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22 Books About Summer Camp That Will Rekindle Your Nostalgia
By: Angela Rathbun
Updated:
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, we may earn a referral fee from qualifying purchases.There’s something undeniably nostalgic about summer camp, including bonfires, bunk beds, secret crushes, and even the bittersweet goodbyes. This list of summer camp books for adults includes stories of friendship, self-discovery, romance, and, of course, the remote setting also lends itself to plenty of mysteries and thrillers.
The Best Summer Camp Books
The God of the Woods
Book Summary
In 1961, the only son of a family that owns a summer camp in the Adirondacks disappeared while hiking and was never found. Now, in 1975, a camp counselor discovers that their daughter, thirteen-year-old Barbara, is missing. Are the tragedies related?
As soon as they realize Barbara is not in her bunk, a frantic search is launched. The investigation is deeply layered, with Barbara’s counselor, Louise, her bunkmate, Tracy, her mother, Alice, and a young female detective, Judyta, all sharing their own impactful stories along the way.
The Book Girls Say…
This is a more dimensional read than a standard thriller, with complex themes of motherhood, class, and sexuality explored as the investigation unwinds the past in an effort to understand the present.
This layered, slow-burning book uses a non-linear timeline, bouncing back and forth to reveal new aspects of the story. Readers say the two timelines are seamlessly woven together, and the book’s pace increases through a series of twists and turns.
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Book Summary
Jessie and Hillary were childhood best friends who reunited each summer at Camp Chickawah. They vowed that they’d both become counselors so they could continue spending summers together, but their friendship was fractured when Hillary broke her promise.
Jessie, on the other hand, stuck to the plan and worked her way up from summer counselor to camp director. But now, the owners plan to sell the camp, and Jessie decides to host one last hurrah, inviting past counselors, including Hillary, to a nostalgic “adult summer camp.”
The reunion rekindles their deep bond as they navigate camp traditions with an adult twist: wine at dinner, late-night skinny-dipping, and romantic entanglements.
Hillary embarks on a no-strings-attached fling with Cooper, the camp chef and her first kiss, while Jessie finds herself drawn to a reclusive writer renting a cabin to work on his novel.
As they relive cherished memories and confront unresolved tensions, the duo collaborates to save Camp Chickawah from being sold.
The Book Girls Say…
Ali Brady is the pen name for the BFF writing duo of Alison Hammer and Bradeigh Godfrey.
They also wrote The Beach Trap, in which Kat and Blake meet at summer camp for the first time at 12 years old. Their close friendship is shattered when they discover that they are half-sisters. Then, 15 years later, they are forced back together when they jointly inherit their father’s Destin, Florida, beach house. While only a small portion of this book is set at the summer camp, it’s perfect for fans of The Parent Trap.
The Summer of Songbirds
Book Summary
It’s been nearly thirty years since June bought Camp Holly Springs. June’s niece, Daphne, met her two best friends, Lanier and Mary, at that camp, and they’ve been helping each other through life’s ups and downs ever since. But now June is in danger of losing the camp that means so much to all of them, and Daphne is facing an impossible situation at her law firm. Lanier and Mary are facing personal problems of their own.
Despite all the challenges these four women face, they agree that saving Camp Holly Springs is the most important thing. Along the way, they may just set the stage for their next chapters.
The Book Girls Say…
This book contains alternating points of view between Daphne, Lainier, and June.
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Dad Camp
Book Summary
John and his daughter, Avery, have a very special bond. Since she was born, he’s focused all of his attention on her, and they are the best of friends. Or at least they were.
Now that she’s 11 years old, he can feel her beginning to pull away. She rolls her eyes and no longer wants to spend time with her dad. And the harder he pushes, the more she pulls away.
John is determined to get their relationship back on track before Avery starts middle school, so he signs them up for the “father-daughter week” at a remote summer camp.
When they arrive, the camp isn’t quite what he expected. He can’t relate to the toxic dads, the camp director seems to have it out for him, and worst of all, the cringeworthy forced bonding activities are just pushing Avery further away.
The Book Girls Say…
In a letter to readers, author Evan S. Porter says, “DAD CAMP’s pages contain all of my love for my daughters, my admiration for my wife, and every fear and insecurity I’ve ever had about being a father. Ultimately, I think it’s about losing, and rediscovering, your sense of identity as a parent. Writing this book has been a part of that rediscovery for me.”
Deadly Summer Nights
Book Summary
It’s 1953, and Elizabeth Grady and her mother Olivia, a former Broadway star, manage the Haggeran’s Resort. It’s their second season in charge of the once glamorous retreat nestled in New York’s Catskill Mountains, and it’s shaping up to be a bustling summer filled with guests seeking leisure and escape.
