📚☀️ My Summer TBR, but make it murderous. ☀️🔪

🕯️✨ Dark, twisty, and perfect for sun-soaked reading sessions—here’s my summer TBR stack if your vibe is less “rosé by the pool” and more “plotting the perfect alibi.”

🔪 My Sister, the Serial Killer — sisterhood goals? More like covering up bodies together.

🩸 I Kill Killers — because karma sometimes needs a little help.

🍊 Murder, Mess, and the Tangerine Dress — small-town secrets wrapped in silk and scandal.

Which of these would you read first? 👀📚💀

#ThrillerReads #DarkBooks #Lemon8Books #readinggoals #lemon8bookclub

2025/7/14 Edited to

... Read moreFor readers seeking a summer reading list filled with dark, twisty thrillers, this collection provides an intriguing blend of suspense, moral ambiguity, and clever storytelling. The featured titles include "My Sister, the Serial Killer," a dark comedy exploring the bounds of family loyalty and the extremes one might go to protect loved ones even amidst murder. Released in 2019, this book presents morally gray characters through a compelling narrative that garnered significant critical acclaim, including consideration for the Women's Prize for Fiction. "I Kill Killers," published in 2023 by S.T. Ashman, adds a fresh take on vigilante justice, portraying a serial killer who targets those who harm her own kind. The psychological complexity and gritty crime elements make it a standout in the dark crime genre. Finally, "Murder, Mess, and the Tangerine Dress" by Lynn Rankin-Esquer, is a cozy yet chic mystery involving secrets, scandals, and psychic visions in a small-town setting. Its cozy mystery elements mixed with suspenseful storytelling make it ideal for readers who enjoy a blend of intrigue and character-driven drama. These books together create a summer TBR that departs from traditional light reads, catering to those who prefer their beachside or backyard reading to involve plotting, suspense, and morally intricate narratives. Readers often look for such titles within the #ThrillerReads and #DarkBooks communities, seeking stories that challenge expectations and deliver unforgettable twists. Whether you’re fascinated by sibling bonds under the shadow of crime or vigilante justice and secretive small-town chaos, this murderous TBR stack offers something unique and compelling. When selecting your next read from this list, consider what aspects draw you most: the dark humor and family themes in "My Sister, the Serial Killer," the edgy vigilante premise of "I Kill Killers," or the atmospheric and character-rich mystery in "Murder, Mess, and the Tangerine Dress." Each promises an intense, memorable reading experience that fits perfectly with a summer vibe less about relaxation and more about intellectual and emotional thrill.

Related posts

summer tbr 🌞🏝️📖✨
I know it's just a tad early 🤭 BUT.... Just over here daydreaming of all the books I'm planning to crack open this summer ✨📖🏝️ My tbr is quite literally a mile long these days but here are some of the books I'm most excited about and ones I think will make the perfect summer re
sarahsbooks

sarahsbooks

284 likes

A misty, atmospheric image shows four figures walking on a road surrounded by trees, with the text "apocalyptic books to read in one sitting" overlaid.
Book covers for the "Ravaged World Trilogy" by Iain Rob Wright are displayed, featuring a "Caution Quarantine Area" sign and an arrow indicating "Zombies" as a theme.
The book cover for "Endure the Dark" from the "Reign of Darkness Series" by T.L. Payne depicts a woman with a weapon in a city with explosions, with an arrow pointing to "EMP".
apocalyptic books to read in one sitting
🧟Ravaged World Trilogy: It begins with an infection on a luxury cruise liner... It ends with the world in ruins. In a zombie apocalypse, nowhere is safe. No one can protect you. From the middle of the ocean to a hilltop amusement park, it's only a matter of time before the dead sink their
s h e l b y ˙ᵕ˙

