Summer Reads for Healing: 4 Powerful Books for Adults Struggling with Relationships

Summer reading used to be one of my favorite parts about summer break. Plus going to the pool every chance I got, a chance to sleep in and stay up late, and taking a trip to the beach. Summer offers so much space and freedom, and with the longer days and more sunshine, we may get a chance to pick up our summer reading list. My list definitely includes some mystery and historical fiction (my fave!), but it also includes some books for self-growth and reflection.

For some of you, that reflection centers on relationships: how to connect, why we’re struggling, and what we’re longing for. Whether you’re navigating family tension, relationship stress, or wondering why you’re stuck in the same patterns, the right book can offer insight, language, and even a sense of not being so alone.

Here are four therapist-recommended summer reads that I often recommend to clients (and revisit myself!). They each offer something unique and may be just what you need to dive into this summer.

Hold Me Tight by Dr. Sue Johnson

For couples or individuals in a relationship, craving closeness but feeling stuck in conflict

This foundational book is based on attachment theory and years of research which led to the creation of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). Sue Johnson explores how adult bonding works and what gets in the way. Dr. Johnson breaks down common relationship patterns and offers a compassionate, step-by-step guide for building emotional connection. It’s especially powerful for couples or individuals who find themselves longing for closeness but feeling misunderstood or shut down. It is a practical and healing guide to have healing conversations with your partner.

🕊️ Tone: Gentle, emotionally attuned, hope-giving, practical

📆 Best for: Clients who are ready to deepen relational insight and take accountability in their relationships

Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay C. Gibson

For individuals who are facing dysfunctional relationships with a parent or parents

This book speaks directly to adults who grew up feeling unseen, dismissed, or parentified. Dr. Gibson outlines the subtle and not-so-subtle dynamics of emotionally unavailable or immature caregivers, and helps readers begin to separate their sense of self from the messages they internalized growing up. Using stories from a variety of individuals, this books helps you identify different ways that emotional immaturity might look, and name the patterns in your own relationship with your parent. Clients often feel deeply validated and “named” by this book — sometimes for the first time. Dr. Gibson also provides practical skills to shift the dynamics in your relationship, ultimately offering hope and insight.

🕊️ Tone: Validating, direct, empowering, easy to read

📆 Best for: Clients beginning to explore childhood roots of current family dysfunction

Attached by Amir Levine and Rachel Heller

For those confused by their dating patterns or relationship anxiety

This accessible guide introduces the science of adult attachment in a way that’s easy to understand and hard to unsee. Whether someone is anxiously chasing, avoidantly withdrawing, or confused by someone else’s push-pull — this book offers a helpful lens into attachment patterns and dating relationship dynamics. Levine and Heller focus on self-awareness, providing a questionnaire to assess your attachment style, and using this awareness to promote growth. This book is a great starting place for understanding your own attachment style and how it has impacted your past and present relationships.

🕊️ Tone: Straightforward, insight-driven, practical

📆 Best for: Early to mid-stage therapy, especially for clients exploring dating or patterns in romantic relationships

Will I Ever Be Good Enough? by Dr. Karyl McBride

For adult daughters of mothers who seem to make everything about her

This book is a lifeline for women struggling with the voice of a critical or self-absorbed mother still echoing in their heads. Dr. McBride gently guides readers through recognizing narcissistic traits, breaking the cycle, and reclaiming a sense of self-worth. It’s particularly useful for clients grappling with mother-daughter dynamics and internalized shame. With stories from other women included throughout, this book is incredibly relatable, leaving readers feel like they’re not alone. This is a hard read, so be prepared with some tissues and scheduled to meet to your therapist.

🕊️ Tone: Compassionate, empathetic, balanced

📆 Best for: Mid-to-late stage therapy when clients are ready for accepting the hard truths and healing the past

These summer reads are not meant to replace therapy, but they can surely enrich it. Each book invites reflections, validation, and a deeper sense of self-awareness and acceptance. If any of these books resonate with where you are right now, consider adding them to your summer reading list and letting it be a part of your healing and growth.

And if you find yourself needing some support while reading, remember that you don’t have to navigate it alone. This is the work we can do together at Blue Chair Counseling.