Now that summer has begun, many people turn to reading as a hobby to pass the time. If you are an avid reader, these summer-based book recommendations are the perfect way to spend your summer!
1. The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
Belly has gone to Cousins Beach every summer since she was born. There she knows Susannah, her mother's best friend, and her two sons, Conrad and Jeremiah, will be waiting. Belly has loved Conrad since she was ten years old, but Conrad has never felt the same way.
However, Belly believes this summer will be different. Do you? Written by the same author as the To All the Boys I Ever Loved Before series, The Summer I Turned Pretty is a teen romance filled with laughter, the beach, and a complicated love triangle.
The dynamic between Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah's love triangle is beautifully written. I am 100% rooting for Belly and Jeremiah, but as you read, you will find yourself hoping Belly ends up with either one or the other. Another beautifully written dynamic is the sibling dynamic Belly and Steven have.
Very few books I have read accurately portray the bond siblings have. With The Summer I Turned Pretty now on Prime Video, now is the perfect time to read the trilogy.
2. 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
When Ginny Blackstone's Aunt Peg dies, Aunt Peg leaves an unusual letter for Ginny. First, it says Aunt Peg has been dead for 3 months. It also includes $1000 in cash for a passport and a plane ticket.
Included are instructions to retrieve 12 other letters scattered for Ginny to find. In an attempt to discover what Aunt Peg wanted Ginny to know, she starts her journey through Europe and uncovers Aunt Peg's final message. Follow Ginny's journey in the sequel: The Last Little Blue Envelope.
While reading 13 Little Blue Envelopes, I fell in love with the story and characters. I admit I am a sucker for a good coming-of-age story. Rated 3.67 out of 5 stars on Goodreads, this book is a loved novel filled with an adventurous spirit and a newfound sense of discovery.
3. One True Loves by Elise Bryant
Lenore Bennett has graduated from high school and is heading to college at NYU, but there is one big problem. She has not declared a major. Lenore's parents were concerned.
In an attempt to make a more straightforward path for Lenore, they give her till the end of their Mediterranean cruise vacation to choose a major. She is talented at multiple art forms and struggles to decide. Then she meets Alex, who has his entire life planned.
Although they butt heads, Alex helps Lenore determine what to do with her future. One True Loves is a feel-good rom-com filled with lighthearted banter and jokes. It is truly a summer must-read.
4. Love and Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch
After Lina Emerson's mother, Hadley, dies, her grandmother sends her to spend the summer in Tuscany with her father, Howard. Howard had not been in Lina's life for the past 16 years, but spending time with Howard was Hadley's last dying wish for Lina. While in Italy, Lina receives a journal her mom kept and discovers an entire life Hadley kept hidden. Spend the summer full of discovery, mystery, romance, and adventure.
5. Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon
Evie does not believe in love. Especially after her parents got divorced. When she looks at a couple kissing, she imagines how they began.
And how they will inevitably end. Because all love ends in heartbreak. Evie gets rid of all her romance books at a curbside free library.
There she takes a book, Instructions for Dancing. Instructions for Dancing leads Evie to La Brea Dance Studio, where she meets X. X is adventurous and daring.
The opposite of Evie. But what is the phrase? Opposites attract? Evie is forced to question all she believes in this charming love story.
These summertime romances and adventures filled with discovery and light are sure to brighten your summer.
