by 
Now, I can say this pretty easily, but I’m actually a very serious introvert.
In my younger years, I was eager to please – I always wanted to be out there, doing everything, making everyone happy.
So, I used to put myself into all sorts of situations just to fit in.
But now that I’m older (and maybe wiser, if you can believe it), I’ve grown into my identity and what truly matters to me.
That means while some of my friends might be jet-setting across the continent, I’m perfectly content with a cozy staycation.
I talked a bit about this when I shared my favorite travel memoirs, and honestly, I don’t think there’s ever been a time I couldn’t experience something beautiful with just a really good book.
If you’re like me – someone who loves curling up in bed, taking a break from everything, and having a vacation right in your bedroom – then you’ll need the perfect books to keep you company.
So let me share my favorite ones.
These are the books I’ve read over and over again. They’re so good, so interesting, and honestly, the kind of stories I think everyone should be reading.
Her Last Holiday by C.L. Taylor
This twisty thriller is just what your summer staycation needs.
It follows Fran, who books herself on a mysterious wellness retreat to find out what happened to her sister Jenna, who vanished there years ago.
The retreat’s shady leader is back in business, and Fran is determined to uncover the truth.
It’s suspenseful, dramatic, and full of secrets that kept me flipping pages nonstop.
Perfect for a summer weekend when you’re curled up with a cold drink, wondering who to trust.
It’s a chilling escape and isn’t that exactly what a good staycation thriller should be?
Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon
If you’re craving romance and a touch of magic during your summer staycation, this one’s a winner.
Evie can suddenly see how other people’s love stories begin and end.
She doesn’t believe in love anymore until she meets X at a dance studio.
As they twirl and glide through lessons (and life), her heart slowly starts to open again.
It’s sweet, emotional, and beautifully written.
I think it’s perfect for summer because it reminds you that love, even when it’s messy or scary, is still worth it.
Plus, dancing under the summer sky? Yes, please.
Acne: A Memoir by Laura Chinn
This memoir is hilarious, raw, and full of heart and honestly perfect for when you’re chilling at home, and you want something real but not too heavy.
Laura shares her chaotic teenage years, family trauma, and her struggle with severe acne, all with a sharp sense of humor.
There’s wild childhood stuff, questionable adventures, and a whole lot of dancing and sangria.
It’s messy in the best way and made me feel so deeply seen.
This one feels like having a funny heart-to-heart with an old friend on a summer afternoon, when you’re just being real.
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
This is such a dreamy, magical romance that completely swept me away and summer is the perfect time to read it.
August doesn’t believe in fairy tales, but then she meets Jane, a mysterious girl who seems stuck in time on the subway.
Their love story unfolds like a puzzle with time travel, pancakes, and found family.
It’s funny, sweet, and surprisingly emotional.
I love how it brings big city vibes and tender feelings together.
It’s the kind of book that gives you a soft heart while the fan hums in the background.
This is just right for a cozy summer read.
Fake Accounts by Lauren Oyler
Fake Account follows a young woman who finds out her boyfriend is secretly an online conspiracy theorist.
What follows is a journey through Berlin, the internet, identity, and all the weird ways we fake our lives.
It’s not your typical summer book, but that’s what I loved.
It’s like sipping cold brew and scrolling TikTok at midnight – dark, a little dizzying, but completely absorbing.
If you want a more thoughtful, edgy read for your staycation, this one makes you think while still letting you laze around with your thoughts.
The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See
If you want something beautiful and emotional for your summer reading, this one’s perfect.
It follows two women divers on Jeju Island in Korea, sharing their friendship, struggles, and the way their lives are shaped by war, tradition, and time.
The writing is gentle and powerful, and I loved how it showed women doing dangerous, brave work while raising families and holding communities together.
It’s the kind of story that stays with you, especially when you have time to slow down and really take it in.
Summer’s the perfect time to read this rich, unforgettable story.
The Dinner Guest by B.P. Walter
Imagine hosting a dinner that turns into a murder mystery.
That’s what this twisty thriller gives you and it’s so addicting.
A stranger joins a dinner party and by the end of the night, someone is dead.
Secrets spill, lies twist, and nothing is what it seems.
I think this is such a fun staycation book because it gives that cozy-claustrophobic feeling of being stuck with the wrong people.
You can read it in one sitting while curled up with snacks, trying to guess who did it.
It’s juicy, stylish, and full of delicious drama.
Last Summer at the Golden Hotel by Elyssa Friedland
This one felt like watching a fun family movie with heart and laughs.
Two families come together at their aging hotel in the Catskills to decide its future, and let me just say, chaos unfolds.
There’s drama, nostalgia, and lots of family secrets.
I loved the mix of older and younger generations, and it made me think about how complicated (but sweet!) family can be.
It’s perfect for a summer staycation because it’s light, funny, and full of sunshine – even when things get messy.
It really feels like summer in a book, especially if you’re longing for a family getaway vibe.
Summer on the Bluffs by Sunny Hostin
Now this is what summer dreams are made of.
Set in the beautiful Oak Bluffs, this story is full of beach houses, secrets, and second chances.
Three women spend the summer with their beloved godmother Ama, each hoping to inherit her home but each is hiding something too.
The setting is so lush and luxurious, and I adored how it centered Black joy, family, and legacy.
It’s the perfect book to read when you want a little glam and a lot of heart.
Just imagine reading this with a breeze in the room and a glass of something cold in hand.
When We Left Cuba by Chanel Cleeton
This one swept me away completely.
It follows Beatriz, a Cuban exile recruited by the CIA during the Cold War, and her journey is packed with danger, romance, and big decisions.
It’s bold and exciting, with a strong woman at the center of it all.
I found myself rooting for her so hard, even when things got complicated.
There’s espionage, love, and the ache of leaving home behind.
If you’re looking for a summer book that feels dramatic and emotional, but also full of action and history, this one is such a rich and unforgettable escape.
I actually plan to write a whole other post about how you can have the very best staycation as a book lover – so definitely watch out for that one!
In the meantime, let me know: which of these books are you adding to your TBR? Have you read any of them already? And how did your last staycation go?
I’d love to hear all about it.
