Are you a dog lover looking for your next great summer beach read? Check out the 2026 edition of our annual Summer Reading List for Dog Lovers. Enjoy, and happy reading!

Novel

The Dog Stars by Peter Heller

Before the star-studded film adaptation from Gladiator director Ridley Scott arrives in theaters in August, check out Peter Heller’s acclaimed 2012 debut novel, The Dog Stars. After a devastating global catastrophe, Hig survives in isolation with only three companions: his volatile neighbor Bangley, his beloved Cessna plane, and his loyal dog Jasper (an Australian Cattle Dog in the novel, a Belgian Malinois in the film). Clinging to routine and rationing his fuel, he lives day to day in a world that has all but disappeared.

When Hig picks up a distant radio transmission from another pilot, the possibility that others have survived becomes impossible to ignore. Risking everything, he flies beyond the horizon in search of human connection, embarking on a journey that is both perilous and unexpectedly hopeful.

Non-Fiction

This Dog Will Change Your Life by Elias Weiss Friedman

From Elias Weiss Friedman, creator of the popular Instagram account The Dogist,  comes an uplifting exploration of the extraordinary bond between dogs and humans. Drawing on his decades of observing and photographing dogs, Friedman argues that dogs make our lives better by helping us become more patient, compassionate, purposeful, and connected.

Weaving together stories from his own life and the countless dogs he has encountered, Friedman celebrates the ways dogs enrich our world with loyalty, love, and joy. Warm, insightful, and deeply heartfelt, this book is a reminder that some of life’s most important lessons come from our four-legged companions.

Romance

Dog Person by Camille Pagán

In this delightfully heartwarming romance from best selling author Camille Pagán, an elderly dog is determined to help his grieving owner find a reason to go on after loss. Harold, a senior mutt who recently lost his beloved owner Amelia, is the book’s narrator. Amelia left him with one final mission: help her grieving partner, Miguel, find happiness again. The trouble is that Miguel has retreated from the world, and the bookstore he once ran with Amelia is now struggling to survive.

When a missing author leads Miguel and Harold to Fiona and her young daughter, Amelia, Harold begins to suspect fate may be at work. As the determined pup does his best to bring these lonely humans together, this endearing novel celebrates second chances, the power of love after loss, and the remarkable ways our dogs help us heal.

Historical Fiction

The Hounding by Xenobe Purvis

In eighteenth-century England, the five Mansfield sisters have always stood apart in the small village of Little Nettlebed. But when rumors spread that the girls are transforming into dogs, whispers of witchcraft and strange happenings ignite fear and fascination among their neighbors.

Told through the perspectives of the villagers watching them, this haunting debut novel explores suspicion, superstition, and the dangers of being different. Blending an eerie atmosphere with tragic intensity, The Hounding is a timely story about conformity, prejudice, and the cost of refusing to fit in. Named a Best Book of the Year by TIME and NPR.

For Pre-Teen Readers

A Dog Called Hero by Katy Birchall 

Heartwarming and suspenseful, this mystery novel follows Haley, a young British girl struggling with the loss of her police officer father, and Hero, a retired police dog who has never recovered from being separated from his injured handler. When Haley and Hero meet, they form an unexpected bond, helping each other find hope and purpose again.

But their fresh start is disrupted when the priceless Whittaker Diamond is stolen. Convinced that the police have accused the wrong person, Haley and Hero set out to uncover the truth themselves. Packed with emotional depth, thrilling twists, and a beautiful friendship at its heart, this cozy crime adventure – perfect for readers aged 9-12 – celebrates courage, resilience, and the healing power of companionship.

Do you have your own favorite dog-themed book to recommend? Share your feedback with us in the comments or on Facebook or Instagram. Have a wonderful summer and happy reading!