11 books by BU alumni to level up your summer reading list

By Gillian Mahoney | Published June 2026

Summer is a time for slowing down, basking in the sun, and of course, making a dent in your to-be-read list. Make sure to add these titles by BU alumni for a little magic, true crime, powerful community, and more. Whether you’re chilling by the pool, lounging on the beach, or just taking some time to relax, these books will keep you glued to your seat.

The Astral Library

By Kate Quinn (CFA’04,’06)

Quinn’s calling all book lovers with her latest novel, a whirlwind tale for those who dream of escaping into the literary world. Follow protagonist Alix Watson as she enters the Astral Library, where visitors can live inside their favorite books. But when an enemy appears, all is not as it seems.

Witch Season

By Julia Bianco (COM’19)

Witch Season brings readers fantasy with a twist: it’s set in modern-day Los Angeles. When two rival covens fight for power, they’re forced to unite against an even bigger threat. With a fascinating blend of magic, romance, and action, grab this book for your next beach read when it releases on June 30. Plus, keep an eye out for the upcoming television adaptation that was recently announced by Lionsgate!

Evensong

By Stewart O’Nan (ENG’83)

Evensong shines a spotlight on small acts of kindness as its protagonists, a group of older women known as “The Humpty Dumpty Club,” care for their circle of friends while navigating their own relationships and the challenges of aging.

The Skincare Hoax

By Fayne Frey (CAS’83)

It’s essential to protect your skin from all the heat and humidity of summer. But with so many products out there, it can be hard to get started. In The Skincare Hoax, skincare expert Dr. Fayne Frey debunks unnecessary products and recommends some tried and true standouts that are affordable and easy to use.

Developing Your Marketing Mindset: Real-World Lessons from Hospitality

By Leora Lanz (COM’87)

Summer is a great time for professional growth, and if you’re looking to build strategic leadership skills, Developing Your Marketing Mindset has you covered. Hospitality marketing strategist and SHA professor Leora Lanz shows readers how to blend the principles of hospitality—personalizing experiences, communicating with empathy, and more—with business practices that apply to all industries.

Shura

By Dr. Batia Cohen, co-translated by Samantha Cohen (COM’15, MET’24)

Originally published as Una Amapola Entre Cactus in Mexico in 2012, this book follows Samantha’s great-grandmother Shura, who grew up in Lithuania during World War I and discovers a life-changing secret as a teenager. When World War II breaks out, she escapes the horrors of Nazi persecution and joins the Bielski resistance in the woods of Belarus. This gripping true story explores her courage, resilience, loss, and love as she perseveres and rebuilds her life in Mexico.

Little Great Island

By Kate Woodworth (GRS’07)

As the weather gets warmer, we start to venture outdoors and embrace the change in season. In Little Great Island, Woodworth shows us the importance of environmental awareness in this novel about a woman and her six-year-old son who return to the small Maine island where she grew up. Woodworth unpacks the effects of climate change on this tight-knit community in a story of love, family, and the fleeting beauty of the natural world.

Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist

By Liz Pelly (COM’11)

It’s time to roll down your car windows and blast the song of the summer. But before you hit play, music journalist Liz Pelly has something to say about the inner workings of the popular Spotify model and how it really affects employees, producers, and artists alike. Mood Machine is a great pick for music lovers who want to take a deep dive into building better streaming systems—and will give readers pause the next time they shuffle their playlists.

Thirteen Perfect Fugitives: The True Story of the Mob, Murder, and the World’s Largest Art Heist

By Geoffrey Kelly (COM’89, MET’13)

Kelly, a retired FBI agent specializing in art and cultural property theft, gives readers an inside look into one of Boston’s biggest mysteries. Thirteen Perfect Fugitives is the true story of the infamous Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist that resulted in a loss of over $1 billion in stolen artwork. In this thrilling true crime story, Kelly takes readers through his own journey of investigating the case.

A Scent of India

By Sasenarine Persaud (GRS’06)

If you’re looking for a getaway, Persaud’s poetry collection transports readers across the world to India. With themes ranging from the subcontinent’s rich cuisine, languages, cultures, architecture, and politics, as well as the craft of writing itself, you’ll be swept away by Persaud’s immersive poetic style and vivid imagery.

An Introduction to Error: Poems

By Deirdre Lockwood (GRS’00)

As we wind down and reflect this summer, Lockwood’s debut poetry collection invites us to explore one of our most human qualities: our flaws. The collection was partly inspired by Lockwood’s student years at BU working with former US Poet Laureate and CAS Professor Emeritus Robert Pinsky, poet and former BU faculty member Rosanna Warren, and the late Derek Walcott (Hon.’93), a Nobel Prize-winning poet and playwright who taught at BU. The poet’s words guide us through everything from personal, to spiritual, to environmental setbacks and show us how we can give ourselves grace, heal, and grow.