And we’re back! I spent my long summer back home working, but I also tried to read as much as I could since I had way more free time than during the semester. This paid off because I read so many new favorites, including my first 5-star book of the year! Here are four of my best reads this summer, all of which I highly recommend. Â
*Note: Although a few books I read during the summer were given to me early by the publisher, all my reviews contain my honest thoughts and opinions.
- The Open Era by Edward Schmit
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That 5-star I was talking about? It’s this book — which is somehow a debut! The Open Era follows Austin, the first openly gay man to compete in a Grand Slam, and although it’s heavily marketed as a romance, it really leans more toward coming of age.Â
And Austin? He’s one of my favorite characters I’ve read in a long time. He’s only 20, and he really feels his age, which I loved. The gravity of the situation is so much greater because of his age, and the vulnerability that comes with being so young is a huge part of his character. The writing captures this perfectly too, with all the overthinking and stupid cursing in his inner dialogue. Seeing him learn and come into himself was so special, and I had the best time reading this book.
- Girls Our Age by Phoebe Thompson
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This book is girlhood personified. It’s about learning to understand yourself and your relationships. It’s about thinking life is stable and realizing it’s actually the complete opposite.
Considering I’m not quite at this stage yet (this stage being my mid-20s), wow, did it hit me hard. It takes a lot for a book to make me cry, but the tears flowed during this one. Even though the plot is just about these girls trying to figure out their lives, the feelings Thompson captures feel so authentic and rich.Â
Sometimes toeing the line between optimism and realism leans a little too optimistic, but there are also moments in life when you need that hope.
- The Will of the Many by James Islington
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Taking an almost full 180, I also read a 680-page fantasy during the summer! This tested my brain a bit just in terms of length and content, with it being high fantasy, but after a slow start, I really liked it. I was even reading 100 pages a day by the end.Â
Fair warning: there’s a bit of gore, so if that’s not your thing, maybe don’t pick this one up. But as someone who loves horror, it made the story that much more entertaining. The ending is as wild as everyone says, and I will definitely be getting to the second book soon!Â
- The Project by Annie Lord
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This book almost comes off as jarring at first because it feels so real, but that’s why I loved it so much. It’s almost as if you just happened to stumble upon the main characters — Daisy’s — life. These characters will put their foot in their mouths in conversation and make some really bad decisions, but it feels so authentic.
I’m not sure this will be everyone’s cup of tea (get it? Because it’s set in London), especially with how flawed the male main character, James, is, but I adored it. Lord has such a distinct voice, and it shows in how authentic and honestly refreshing the story and writing feel.Â
The Project is romantic, a little depressing even, underratedly funny, and it truly feels like a time capsule of what life is like right now.
In the end, I didn’t read quite as much as I had hoped this summer, but luckily, where I lacked in quantity, I ended up in quality! September is already busy as ever, so I’m always grateful for the time to read. If you’re interested in seeing real-time updates, friend me on Goodreads — I’ll be back soon to share my September reads!
What did you read last month?
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