NPR Home / Books Gothic horror, creepy science-fiction, romance, birds — here are NPR’s picks for fiction and nonfiction. May 27, 2026 NPR’s picks for your summer reads are here. (Jackie Lay/NPR) After a long winter, readers look to summer for a respite — an opportunity to sink into stories that are magical, mysterious and memorable. If some downtime is in your plans, we have some reading to suggest. Our book critics have previewed what’s coming to the library and bookstores this summer.