Summer Stories Worth Flipping Through: Bedside Reading’s August Book List for Luxury Escapes

Bedside Reading is now featured in over 85 luxury hotels—and we’ve just expanded our digital program to seven hospitals! The best books of the summer have arrived.

Some of my favorite summer memories? Chasing fireflies, savoring ripe blueberries, basking in warm evening breezes, breathing in the scent of blooming roses… and getting lost in a great summer read.

Here’s what they’re reading at Sonesta Resort Hilton Head, SC…

Arriving in America just as the nation is emerging from the devastation of the Civil War, Thomas and Annie find themselves at the heart of an extraordinary economic boom. The country is on the brink of monumental change, and they are determined to chase their American dream amidst this backdrop of opportunity and upheaval.

As we follow Tom and Annie across the Atlantic Ocean and through various terrains—navigating rivers, crossing vast plains, and scaling formidable mountains—they encounter numerous challenges along their path. From Indian uprisings to western disasters, their journey is fraught with peril yet filled with resilience. Their experiences reflect both the struggles and triumphs faced by many during this transformative era.

The construction of the transcontinental railroad stands as one of the greatest technological feats of the nineteenth century. Tom’s expertise plays a vital role in overcoming obstacles that threaten to derail progress. His ingenuity not only aids in building tracks but also fosters collaboration among diverse groups working together toward a common goal—the unification of America’s wild west with its burgeoning eastern cities.

Join Thomas and Annie Wright on their remarkable journey as they navigate through history’s challenges while striving for their place in America’s unfolding story. This book promises to engage readers with its rich historical context, relatable characters, and thrilling adventures that capture the essence of what it means to pursue one’s dreams.

Here’s what they’re reading at ​The Ven at Embassy Row, Washington, D.C…

2029. Fentanyl, nitazene, captagon and synthetic poisons kill millions. As the body count grows, frustrated value engineer Rave Maps takes direct action infiltrating drug labs and cartel strongholds, costing the life of her close friend. Canadian NC3 cybercrime agency chief Kate Tong urges Rave to pull herself together and join the first tourist excursion to Mars aboard a Chinese ship as Tong's eyes and ears. The journey provides Rave one desperate chance to destroy her Digital Twin before that game-changing AI technology falls into the wrong hands.

Rave cannot rest until she untangles her twisted inner spiritual terrain, racing from Mallorca to Steamboat Springs, Shanghai, and Cozumel, then departing Hainan Island for Mars. Personal monsters stand at the door everyday waiting for her to invite them in for tea and a conversation.

Would you open that door?

Here’s what they’re reading at Acqualina Resort & Residences , Sunny Isle Beach, FL…

In an intense, twisty, Hitchcockian standalone spin on Rear Window from #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Jackson, a woman returns to the Oregon town where a nightmare unfolded 20 years ago--and is waiting to engulf her again. For fans of J.T. Ellison, Paula Hawkins, Karin Slaughter, and Riley Sager.

The huge Victorian house on Lake Twilight belongs to Harper Reed Prescott, as does the private island on which it sits. Harper wants little to do with either. Twenty years ago, Harper’s grandmother died suspiciously while in her care, on the same night that Harper’s boyfriend disappeared. His body was never found, and no charges were filed. But the rumors haven’t faded. There have been other deaths, other accidents. All revolving around Harper and her family.

Now Harper’s marriage is over, her college-age daughter is estranged, and Harper just wants to sell the property and make a fresh start. Except returning to the lake has stirred everything up again. Whispers. Memories. And the persistent feeling that, as she gazes out at the houses across the water, she’s being watched in turn.

The whole town has always thought Harper has something to hide, and they’re right. But she might have even more to fear...

Here’s what they’re reading at Kimpton The Rowan Palm Springs, CA…

When Lena Conti—a young, unwed mother—sees immigrant families being forcibly separated on Ellis Island, she vows not to let the officers take her two-year old daughter. But the inspection process is more rigorous than she imagined, and she is separated from her mother and teenage brother, who are labeled burdens to society, denied entry, and deported back to Germany. Now, alone but determined to give her daughter a better life after years of living in poverty and near starvation, she finds herself facing a future unlike anything she had envisioned.

Silas Wolfe, a widowed family relative, reluctantly brings Lena and her daughter to his weathered cabin in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains to care for his home and children. Though the hills around Wolfe Hollow remind Lena of her homeland, she struggles to adjust. Worse, she is stunned to learn the children in her care have been taught to hide when the sheriff comes around. As Lena meets their neighbors, she realizes the community is vibrant and tight knit, but also senses growing unease. The State of Virginia is scheming to paint them as ignorant, immoral, and backwards so they can evict them from their land, seize children from parents, and deal with those possessing “inferior genes.”

