Booked & Ready to Board: Light Reads for Summer Travel

A Curated List by The Unforgettable Chapter

Every great adventure begins with a packed bag and the perfect book. Let your next story take you somewhere unforgettable, on the page and beyond. - The Unforgettable Chapter

Whether you’re catching flights, soaking up sun, or just taking a mental vacation, these reads are packed with charm, heart, and just enough adventure to sweep you away.

The Ultimate Airplane Pick – For Dreaming Beyond the Window Seat

One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle: Light, reflective, transportive.

After her mother’s death, a woman travels to Italy and finds her mother, alive and thirty years old. A blend of grief, time-bending magic, and self-discovery, this is perfect for anyone headed abroad and ready to open their heart.

Beach Bag Bestsellers – Light Reads with Depth

Every Summer After by Carley Fortune: Warm, romantic, bingeable.

A nostalgic second-chance romance set on a lake, perfect for fans of heartfelt love stories and emotional summers gone by.

The Vacationers by Emma Straub: Messy, and funny summer stories.

A wry, witty story about a dysfunctional family trip to Mallorca that captures how even beautiful places can’t hide family drama.

Beach Read by Emily Henry: Smart, funny, and full of heart.

A struggling romance writer and a brooding literary fiction author make a deal to swap genres for the summer. What follows is witty, vulnerable, and sun-soaked with chemistry.

Sharp and Submersive – For Readers Who Like a Little Bite

The Most by Jessica Anthony: Short, yet powerful domestic drama.

On a sweltering day in 1957, a housewife climbs into an empty pool and won’t come out—unraveling the quiet tensions of marriage, identity, and mid-century suburban life in one bold, unforgettable act.

Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner: Heart, humor and suspense.

When a plus-size influencer is invited to her ex–best friend’s lavish Cape Cod wedding, she expects drama, but not murder.

The Idea of You by Robinne Lee: Sexy, romantic and poignant.

When a 39-year-old art gallery owner meets the 20-year-old lead singer of the world’s hottest boy band, their whirlwind romance sets off a story that’s equal parts steamy, emotional, and thought-provoking.

I hope one of these unforgettable reads finds its way into your bag, and your heart. Books have a magical way of taking us places, and this summer, I hope you let them.

Want to read together? Join our book club or follow along on Instagram @theunforgettablechapter for deep dives, honest reactions, events and recommendations!

Wherever your next chapter takes you, may it be filled with stories that stay with you.

– Ashleigh, from The Unforgettable Chapter