hot girl summer the 6th | media for another hot (literally!) girl summer

Hello, dear friends, and welcome back to another Hot Girl Summer here at Hardcover Haven! I hope you are all well and if you aren’t, then I hope brighter days head your way soon! Today we are celebrating the sixth annual Hot Girl Summer! For those not in the know, Hot Girl Summer is a concept created by the one and only rapper Megan Thee Stallion. It’s meant to be a summertime full of celebrating yourself and how hot you are, in every sense of the word (not just in the physical sense). And, of course, we all know around here that hot girls love to read! Aaaand they love to watch movies and TV series and to listen to some awesome music as well! So today I’m once again bringing you your Yearly Hot Girl Guide to Entertainment for 2025! Keep reading to learn about all the hottest books, films, TV series, and music for this year!

Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

Is there anything more hot girl than a book that literary influencer Jack Edwards lovingly nicknamed “Great BBL”? I think not 😂 Every summer needs a good contemporary romance novel, and it seems like Emily Henry has that section of the market cornered! Great Big Beautiful Life is allegedly more literary than Henry’s other romance novels while still very much containing a romance forward story. Basically, the romance girlies think it’s literary and the literary fiction girlies think it’s romance. Where does that leave us fantasy girlies? We shall have to see…

Katabasis by R.F. Kuang

Of course, the release of the summer that the entirety of the book community is hotly anticipating couldn’t escape this list! Katabasis is pitched as being about two rival graduate students who must journey to Hell to save their professor. Usually I’d leave a dark academia recommendation like this for autumn, but it releases in summer and I don’t think any of us are gonna wait to read it, plus, I mean, Hell is at least as hot as a summer day, so it fits the theme…right? Lol! Anyhoo, I think this book is gonna be fantastic, and besides, what’s more “hot girl” than being an intellectual? (Hint: nothing is!)

This Vicious Grace by Emily Thiede

This sizzling, Italian-inspired YA romantasy is perfect for summer reading! It’s got the romance, it’s got the intrigue, it’s got the adventure! And!! It’s set on an Italian-inspired island—isn’t that just so perfect for the season?! Plus, this book has #ownvoices ADHD representation, as the main character and the author both have ADHD! I loved this book sooooo much, and I wish it got more hype because I really think if the booktok girlies got their hands on this it would take off! This Vicious Grace follows a girl who’s meant to magnify her partner’s magic, but who instead kills her partner with her touch. The story really takes off from there, but I don’t want to spoil things. This sizzling, summery romantasy is full of lovable characters, swoon-worthy romance, and intrigue galore and is a great summer pick!

We Were Liars (Amazon Prime)

We Were Liars is Amazon’s newest teen series of the summer, and it’s been bringing in rave reviews from viewers. Adapted from the YA novel of the same name, this series follows Cady, a daughter of a wealthy, prestigious family who vacations on their own private island each summer. Cady always looks forward to these summers, where she gets to spend her days with the other members of the group their family has dubbed “the Liars,” which consists of Cady, her cousins Johnny and Mirren, and their family friend Gat. But this present summer is different for Cady, because something awful happened last summer, something Cady can’t seem to remember. With the help of her friends and family, Cady is determined to discover what went down and how it changed her life forever.

Ransom Canyon (Netflix)

I binged the entirety of this series (or, at least, the entirety of what’s currently available) on Netflix this past spring, but I can totally see the “summertime watch” potential that it has! Ransom Canyon is apparently also an adaptation of a book series, although I’ve never read it. That said, I can solidly say that this TV series is a new favorite of mine! It follows three couples—Staten and Quinn, Yancey and Ellie, and Lucas and Lauren—from different generations who live in a town in Texas hill country. As the couples struggle to come together and make their relationships work, the characters are also dealing with the looming threat of a big company buying up more and more land in their town. Ransom Canyon is so fun and flirty and is the perfect series to become obsessed with over the summer!

Sense8 (Netflix)

This Netflix series is an older one, but it’s still excellent! Everything about this series is impeccable—from the story to the acting to the cinematography! It’ll forever break my heart that Netflix wrapped it up in two seasons (plus a finale “super-episode”), because this series could’ve continued and developed so beautifully! Regardless, if you have yet to watch this series, I implore you to change that ASAP! Sense8 is a sci fi series set in the present day where a group of eight people living drastically different lives around the world wake up one day to find they are psychically linked. The series’ brightly lit, colorful, cerebral scenes and themes of community and connection remind me so much of summertime! After all, summer is bright and colorful and typically involves spending more time out with your community! Sense8 is a great watch for the summer—or any other time of the year—and you just must check it out!

K-Pop Demon Hunters (Netflix)

I know everyone’s been raving about this new animated family film from Netflix, but this is one case where the hype is warranted! Everything about this film is just top tier, from the story to the characters to the animation! K-Pop Demon Hunters is about the three members of a K-pop girl group who also happen to be demon hunters. Things are going great for the gang, until the veil between the demon world and the human world begins to wear thin and a mysterious new rival appears in the form of a new K-pop boy band. Can the girls find a way to repair the veil and save the souls of their fans? You’ll have to watch to find out! Honestly, K-Pop Demon Hunters is the perfect pick for a summer slumber party with pals! It’s got just the right amount of fluff and just the right amount of heart! Plus, it’s got incredibly catchy songs! Definitely give this fantastic movie a watch!

Past Lives

This is quite a bittersweet film, but its hazy sunset toned scenes just remind me so much of the feeling of reminiscing on a breezy summer evening. The film follows Na Young, who immigrates from South Korea to Canada then the US and changes her name to Nora. Na Young/Nora is working as an aspiring author when she reconnects online with her childhood crush from Korea. This throws her life into emotional turmoil as she questions what could have been, what could be, and what currently is her life, as well as what she wants from it.

Anyone But You

When I was a kid I actually acted in Shakespeare plays, the first of which I performed in being Much Ado About Nothing, so that particular play has a special place in my heart. Which might make me a little biased in favor of this recent rom com retelling of it—but hear me out! It’s also just really cute! And it takes place during summer in Australia, and that fact plus the witty romantic comedy vibes make it just perfect for summer watching! Anyone But You follows Bea and Ben, who, after a fantastic first date turned sour morning after, find themselves attending the same wedding as members of the wedding party. Of course, romantic shenanigans and hilarity ensue! This film is the perfect romcom for a summery night watch-along with friends or a cozy night at home.

Addison by Addison Rae

For me this album has been the soundtrack of my summer! It’s fun, it’s fresh, it’s carefree, it’s everything you need on a hot, sunshine filled summer day! What an unexpected turnaround for Addison Rae’s music career!

So Close To What by Tate McRae

Pop is one of the genres I definitely associate with summer, so for me it’s no surprise that Tate McRae’s latest album has ended up on this list. So Close To What is perfect for a sexy summer night out with friends!

IRL (Deluxe) by Mahalia

R&B is the other genre that I generally associate with summer, so you know I just had to add an R&B artist to this list! Mahalia, in my humble opinion, is the perfect R&B artist to add to your summer soundtrack, as she never fails to bring the heat!

What books, TV series, films, and music are on you “Hot Girl Summer Entertainment List”? Also! What’s on your Summer 2025 TBR? Have you read anything amazing yet this summer?M/big>

Learn more the author of this post:

Lila @ Hardcover Haven

Lila is a 30 year old anthropology student and lover of literature who's been book blogging for an eternity. Her hobbies include reading, singing, writing, arts and crafts, and snuggling her two cats, Snoopy and Clementine.