However, the idyllic atmosphere is shattered when a reclusive guest is found dead in the resort’s lake. The discovery of The Communist Manifesto in his cabin propels the local police chief to suspect espionage, igniting fears of communist infiltration during the height of the Red Scare. Unconvinced by the authorities’ conclusions, Elizabeth embarks on her own investigation to protect the resort’s reputation and uncover the truth.
The Book Girls Say…
This is the first of two cozy mysteries set at a family resort camp in the Catskills, similar to those featured on Dirty Dancing or The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
The Last Bathing Beauty
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
100% Would Recommend to a Friend
Book Summary
Betty Stern turned 18 in 1951 and was looking forward to her last summer at her grandparents’ Jewish summer camp resort before heading off to college. She had big dreams of becoming a fashion editor in NYC.
During that life-changing summer, Betty collapses at the end of the beauty pageant, which ends up being the last time the pageant is held. In 2020, a financially-struggling manicurist decides to bring it back. By this time, Betty is in her late 80s, and no one knows she was the last winner or why the pageant ended.
The Book Girls Say…
The book alternates between Betty’s life that summer at the camp and a present-day gathering of her best friends from that summer. It’s a great look at societal expectations between the two time periods.
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The Clover Girls
Book Summary
Back in 1985, Elizabeth, Veronica, Rachel, and Emily met at Camp Birchwood. For the next four summers, they were the inseparable Clover Girls… until the last summer pulled them apart.
Now all four are approaching middle age and dealing with much more grown-up challenges in their careers, marriages, and with their children.
Then a letter arrives for each of them from Emily. She shares devastating news and implores them to all return to Camp Birchwood one last time to spend a week revisiting the dreams from their younger days. But they aren’t the same idealistic, confident girls they used to be, and maybe some friendships just aren’t meant to last forever.
The Book Girls Say…
The fictional Camp Birchwood is set in Glen Arbor, Michigan. This charming resort town, located along the shores of Lake Michigan, is renowned for its natural beauty, including the nearby Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Viola Shipman (the pen name for Wade Rouse) has deep personal ties to northern Michigan that heavily influence the settings of his novels.
Last Summer at the Golden Hotel
Book Summary
For more than sixty years, the Goldman and Weingold families – best friends and business partners – have summered together at their jointly-owned Golden Hotel in the Catskills. However, the facilities are now falling apart, and they have received an offer from a developer. Should they renovate, or is it time to sell? Everyone, including the grandchildren on both sides, wants a say in the property’s future during the family reunion.
While this family saga is condensed into only a few days, you’ll also see flashbacks to the property’s glory days and glimpses into the complicated lives of many family members.
The Book Girls Say…
If you loved the setting of family summers at resort camps featured in movies and TV like Dirty Dancing and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, this would be a great choice!
That said, there are also a lot of side characters and storylines to follow. If you prefer linear reads with fewer characters, it might not be the best pick.
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The Last Time I Lied
Book Summary
Fifteen years ago, Emma was a summer camper at Camp Nightingale. She sleepily watched her three bunkmates sneak out in the middle of the night. As Vivian closed the cabin door behind her, she hushed Emma with a finger pressed to her lips. That was the last anyone saw of the three young girls.
Today, Emma is a rising artist in NYC. Her past fuels her art, and she catches the eye of the wealthy socialite, Francesca, who now owns Camp Nightingale. Francesca convinces Emma to return to the camp as a painting counselor, and Emma hopes this will help her find closure.
Instead, she finds herself in a new nightmare when history repeats itself.
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You Have a Match
Book Summary
Seventeen-year-old Abby takes a DNA test in order to support her best friend (and secret crush) Leo in his search for his birth family. She is shocked when her test reveals that she has a sister she never knew about, who is just 18 months older.
Her secret sister, Savannah Tully, is a popular Instagram influencer who, with her shimmery hair and green smoothies, seems as different from Abby as possible.
Eager to find out why Abby’s parents gave Savvy up for adoption, the sisters decide to meet up at summer camp. Abby soon learns that Savvy is a rigid rule-follower and that her parents might have even more secrets than she realized.
To complicate matters further, Leo is at the same camp for the summer, adding another layer to Abby’s confused emotions.
The Book Girls Say…
While this book has a lower rating than we usually look for (3.56 on Goodreads), it has been recommended to Angela by several friends, and it was also nominated for Readers’ Favorite Young Adult Fiction on Goodreads in 2021. If you are looking for a light, fun summer camp read and you are open to YA fiction, this might be a fun pick.
