Summer Reads 2023 Novels & Stories

The doors of elite research institutions aren't open to the unknown. But Rick Allen pulled Beth out of nowhere. He poured everything into nurturing her talent and promised her the world. The Allen family's compromise was simple: the Chief Young Scientist had to be Summer Belden—someone from their own social circle. From that day on, the words Rick said to Beth most often were, "Just wait a little longer." He told her to wait when her groundbreaking paper was published under Summer's name in exchange for research funding. He told her to wait again when the research she'd perfected over three years was packaged as Summer's signature work, paving the way to major awards. "The bigger picture comes first," he said. "The next Nobel Prize—I'll make sure it's yours." But when the paper credited to Summer—though written by Beth—was exposed for fabricated data, everyone reached the same conclusion: Beth, as a core member of the project, had tampered with the data to steal the credit. Locked in a glass-walled archive room, Beth looked at Rick standing outside the door. His gaze was ice-cold, full of disappointment. "Why did you touch the data?" he said. "You've ruined everything I've built." She remembered how he once told her, "In this world, yours is the only talent I truly recognize." He had promised, "I'll make sure achievements with your name hang among the stars." Now he stood with the others, judging her. He looked at her the way people look at a ruthless, ambitious fraud. When she was finally released, Beth dug her nails into her palm until blood ran down. This time, she wouldn't wait any longer.

Summer was about to be crowned Luna when she was humiliated by her mate. Shockingly, her step sister was announced as the mate instead of her. Like that wasn't humiliating enough, she was accused of her parent's murder which was allegedly confirmed by her step sister too and soon, everyone in the kingdom turned against her and wanted her dead! But the fickle finger of fate had different plans that unexpectedly turned to her favour. Just when all hope seemed lost, a new player emerged from the shadows: the Lycan King. His imposing presence silenced the tumultuous cacophony of voices, bringing a tense, eerie stillness to the room. She was betrayed by the exchange, sold to the Lycan King where her life actually BEGINS! What did fate have to offer summer? How was life without her mate?

Aisha comes home from the summer holidays, willing to explore a new beginning with her best friend in school but then a handsome looking stranger came into the picture and everything began to change, things she had no control of and, her world turned upside down.

The supernatural world in the UK in 2023 is dramatic, filled with hostile takeovers, new developments and, unfortunately, murder. The werewolves want to establish themselves as the top of the food chain, pushing everyone else into hiding. At nearly 298 years old, Ophelia is used to things going her way. She has immaculate control, she's happy, and her life just works. She is in perfect harmony with her succubus and wolf, and is more than content with where she is. That's until Nathaniel, the heir to the local werewolf pack shoves his way back into her life, disrupting the burgeoning relationship she was already in with her head of security, Luke. With Nathaniel comes complications, both with the wolf pack and personally. The three of them need to learn to work and live together, for the safety of those around them. But can they? An alpha female, an alpha male and a beta male in a relationship is a recipe for disaster, but somehow, they need to make it work.

Ashley never thought she would fall in love let alone fall in love with her mother's new husband's son. Yikes! Find out how both Ashley and her stepbrother Jake fell in love over the summer break.

On New Year's Eve, I prepare a feast. The clock strikes twelve, but my husband, Vincent Porter, still isn't home. My daughter, Lorelei Porter, tugs at my sleeve and holds up my phone. "Look Mommy, Daddy is at this lady's house!" Vincent has posted an update on Twitter. He is with Christine Snow, his childhood sweetheart. They are smiling at the camera, with a boy who looks about ten standing between them. In front of them sits a swan-shaped cake. The caption reads, "The most special day for the most special you." My heart sinks into my stomach. A marriage that came later in life can never compete with a pair of childhood sweethearts. I accept defeat.

Emily Harlow never agreed to be sold on national television, until her mother signed her up for The Marriage Lottery, a ruthless show pairing society’s “undesirable” women with husbands willing to take them. Alone, in a torn gown, under blinding lights and a nation laughing, Emily opens her only offer and reads the name aloud. Damien William Hardy. The audience erupts in disbelief. A joke, they say. A mistake. Because what would a man like him ever want with a leftover woman? Damien Hardy did not choose Emily Harlow. Her presence is an intrusion into his plans, his reputation, his bloodline. He will break her, piece by piece, until he uncovers the secret she’s hiding. And yet… against all odds, she has claimed the most eligible man in the country. But can she keep him?

Every werewolf in the Blood Shadow Pack knew one thing—Nicholas Pendle, their Alpha, loved his Luna more than anything. When I complained about the summer heat, he led his warriors to conquer the Blue Lake Pack, just to build me a private summer retreat. When I longed for romance, he lit the sky with fireworks and said, "Julie, I swear to the Moon Goddess, I will never betray you for as long as I live." He planted roses for me with his own hands, then stood before the entire pack and vowed that I was the only one he would ever love. He had my name carved into every corner of the pack, and he granted me equal power—his Luna, standing beside him as his equal. But just now, from his briefcase, something slipped out. A lace dress, one that wasn’t mine.

After seven years of marriage, Cecilia Summer inherited a fortune worth billions. But while handling the paperwork with her lawyer, she was told that her marriage certificate wasn’t real. She could only inherit the entire fortune in her own name. After digging further into the details, the lawyer mentioned a name she never expected to hear. “Mr. Leedon’s wife is listed as Lucy Garnett, not you. Miss Summer, you’re… unmarried.” Everyone in Summerville knew that she and Marcus Leedon had been engaged since childhood. She was his everything, his treasured possession. When they got married, Marcus gave her the wedding of the century. He made a public promise: “I, Marcus Leedon, will never betray Cecilia!” But the marriage certificate bearing Marcus Leedon’s and Lucy Garnett’s names was issued the day after the wedding.

Taylor hoped this would be the best summer of her life and Alex loved camping, ignoring all the signs he drove down to Rainier. Taylor and Alex have been best friends since kindergarten They embarked on a journey to have the best summer but unfortunately turned into a series of nightmares for them, They make new friends along the way, Jack, Conrad, and Sage. They all go camping in the woods hunted by a monster. They encounter strange events and eerie sounds in the woods, and they become vulnerable and against each other making the monster latch onto them due to the secrets they all have putting their friendship at stake. With all the betrayals, romance, jealousy, and secrets, they all had to come together to outsmart the monster for survival uniting them and making them bond and learn valuable lessons about trust, honesty, and Loyalty. Read to find out how these friends were taunted and haunted by the monster