s h e l b y ˙ᵕ˙

1268 likes

A foggy, rural road scene with a wooden signpost asking 'GOIN' HEAVEN?'. Overlay text reads 'Niche Book Genre: "Smalls towns that aren't as they seem"', setting a mysterious tone for the book recommendations.
The book cover for 'The Watchers' by A.M. Shine, featuring abstract tree-like faces on a white background with a red 'NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE' sticker. The cover is set against a dark, leafy forest background.
The book cover for Stephen King's 'Children of the Corn' shows a yellow corn husk doll on a black background with yellow text. The cover is placed within a cornfield, matching the book's theme.
Niche Book Genre: Odd Small Towns📍
💫The Watchers: This forest isn't charted on any map. Every car breaks down at its treeline. Mina's is no different. Left stranded, she is forced into the dark woodland only to find a woman shouting, urging Mina to run to a concrete bunker. As the door slams behind her, the building is besie
s h e l b y ˙ᵕ˙

s h e l b y ˙ᵕ˙

1471 likes

books to read and add to summer tbr🌸🌸
Book 1: when in Rome . Book 2: practice makes perfect Book 3: happy place Book 4: beach read Book 5: book lover Book 6: people we meet vacation Book 7 : twisted lies Book 8: twisted hate Book 9: twisted games Book 10: twisted love Book 11: things we never got over Book 12: things we
(☆Boo𝙺diaries(☆

(☆Boo𝙺diaries(☆

10 likes

A finished blue bookmark with white clouds and a crescent moon, resting in an open book with green foliage. The text overlay says 'Let's paint'.
A hand applies dark blue paint to the top of a white bookmark, starting the base layer. The text indicates 'Start with a blue base'.
The bookmark is painted with various shades of blue, creating a gradient effect for the sky. The text says 'Finish with lighter shade of blue'.
Make Easy Bookmark with me 🖌️
Sharing with you some simple bookmark that I have created that you can make just in about 30 minutes. Materials I used: 🍄Watercolor paper of any size 🍄Gouache or acrylic ( I used gouache but acrylic would work as well) 🍄white pen for details Colors: ❤️Shades of B
Sonali 💜 🌻

Sonali 💜 🌻

37 likes

INFLUENCE or DE-INFLUENCE MY SUMMER TBR!! 🚨 📚
Summer is here and I wanna make the most of all of my reads this season! These are some of the books that I’ve had on my list, would you recommend or not recommend any?! #bookrecs #bookreccomendation #lemon8bookclub #summer #deinfluence
amanda ✨ 📖 🐭 💅🏼

amanda ✨ 📖 🐭 💅🏼

14 likes

summer thriller/mystery tbr🫆🫣
#wewereliars #summerbooks #summerthriller #summermystery #books
laylaa🌴

laylaa🌴

18 likes

Enemies but wants her safe.
📚 Angel by C.M. DANKS 📚 Available on Amazon! ✨ 🖤 Enemies-to-Lovers 💚 Forbidden MC Romance 🖤 Fake Relationship 💚 Kick-Ass Patched MC Heroine 🖤 Panty Melting Anti-Hero 💚 Touch Her And ☠️ 🖤 One Bed Even poison has its remedy…   Angel We all have a past. One that defines us. Sha
cmdanksauthor

cmdanksauthor

251 likes

Clutch Your Pearls!
Romance Anime that will have you in love, but clutching your pearls as well. Drama! Drama! Drama! 1.) Something’s Wrong With Us Story based upon a young girl loving to make sweets with her mom for a prestige family. But something dark happens that forces this girl to grow up into a young vengef
Aspiring Ah’sune

Aspiring Ah’sune

30 likes

but she likes books about …
drop your messiest book rec down below. 👀 she’s a 10, but she likes reading about … 📚 books mentioned: - Pet by Akwaeke Emezi - Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White - Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison - The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw - The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by
Steph 📚💫

