15 best Amazon books to read this summer, according to #BookTok

When struggling writer June Hayward witnesses the tragic accidental death of the critically acclaimed Chinese-American writer, Athena Liu, she impulsively steals her just-finished and totally unedited manuscript about Chinese labourers in World War I. Through re-writing and editing, June begins to see the manuscript of her former classmate and casual friend as her own — and, as readers, we follow along jaw-dropped as June publishes it as her own work, and attempts to present herself as Asian in order to avoid any controversy. A brazen and biting satire of racial diversity in the publishing industry, Rebecca F. Kuang had me truly gripped with this wickedly funny and witty wild ride of a new book. It’s one of the hottest books of the year.

A tantalising and glamorously gothic thriller laced with eerie elements of witchy wickedness and eerie folklore, this newly-released novel by Lucy Foley is already causing quite the stire on social media. On the gorgeous Dorset coast — surrounded by an ancient wood — guests gather at The Manor hotel for a decadent and champagne-fuelled opening weekend taking place over the summer solstice. But when a body is discovered, the deadly secrets of The Manor begin to be revealed — and a gripping murder mystery ensues.

Two women living very different lives, Sam and Nisha’s paths cross when they accidentally swap gym bags — and what follows is a journey of self-discovery that pays homage to the power of female friendship. Just as you’d expect from a trending Jojo Moyes novel, Someone Else’s Shoes is a warm and witty read — with realistically complex and flawed female characters at its centre who you’ll quickly fall in love with.

If you're into true crime books and podcasts, you'll definitely want to add this New York Times bestseller by Jessica Knoll to your reading list. Set primarily in the 1970s, it follows the quest of two young women who are united in their decades-long search for justice in the aftermath of Ted Bundy's horrific murders. A truly vivid and hypnotic thriller centred around sisterhood, Bright Young Women directly debunks the mystery and intrigue that's always seemed to surround Bundy — and rightly puts the focus back on the brilliant women who's lives he either cut short, or forever changed.

After booking neighbouring beach houses for the summer, writers Augustus and January quickly discover that they have precisely two things in common; they both need to produce bestsellers by the end of summer, and they also both have crippling writer's block. Polar opposites, January is a bestselling romance writer dreaming of her own happy ever after, while acclaimed author of serious literary fiction Gus is much more of a realist. However, one evening, they strike a deal to swap genres — and what ensues is a sizzling summer filled with sexual tension, witty banter, and (surprise!) two unlikely people falling in love. The first instalment in Emily Henry's bestselling collection of romantic summer reads, this warm and funny romcom definitely deserves a spot in your carry-on bag.

After being forced by her military general mother to swap her dream of becoming a scribe for training to be an elite dragon rider, Violet Sorrengail reluctantly joins her fellow cadets at Basgiath War College to see if she's got what it takes to make it through the brutal and competitive first year of training. But with the war outside growing more deadly each day — and the seemingly suspicious nature of the complex political landscape — training isn't the only thing that Violet needs to worry about. An action-packed first instalment in the hugely popular Empyrean series, this romantic fantasy novel by Rebecca Yarros is a truly addictive page-turner.

High-profile journalist Ola Olajide's life is turned upside down overnight when she wakes up one morning to the news that a list of anonymous allegations about abusive men in the public eye has been published online. And her fiancé Michael's name is on it. A thought-provoking take on the dark side of social media, Yomi Adegoke has created an explosive story that'll keep you guessing right up until the end.

A practicing physician specialising in brain injury, author Freida McFadden is a pro at penning fast-paced psychological thrillers. In The Housemaid, we meet protagonist Millie — who takes a job as a live-in housekeeper for the wealthy Winchester family in a bid to start fresh after a turbulent past. A novel filled with non-stop twists and turns, we follow Millie along as she quickly discovers that her employers are carrying around a fair few secrets of their own…

If you’re after a trusty romcom read, you can’t go wrong with something penned by Sophie Kinsella. Desperate for a break from her all-consuming job, The Burnout follows Sasha as she heads to the Devon resort she loved visiting as a child for a stay that she intends to spend drinking kale smoothies, partaking in sunrise yoga sessions, and truly becoming at one with nature. But — upon her arrival during the off-season — she quickly discovers that not only is the hotel falling apart, but she also has to share her beloved beach with a grumpy guy called Finn who has a far less wholesome approach to dealing with burnout. As you’d expect, an unlikely love story ensues…

Set in Southern California in the early 1960s, this page-turning debut novel by Bonnie Garmus follows straight-talking chemist, Elizabeth Zott. Forced to leave her job in her misogynist all-male team at Hastings Research Institute, Elizabeth ends up becoming the reluctant star of a popular cooking show — and uses it as an opportunity to empower the millions of housewives watching. A story of perseverance, love, and poetic justice, it's a truly uplifting piece of feminist fiction which is also available as an audiobook on Audible.

A #1 Sunday Times bestseller set to soon be a major movie, It Ends With Us is the heart-wrenching novel by Colleen Hoover that went absolutely viral on TikTok in 2023. It's tricky to talk about this brilliant book without giving too much away, but it essentially follows the protagonist Lily through her early to mid-twenties as she struggles with starting her own business, dealing with isolation as an adult, and — most significantly — navigating her relationship with the successful neurosurgeon, Ryle Kincaid. But when her first love, Atlas Corrigan, suddenly reappears in her life, Lily is forced to address the painful elements of her past, and re-think what she actually wants for her future.