Summer Reading Picks: For Teachers Who Swear They’re Not Reading Anything About Teaching

Let’s be honest—if you swore off professional development books until at least September, you’re not alone. This summer, we’re about guilty pleasures, not grading papers. Whether you’re a page-flipper, an audiobook aficionado, or a “just tell me the movie’s better anyway” rebel, we’ve got you covered.

For the “I Love the Smell of New Books” Crowd

• Beach Reads:
  • The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han (YA romance, pure sunshine)
  • The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren (funny, flirty, absolutely not educational)
• Twisty Thrillers:
  • The Guest List by Lucy Foley (murder at a wedding, but you’re not on lunch duty)
  • The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn (unreliable narrators > unreliable Wi-Fi)
• Laugh-Out-Loud Fiction:
  • Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple (quirky, sharp, and makes you feel better about your own chaos)

For the “My Eyes Are On Strike” Audiobook Lovers

• Feel-Good Fiction:
  • Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman (uplifting and heartfelt, with a fantastic audio performance)
• Mystery/Thriller:
  • The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides (you won’t see the twist coming—and you can fold laundry while you listen)
• Nonfiction Fun:
  • Bossypants by Tina Fey (Tina narrates her own memoir—bonus laughs guaranteed)
  • Born a Crime by Trevor Noah (stories from Trevor’s childhood, performed by the man himself—brilliant!)

For the “Podcasts Are My Paperbacks” Crew

• For Laughs:
  • SmartLess (celebrity guests, hilarious hosts, zero lesson plans)
  • No Stupid Questions (Freakonomics spinoff—quirky questions, relatable hosts)
• For True Crime Buffs:
  • Criminal (well-produced, never gory, always fascinating)
• For Just… Not Teaching:
  • Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard (celebs, deep dives, and tangents galore)

Not Reading? Not Sorry! (Streaming Recs for Maximum Chill)

• Ted Lasso (feel-good, funny, and sometimes educational—but only by accident)
• Only Murders in the Building (mystery and humor, no lesson planning required)
• Somebody Feed Phil (travel, food, and joy—zero rubrics in sight)

Final Note:

No judgment here. Whether you’re conquering your TBR pile, listening while you nap, or bingeing all summer, you’ve earned every minute.

Bonus Points:
Reading in the sun totally counts as professional development…if anyone asks.

Looking for the perfect shirt to show off your love of reading (without a single lesson plan in sight)? Check out our Once Upon A Time Collection for reading and literacy-inspired tees and gifts!

Ready for your next “summer reading” adventure? Share your favorites (or just your favorite nap spot) in the comments below!