Summers are my time to really read thoroughly and in mass amounts. I read during the school year, but not as much as I would like to. With the increased amount of free time available during the summer months, I like to pick out books that I've been itching to read all year but couldn't commit the appropriate amount of time to. My books for summer aren't a particular type, some are "lighter" than others, while some are long, "heavy" books that require more thought and time. In honor of the second day of summer, these are some of the books that I've found are great for summertime reading.
1. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling
How many times can I talk about Mindy Kaling in my blog posts before it gets old? The answer is not enough, because Mindy Kaling is impossible to get sick of. She's so inspiring and all around hilarious. This book, even though I've read it already, will be coming to the beach with me this summer so I can give it another go. So brilliant and entertaining. I cannot recommend it enough.
2. When It Happens by Susanne Colasanti
You can't go wrong with a good YA book. It's a cute book with alternating POVs that gives you insight on both the leading male and female of the book. The story is a light read, but was one of the better YA books I've read in the past couple of years. Definitely something I would bring poolside for a relaxing read.
3. Seriously…I'm Kidding by Ellen DeGeneres
Name one person sweeter and more hilarious than Ellen DeGeneres who keeps their comedy clean and kind. I dare you. This book made me LOL. I read it on the beach last summer while I was on vacation and couldn't help but giggle the entire time. Ellen is genuinely sweet and funny and this book was a great summer read. Bonus: I heard that she reads the audiobook version herself. How great would it be to hear somebody read their own book?! Especially if that somebody is Ellen.
4. Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson
I had never seen Peter Pan until a few months ago and I've never read the book, either. For some reason, I decided to pick up this book and give it a read despite not knowing much about the tale of Peter Pan. I read this book on a long car ride to NYC and was in awe at how much I got sucked into it. This book, though a quick read, made my heart sink at times and I really felt for Tiger Lily (the main character). The story is basically about the girl Peter Pan met before Wendy. It honestly made me ache a little, so read with discretion if you don't want to have an emotional few days.
5. A Tree Grows In Brooklyn by Betty Smith
This one falls under the "heavier" category. I will admit, it took me a very long time to read this book, but I finished it during the summer and was extremely happy that I took my time with the story. Francie Nolan was an endearing little character that reminded me a lot of myself in some senses. The story is a bit sad and a downer at times, but it honestly is a great read worthy of however long it takes to complete. It's a story about an impoverished family in the early 1920's living in Williamsburg. Through all of the struggling, they are able to remain aspirational. If you want to read a classic book, I highly recommend this.
6. Into the Wild by Jon Krauker
I can't deny that this book does have a sad ending, but the story of Chris McCandless is inspiring. The way he lived his life and sacrificed almost everything to live that way may seem silly to some, but I found him incredibly wise and inspirational. He was a smart man who knew what he wanted. I feel very sorry that he wasn't able to continue on living his life in pursuit of adventure.
What are some of your summer reads?
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1. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling
How many times can I talk about Mindy Kaling in my blog posts before it gets old? The answer is not enough, because Mindy Kaling is impossible to get sick of. She's so inspiring and all around hilarious. This book, even though I've read it already, will be coming to the beach with me this summer so I can give it another go. So brilliant and entertaining. I cannot recommend it enough.
2. When It Happens by Susanne Colasanti
You can't go wrong with a good YA book. It's a cute book with alternating POVs that gives you insight on both the leading male and female of the book. The story is a light read, but was one of the better YA books I've read in the past couple of years. Definitely something I would bring poolside for a relaxing read.
3. Seriously…I'm Kidding by Ellen DeGeneres
Name one person sweeter and more hilarious than Ellen DeGeneres who keeps their comedy clean and kind. I dare you. This book made me LOL. I read it on the beach last summer while I was on vacation and couldn't help but giggle the entire time. Ellen is genuinely sweet and funny and this book was a great summer read. Bonus: I heard that she reads the audiobook version herself. How great would it be to hear somebody read their own book?! Especially if that somebody is Ellen.
4. Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson
I had never seen Peter Pan until a few months ago and I've never read the book, either. For some reason, I decided to pick up this book and give it a read despite not knowing much about the tale of Peter Pan. I read this book on a long car ride to NYC and was in awe at how much I got sucked into it. This book, though a quick read, made my heart sink at times and I really felt for Tiger Lily (the main character). The story is basically about the girl Peter Pan met before Wendy. It honestly made me ache a little, so read with discretion if you don't want to have an emotional few days.
5. A Tree Grows In Brooklyn by Betty Smith
This one falls under the "heavier" category. I will admit, it took me a very long time to read this book, but I finished it during the summer and was extremely happy that I took my time with the story. Francie Nolan was an endearing little character that reminded me a lot of myself in some senses. The story is a bit sad and a downer at times, but it honestly is a great read worthy of however long it takes to complete. It's a story about an impoverished family in the early 1920's living in Williamsburg. Through all of the struggling, they are able to remain aspirational. If you want to read a classic book, I highly recommend this.
6. Into the Wild by Jon Krauker
I can't deny that this book does have a sad ending, but the story of Chris McCandless is inspiring. The way he lived his life and sacrificed almost everything to live that way may seem silly to some, but I found him incredibly wise and inspirational. He was a smart man who knew what he wanted. I feel very sorry that he wasn't able to continue on living his life in pursuit of adventure.
“The very basic core of a man's living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.”
- Christopher McCandless
What are some of your summer reads?
I recently read Mindy Kaling's book! It was so good! I didn't really know much about her (except that she was from The Office) but I really enjoyed her writing style and hilarious anecdotes!
ReplyDeleteI also read this book called "Making Faces" by Amy Harmon and it was fantastic. I would highly recommend it! It's definitely a heavy novel but there are so many beautiful words and the whole story is heart wrenchingly perfect!