hottest books of summer

The summer’s hottest books do tend to have the longest holds lists and this summer is no exception. 

The top 5 most popular ebooks and eaudios on Libby differ by only two titles, so I’ve combined the lists.  

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

The People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Golden Girl by Elin Hilderbrand

If you’re waiting on any of those, find your title in red below and check out one of the suggestions while you wait:

Waiting on “The Last Thing He Told Me?” Try one of these!

On Libby:

The Lace Reader  by Brunonia Barry (ebook)

Towner Whitney, the self-confessed unreliable narrator, hails from a family of Salem women who can read the future in the patterns in lace, and who have guarded a history of secrets going back generations. Now the disappearance of two women is bringing Towner back home to Salem—and is bringing to light the shocking truth about the death of her twin sister.

And Now She’s Gone by Rachel Howzell Hall (ebook)

Featuring two complicated women in a dangerous cat and mouse game, Rachel Howzell Hall's And Now She's Gone explores the nature of secrets — and how violence and fear can lead you to abandon everything in order to survive.

The Girl Before by JP Delaney (ebook & eaudio)

“A pitch-perfect novel of psychological suspense” (Lee Child) that spins one woman’s seemingly good fortune, and another woman’s mysterious fate, through a kaleidoscope of duplicity, death, and deception.”

A Simple Favor by Darcey Bell (ebook & eaudio)

A single mother's life is turned upside down when her best friend vanishes in this chilling debut thriller. Also available in both formats on Hoopla.

The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James

Carly Kirk has never been able to let go of the story of her aunt Viv, who mysteriously disappeared from the Sun Down before she was born. She decides to move to Fell and visit the motel, where she quickly learns that nothing has changed since 1982. And she soon finds herself ensnared in the same mysteries that claimed her aunt.

On Hoopla:

Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave (eaudio)
Set in the lush backdrop of Sonoma's wine country, Eight Hundred Grapes is a heartbreaking, funny, and deeply evocative novel about love, marriage, family, wine, and the treacherous terrain in which they all intersect.

The First Husband by Laura Dave (eaudio)
A savvy, page-turning novel about a woman torn between her husband and the man she thought she'd marry.

Speaking of Summer by Kalisha Buckhanon (eaudio)

On a cold December evening, Autumn Spencer's twin sister Summer walks to the roof of their shared Harlem brownstone and is never seen again, the door to the roof is locked, and no footsteps are found. Faced with authorities indifferent to another missing woman, Autumn must pursue answers on her own.

A Woman Betrayed by Barbara Delinsky (ebook & eaudio)

A stunning tale of troubling secrets that can hide beneath the placid surface of a seemingly good marriage-and the courage that's needed to move on.

Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica (eaudio)

In this smart and chilling thriller, master of suspense and New York Times bestselling author Mary Kubica takes domestic secrets to a whole new level, showing that some people will stop at nothing to keep the truth buried.

Darling by Rachel Edwards (ebook)

A teenage girl clashes with her new stepmother in this debut thriller with an unforgettable twist.

Waiting on “Malibu Rising?” Try one of these!

On Libby:

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (ebook & eaudio)

Nick Carraway meets Jay Gatsby, a young millionaire with shady business connections and who is love with Daisy Buchanan, Nick's cousin. Also available in both formats on Hoopla.

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan (ebook & eaudio)

The New York Times bestselling Crazy Rich Asians series reveals the outrageous world of high net worth society with humor and heart.

Summer of ‘69 by Elin Hilderbrand (ebook & eaudio)

Four siblings experience the drama, intrigue, and upheaval of the '60s summer when everything changed.

Summer Sisters by Judy Blume (ebook)

Dazzling, reckless Caitlin welcomes Vix into the heart of her sprawling, eccentric family, opening doors to a world of unimaginable privilege, sweeping her away to vacations on Martha’s Vineyard, an enchanting place where the two friends become “summer sisters.”

On Hoopla:

Ladies’ Night by Mary Kay Andrews (eaudio)

Take a splash of betrayal, add a few drops of outrage, give a good shake to proper behavior and take a big sip of a cocktail called...Ladies' Night! 

Invitation to the Waltz by Rosamond Lehmann (ebook)

Divided into three parts-Olivia's birthday, the day leading up to the party, and the breathtaking event itself-Invitation to the Waltz masterfully captures the conflicting emotions of a teenager on the threshold of womanhood. Will this be the night when all of Olivia's dreams come true?

Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter (ebook & eaudio)

Gloriously inventive, constantly surprising, Beautiful Ruins is a story of flawed yet fascinating people, navigating the rocky shores of their lives while clinging to their improbable dreams.

The Summer Girls by Mary Alice Monroe (eaudio)

Three sisters reunite on Sullivan's Island off the coast of South Carolina after years of separation.

Waiting on “People We Meet on Vacation?” Try one of these!

