Read Along: New Book Suggestions To Sustain You Through The Summer

One of the great pleasures of slowing down in the summer (if you have that privilege) is to dive into books you’ve been waiting to read. This summer, as in past summers, there’s no shortage of recommendations, whether you’re looking for a mystery page turner, a frivolous beach read, or a tome on history, given that it’s the 250th anniversary of our country on July 4th. So let’s take a look at the suggestions circulating, to then be followed by a few specific agebuzz recommendations.

First, to history. The Brooklyn Public Library has gathered a list of what it considers 250 influential books for America’s 250th anniversary. The list contains titles published all the way back to 1776 through to the present. As the Library administration states, “These are the books we believe have influenced this country and contributed to where we are today. The subject matters and genres reflect a full range of human experience in our country,” and “Together, the books on this list tell a story of our nation, our commitment to the ideals of freedom and justice for all, and that ongoing search for common ground.” To see the full list, wave your flag and look here. The New York Public Library has created its own book list for adults for the spring/summer of 2026, containing 60 titles chosen by its expert librarians (there are also lists for teens and children). The titles, topics, and dates of publication range far and wide, and there’s likely something for everyone to embrace or rage against. So grab your bookmark and click here.

If you’re looking for recommendations with new titles, there are plenty of those to peruse. NPR has an interesting list of 15 new books that critics are excited for, with a mix of fiction and nonfiction, science fiction, mystery, romance, multiculturalism, and magical realism. In contrast, Oprah has published her own list of the 24 best books of the summer, also covering a wide range of genres, and including some highly regarded authors with their latest works, including Dave Eggers, Elizabeth Strout, Ann Patchett, David Sedaris, Chris Bohjalian, Colson Whitehead, and Maggie O’Farrell. The New York Times took a different tack, emphasizing books that are a bit lighter with just the right touch of text, whether you’re at a beach, lake, or some other vacation spot. With a title of “Summer’s Best Beach Reads,” this list will keep you captivated, but capable of skimming in and out if something else comes along. So consider some of their recommendations, including books by Jenny Jackson, Jessica Knoll, and Emily Griffen (as well as recommending the new books by Elizabeth Strout and Ann Patchett).

If you’re up to doing a bit more challenging reading on topics connected to aging, you might want to pick up the new book by Saul Justin Newman, titled Morbid: Debunking Modern Longevity Science, which takes a hard look at the state of our anti-aging science and what really holds up under scrutiny. You can pre-order it now (it comes out in July) and get a preview of its content by reading this Wall Street Journal review of the book, along with a review in Science News. There’s also the recent book by journalist and financial planner Beth Pinsker, titled My Mother’s Money: A Guide to Financial Caregiving. A practical handbook with anecdotes from her own experience as her mother’s caregiver, you’ll likely recognize the scenarios, share in the frustrations, and gain valuable wisdom for your own family’s financial planning. You can read an excerpt of the book in this recent article from AARP.

Finally, less of a book to dive into and more of a guide to get you stronger and better able to prevent a fall, there’s the brand new book by April Hattori, the founder behind our favorite senior exercise website, Yes2Next. Her new book is 10-Minute Chair Yoga Exercises for Seniors: 40 Poses to Build Strength and Flexibility for Fall Prevention. With exercises and illustrations that are easy to understand and implement, you’re bound to improve your stability and strength in just 10 minutes. For a copy signed by April, you can click here.