AtlasBooks Distribution Blog

As the summer draws to a close, readers may be finishing out their summer reading lists. What makes a book good for summer reading lists? Lots of places put out their lists, often tagging them as summer beach reads, cool books, and the like. Here are a few examples for adult books:

Good Housekeeping
Oprah, of course, has a list
NPR has a special series for best summer books in different categories
Reader’s Digest

But what is it about these books that make them good for summer reading? Summer is generally a time for vacation and relaxing. Many people use the summer (or at least want to use the summer) for their light leisure reading, the books that don’t make you think too much, where you can just follow along with the plot. They want the storyteller to do the work, letting them relax and enjoy the ride.

And so most summer reading lists are populated with fiction. They are page-turners filled with adventure and romance. They are often plot-driven, and to me, it seems that they rely on character stereotypes in order to keep the plot moving faster.

These are not the preferences of all readers, of course, but as a publisher, it could help you plan your publishing schedule. Have a non-fiction book? You might consider publishing the book in the fall, when consumers are looking for topic–specific books to give as gifts. But a fiction book backed by a summer reading marketing campaign could be a good idea. Check back soon for ideas on how to market your summer-publishing book.