Looking for Thought-Provoking Literary Fiction to Read This Summer?

Some books entertain, some offer escape, and then there are those that challenge us, make us think, and leave us changed. If you’re looking for captivating literary fiction to enrich your summer reading, the 2021 Summer Reading Guide Literary Fiction Edition is here to help. This selection of carefully curated novels spans genres, locations, and themes—from explorations of identity and history to stories of personal transformation and artistic obsession. These books are for readers who love compelling narratives, rich prose, and unforgettable characters.

The 7 Best Literary Fiction Books from the 2021 Summer Reading Guide

Each of these books offers something unique—a fresh perspective, a beautifully crafted story, or a powerful emotional journey.

Second Place by Rachel Cusk

An artist’s presence disrupts the balance of a secluded household.

A woman living in a remote coastal home with her family invites a famous painter to use their guesthouse, believing that his artistic vision might help her unlock something deeper in her own life. But his enigmatic, provocative presence upends the fragile balance of their secluded existence, revealing power struggles, self-exploration, and the unexpected consequences of artistic influence.

You can get a copy of Second Place by Rachel Cusk on Amazon.

Swimming Back to Trout River by Linda Rui Feng

A father’s quest to reunite his family amid China’s Cultural Revolution.

In 1986, a father in America is determined to bring his precocious daughter to the U.S. before her 12th birthday, hoping to rebuild the life they lost in China. But to do so, he must confront painful memories, long-buried secrets, and the choices that tore his family apart. Set against the backdrop of China’s Cultural Revolution, this novel is a beautiful, deeply emotional story about family, resilience, and the sacrifices we make for love.

You can get a copy of Swimming Back to Trout River by Linda Rui Feng on Amazon.

The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris

A workplace thriller with a sharp social critique.

Nella, the only Black editorial assistant at a prestigious New York publishing house, is thrilled when another Black woman joins the team. But when Hazel arrives, unsettling events begin to unfold, making Nella question whether Hazel is an ally—or something far more sinister. A compelling mix of psychological suspense, workplace satire, and racial commentary, this novel keeps you guessing until the very end.

You can get a copy of The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris on Amazon.

Double Blind by Edward St. Aubyn

An intimate exploration of change, identity, and human connection.

Spanning London, Cap d’Antibes, Big Sur, and a rewilded Sussex countryside, this novel follows three close friends navigating a year of profound personal and scientific transformation. A deeply intellectual and observational book, it explores topics like nature, genetics, neuroscience, and the ways in which we attempt to understand ourselves.

You can get a copy of Double Blind by Edward St. Aubyn on Amazon.

Hell of a Book by Jason Mott

A surreal, powerful exploration of race and identity in America.

A Black author embarks on a cross-country tour to promote his bestselling novel, but reality and fiction begin to blur. Along the way, he keeps encountering a mysterious 10-year-old boy, forcing him to confront long-buried trauma. Poignant, satirical, and imaginative, this novel masterfully examines storytelling, memory, and the Black experience in America in a way that is both humorous and devastatingly real.

You can get a copy of Hell of a Book by Jason Mott on Amazon.

Build Your House Around My Body by Violet Kupersmith

A gothic, ghostly tale of missing women and Vietnam’s haunted past.

A young American woman moves to Saigon to teach English and vanishes without a trace. As her disappearance unfolds, we’re drawn into an eerie world of spirits, secrets, and a brutal history of colonialism, war, and violence against women. A mix of supernatural horror, mystery, and historical fiction, this novel is haunting, unsettling, and utterly mesmerizing.

You can get a copy of Build Your House Around My Body by Violet Kupersmith on Amazon.

The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois by Honoree Fanonne Jeffers

A sweeping family saga of history, identity, and racial trauma.

Ailey Pearl Garfield is the descendant of enslaved Georgians and tenant farmers, growing up in the 1980s and ‘90s while also reckoning with her family’s deep, complex past. Through the lens of her life and ancestral history—from the colonial slave trade to the present day—this novel is an epic, multigenerational story of resilience, heritage, and the power of knowing where you come from.

You can get a copy of The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois by Honoree Fanonne Jeffers on Amazon.

Ready to Start Your Literary Summer Reading?

These books are perfect for deep, immersive reading—stories that will stay with you long after you turn the last page. Have you read any of these books? Which one are you adding to your summer reading list? Let’s chat in the comments!