All winter we dreamed of warm summer nights, day trips to the beach, and being able to abandon puffy jackets for tank tops. Unfortunately, we also forgot just how hot it could get outside and there’s only so much shade you can get from the sparse amount of trees in Philadelphia. Whether you’re going home for the summer or spending it on campus, there are going to be times when just the thought of stepping out into humid weather makes you sweat. For the days when you just can’t be bothered to leave indoor air conditioning, consider catching up on some reading! Her Campus Drexel has compiled a list of summer reads ranging from the lighthearted and fluffy contemporary novel to the action packed, page-turning fantasy.
Anna & the French Kiss, Lola & the Boy Next Door, and Isla & the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
If you’re in the mood for a pick-me-up book look no further than Stephanie Perkins! Her characters will have you laughing out loud and her romances are swoon-worthy. The first book in this series, Anna & the French Kiss, follows the story of Anna Oliphant, a teenager from Georgia whose parents send her off to an American boarding school in Paris. At first she’s homesick but once she gets to know her classmates better and sees what the City of Light has to offer, she grows to love France. This young adult contemporary author infuses life into the settings of her books, making you feel as though you’re in the same places as the characters. The second book in the series, Lola & the Boy Next Door, takes place in San Francisco while the third book, Isla & the Happily Ever After, takes place in New York City and Paris. If you’re not going on vacation this summer, these books will definitely make you feel as though you did.
The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
There’s a 99.9% chance you’ve probably already read the Harry Potter books, but summer is the perfect time to reread them, especially if the plot details have gotten a little fuzzy. If you choose to reread the books, you’ll finally have an excuse to have a Harry Potter movie marathon with your friends, try out that Butterbeer recipe, and register for a Pottermore account.
Angelfall by Susan Ee (Book 1 of Penryn and the End of Days Trilogy)
Tired of The Hunger Games? Burnt out from Divergent? Angelfall is another one of the many dystopian book series out there, but the world in Angelfall is very different from District 13 and the Dauntless compound. The main character, Penryn, lives in a post apocalyptic world where fallen angels have taken over just six weeks prior to the start of the story. When a group of angels kidnaps Penryn’s little sister and steals another angel’s wings, Penryn along with the wingless angel must band together to get back the things they hold most dear.
Penryn is one of the most admirable female characters in young adult fiction. She’s tough and self-sufficient but still compassionate and loyal. Her story keeps you glued to the book from page one but the other characters are so well written that you want to learn more about them too. Want to know another amazing thing about the Penryn and the End of Days trilogy? This story keeps you on your toes. Even if you think you know what’s about to happen next in the story, you’re probably wrong. Luckily, Susan Ee just wrapped up the series so binge reading is a must.
Paper Towns by John Green
Last summer John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars book-to-movie adaptation gained box office success and The New Yorker even labeled the author as “The Teen Whisperer.” This summer, one of John Green’s other books, Paper Towns, is getting the film treatment. The movie, set to come out in July, stars supermodel Cara Delevigne and aims to attain similar accolades like The Fault in Our Stars. Paper Towns is about a boy named Quentin who has always had a crush on Margo, his mysterious and beautiful classmate and next-door neighbor. One night, Margo breaks in to Quentin’s room and proposes an adventurous plan to get revenge. This story is not as depressing as The Fault In Our Stars so no Kleenex is needed but if you liked The Fault in our Stars, you’ll probably like Paper Towns too. John Green never fails to infuse his books with a certain quirky quality.
The Darkest Minds series by Alexandra Bracken
If you combined the powers in X-Men, the tone of The Hunger Games, and a road trip, you’d have The Darkest Minds trilogy. In the first book of the series, readers are introduced to a disease known as IAAN that gives children and teenagers strange abilities that range from somewhat harmless to extremely dangerous. In fear of what their kids are now capable of, the parents of these gifted children hand them over to the government where they are put in concentration camps. Within these prison-like camps, the victims of IAAN are mistreated and live in fear. Ruby, our main character, manages to escape and runs into a group of runaways who are trying to find “The Slip Kid,” a boy with powers who can keep other children safe from the government and can teach kids how to control their powers. As depressing as the premise sounds, the book is fantastic at balancing more serious moments with funny lighthearted ones. Ruby and the runaways she travels with to find “The Slip Kid” have very witty dialogue and instead of feeling fictional, they feel very real. Once you start reading, you won’t want to put the book down.
Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson
In this book (which has no relation to the Kelly Clarkson song) Sloane, Emily’s outgoing and adventurous best friend disappears right before summer. Emily, of course, is distraught and has no plans for the summer now that her constant companion isn’t by her side anymore. One day, Emily receives a to-do list from Sloane with 13 tasks that will force Emily to get out of her comfort zone, meet new people, and just grow as a person in general. This book explores the themes of friendship and self-confidence while still remaining playful. Anyone excited for summer will enjoy this read!
Ruby Red series by Kerstin Gier
The Ruby Red trilogy was originally published in Germany and eventually was translated into 25 languages, became an international bestseller, and served as the basis for a German film! In the story, Gwen and her cousin, Charlotte, are born into a family of time travelers. Within the family, very few are born with the time traveling gene. When Charlotte was born, it was predicted that she would have the gene so she’s been training her whole life in etiquette, dance, and history to eventually be able to survive in other time periods. To everyone’s surprise, Gwen, who has no training, unexpectedly time travels during class. Not only will this series look amazing on your shelves (the pictures don’t do it justice) but it will also make you laugh! These books are pure fun and you’ll be able to fly through each book within a few hours.
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
If you’ve just finished your freshman year at Drexel, this book should be required reading! Fangirl is the story of a girl named Cath who spent her time in high school obsessing over the famous Simon Snow book series (which is the equivalent of this world’s Harry Potter) even going as far as to write fan fiction based on the books. When she goes to college, Cath’s sister is no longer interested in Simon Snow and she doesn’t want to be roommates with her. Cath now has to adapt to college life including having an outspoken roommate and a professor who doesn’t appreciate Cath’s fan fiction hobby, all without having her sister by her side. This book will make you reminisce about your first year at Drexel including the initial fear of going to the dining hall by yourself and the nervousness of meeting your random roommate for the first time! Not to mention, the romance is adorable.
Summer is the perfect time to catch up on some great books! Not only will this give you a reprieve from your much-abused Netflix account but if you’re a freshman, reading gives you something to do when all your friends from home go back to school in August. These stories are thrilling, heartwarming, and will transport you to new worlds. Happy reading!