Steph 📚💫

636 likes

#movie #foryou #film #fyp #sportsnews
ZiYi

ZiYi

1173 likes

A dark, cozy, Halloween-themed room with string lights and pumpkins, featuring the text overlay "scary books to read during OCTOBER" in white and orange fonts.
The book cover for "Unspeakable Things: A Novel" by Jess Lourey, showing a bicycle lying in a grassy field with a dark forest in the background under an ominous sky.
The book cover for "The Haunted Forest Tour" by James A. Moore and Jeff Strand, depicting a monstrous, clawed hand grabbing a tram car in a dark, misty forest.
october feels | book TBR 🎃👻
🖤Unspeakable Things: Cassie McDowell’s life in 1980s Minnesota seems perfectly wholesome. She lives on a farm, loves school, and has a crush on the nicest boy in class. Yes, there are her parents’ strange parties and their parade of deviant guests, but she’s grown accustomed to them. All that ch
s h e l b y ˙ᵕ˙

s h e l b y ˙ᵕ˙

321 likes

An open book with text, featuring a yellow sticky note that reads "BOOK REVIEW +MY TBR" in pink, indicating the post's content.
The book cover for "Taming Seraphine" by Gigi Styx, a dark romance novel, with a 5-star rating, age gap, and 5 chili peppers for spice level.
A compilation of highlighted quotes from the book "Taming Seraphine," showcasing key lines about the characters and their relationship.
book review + my tbr🩷
taming seraphine : i’m gonna start off by saying the book starts with 2 pages of trigger warnings so definitely read those before you start reading the book. this book was absolutely stunning, the writing was phenomenal, the book is about a young girl who had been imprisoned for 5 years and this gu
kb

kb

13 likes

Books to add to your summer tbr☀️📖
They have the perfect summery setting with fast paced plots to keep you engaged by the pool or at the beach! #booksoflemon8 #romancebooks #summerbookrecs #bookish #romancebookrecommendations
Amber Evergreen 📚

Amber Evergreen 📚

112 likes

A bookshelf filled with various books, featuring a text overlay that reads '2024 Thrillers That are Worth the hype', highlighting top book recommendations.
A hand holds 'Daughter of Mine' by Megan Miranda, a thriller about an unexpected inheritance and solving a mother's disappearance, set against a bookshelf background.
A hand holds 'Listen for the Lie' by Amy Tintera, a thriller about a woman accused of murder with no memory, linked to a crime podcast, against a bookshelf.
Must Read 2024 Thrillers!📚😱
Here are four of my very favorite thrillers that came out this year! I read a LOT of thrillers and I’m very picky with this genre. Each of these have such crazy twists and an incredible storyline 📚😱 let me know your thoughts if you’ve read any of these! #lemon8partner #lemon8bookclub #thri
Bethany Taylor

Bethany Taylor

105 likes

newest self journal
#journalingforselfcare #targetfinds #journalingtherapy #letthatshitgo
Rachelle Gandaro🎀

Rachelle Gandaro🎀

6 likes

2026 Reads - Merciless Obsession by Tay Monae
A time was had with this one. I thought Nazai was crazy and here comes Ezra a literal psychopath. And once again my morals are all over the place because I was here for all his possessive and obsessive murderous ways. CHECK YOUR TRIGGER WARNINGS!!!! ⭐️Overall rating: 4/5 #lemon8bookclub #bla
Shynnel

Shynnel

7 likes

Summer TBR 🌞
Planning to finish the BOT series this month as well but excited to read these books! Share some book recs you enjoyed so far! #summertbr #acotar #abbyjimenez #deadpoetssociety #elsiesilver
maddysreadingnook 📖🧸🪩

maddysreadingnook 📖🧸🪩

3 likes

🌑COME HAUNT THE HORROR SECTION WITH ME
I have a lot of book reviews to do and haven't started my TBR Pile *sigh* 📖I wasn't supposed to be at Barnes and Noble 🤫 I went to a library book sale and that was a boring and lackluster experience. I don't know why I assumed they would have a wide range of selections like the actua
⛓⛓YÉE⛓⛓

⛓⛓YÉE⛓⛓

135 likes

My Summer ‘25 TBR
My TBR is stacked for the summer and I’m so ready to take my first beach trip with my book and a gallon of water (I don’t drink anymore lol). Some of these books are new to me authors with mixed reviews, but I’m going to read them because the synopses look good and this summer I want to read ne
Shanae 📚

