The best books of August 2020, according to Amazon's editors

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Amazon; Alyssa Powell/Business Insider

• The hot, sticky days of August are officially here and Amazon's book editors have curated an exceptional list of 12 titles to help get you through the summer season.
• The suggested reads include everything from Pulitzer Prize-winner Natasha Trethewey's memoir that doubles as an ode to her mother to a collection of essays centered on the natural beauty of the world.

August: The title of a release off of Taylor Swift's surprise new album, a month that feels notoriously long (especially so in 2020), and an ideal month to pick up a summer read.

Usually the season of packed rooftop bars, backyard barbecues, and beach getaways, this August feels somewhat eerie as social distancing measures persist. While reading can't necessarily eradicate the unsettling nature of the current times, enjoying a deep read remains both a healthy coping mechanism and an effective way to pass the extra time many of us are spending at home.

If you're looking to round out your summer with a new reading list, Amazon's book editors have you covered. These August reads are so highly anticipated that this month's list includes 12 picks, compared to the usual monthly top 10.

Amazon's latest curated list spans a wide range of topics from coming of age novels to anticipatory thrillers, and the selected titles include something for virtually every type of reader. Stephanie Meyer's infamous young adult "Twilight" saga gets a resurgence with "Midnight Sun," which tells the original story from the perspective of Edward. Meanwhile, astrophysicist Sara Seager's profound and heart-wrenching memoir, "The Smallest Lights in the Universe," explores the idea of connection within and beyond Earth in the wake of a major tragedy.

Captions have been provided by Erin Kodicek, editor of books, and Kindle at Amazon.com.