Dune
Deluxe Trade Paperback Edition
By Frank Herbert; Afterword by Brian Herbert
Publisher: Ace Books
Release Date: July 7, 2026

“Beginnings are such delicate times.” – Dune by Frank Herbert

Over 60 years ago, one of the greatest science fiction stories of all time was released: Frank Herbert’s Dune. Now, Ace Books (a division of Penguin Random House) has repackaged Dune in an exquisite deluxe trade paperback edition and seriously, it’s a showstopper.

Although a version of Dune was first published as a multi-part serial in Analog magazine throughout 1963-1964, the book as we know it was almost left in the rejection pile after nearly 20 publishers passed on Herbert’s expanded and revised manuscript. Thankfully, the Chilton Book Company, whose main focus was car repair manuals, decided to take a chance on the unproven author, publishing Dune as a novel in 1965. In 1966, it won the Hugo Award and the inaugural Nebula Award, eventually leading to the author’s commercial success, spawning a booming franchise that’s still going strong today.

The Summer Solstice is upon us! And with it comes plenty of new books and lots of warm weather and natural light to read them in.

Below are some titles that I am personally looking forward to checking out this Summer, most of which land in the science fiction, fantasy, horror, roleplaying, historical fiction, and non-fiction categories and their respective subgenres. The first list of books is presented in order of release date from May 2026 through August 2026. After this main list, I’ve included some older titles to read before their new movie/TV adaptations come out. Finally, you’ll find a bonus section featuring themed Cookbooks, Craftbooks, Guides, Coloring Books, Sourcebooks, Card Sets/Games, Journals, and Accessories that are perfect companions for your Summer reading adventures, and also make great gifts. This guide contains links to each item; for books, I’ve included print, ebook, and audiobook editions.

Continue on to check out my list of Summer 2026 Book Recommendations & Gifts…

The Odyssey
The Classic Tale By Homer (Young Readers Edition)
Hardcover
By Homer; Adapted by Geraldine McCaughrean
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Release Date: May 26, 2026

This summer, director Christopher Nolan, who’s wowed audiences with the Batman: The Dark Knight trilogy as well as 2023’s Academy Award-winning Oppenheimer, will bring Homer’s ancient poem The Odyssey to movie theaters and IMAX. Early buzz for the film calls it “breathtaking” and “jaw-dropping,” promising another Nolan box office blockbuster. The film features a star-studded cast led by Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Zendaya, and others portraying a mix of Greek gods and the mere mortals they meddle with.

With the upcoming release of the film, now is a great time to read the source material, because it truly is an extraordinary epic adventure. But not everyone is so inclined to delve into the over 12,000 lines of verse in the book. For those people, there’s a solution: The Odyssey: The Classic Tale By Homer, a new hardcover adaptation by Geraldine McCaughrean for readers age 10 and up from Viking Books for Young Readers.

Dungeons & Dragons: Player’s Workbook of Epic Adventures
An Official Companion to the Player’s Handbook
D&D Accessory; Wizards of the Coast
Hardcover
By Andrew Wheeler; Official Dungeons & Dragons Licensed
Publisher: Clarkson Potter
Release Date: May 5, 2026

The best part of playing a role-playing game is always getting to create a new character for the campaign. This is where we get to impose our interests and creativity onto a player character that we will then take on a (hopefully) multitude of adventures and watch the PC get more and more powerful as we progress. In decades past, I always tracked everything on a player character sheet in pencil, as you never know what might happen to make you alter some information on there. With the Dungeons & Dragons: Player’s Workbook of Epic Adventures, this has been given a boost. In fact, it is akin to a steroid-enhanced explosion of character building. Please allow me to expand upon this statement.

Dungeons & Dragons: Dungeon Master’s Workbook of Worldbuilding
An Official Companion to the Dungeon Master’s Guide
D&D Accessory; Wizards of the Coast
Hardcover
By Andrew Wheeler; Official Dungeons & Dragons Licensed
Publisher: Clarkson Potter
Release Date: May 5, 2026

Alright, alright, alright. Hello, my lovelies. I hope you are all doing well, even with these exorbitant gas prices we are being subjected to these days. I am here to bring a little light to your lives with a new offering from Andrew Wheeler for the discerning DM: the Dungeon Master’s Workbook of Worldbuilding. This tome is so fancy, they even stitched a ribbon into the binding so you are never without a bookmark. Of course, there is far more to the book than that, if you would allow me to guide you.