Shanae 📚

141 likes

A hand holds the pink-covered book 'Annie Bot A NOVEL' by Sierra Greer, set against a snowy outdoor background. Overlay text reads 'LATEST READ' with a pink heart and sparkles, and 'lemon8 @daisymay_reads'.
Latest read
What am I doing on our one day of ❄️ in Texas? Reading… duh! Iced in because let’s be real we don’t get real snow here. I finished Annie Bot this morning. I picked it up from my local library a few days ago, I am a little burnt out on the Fae and have been wanting to add a little more sci
Daisy May 🌼🗡️📚

Daisy May 🌼🗡️📚

2 likes

A computer monitor displays the Steam store, featuring a 'Turn-Based RPG Fest' and 'Warhammer 40,000 Rogue Trader'. Overlaid text highlights 'Steam Horror Games Under $20', with a keyboard and microphone on the desk.
The monitor shows characters from 'Five Nights at Freddy's'. Text identifies it as a singleplayer survival horror game available for $4.99, with a plushie and microphone on the desk.
The monitor displays a scene from 'Devour', showing a character interacting with a glowing figure. Text identifies it as a co-op survival horror game available for $9.99, with a plushie and microphone on the desk.
😱Steam Horror Games Under $20 💀
It’s that time of year! So excited to play some scary games. 😨 🐻Five Nights at Freddy’s: A horror game where players take on the role of a night security guard at Freddy Fazbear's Pizza, a family-friendly restaurant. The player must survive five nights by monitoring the movements of animatro
FloresMagic ✩₊˚

FloresMagic ✩₊˚

113 likes

summer tbr ☀️🐛
hiii ! i am typically a mood reader BUT these have been living on my tbr for a LONG time so i hope to read these this summer !! what are your summer hopefuls ?? #summertbr #summerreadinglist #bookwormsoflemon8 #lemon8bookclub #summerreads
☀️sara🫧

☀️sara🫧

26 likes

Islamophobia running rampant
Laynie Hasan || SAHM

Laynie Hasan || SAHM

147 likes

SUMMER READS🍉☀️🦀
The Five Star Weekend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The book can be a bit confusing at the beginning as you get used to the multiple perspectives but WOW it is so good. It gives similar energy as a coming of age novel but with a more mature perspective on life. Block Party⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This gives similar vibes to Real
kiralorraine

kiralorraine

72 likes

A light green Nintendo Switch displays a selection of games including Little Nightmares II and Luigi's Mansion 3. The image is titled '4 COZY Horror / Thriller Games On your Nintendo Switch', suggesting a list of recommended games.
A light green Nintendo Switch shows the game 'Have a Nice Death' priced at $24.99. The text describes it as a 2D action roguelike where players control an overworked Death whose employees have caused chaos.
A light green Nintendo Switch displays the game 'Metroid Dread' priced at $59.99, with a 'Demo Available' badge. The description details Samus's mission on Planet ZDR, facing alien lifeforms and robots.
Cozy Horror Games you can play on Switch
If your anything like me you love both horror and cozy games you came to the right posts. Here some horror games you can cozy up with this weekend!!! 1. Have a nice death ☠️ (this one peaked my interest) Have a Nice Death is a 2D action roguelike where you play as an overworked Death, whose e
Endia 🎀

Endia 🎀

548 likes

A hand holds the front cover of Carley Fortune's novel, "This Summer Will Be Different," featuring an illustration of two figures on a beach at sunset. The word "TBR" is visible at the top, indicating a book to be read.
A hand holds the back cover of "This Summer Will Be Different" by Carley Fortune, displaying a synopsis, author blurbs, ISBN, and cover design credits. The text mentions the book's plot and positive reviews.
An open book displays the title "PART ONE" and a quote from L. M. Montgomery's "Anne of Green Gables" on a light-colored surface. The quote reflects on the promise of a new day.
Tackling TBR: This Summer Will Be Different 🏖️
Hi book friends! I hope you’re all doing well today. On today’s episode of tackling my physical TBR, we are talking This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune! This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, especially since I loved her two previous romance books! In this bo
Lemon8er

Lemon8er

3 likes

See more