2025 Summer Reading List from Wellesley Books

 

It’s finally summertime, so grab a book from this summer reading list—featuring both Young Adult and Adult titles—suggested by Wellesley Books and settle in for an adventure.

 

Animals I Want To See: A Memoir of Growing Up in the Projects and Defying the Odds by Tom Seeman

In Animals I Want To See, Tom Seeman recounts his journey from a struggling childhood in the Toledo projects to earning degrees from Yale and Harvard. Raised in a family of fourteen, Tom finds wonder in unlikely places and strength in community, even as he grapples with poverty, identity, and ambition. This poignant memoir is a tribute to resilience, transformation, and the power of dreaming beyond your circumstances.

 

The Dark Maestro: A Novel by Brendan Slocumb

In The Dark Maestro, cello prodigy Curtis Wilson rises from a troubled childhood in D.C. to the heights of classical music—only to have it all unravel when his father turns informant. Forced into witness protection, Curtis must sacrifice his career and safety as his family becomes a target. Blending suspense, music, and heart, this gripping thriller explores the price of loyalty and the fight for survival.

 

Vanishing Treasures: A Bestiary of Extraordinary Endangered Creatures by Katherine Rundell

In Vanishing Treasures, Katherine Rundell celebrates 23 extraordinary endangered animals through vivid, lyrical essays that blend science, wonder, and urgency. From dancing seahorses to freezing frogs and matriarchal lemurs, each creature reveals the astonishing magic of the natural world. With wit, passion, and powerful storytelling, Rundell urges us to cherish and protect these vanishing wonders before it’s too late.

 

Secrets of Adulthood: Simple Truths for Our Complex Lives by Gretchen Rubin

In Secrets of Adulthood, Gretchen Rubin distills life’s complexities into concise, insightful aphorisms drawn from her research on happiness and personal growth. With wit and warmth, she offers simple truths to help navigate change, indecision, relationships, and everyday challenges. This thoughtful collection serves as a comforting guide for anyone seeking clarity and meaning in modern life.

 

Run for the Hills: A Novel by Kevin Wilson

In Run for the Hills, Madeline Hill’s quiet life on a Tennessee farm is upended when Reuben, a half-brother she’s never met, shows up with a plan to track down their elusive father and a string of other siblings. What follows is a wild, heartfelt road trip across America filled with humor, revelations, and unexpected bonds. Kevin Wilson delivers a tender, quirky tale about the families we’re born into—and the ones we choose along the way.

 

Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection by John Green

In Everything Is Tuberculosis, John Green weaves the personal story of his friendship with a young patient in Sierra Leone into a powerful exploration of the global tuberculosis crisis. Blending history, science, and advocacy, Green highlights how this curable disease remains the world’s deadliest due to systemic injustice and healthcare inequity. Deeply human and urgently relevant, the book calls for change in how we treat both disease and those who suffer from it.

 

My Friends: A Novel by Fredrik Backman

In My Friends, Fredrik Backman weaves a heartfelt story of four teenagers whose deep bond during one summer shapes a mysterious painting—and a stranger’s life decades later. Aspiring artist Louisa sets out to uncover the truth behind the artwork and the friends who inspired it. As past and present intertwine, the novel celebrates the enduring impact of friendship, healing, and the quiet power of art.

 

Hamilton and Peggy!: A Revolutionary Friendship by L. M. Elliott

In Hamilton and Peggy!, Peggy Schuyler steps out of her sisters’ shadow during the Revolutionary War, finding herself at the heart of political and personal intrigue. When Alexander Hamilton enlists her help to win over Eliza, an unexpected friendship begins. As war rages around them, Peggy’s courage and wit are put to the test in a fight for love, loyalty, and survival.

 

His Face Is the Sun (Throne of Khetara) by Michelle Jabès Corpora

In His Face Is the Sun, four teens—Princess Sita, priestess-in-training Neff, rebel Rae, and tomb robber Karim—are swept into a dark prophecy threatening the kingdom of Khetara. As rebellion stirs and ancient magic awakens, their fates intertwine in a battle for survival, power, and truth. In a world of gods and secrets, only together can they hope to save an empire on the brink.

 

Swordheart by T. Kingfisher

In Swordheart, Halla inherits her uncle’s estate—and a magical sword that releases Sarkis, an immortal warrior bound to protect its wielder. As they fend off scheming relatives, bandits, and inquisitors, an unexpected romance blooms. But the true danger may lie within the sword itself in this witty, warm, and whimsical fantasy adventure.

 

Eliza, from Scratch by Sophia Lee

In Eliza, From Scratch, high-achieving Eliza Park’s carefully planned senior year goes off course when she’s mistakenly placed in a Culinary Arts class. Struggling to keep up—and to outshine her talented classmate Wesley—Eliza must rethink her definition of success. With help from her Korean heritage and unexpected feelings, she discovers new truths about love, identity, and what really matters.

 

Rebellion 1776 by Laurie Halse Anderson

In Rebellion 1776, thirteen-year-old Elsbeth Culpepper is left alone in war-torn Boston during the Siege and a deadly smallpox outbreak. Immune to the disease, she finds work caring for a wealthy family while navigating fear, survival, and political unrest. As the Revolution and epidemic intensify, Elsbeth holds onto hope of reuniting with her missing father.

 

Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger

In Keeper of the Lost Cities, twelve-year-old Sophie discovers she’s a Telepath—and not truly human—when she meets the mysterious Fitz. Whisked away to a secret world, she must navigate her new identity while uncovering dangerous truths hidden in her past. As powerful forces close in, Sophie learns she may be the key to saving more than just herself.

 

Maizy Chen’s Last Chance: (Newbery Honor Award Winner) by Lisa Yee

In Maizy Chen’s Last Chance, Maizy visits her grandparents in a small Minnesota town, expecting a short stay. At the Golden Palace, her family’s Chinese restaurant, she uncovers surprising truths about her relatives and herself. When a racist note appears and a family treasure goes missing, Maizy sets out to solve the mystery.

 

Turtle Boy by M. Evan Wolkenstein

In Turtle Boy, seventh-grader Will Levine prefers a quiet life with his pet turtles—until he’s paired with RJ, a terminally ill teen, for his bar mitzvah project. At first reluctant, Will takes on RJ’s bucket list, pushing far beyond his comfort zone. As their friendship deepens, Will discovers the power of courage, connection, and truly living.

 

All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook by Leslie Connor

In All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook, eleven-year-old Perry has spent his life living with his mom in a prison where she’s serving time. When a new district attorney sends him to foster care, Perry struggles with being separated from the only home he’s ever known. Determined to reunite with his mom, he searches for the truth about her past—and learns powerful lessons about love, justice, and belonging

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Thank you to Wellesley Books and Lorna at WB, for the book recommendations. For more bookish content click here.