Somehow, I've fallen into two completely different reading camps this summer: fluffy beach-read rom-coms and deeply unsettling horror novels. Apparently my brain wants either sunshine and kissing or psychological dread, and absolutely nothing in between.

Don't ask me why.

If you're looking for a few books to throw in your beach bag (or listen to while painting furniture or baking!), here's what's been keeping me company lately.

Beach Reads

The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

What's it about? After everyone at a wedding gets food poisoning except the maid of honour and the best man (who can't stand each other) they end up taking the honeymoon trip together.

This is peak rom-com. The setup is so outrageously cheesy that I kept updating my family on vacation with plot developments while sarcastically saying, "I don't know... I have a feeling these two might end up falling in love."

It's predictable in all the ways you'd expect, but it's genuinely funny, has a couple of twists I didn't see coming, and was just a really entertaining read.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Every Summer After by Carley Fortune

What's it about? A woman returns to the Ontario cottage country where she spent unforgettable summers and confronts the first love she left behind.

I loved reading a novel set in cottage country. It was totally nostalgic for my childhood summers at the cottage, and the setting captured so much of what Ontario summers feel like.

Also... it's steamy as hell.

Overall, though, it was good rather than great for me. I enjoyed reading it, but once I finished, it didn't leave a huge impression. Didn't live up to the hype for me.

Rating: ★★★☆☆

The Wedding People by Alison Espach

What's it about? A woman checking into a luxury hotel for entirely different reasons accidentally becomes entangled in a destination wedding weekend.

Another thoroughly enjoyable piece of fluff.

Again, you can pretty much tell where it's heading from the first few chapters, but that's part of the charm. The characters are funny, the dialogue is sharp, and I genuinely laughed out loud more than once.

Sometimes you just want a book that's entertaining from beginning to end, and this absolutely delivers.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Cherry Baby by Rainbow Rowell

What's it about? A woman still grieving a breakup she didn't ask for reconnects with someone from her past who was always her "what if".

This one has a little more emotional depth and it's not a beach read, but a rom com with a bit of edge.

The main character felt unique and believable, and I found myself genuinely rooting for them. It didn't end exactly the way I hoped it would (you don't always get what you want), but I really enjoyed the journey.

One thing to know going in: it's much steamier than I expected!

Rating: ★★★★☆

Horror & Thrillers

Afterbirth by Emma Cleary

What's it about? A woman moves into an eerie Vancouver apartment building to care for her sister after a surgery where something feels deeply... off.

This book absolutely nails atmosphere.

The rainy Vancouver setting creates such a moody backdrop, and the entire novel has that "what on earth is happening?" feeling that keeps you reading.

It's definitely a slow burn and takes its time building tension. I also found myself wondering until the very end whether everything was meant to be taken literally or as a metaphor—which I actually enjoyed.

I expected something a little more gothic and a little faster-paced, but it was still an enjoyable horror read. The plot didn't go where I expected at all and perhaps felt a little silly by the end. Is it crazy to say I think the plot I expected in my mind would have been more interesting?

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Diavola by Jennifer Thorne

What's it about? A family vacation at a luxurious villa in Italy slowly unravels as increasingly unsettling events begin to unfold.

This one has mixed reviews, but I absolutely loved it.

The sunny Italian setting makes everything even creepier because horror isn't usually paired with bright, beautiful places.

What I loved most was how gradually everything unfolds. Everyone knows something is wrong, but nobody wants to be the first person to say, "I think this place might actually be haunted."

That denial felt incredibly realistic and made everything even more unsettling as the house takes a grip over the inhabitants.

Yes, it probably goes on a little longer than it needs to, but I honestly didn't mind. It's one of those books that still pops into my head weeks later.

Rating: ★★★★★

Blood on Her Tongue

What's it about? A gothic psychological horror novel centred on two sisters, strange illnesses, and increasingly disturbing family secrets.

This was probably my biggest disappointment of the bunch.

The first half is genuinely creepy and full of promise, but the second half loses momentum and never quite delivers the payoff I was hoping for.

There are some unsettling moments, but overall it wasn't especially memorable, and I haven't really thought about it since finishing.

Rating: ★★☆☆☆

If you've read any of these, let me know whether you agree, or completely disagree. And if you have recommendations for either delightfully predictable rom-coms or creepy atmospheric horror, let me know - apparently those are my two personalities this summer!