The Summer of Broken Rules

Sometimes I just want to read a book that is lighthearted and adventurous—no angst or tragic happenstances—and this book checked that box for me. The characters’ banter and youthful tones had me smiling frequently. This book was a great summer read, and having the plotline center around a game of Assassins made for a lot of laughs.

I discovered this book last year thanks to BookTok and immediately fell in love with it. But I’m not the only one! Just this past month, it found its way onto The New York Times bestseller list two years after its initial publication.

The setting of this one is a little more contained than the previous two books on this list: most of the story takes place on Martha’s Vineyard. K.L. Walther lovingly captures the nostalgia of a warm, seaside, ice-cream-melting New England summer. This one’s also sort of a coming-of-age novel, sitting right on the cusp between young adult… show more.

I grew up on romcoms, and this book has all the right ingredients for the perfect summer romance. Main character, Meredith Fox heads to Martha’s Vineyard for her cousin’s wedding after the death of her sister and a breakup with her boyfriend. Meredith doesn’t want to be distracted by romance, but she can’t help falling for one of the cute groomsmen. Perfect for the reader seeking a book filled with family, self-discovery, romance, and the grief process.