Looking for your next summer read? Our librarians and staff compiled 64 book recommendations
they think you’ll love. Staff tested and reader approved, these three staff-pick booklists
may help you find your next favorite book, whether you’re looking for fiction, nonfiction,
or graphic novels. Happy reading!
Staff Picks: Fiction
If you’re in the mood to leave reality for a bit, check out our fiction booklist, highlighting 34 titles that range from fantasy and horror to thrillers and classics. On this list, I particularly recommend Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo (a dark academia set at Yale, with secret societies and the occult), Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid (an interview-style novel following the rise and fall of a 70s rock back), and The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune (a whimsical fantasy featuring romance and found family). For more grounded, serious stories, check out Louise Erdrich’s The Round House or Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing. Each suggested read is incredibly immersive, with imaginative worlds and full-fleshed characters. Browse the full booklist!
Staff Picks: Nonfiction
Sometimes true stories are the most impactful. With 18 recommended titles on topics including racial justice, feminism, education, and religion, our nonfiction booklist is one you don’t want to miss. Our suggestions include titles like Bryan Stevenson’s Just Mercy, a gripping story of racial injustice on death row, Chanel Miller’s Know My Name, an unforgettable story of the woman behind the 2015 Stanford rape, and Tara Westover’s Educated, an empowering tale of education and self-determination. With unflinching examinations of identity, justice, and power, we promise these books are just as compelling as fiction. Explore the booklist for more.
Staff Picks: Graphic Novels
Whether you’re just getting into graphic novels or are an avid reader, explore the graphic novel booklist for our recommendations. From sweeping sci-fi and epic fantasy to fun thrillers and heartfelt memoirs, these graphic novels craft vivid worlds—some familiar, some extraordinary, and some strange. Be sure to check out our favorites: Maus by Art Spiegelman offers a powerful narrative set during the Holocaust; Paper Girls by Brian K. Vaughn is a fun sci-fi based in the 80s (think Stranger Things, but fewer monsters and more time travel); and Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczka, which is a graphic memoir about family, addiction, and art. For more suggestions, browse our booklist.
Need Help?
If any of these books caught your eye, you can check them out at the Fulton Library. For help finding books in the library’s physical collections, visit our first-floor Circulation Desk or give us a call at 801-863-8265.