Discover the Surprising Summer Book Genres Dominating Every State—Is Yours on the List?
Ah, summer’s here at last—the sun’s blazing, mosquitos are buzzing like they’re auditioning for a horror flick, and those beach reads? They’re disappearing off shelves faster than you can say “sunscreen.” But here’s a cheeky little thought—have you ever wondered if your summer reading picks really match up with what your neighbors are devouring? Turns out, there’s a whole map out there revealing the top book genres by state, spilling the tea on America’s collective summer reading mood swings. Whether you’re into steamy romance or high-octane thrillers, this insight might just nudge you into a new favorite genre—or confirm your stubborn loyalty to the usual suspects. Ready to see how your TBR stack stacks up against the nation’s? LEARN MORE
The hottest time of the year has arrived in the Northern Hemisphere, which means the sun is shining, the mosquitos are buzzing, and beach reads are flying off bookstore shelves. Most readers have their go-to book genre for the season. To see if your summer reading tastes align with the rest of your state, check out this map.
Google Trends looked at search queries related to “summer reads” made from January 2004 to June 2025. The books people are bringing with them on vacation range from high-octane thrillers to steamy romances.
The Hottest Books Genres for Summer
Analysts found that general fiction novels get the most attention during the summer months. According to the list of top fiction books on Goodreads, some readers prefer the classics, such as George Orwell’s dystopian nightmare 1984, or Harper Lee’s examination of racial injustice in To Kill a Mockingbird. Others are looking forward to fresh releases like Riley Sager’s train murder mystery, With a Vengeance.
