Whether you’re relaxing by the pool, soaking up the sun at the beach, or simply looking for an escape on a quiet summer afternoon, the Rockville Centre Public Library staff has a few page-turners ready to add to your reading list.
From swoon-worthy romances and royal dramas to time-traveling satire and epic fantasy adventures, library staff members are sharing some of their favorite picks to help readers find their perfect summer companion — no matter what genre keeps them turning the pages.
Library Assistant Director Alana Mutum is recommending “Common Goal” by Rachel Reid, a charming sports romance that follows Kyle, a recently retired hockey player, and Eric, a younger academic who runs a queer hockey fan club. As the two form an unexpected connection, they must overcome their own fears and stubbornness before realizing that the happily-ever-after they both want may have been right in front of them all along.
Mutum said the book delivers exactly what she looks for in a summer romance.
“It’s my favorite kind of romance for the summer,” Mutum said. “Sweet, fluffy and just the right amount of yearning. As I’m getting hyped for the next season of Heated Rivalry, I’m turning to the Game Changers series for more sports romances of unlikely pairings.”
She added that the book is “an easy read to pick up and get lost in.”
For readers who enjoy royal intrigue and a little fairy-tale flair, staff member Emilie Doleshel selected “The Heir Apparent” by Rebecca Armitage, a modern-day royal drama about a British princess caught between the expectations of her family and the pull of her own heart.
The story explores what someone might be willing to sacrifice for love — a career, a home, or even the crown itself. With themes of duty, identity and romance, the novel offers a contemporary twist on classic royal stories and is a natural fit for fans of shows like The Crown or anyone who enjoys the drama behind palace walls.
“It’s perfect for a beach or pool read when you want your book to have a little emotional weight alongside the glitz and froth of a royal read,” Doleshel said.
Staff member Lauren Fowler chose “Yesteryear” by Caro Claire Burke, a clever and thought-provoking summer read that puts a fresh spin on the modern “tradwife influencer” trend. The novel follows Natalie, a woman who wakes up unexpectedly in 1855 and is forced to experience the very lifestyle she had once romanticized online.
As Natalie confronts the realities behind the idealized image of the past, the book offers a sharp — and often darkly humorous — look at nostalgia, social media and the ways people construct their own versions of happiness.
“It’s darkly funny, a bit unsettling, and impossible to put down,” Fowler said.
For fantasy lovers looking for an adventure, “The Legend of Drizzt, Book 1” by R.A. Salvatore offers an immersive journey into the world of the Forgotten Realms. The novel introduces Drizzt Do’Urden, a skilled drow warrior who rejects the cruelty of his underground society and searches for a place where he can live by his own values. Filled with action, friendship and epic battles, the book launches one of fantasy’s most beloved character journeys.
Those looking for a heartfelt comedy can pick up “The Guncle” by Steven Rowley, which follows Patrick O’Hara, a former television star who steps away from his glamorous Hollywood lifestyle to care for his young niece and nephew after a family tragedy. What begins as an unexpected responsibility becomes a journey of healing, family and rediscovering what truly matters.
And for readers ready to tackle a classic, “War and Peace” by Leo Tolstoy remains one of literature’s most celebrated novels. Set during the Napoleonic Wars, the sweeping story follows several Russian families as they navigate love, loss, ambition and the changing world around them.
