The Hollywood Reporter (THR) has released its 2025 Summer Reading List, promising a literary experience as compelling as any summer blockbuster. This year’s list is packed with stories from Hollywood insiders—screenwriters, actors, and industry veterans—who bring their unique perspectives and creative talents to the page. Whether you’re craving memoirs, fiction, or behind-the-scenes insights, this collection is your ticket to a page-turning summer.
📖 Memoirs and Real-Life Stories from the Entertainment Industry
“Actress of a Certain Age” by Jeff Hiller
In this witty and heartfelt memoir-in-essays, actor Jeff Hiller chronicles his journey from a closeted teen in 1980s Texas to his breakout HBO role in Somebody Somewhere. Through stories of small-town Lutheran life and big-city comedy stages, Hiller delivers laughs and vulnerability in equal measure. Available now, it’s an honest, funny portrait of resilience, identity, and self-discovery.
“Clint: The Man and the Movies” by Shawn Levy
Veteran biographer Shawn Levy turns his lens on Clint Eastwood, offering a comprehensive and unflinching look at the star’s 95-year life and career. From spaghetti westerns to political controversies, this July 1 release balances admiration with critique, making it a must-read for cinephiles.
🪐 Summer Fiction from Screenwriters and TV Creators
“Atmosphere” by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Bestselling author Taylor Jenkins Reid returns with Atmosphere, the story of a female astronaut who finds unexpected love during her space training. Known for Daisy Jones & The Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Reid brings her signature emotional depth and cinematic flair to this interstellar romance.
“Food Person” by Adam Roberts
Blending his foodie blog and screenwriting chops, Adam Roberts makes his fiction debut with a satirical novel about a disgraced writer hired to ghostwrite a cookbook for a scandalous TV chef. Packed with wit and culinary chaos, Food Person is available now—just don’t read it on an empty stomach.
“In Pursuit of Beauty” by Gary Baum
THR’s own Gary Baum transitions from journalist to novelist with a dark, satirical look at Beverly Hills plastic surgery culture. Out July 1, this novel follows an imprisoned surgeon and the journalist ghostwriting her scandalous memoir, offering sharp insight into ethics, vanity, and fame.
✍️ Literary Depth and Social Commentary
“Loved One” by Aisha Muharrar
TV comedy writer Aisha Muharrar (Parks and Recreation, Hacks) explores grief and connection in her debut novel. Out August 12, Loved One centers on two women mourning the same man, tangled in memory, competition, and unresolved emotion. It’s a quiet, moving story from a writer known for laughs now showing her dramatic range.
“God and Sex” by Jon Raymond
Screenwriter Jon Raymond (First Cow, Mildred Pierce) delivers an urgent, atmospheric novel set against a backdrop of climate disaster in the Pacific Northwest. Arriving August 5, God and Sex tackles themes of desire, guilt, and spiritual reckoning as wildfires consume both land and morality.
🎭 Humor with Cultural Insight
“That’s How They Get You: An Unruly Anthology of Black American Humor” edited by Damon Young
Curated by memoirist and media figure Damon Young, this rich anthology blends essays, letters, and stories about Black humor in all its forms. Featuring contributions from Hanif Abdurraqib, Roy Wood Jr., and Kiese Laymon, the collection is a smart, hilarious, and insightful celebration of Black culture through comedy.
🌴 Your Summer Reading, Cast by Hollywood
From revealing memoirs to sharp fiction and culturally resonant anthologies, THR’s 2025 Summer Reading List brings the drama, humor, and heart of Hollywood to your bookshelf. Whether you’re basking by the pool or cooling off indoors, these titles offer stories worth binge-reading.
