One of my absolute favorite things about summer is having the time to read more books. I try to read as much as I can all year long, but during the school year, I fall drastically behind. My “To Read” list at the beginning of the summer is a mile long, and although I didn’t make my way through its entirety this summer, I did manage to read a few books that stood out and deserve to be shared.
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Short Stories: One More Thing (Stories and Others) By B.J. Novak
I rarely read short stories that I don’t come across in a magazine or online. However, over the summer, one of my friends raved about how much she enjoyed short stories, especially during the school year when she realized that she was too busy to commit to a long plot line. She recommended this book because we are both huge fans of The Office, a TV show on which the author B.J. Novak wrote for and starred in. I was beyond impressed with this book. The subtle wit and humor that I enjoy so much from The Office was present in every story, with unique plot lines that were easy to grip onto. I highly recommend delving into short stories if you find yourself too overwhelmed for a long plot line.
2. YA Fiction: The Geography of Lost Things by Jessica Brody
I am a firm believer that someone is never “too old” for YA. A majority of the books that I read are actually YA novels, so I consider myself quite the unofficial expert. While I enjoy almost all of my YA adventures, every now and then one of them stands out and truly blows me away. The Geography of Lost Things was definitely one of those books. This fun, romantic, heartfelt, and exciting the book follows Ali and Nico up the West Coast as they drive to sell a vintage car that her father left her will pull you into the adventure with them. If you enjoy books by Sara Dessen and Morgan Matson, Jessica Brody should be the next author on your list.
3. Fiction: The Stepford Wives By Ira Levin
Many people wouldn’t guess this about me, but Ira Levin is one of my favorite authors of all time. Best known for his novel, Rosemary’s Baby, Levin has published seven novels and nine plays. I finally got around to reading The Stepford Wives this summer and I truly think the man is a genius. Not to mention one of the few male authors who can write a female character in a way that does not annoy me. Stephen King called Levin, “the Swiss watchmaker of suspense novels, he makes what the rest of us do look like cheap watchmakers in drugstores.” The Stepford Wives is a short and simple read that will leave you with an eerie chill when you’ve finished.
4. Fantasy: The Seas By Samantha Hunt
I came across this book while I was browsing the bookstore in LGA on my way home for the summer. Not having $20 to spend on an airport book, I snapped a picture of the cover to check out from my local library when I got home. I will be the first to admit that I have a slight obsession with mermaids. Therefore, the plot line of this book about a girl living in a remote seaside town whose father tells her she is a mermaid before disappearing, was too good for me to resist. I was blown away by the unique prose and imagery of this story. I can honestly say it was unlike anything I had ever read before. If you would like to read a book that is raw, beautiful, gripping, and fantasmic, I cannot stress enough that this is the book for you.
5. YA Fiction: All The Bright Places By Jennifer Niven
I came across this book because it was on my little sister’s summer reading list. Much to my dismay, my sister does not love books as much as I do. In order to help her through her reading list, I offered to read the books with her so we could discuss them. From what I remember from high school, required reading was tedious, so I was not expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did. All The Bright Places is a story about a boy named Finch and a girl named Violet who meet each other on the top of their school’s belltower and form an unlikely friendship. If you enjoy John Green books, this book will give you that same wistful and bittersweet teenage feel.
6. Fiction: Nine Women, One Dress By Jane L. Rosen
As some of us may know, the right dress can change your life! I sped through this book in one day and enjoyed every minute of it. A fun and simple read, this book quite obviously follows the stories of one dress as it influences the lives of nine women. Weaving in and out of different characters lives and plot points, the structure of this book is unique and attention-grabbing, making it the perfect weekend read.
As much as I wish I had the opportunity to read even more books this summer, I’m so grateful for the ones that I did read. These books inspired me, made me laugh, expanded my library and altogether brightened my summer.