How to Choose Books to Read over Summer Vacation

Last Updated: December 28, 2021

People often have a lot more free time during the summer, whether that's because they're going on vacation, or they're off of school or work. Having books to read can be one great way to spend this free time, but it can be challenging to know where to start when you're choosing these books. Fortunately, this wikiHow will provide you with several tips to hopefully make this process easier for you.

Method 1

Method 1 of 10:
Know how long to make your reading list.

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This depends on a variety of factors, including your summer plans, how fast you read, and how much time you'd like to spend reading during the summer.^{[1]
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Research source} Either way, it's helpful to figure this out before you start to choose books, so you'll have an exact number of books in mind to choose for your list.

Method 2

Method 2 of 10:
Prioritize books that are assigned for summer reading.

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At the top of your summer reading list should be any books that you were assigned to read for school. This way, you can get the reading done right away rather than waiting until the last minute and rushing to finish it.
- Be sure that you complete any assignments associated with your assigned summer reading shortly after you finish a book rather than waiting, so that the material stays fresh in your mind.

Method 3

Method 3 of 10:
Look through your "To Be Read" list.

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If you're an avid reader, you might have a long "To Be Read" list. Instead of growing it, using the summertime to decrease the number of books that are on this list can be beneficial.^{[2]
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Research source} Once your list has decreased enough, you can always add new books to it.

Method 4

Method 4 of 10:
Include books by your favorite author(s).

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If you have a favorite author, do some research and see if they've released a new book. Sometimes, you might find that you've missed a series they've started, or even completed. This can be a great method of finding books you might enjoy (since you've enjoyed books by that author in the past), and they can be great to include on your summer reading list.^{[3]
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- If you're having difficulty figuring out an author you like, look on your e-reader and/or bookshelf, and see if you remember any books as being particularly enjoyable/interesting reads.^{[4]
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Method 5

Method 5 of 10:
Consider a book that is outside your comfort zone.

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You may have a favorite genre, but the summer can be a great opportunity to try reading a book in a different genre. For example, if you often read realistic fiction books, consider reading a book from the science fiction and/or fantasy genre. ^{[5]
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Method 6

Method 6 of 10:
Try reading a family member and/or friend's favorite book.

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Ask your family and/or friends if they have a favorite book. If they do, consider including it on your summer reading list.^{[6]
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Research source} If they don't have a specific favorite book, but have a favorite author, genre and/or series, look in to including books they recommend from those categories on your summer reading list.
- If your family and/or friends aren't avid readers, scroll through book review websites such as Goodreads, and see if you can find any book recommendations there.^{[7]
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Method 7

Method 7 of 10:
Reread a favorite book.

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The summer can be a great time to reread a book you've previously enjoyed. You may remember a lot of the details, but you may also be able to pick up on details that you couldn't pick up on when you first read the book.^{[8]
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Method 8

Method 8 of 10:
Include books of varying lengths.

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While you may not have time over the summer to read through a very long list, it can still be good to include books of varying lengths. This way, you'll have a good mixture of shorter reads that you'll likely be able to get through quickly, as well as longer reads for times such as going on vacation, so you can read the book during your downtime.

Method 9

Method 9 of 10:
Pick books that focus on self-improvement and/or your career.

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These are both good book topics to include on your list. You might figure out how to reach a goal you've been trying to attain, and/or improve at your career.^{[9]
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Method 10

Method 10 of 10:
Consider reading books based on a theme.

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This can be a unique way to build your summer reading list. This could be based on a particular place, books based on a hobby you enjoy, books from a particular year, or simply books that have been on your shelf for a while.^{[10]
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- Once you've picked a theme, do some research on reading social media sites such as Goodreadsand Critic lists to find out what books are about the topic you've chosen.
- For example, if you enjoy singing, perhaps you could read books based around this.^{[11]
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