The end of May means the beginning of summer (which officially starts on June 21 but who's counting), so that means it’s time to break out the bug spray, grill, and sunscreen.

It’s also time to figure out what your next pool or beach read is, so we’ve compiled five recently released summer reads by authors with ties to Lexington to get you started.

“The Date from Hell” by Gwenda Bond | This sequel to “Not Your Average Hot Guy” is about a young (human) woman dating the Prince of Hell. If you love paranormal romantic comedies, you need this in your tote bag.
“Fishing is Fun for Everyone” by Josh Ali | An illustrated children’s book from a former UK football star about his experiences as a young man. This first installation is a part of a series titled “Young Joshua’s Big Adventures” meant to inspire children to get outside to explore + play.
“Love from Scratch” by Kaitlyn Hill | Another delicious romantic comedy from a LEX local. This delectable YA debut is about two rival interns at a cooking channel.
“Perfect Black” by Crystal Wilkinson | A collection of poetry + prose about girlhood, racism, and growing up in Southern Appalachia from Kentucky's Poet Laureate.
“From the Rafters of Rupp” by John Huang and Kyle Macy | A full-color "coffee-table" book including first-person interviews with distinguished members of the University of Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team.

Need more recommendations? Stop by Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Sqecial Media, or Black Swan Books to get expert advice from Lexington’s local booksellers. 📚