Luck of the Draw
Book Summary
Winning the lottery gave Zoe Ferris the freedom to quit her cutthroat corporate law job. But the money can’t clear her conscience about the way the firm treated the O’Leary family in a wrongful death suit. She’s determined to do everything she can to make things right, but Aiden O’Leary is still grieving and doesn’t want—or need—her apology.
Aiden has plans to purchase the summer camp that he and his late brother attended as children. He wants to turn it into a wilderness and wellness retreat for people recovering from addiction as a way to honor his brother’s memory.
Despite his animosity toward Zoe, when Aiden needs a fake fiancée to strengthen his bid for the camp, he turns to her because he knows she’s skilled at the art of deception. This arrangement requires the pair to spend multiple weekends at the camp, participating in traditional camp activities alongside other prospective buyers.
The Book Girls Say…
Although this is the second book in a series, following Zoe’s life after winning the lottery, readers say it reads well as a standalone because the author recaps everything you need to know from the first book.
Give Me a Sign
Book Summary
Sometimes Lilah’s hearing loss makes her feel like she doesn’t fit in either the hearing world or the Deaf world.
When she accepts a position as a junior counselor at Camp Gray Wolf, a summer camp for the deaf and blind, she hopes she might finally find a sense of community. It’s also the perfect opportunity to brush up on her American Sign Language (ASL) skills.
There’s never a dull moment at camp. The campers she’s in charge of keep her on her toes, and then there’s a YouTuber who’s desperate for clout.
As Lilah navigates camp life, she bonds with fellow counselors, including Isaac, a charming Deaf teen who helps her improve her signing. Their growing friendship blossoms into a tender romance, challenging Lilah to confront her insecurities and embrace her identity.
I’ll Never Tell
Book Summary
Twenty years ago, Amanda Holmes was found bludgeoned in a rowboat at the MacAllister family’s Camp Macaw. Her murder remains an unsolved mystery.
Now, the five MacAllister siblings are returning to the camp after their parents’ sudden death. Ryan wants to sell the prime real estate, Margaux isn’t sure what to do, Mary believes in leaving well enough alone, and the twins (Kate and Liddie) have opposing views.
Before any decision can be made, the MacAllisters’ will requires unraveling what happened to Amanda two decades ago. Each sibling holds a piece of the puzzle, but can they finally work together to find the truth?
The Book Girls Say…
This novel was a 2019 Goodreads Choice Nominee for Best Mystery & Thriller.
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The Firelight Girls
Book Summary
Camp memories last a lifetime. Ethel, the seventy-year-old former camp director of Lake Wenatchee, is grappling with the loss of her lifelong partner and the impending closure of the camp that has been her sanctuary for decades.
Seeking solace and support, she reaches out to three women from different generations who share deep ties to the camp: Shannon, a former counselor facing a personal crossroads; Laura, who is questioning the future of her marriage; and Ruby, who seeks redemption for a long-past betrayal.
Their reunion takes an unexpected turn when they discover Amber, a homeless teenager secretly living in one of the cabins.
As these women confront their personal challenges and the camp’s uncertain future, they find strength in their shared memories and forge new bonds.
That Summer Feeling
Book Summary
Garland and her sister never had the opportunity to attend sleepaway camp when they were kids. So when a friend invites her to spend an adults-only weekend at their newly reopened sleepaway camp, it seems like the perfect fresh start after her recent divorce.
Camp Carl Cove, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, is exactly the kind of camp Garland always dreamed of attending. But she never expects to bump into a man from her past… and she certainly never expected to catch feelings for his sister.
Garland is assigned to room with Mason’s sister, Stevie, a former park ranger who is both competitive and charming. As the week goes on, in between tournaments and camp dances, Garland continues to feel pulled to Stevie. But what will happen when camp ends?
Say You Still Love Me
Book Summary
Piper Calloway is a 29-year-old vice president at her father’s multibillion-dollar real estate development firm. Despite her professional success, she constantly battles to prove her worth in the male-dominated industry. This challenge is made all the more complicated by the fact that the other VP is her ex-fiance.
Things take an unexpected turn when she bumps into Kyle Miller, the new security guard at her office building, and her first love from summer camp. Thirteen years ago, their romance blossomed at Camp Wawa, where they both served as counselors.
Although Kyle doesn’t even seem to remember her name, Piper’s schoolgirl crush seems to be just as strong as ever!
As Piper and Kyle navigate their renewed connection, they’ll be forced to confront past secrets, as well as the societal divides that once kept them apart.
This novel alternates between their teenage summer fling and their present-day reunion.
The Book Girls Say…
If you enjoy second-chance romances, you might also want to pick up Given Our History by Kristyn J. Miller. In this novel, Clara and Teddy first met at summer camp, where they found a connection through their shared love of literature and music. Over the years, their friendship grew into love, but they had a falling out ten years ago and haven’t spoken since. Now, Clara is a history professor at a private liberal arts college in Maryland. Her world is turned upside down when Theodore is brought on for the fall semester as a visiting scholar in her department.
