Jenna Bush Hager’s Read With Jenna Jr. Summer Books Are Perfect for Readers of Every Age
From magical realism romances to a chilling thriller, Jenna's picks have it all
Key Takeaways
AI-generated summary reviewed by our editorial team.- Jenna Bush Hager’s new YA summer list is packed with romance, thrills and twists.
- The Read With Jenna Jr. 2026 picks include buzzy new releases and finales fans love.
- From beach reads to dark suspense, these are easy “one more chapter” books.
Don’t let the “young adult” label fool you. Jenna Bush Hager‘s newly announced Read With Jenna Jr. summer picks are the kind of books that remind you why you fell in love with reading in the first place—and they work just as well for a woman on her back porch with a glass of wine as they do for a teenager at the beach. The Today co-host, who says her family reads together every night, just revealed five YA titles spanning romance, fantasy and thriller that are truly for everyone. To learn what she picked, and why Jenna thinks reading is important for people of all ages, keep scrolling!
Jenna Bush Hager shares her top young adult reads
Earlier this week Jenna’s book club Read With Jenna announced their 2026 Read With Jenna Jr. picks. In the roundup, the Today with Jenna & Sheinelle co-host shared the perfect summer reads for kids as young as age 4 in the hopes of getting kids to love reading. “Teaching a kid or watching a kid learn how to read is evolutionarily one of the most beautiful things that can happen as a parent,” Jenna said. “We read every night together as a family.”
Out of the entire list, our favorite section is the YA picks, which includes swoon-worthy romances, edge-of-your-seat thrillers and more. Below are the top five YA picks we think young readers (and adult readers!) will love.
‘Love Me Tomorrow’ by Emiko Jean
Magical realism and second chances take center stage in this novel. After her parents’ divorce, 17-year-old Emma Nakamura-Thatcher stopped believing in love. Desperate to find it again, she wishes for proof that love is real. Soon after, she gets a note from someone claiming to be the love of her life in the future. But who is it? Ezra, the boy who makes her heart race? Colin, the overly handsome boy she meets while cleaning his house? Or Theo, her next-door neighbor? As Emma tries to figure it out, she begins to fall in love with herself and the world again.
What readers are saying: “For any reader who likes contemporary novels or who considers their favorite rom-com one that uses writing as a trope, make sure to add this novel to your list. It’s pure delight!”
‘The Wildest Dreams Bookshop’ by Gracie Page
Set in a cozy British coastal town called Fox Bay, this novel follows Anna, a teenage girl desperate to have a good summer. But after her boyfriend ghosts her, everything changes. Now she’s living with her aunt and working at her seaside bookshop next to a hot local surfer who might just be the perfect remedy for her broken heart.
What readers are saying: “This book is like a Hallmark movie with better characters. Fox Bay is simply beautiful and full of wonderful, eccentric people and shops.”
‘Heir’ by Sabaa Tahir
High-stakes action, vengeance and simmering romance abound in this YA novel by bestselling romantasy author Sabaa Tahir. The plot follows Aiz after she is imprisoned, Sirsha after she’s tasked with hunting down a killer and Quil, who is crown prince of the Empire. What follows is a riveting adventure that interweaves their lives as they each wrestle with love, power and consequences.
What readers are saying: “This book is definitely another must-read from an author who delivers timeless lessons, beautiful prose and some dark twists that only hurt so badly because she makes us feel oh so much.”
‘Thornbird’ by E. Kennedy
From the bestselling author of the Off Campus series (writing as E. Kennedy) comes a page-turning YA thriller that will leave readers speechless. After 10 years away, 17-year-old Ryan Shipley, daughter of infamous serial killer Gabriel Thorn, has returned to Starling, Tennessee. No one knows who she is and Ryan is determined to keep it that way. But when cryptic texts and chilling notes turn up, things get complicated and soon Ryan must decide how far she is willing to go to protect herself and her past. (Out June 30, 2026)
What early readers are saying: “This was my most anticipated release… and omg was it worth it. This is the type of book that is so good you think the characters are going to pop out and murder you. You truly are so immersed you think you are there. This was one of the best suspenses that I have ever read! Plot twist after plot twist, this was a wild ride!”
‘The Gilded Blade’ by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
The final book in Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ The Grandest Game series follows the Hawthorne family, the players from the Grandest Game and more as they come together to discover centuries-old secrets and attempt to solve mind-bending puzzles, which will lead them to a life-changing prize. But as the game goes on, alliances, romances and enemies begin to complicate everything. (Out July 14, 2026)
What early readers are saying: “OMG I’m so excited for this book and honestly going to cry when it’s over because I love the Inheritance Games series so much.”
Ready for more? Subscribe to our YouTube channel for video podcasts, health tips and uplifting stories designed for women 40, 50, 60 and beyond.
Conversation
All comments are subject to our Community Guidelines. Woman's World does not endorse the opinions and views shared by our readers in our comment sections. Our comments section is a place where readers can engage in healthy, productive, lively, and respectful discussions. Offensive language, hate speech, personal attacks, and/or defamatory statements are not permitted. Advertising or spam is also prohibited.
