The end of summer break is just around the corner, but it is never too late to begin summer reading. Whether it is time to begin a new book, or re-read an old favorite, summer reading is an important tradition. The American Library Association credits summer reading with helping make reading a habit, keeping reading skills up, and generating interest in libraries and books in general.

You’ll find summer reading lists all over the place recommending tons of great titles, but here are a few recommendations that have kept the ATPE staff turning pages this summer: 

1. Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead
   From the two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Underground Railroad and The Nickel Boys, a gloriously entertaining novel of heists, shakedowns, and rip-offs set in Harlem in the 1960s.
2. Falling by T.J. Newman
   T.J. Newman, a former bookseller turned flight attendant, worked for Virgin America and Alaska Airlines from 2011 to 2021. “Falling” is her first novel.
3. The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill
   Award-winning author Sulari Gentill delivers a sharply thrilling read with The Woman in the Library, an unexpectedly twisty literary adventure that examines the complicated nature of friendship and shows us that words can be the most treacherous weapons of all.
4. Conviction by Denise Mina
   Conviction is the compelling and unique new thriller from multiple award-winner and author of The Long Drop, Denise Mina.
5. The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James
   A true crime blogger gets more than she bargained for while interviewing the woman acquitted of two cold case slayings in this chilling new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Sun Down Motel.
6. Brood by Jackie Polzin
   A new literary voice—wryly funny, honest, and observational—depicts one woman's attempt to keep her four chickens alive while reflecting on a recent loss.
7. 11/22/63 by Stephen King
   Stephen King’s heart-stoppingly dramatic novel is about a man who travels back in time to prevent the JFK assassination—a 1,000-page tour de force.

The New York Times Best-Sellers list is also an excellent resource to look for new books to read. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens is one book listed for which a feature film adaptation has just been released.

There are many choices for books, and there might even be some sitting on your bookshelf ready to be rediscovered. Regardless of the choice, be sure to share your thoughts on the books with others. Books offer both knowledge and a sense of adventure that cannot be matched. As summer’s end is just around the corner, now is the time to jump headfirst into a new book and a new adventure.