The Best Summer Wellbeing Reads for Students

Summer break is the perfect time to unwind and celebrate all you have achieved this year. It can also be a great time to focus on your mental health and wellbeing.  

Whether you’re looking for some escapism in a thrilling story, or to support your personal growth and self-care journey, we’ve picked out eight books with engaging narratives and core wellbeing themes.  

Get stuck into these selected books, stay entertained over the summer, and return to your studies feeling refreshed and empowered! 

Our top 8 wellbeing reads for summer 2024: 

Yellowface by R. F. Kuang (2023) 

You might have seen this novel sweeping the internet or creeping into your local book haunts over the last year, with its hard to miss, striking bright yellow cover. Yellowface is a novel that deals with themes of identity, cultural appropriation, and the exploitation of the marginalised voice.  

Follow the protagonist June Hayward, a struggling white author who steals an unpublished manuscript from her deceased friend, Athena Liu, a successful Chinese American writer. June’s adaptation of Athena’s novel takes off but leaves her facing guilt and scrutiny over her lie. 

Yellowface is a shorter read at 336 pages, perfect for a summer break or some downtime. Whether you’re feeling a bit lost or exploring your own identity, this novel connects you to a community of readers who are actively discussing its themes online. 

Reserve a copy of Yellowface from a Manchester Library, to read for free. 

Happy Place by Emily Henry (2023) 

Emily Henry’s novels have taken off on Book-Tok, with rave reviews across her summer holiday themed stories. Happy Place is no different, with her signature romance style at the core of the story, with a slight twist to keep you hooked.  

Harriet and Wyn are the central couple in the narrative, deciding to fake their love for one last holiday with their friends. As they pretend to be together, love, friendship, and group dynamics are tested. Throughout the trip, both characters embark on their own journeys of self-discovery, navigating complex emotions and unspoken truths. 

Happy Place is just 400 pages long and perfectly captures the essence of a long summer break. If you’re looking for something lighter, check out Emily Henry’s other novels, Beach Read (2020) and People We Meet on Vacation (2021). 

Reserve a copy of Happy Place from a Manchester Library, to read for free. 

You Are Not Alone by Ken Duckworth (2022) 

This text is published by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and is a comprehensive guide to navigating your mental health and importantly seeking support and resources. Although NAMI is an American organisation, You Are Not Alone hopes to empower its readers with the knowledge and tools to effectively manage their mental health at home.  

Summer is a time to relax and unwind from your studies, but having the right tools to practice proper self-care is important. Dr Duckworth details the value of community support and self-care for individuals and families – as well as providing much lacking information around available resources, support and treatment options.  

For UK based mental health resources, and to find out more about the support services offered to you by the university, head to the end of this article. 

Reserve a copy of You Are Not Alone from a Manchester Library, to read for free. 

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty (2023) 

Everybody loves a pirate tale, but they so often spotlight male protagonists in a violent, masculine world. Chakraborty’s story is a historical fantasy novel that shifts the focus to a legendary female pirate – Amina al-Sirafi.  

Amina is a strong and daring leader, navigating the Indian Ocean during the 17th century. Packed with adventure and supernatural encounters, the novel seamlessly combines historical and fantastical genres. With a constant thread of self-discovery and female empowerment, this modern take on the pirate tale is as inspiring as it is exciting. 

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi is the first novel in a planned trilogy for Chakraborty, so it’s the perfect time to get onboard!  

Reserve a copy of The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi from a Manchester Library, to read for free. 

Infinity Gate by M. R. Carey (2023) 

If space-age sci-fi is more your speed, Carey’s Infinity Gate is the book of the summer for you! Set across multiple parallel universes of Earth, follow the lives of three central characters from three different versions of Lagos, Nigeria. 

Each character faces challenges in their own realities, showing their resilience, determination, and ability to adapt. Carey’s profound themes will encourage you to reflect on life’s existential questions whilst enjoying his thrilling sci-fi adventure. 

Infinity Gate is just the first novel in the Pandominion series, with Echo of Worlds (2024) the second novel, having just been released this month! 

Reserve a copy of Infinity Gate from a Manchester Library, to read for free. 

Set Boundaries, Find Peace : a guide to reclaiming yourself by Nedra Glover Tawwab (2021) 

This book provides practical advice and strategies for setting healthy boundaries in various aspects of life – this could be beneficial in your home, work or university life. Her text aims to help the reader achieve a sense of peace, in order to improve their overall wellbeing. 

By learning how to establish and maintain healthy boundaries, you will reduce stress, prevent burnout and build better relationships with those around you. Tawwab places particular emphasis on self-care and encourages the reader to take control of their life, finding inner peace and emotional balance. 

Tawwab is a licensed therapist and relationship expert with over a decade of experience in mental health counselling. She is also a public speaker and Instagram influencer, where she shares practical advice on looking after your mental health and wellness. 

Reserve a copy of Set Boundaries, Find Peace from a Manchester Library, to read for free. 

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (2020) 

If you haven’t already read The Midnight Library, it’s a brilliant novel to try this summer! The No.1 Sunday Times best seller has been a hit read since its release in 2020, and its themes are ever important today - dealing with grief and depression, but ultimately hope and power in the choices we make. 

The story follows Nora Seed, a woman shadowed by depression and regret, finds herself in the Midnight Library – a kind of limbo between life and death. Each book in the library represents a different life she could have lived if she had made different choices. As Nora explores these alternate realities, she uncovers her regrets and finds out what makes life worth living. 

This is a brilliant book for students as it ultimately shows the power that our choices have in shaping our destiny. Whether that is going on to choose a future career path, or even just doing more of the things you enjoy with friends and family. 

Reserve a copy of The Midnight Library from a Manchester Library, to read for free. 

The Cure for Burnout by Emily Ballesteros (2024) 

Emily Ballesteros is a burnout management coach, aiming to demystify feelings of burnout and embark on the search for an ultimate ‘cure’. Burnout is something that can face many university students, and knowing the signs and how to deal with it can help you to overcome it. 

This text outlines five key areas in which you can build healthier habits – mindset, personal care, time management, boundaries, and stress management. Using her tips and tools, you can help yourself to better identify the signs of burnout, implement effective self-care practices to restore your energy, and build management and coping mechanisms to combat future stressors. 

Get into a good mindset for your next year of study, or if you a heading into your future career! If you are looking for more reading around burnout from a student perspective, check out our article on Dealing with Academic Burnout, from student content creator Zahra. 

Reserve a copy of The Cure for Burnout from a Manchester Library, to read for free. 

Summer Support from Man Met 

If you feel like you need further support over the summer, the Counselling, Mental Health and Wellbeing service will remain open over the summer break offering 1-2-1 appointments. 

You can also call our 24/7 support helpline, Spectrum.life, where you can talk to a qualified counsellor who will assess for your needs and ensure you receive the most appropriate support. 

You can also contact the UK’s student mental health charity Student Minds or contact your local GP for advice.