly deserve a spot on your list, keep reading!
Just For The Summer – Abby Jimenez
The first book is Just For The Summer by Abby Jimenez. This book has been at the top of my reading list for so, so long. Actually, I’ve been dying to read all of Abby Jimenez’s books and I can’t believe it took me this long. I absolutely loved this book!
It’s the perfect balance of emotion, romance, friendship, self-development, and so much more. I truly loved every single character and the simple story line that was not only relatable, but gave me all the feels. Her writing style with the back and forth banter and the growth of each character was super enjoyable. I didn’t want this book to end! I knew pretty early on that this was a 5/5 star read for me!
Instant #1 New York Times bestseller and a Good Morning America Book Club Pick!
This witty, slow-burn rom-com is the “ideal beach read.” —Elle
Justin has a curse, and thanks to a Reddit thread, it’s now all over the internet. Every woman he dates goes on to find their soul mate the second they break up. When a woman slides into his DMs with the same problem, they come up with a plan: They’ll date each other and break up. Their curses will cancel each other’s out, and they’ll both go on to find the love of their lives. It’s a bonkers idea… and it just might work.
Great Big Beautiful Life – Emily Henry
Next, is Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry. If you’ve watched or read any of my book reviews before, you know I have a love-hate relationship with Emily Henry books. Sometimes they’re 5 stars, sometimes they’re 1 star. Her last book, Funny Story, was easily a 5 star, so I wasn’t sure if this one would measure up. I’m happy to say this was one, and possibly my favorite, of her 5 star reads.
The best way I can describe it: Emily Henry’s signature charm and banter meets the layered complexity of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins. There’s romance, grief, personal growth, family, friendship, and so much more. I will say, however, that this is not as much a rom-com as it is a women’s fiction with a lot of self-growth. Overall I highly recommend this book! I’m so glad I read it this month, and I had to give it 5 out of 5 stars.
A REESE’S BOOK CLUB PICK ∙ AN INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER ∙
Two writers compete for the chance to tell the larger-than-life story of a woman with more than a couple of plot twists up her sleeve in this dazzling and sweeping novel from Emily Henry.
The Couple At Number 9 – Claire Douglas
While I was on my London trip, I had to read the psychological thriller, The Couple At Number 9 by Claire Douglas set in the UK. I have such mixed feelings about this book. The first 1/3 started very very slow, and a lot of characters to keep track of. Once I got past that, it took off and I didn’t want to put it down. However, the last 80 pages slowed down once again and I feel like I was waiting for them to wrap it all up.
I will say, what I did like is that this wasn’t just your basic thriller. There was a lot of family growth, relationship building, world building, and so much more. Overall, I don’t really remember much of the book, so it’s a 3.75/5 stars. Dom actually really loved this as an audiobook, so perhaps we’d recommend it more as an audiobook instead.
Tense, twisty, fraught with emotion and packed with secrets, The Couple at Number 9 is Claire’s best thriller yet.”—Gilly MacMillan, bestselling author of What She Knew
The internationally bestselling author of Do Not Disturband Just Like the Other Girls delivers a heart-pounding psychological thriller about a couple who inherit what seems to be their dream home, until they make a horrifying discovery—and the danger begins.
Nothing Like The Movies – Lynn Painter
You guys know by now how much I love “Better Than The Movies” by Lynn Painter in my 2024 book review, but this sequel, Nothing Like The Movies, was such a heartbreaking experience for me. My biggest pet peeve in romance books is the “refusing to address simple miscommunication” trope. The first book was set up so perfectly, with so much growth and learning, that it was frustrating to see them take a step back here.
Unfortunately, I’m giving it a 2/5 stars. I think the only way to say it is this plot felt unnecessary and made me fall out of love with the characters. If you haven’t read this series yet, just read Better Than The Movies and skip this one, because it low-key ruined the first book for me, too. Overall, I love her writing, and will keep reading her books, but this one is a no for me.
#1 New York Times Bestseller
“In this highly anticipated sequel to the New York Timesbestselling Better Than the Movies, Wes and Liz struggle to balance their feelings for each other with the growing pains of being a college student in a “worthy second-chance romance” (Kirkus Reviews).”
Wild Dark Shore – Charlotte McConaghy
Our book club book this month is Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy, easily one of the most beautifully written books I’ve ever read. The author has an incredible gift for setting a scene: I felt cold, tense, and completely pulled in, with emotions I don’t usually get from books. She’s known for her vivid nature writing, and that skill shows up here alongside themes of grief, self-growth, romance, and even a bit of a thriller vibe, though it’s hard to pin it down to one genre. It’s definitely a slow burn, but if you push through the first half, it’s absolutely worth it. The second half was unreal, and the more I think about it, the more I love it.
One thing to keep in mind is it reads way better on paper than on audio. The audiobook was a little confusing with character voices, while the physical book was clear and beautifully structured. Overall, I’d give it a 4.75 out of 5 stars, just because the beginning dragged. I’m so glad I read it and can’t wait to explore more of her writing since she has other bestsellers I’ll be checking out next.
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • #1 AMAZON BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR SO FAR 2025
A family on a remote island. A mysterious woman washed ashore. A rising storm on the horizon.
Dominic Salt and his three children are caretakers of Shearwater, a tiny island not far from Antarctica. Home to the world’s largest seed bank, Shearwater was once full of researchers, but with sea levels rising, the Salts are now its final inhabitants. Until, during the worst storm the island has ever seen, a woman mysteriously washes ashore.
Read More Bestsellers with The Tiffy Cooks Book Club!
What did you think of these books? Leave me a comment below, or if you’re into stories with big romance, twisty thrillers, or lush, atmospheric vibes, come discuss them with our book club on Discord. There’s always room for one more opinionated reader!