Sunkissed
Book Summary
After being betrayed by her best friend, seventeen-year-old Avery Young is reluctantly whisked away to a remote family camp for the summer. Stripped of internet access and surrounded by nature, Avery initially dreads the experience.
Her perspective shifts, however, when she meets Brooks, a charismatic and musically gifted camp staffer. As they collaborate on a songwriting competition, Avery rediscovers her passion for music and begins a journey of self-discovery.
The Book Girls Say…
This YA novel is described as a light retelling of Dirty Dancing.
In Dirty Dancing, the family attends a resort-style summer camp called Kellerman’s, which is modeled after the real-life Borscht Belt resorts of the Catskill Mountains in New York. These mid-20th-century vacation destinations were popular among affluent Jewish families from the East Coast. Unlike traditional wilderness summer camps for kids or teens, these family resorts offered a wide range of activities for all ages—dancing lessons, talent shows, outdoor sports, formal dinners, and social mixers.
The Honeys
Book Summary
This YA horror novel is set at the elite Aspen Conservancy Summer Academy—a secluded, tradition-heavy camp nestled deep in the forest. But the camp’s idyllic charm masks a darker reality, where sun-drenched meadows and rustic cabins conceal unsettling secrets.
After his sister, Caroline, dies under horrific circumstances, Mars returns to Aspen for one last summer to investigate her mysterious death. As Mars navigates the camp’s rigid gender roles and a toxic preparatory regimen, he seeks out his sister’s old friends. The group of girls is dubbed the Honeys because they tend to the camp’s beehives. The Honeys are both beautiful and terrifying, and Mars is certain they are connected to Caroline’s death.
As the summer goes on, the camp itself becomes a character, with its oppressive heat and ever-watchful woods amplifying the story’s tension.
Into the Woods
Book Summary
Teddy’s music career is turned upside down when his longtime bandmate suddenly announces he plans to go solo. Unsure what comes next, Teddy accepts a last-minute gig as an artist-in-residence at a summer arts camp. Never mind that he has a generally grumpy manner and doesn’t like kids. On the upside, the position comes with a lakeside cabin for the summer and promises lots of free time to work on a revenge album.
Then there’s Gretchen. Her summer job teaching dance at the Wild Arts summer camp is just the escape she needs from her mid-life crisis.
Gretchen has sworn off dating, and she clashes with Teddy from the outset. But in spite of themselves, Gretchen and Teddy start to form a friendship thanks to the magic of the wilderness.
Family Camp
Book Summary
Geo, a dedicated teacher and new foster father to two recalcitrant kids- 12-year-old Jayden and 5-year-old Lucy. He has long dreamed of being a dad and is eager to form a bond with his foster children. He signs them up for a week-long family retreat at Camp Evermore, where they’ll build lasting memories over nature hikes and campfires.
The challenges start early on when a roadside mishap introduces them to Travis, a professional baseball player and the camp owner’s adopted son. Every year, he spends a week helping at the camp, but he tries to keep a low profile due to his public persona.
Sparks immediately fly between Geo and Travis, but Travis has a strict rule against getting romantically entangled. In an effort to protect his sports career, he’s not publicly out of the closet. But he can’t deny that, as a former foster kid himself, he feels particularly drawn to Geo and his kids.
The Summer We Forgot
Book Summary
Darby and Morgan were part of a close friend group, but haven’t spoken since summer camp two years ago. However, they reconnect after the body of their teacher is found on the campgrounds. Soon, they realize everyone’s memories of that summer are hazy at best.
They have to remember what really happened before tragedy strikes again. But can they really trust each other? And even scarier, can they trust themselves?
The Book Girls Say…
If you’re looking for a clean read, this is a great option!
Sleepaway Girls
Book Summary
In an effort to avoid spending her summer as a third wheel with her best friend and her best friend’s new boyfriend, Sam applies to be a CIT (counselor-in-training) at Whispering Pines camp in the Catskills.
She envisioned an idyllic and simple summer, but the camp director’s daughter seems to have it out for her.
Nevertheless, Sam quickly befriends a group of girls who dub themselves the “Sleepaway Girls,” forms a flirtatious friendship with fellow counselor, Cole, and develops a major crush on a surfer-boy named Hunter.
Through pranks, food fights, and late-night adventures, Sam discovers her confidence and the true meaning of friendship.
The Book Girls Say…
This book is listed as the first in a series. The follow-up book, published 6 years later, follows a different teenager attending the same summer camp, but readers will recognize a few familiar faces from the first book.
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