After a social worker from the Eugenics Office accuses Lena of promiscuity and feeblemindedness, her own worst fears come true. Sent to the Virginia State Colony for the Feebleminded and Epileptics, Lena face impossible choices in hopes of reuniting with her daughter—and protecting the people, and the land, she has grown to love.

Here’s what they’re reading at The Mayflower Hotel, Autograph Collection , Washington DC…

In the sleepy coastal town of New Castle, New Hampshire, seventeen-year-old Billy Hasler's life is about to take a terrifying turn. When his best friend David Spivey inherits a mysterious house on a nearby island, it seems like the perfect place to spend their final summer before heading off to college. No parents. No police. No responsibilities.

As they dig into the island's dark past, they awaken an ancient evil that has influenced generations. What begins as an innocent summer adventure quickly descends into a nightmare.

"Something I Keep Upstairs" is a haunting exploration of friendship, sacrifice, and the darkness lurking just beyond our understanding. It will keep you on edge until the final, chilling page.

Here’s what they’re reading at Kimpton Marlowe Hotel, Cambridge, MA…

Hollywood, 1997. When Charity Trickett moves to LA to assist the director of the biggest blockbuster film of the year, she quickly realizes that Hollywood isn’t all red carpets and Rodeo Drive. But her determination to become a screenwriter and producer in this glamorous yet cutthroat industry cannot be stifled. Working harder than she ever has before, she impresses the top brass at Canopy Studios and inches herself closer to her dream. But her ambitions and tender heart are threatened by backstabbing coworkers, an evaporating bank account, love gone wrong, a mistake that could cost the studio hundreds of millions of dollars, and an FBI investigation that could land her in jail.

Surrounded by fame and money but unsure how to access either one, Charity’s grit and kindness steer her toward devoted friends and hopeful artists. If she can manage to stay out of trouble, maybe she can change bad to good.

Here’s what they’re reading at The Marker Union Square, San Francisco…

More than a book, Show Her the Money is a call to action—a blueprint for rewriting the rules of business and finance.

The global movement that ignited a revolution is now a book! In Show Her the Money, award-winning producer Catherine Gray takes you behind the scenes of the groundbreaking documentary that exposed the staggering funding gap women face—and the unstoppable trailblazers closing it.

Here’s what they’re reading at Hotel Yountville, Yountville, CA…

Modern Wisdom provides a world of profound insights, valuable life lessons and advice to help you live a better life. The pages of Modern Wisdom form a brilliant tapestry of wisdom quotes, insights and inspirational advice to help navigate the many challenges of 21st century living; a treasure trove of wisdom that Inspires conversation and furthers greater understanding of human nature. This easy-to-read book discusses every arena of modern life including creativity, love, business, history, success, happiness, technology, the future, friendship, faith, parenting, the arts, compassion, dreams, problem-solving, spirituality, education, nature, imagination, truth, freedom, luck, evolution, and much more. Modern Wisdom’s delightful collection of creative thoughts and ideas and makes it a perfect gift for those you love, and for yourself!

Here’s what they’re reading at The Pierre New York, A Taj Hotel, NY, NY…

Stepping into adulthood feels like taking a leap off a cliff—one that you are not quite prepared for. From figuring out how to land your first job to managing your finances, renting your first apartment, and not panicking when your car breaks down, “adulting” can feel overwhelming. That’s where Hey Dad… comes in. With expert advice on everything from job hunting and personal finance to launching your own business—plus real stories of triumphs and missteps—Hey Dad... is your ultimate guide for navigating the twists and turns of adulthood.

Here’s what they’re reading at Dawn Ranch, Guerneville, CA…

Grammy winner John JR Robinson's bestselling memoir, "King of the Groove - How One Dream Transformed into 60 Years of Making Legendary Music," is captivating listeners with behind-the-scenes stories from his unprecedented six-decade career. This book plays a part in helping others to find new ways to believe in themselves. The memoir, featuring a foreword by the late Quincy Jones offers listeners an intimate glimpse into Robinson's journey from small-town Creston, Iowa into a legacy of over 500 million records sold, proving that rhythm isn't just what he does—it's who he is. This book is a coaching manual on how to rise above challenge at all costs while maintaining your sense of belief in yourself and your passions. “King of the Groove” isn't just John JR Robinson's memoir—it's your backstage pass through the eyes of the man who remains the drummer that legends trust to keep their music immortal.