The arrival of warmer summer days is the perfect moment to add some fantastic new novels to your reading list because they are all coming out this year.

These works are highly suggested for 2024 and may be read at home, on the beach, or during a relaxing afternoon in the park. Here are the books anyone should read this summer.

Blue Ruin by Hari Kunzru

Once a promising artist, Jay's life takes a dramatic turn when he becomes an undocumented essential worker in upstate New York, delivering groceries while living out of his car. His past resurfaces when he encounters Alice, a former lover, and an old friend Alice left him for.

Alice knows how hard things are for Jay and asks him to stay on their property, which is also home to an unstable gallery owner and his girlfriend. The book masterfully shifts through time, portraying Jay's journey as he reunites with his past and confronts the life he once left behind.

James by Percival Everett

Jim hides on Jackson Island when he learns that he is going to be sold as a slave and taken away from his family. Huck Finn joins Jim to get away from his violent father. Together, they take a risky trip down the Mississippi River to the Free States.

This new version of "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" shows how smart and caring Jim is, giving him more depth. 

Long Island by Colm Tóibín

A man with an Irish accent knocks on Eilis Fiorello's door, disrupting her secure life with Tony and their two children in Long Island. His revelation makes Eilis question her choices, and she feels far from home for the first time in years.

This encounter prompts her to reconsider her past decisions, possibly leading her back to Ireland, her mother, and the town she left behind. Did she make a mistake marrying Tony, or is it too late to turn around now?

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Enlightenment by Sarah Perry

Thomas Hart and Grace Macaulay, lifelong residents of Aldleigh, Essex, are torn between their religious commitments and worldly desires. Their friendship shatters due to two romantic entanglements, leading Thomas to obsess over a vanished 19th-century astronomer and Grace to flee to London.

After over 20 years, their lives intersect as the astronomer's mystery unfolds into a tale of love and science. The book explores love, fate, and destiny, showcasing Sarah Perry's finest work to date.

You Are Here by David Nicholls

Marnie feels stuck in her London flat, battling long, lonely afternoons, while Michael is reeling from his wife's departure, becoming reclusive and taking solitary walks. A mutual friend and English weather bring them together, leading to an epic walk and the beginning of a new friendship.

Author David Nicholls crafts a love story about first encounters, second chances, and finding one's way home.

All Fours by Miranda July

The book follows a semi-famous artist who impulsively veers off her cross-country journey for a transformative experience at a motel. With Miranda July's trademark wit and curiosity, the novel explores intimacy, freedom, and reinvention as the protagonist navigates a new chapter in her life.

The novel blends absurdity with profound insights into the complexities of womanhood and personal identity, showcasing July's ability to captivate readers with fresh perspectives on familiar themes.

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