On Libby:

Stay by Allie Larkin (ebook)

Savannah "Van" Leone has been in love with Peter Clarke since their first day of college. Six years later, Peter is marrying Van's best friend, Janie. After the wedding, nursing her broken heart with a Rin Tin Tin marathon plus a vodka chaser, Van accidentally orders a German Shepherd puppy over the Internet. When "Joe" turns out to be a hundred-pound beast who only responds to commands in Slovak, Van is at the end of her rope-until she realizes that sometimes life needs to get more complicated before it can get better.

It’s Been a Pleasure, Noni Blake by Claire Christian (ebook)

Effortlessly hilarious and relatable, Claire Christian spins a fresh, uplifting story about starting over as a thirtysomething woman who's been living life for everyone else.  The eaudio is available on Hoopla. 

Josh & Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren (ebook & eaudio)

Bestselling author Christina Lauren tells the story of two people who are definitely not dating, no matter how often they end up in bed together.

This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens (ebook & eaudio)

Their lives began together, but their worlds couldn't be more different. After thirty years of missed connections, they're about to meet again…

Shipped by Angie Hockman (ebook)

The Unhoneymooners meets The Hating Game in this witty, clever, and swoonworthy novel following a workaholic marketing manager who is forced to go on a cruise with her arch-nemesis when they're up for the same promotion.

On Hoopla:

Don’t You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane (ebook & eaudio)

Meeting Lucas again not only throws Georgina's rackety present into sharp relief, but also brings a dark secret from her past bubbling to the surface. Only she knows the truth about what happened on the last day of school, and why she's allowed it to chase her all these years… Also available in ebook & eaudio on Libby.

Love at First  by Kate Clayborn (ebook & eaudio)

A sparkling and tender novel full of bickering neighbors, surprise reunions, and the mysterious power of love. Also available as an ebook on Libby.

Float Plan by Trish Doller (eaudio) 

Starting over doesn't mean letting go of your past, it means making room for your future.

Friends Without Benefits by Penny Reid (ebook & eaudio)

When Elizabeth's plans for benefits without friendship are disarmed by the irritatingly charismatic and chauvinistic Nico Manganiello- her former nemesis- she finds herself struggling to maintain the electric fence around her heart while avoiding electrocution or, worse, falling in love. Available as an ebook on Libby.

Waiting on “The Four Winds?” Try one of these!

On Libby:

The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan (ebook & eaudio)

The dust storms that terrorized the High Plains in the darkest years of the Depression were like nothing ever seen before or since. Following a dozen families and their communities through the rise and fall of the region, Timothy Egan tells of their desperate attempts to carry on. Available in ebook & eaudio on Hoopla.

The Most They Ever Had by Rick Bragg (ebook & eaudio)

The story of the mill people of Jacksonville, Alabama. Available in eaudio on Hoopla.

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes (ebook & eaudio)

A breathtaking story of five extraordinary women and their remarkable journey through the mountains of Kentucky and beyond in Depression-era America.

The Truth According to Us by Annie Barrows (ebook & eaudio)

In the summer of 1938, Layla Beck’s father, a United States senator, cuts off her allowance and demands that she find employment on the Federal Writers’ Project, a New Deal jobs program. Within days, Layla finds herself far from her accustomed social whirl, assigned to cover the history of the remote mill town of Macedonia, West Virginia.

This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger (ebook & eaudio)

A magnificent novel about four orphans on a life-changing odyssey during the Great Depression. Available in eaudio on Hoopla.

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate (ebook & eaudio)

Based on one of America’s most notorious real-life scandals—in which Georgia Tann, director of a Memphis-based adoption organization, kidnapped and sold poor children to wealthy families all over the country—Lisa Wingate’s riveting, wrenching, and ultimately uplifting tale reminds us how, even though the paths we take can lead to many places, the heart never forgets where we belong.

Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts (eaudio)

This richly imagined novel tells the story behind The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the book that inspired the iconic film, through the eyes of author L. Frank Baum’s intrepid wife, Maud.

On Hoopla:

Eaudiobooks by Kristin Hannah available on Hoopla.

Whose Names are Unknown by Sanora Babb (eaudio)

Overshadowed by the just-published Steinbeck novel on the same topic, Sanora Babb’s long-hidden novel tells an intimate story of the High Plains farmers who fled drought dust storms during the Great Depression. Written with empathy for the farmers' plight, this powerful narrative is based upon the author’s firsthand experience. 

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck (eaudio)

Set during the Great Depression, The Grapes of Wrath tells the powerful story of the Joad family's trek from the dust bowl of Oklahoma to the promise of a new life in California. 

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (ebook & eaudio)

Nonagenarian Jacob Jankowski reflects back on his wild and wondrous days with a circus. It's the Depression Era and Jacob, finding himself parentless and penniless, joins the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Available on ebook & eaudio on Libby.

Tobacco Road by Erskine Caldwell (ebook & eaudio)

Earthy, raunchy and high spirited, this story of larkabout Jeeter Lester's struggle to keep his farm is one of the most poignant and humorous in Depression-era literature and an American classic.

The Quintland Sisters by Shelley Wood (ebook & eaudio)

The devastating true story of the Dionne Quintuplets, told from the perspective of one young woman who meets them at the moment of their birth. Steeped in research, The Quintland Sisters is a novel of love, heartache, resilience, and enduring sisterhood-a fictional, coming-of-age story bound up in one of the strangest true tales of the past century.

Waiting on “Project Hail Mary?” Try one of these!

On Libby:

Ebooks & eaudio by Andy Weir available on Libby.

The Wanderers by Meg Howrey (ebook & eaudio)

A brilliantly inventive novel about three astronauts training for the first-ever mission to Mars, an experience that will push the boundary between real and unreal, test their relationships, and leave each of them—and their families—changed forever.

Binti by Nnedi Okorafor (eaudio)

Her name is Binti, and she is the first of the Himba people ever to be offered a place at Oomza University, the finest institution of higher learning in the galaxy. But to accept the offer will mean giving up her place in her family to travel between the stars among strangers who do not share her ways or respect her customs. Also available on eaudio on Hoopla.

On Hoopla:

Gravity by Tess Gerritsen (eaudio)

A culture of single-celled organisms known as Archaeons, gathered from the deep sea, are to be monitored in the microgravity of space. The true and lethal nature of this experiment has not been revealed to NASA. In space, the cells rapidly multiply and soon begin to infect the crew -- with agonizing and deadly results. The contagion now threatens Earth's population as well, and the astronauts are left stranded in orbit, quarantined aboard the station -- where they are dying one by one...

The Loneliest Girl in the Universe by Lauren James (ebook & eaudio)

The daughter of two astronauts, Romy Silvers is no stranger to life in space. But she never knew how isolating the universe could be until her parents' tragic deaths left her alone on the Infinity, a spaceship speeding away from Earth.

Toxic by Lydia Kang (ebook & eaudio)

Hana isn't supposed to exist. She's grown up hidden by her mother in a secret room of the bioship Cyclo until the day her mother is simply gone-along with the entire crew. Cyclo tells her she was abandoned, but she's certain her mother wouldn't leave her there to die. And Hana isn't ready to die yet. 

The Luminous Dead by Caitlin Starling (ebook & eaudio)

A thrilling, atmospheric debut with the intensive drive of The Martian and Gravity and the creeping dread of Annihilation, in which a caver on a foreign planet finds herself on a terrifying psychological and emotional journey for survival.

Walking to Aldebaran by Adrian Tchaikovsky (eaudio)

I'M LOST. I'M SCARED. AND THERE'S SOMETHING HORRIBLE IN HERE.

Waiting on “Golden Girl?” Try one of these!

On Libby:

Ebook & eaudio by Elin Hilderbrand available on Libby. 

One Hundred Names by Cecelia Ahern (eaudio)

The story of secrets, second chances, and the hidden connections that unite our lives—a universal tale that will grip you with its emotional power and mesmerize you with its magic. Available in ebook & eaudio on Hoopla.

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes (ebook & eaudio)

Louisa Clark's existence is completely ordinary. But when she takes a job working for wheelchair-bound ex-Master of the Universe Will Traynor, she soon discovers a new purpose in life. Will has lost his desire to live, and Lou tasks herself with changing his mind—and his fate.

I Almost Forgot About You by Terry McMillan (ebook & eaudio)

Dr. Georgia Young's wonderful life—great friends, family, and successful career—aren't enough to keep her from feeling stuck and restless. When she decides to make some major changes in her life, including quitting her job as an optometrist and moving house, she finds herself on a wild journey that may or may not include a second chance at love. 

Rooms by Lauren Oliver (ebook & eaudio)

A tale of family, ghosts, secrets, and mystery, in which the lives of the living and the dead intersect in shocking, surprising, and moving ways.

Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano (ebook & eaudio)

A “dazzling” novel that “will break your heart and put it back together again” (J. Courtney Sullivan, bestselling author of Saints for All Occasions) about a young boy who must learn to go on after surviving tragedy.

The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver (ebook & eaudio)

A powerful and thrilling love story about the what-ifs that arise at life's crossroads, and what happens when one woman is given a miraculous chance to answer them.

On Hoopla:

Eaudio by Elin Hildrebrand available on Hoopla.

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield (eaudio)

When Margaret Lea opened the door to the past, what she confronted was her destiny. All children mythologize their birth...So begins the prologue of reclusive author Vida Winter's collection of stories, which are as famous for the mystery of the missing thirteenth tale as they are for the delight and enchantment of the twelve that do exist.

The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson (eaudio)

After a long and eventful life, Allan Karlsson ends up in a nursing home, believing it to be his last stop. The only problem is that he's still in good health-and tomorrow is his hundredth birthday. A big celebration is in the works, but Allan really isn't interested (and he'd like a bit more control over his vodka consumption). So he decides to escape.

The First Phone Call From Heaven by Mitch Albom (eaudio)

A heart-stopping mystery and a meditation on the power of connecting with a loved one you cannot see, this is Mitch Albom's most thrilling and magical novel yet.

The Lace Makers of Glenmara by Heather Barbieri (ebook)

A struggling young fashion designer journeys to Ireland to mend a broken heart, and helps a group of local lace makers change their lives-and her own.