Summer is on its way and that may mean two things; you either have a lot of down time or your life gets super hectic. Either way, if you do have a day to relax by the pool or inside air conditioning, here are some easy summer reads that I have personally enjoyed:
Eleanor and Park
This is a heartbreaking story between two awkward high schoolers. There is a lot of difficulties that Eleanor faces and Park is a little naïve. I love how the author takes two imperfect people and creates something beautiful from it. Even if it’s not the happiest story, it’s definitely one of my favorite reads!
The Fault in Our Stars
If you haven’t read this super popular book, give it a chance. It’s the story of Hazel and Gus, who meet at a cancer support group. They connect over books and go on an awesome adventure together. Although the ending is quite upsetting, it’s still a magical story of a cute couple.
All the Bright Places
This story about mental illness and the people suffering from it, is an intriguing one. Finch and Violet meet on top of the bell tower at school. They both consider jumping off, but save one another from doing so. They begin an adventure together for a school assignment and become close. The author touches on some very heavy themes, but it is a great story and an interesting read.
If I Stay
The story follows a young cellist named Mia who has to make a choice to live or die alongside her family after a horrific car accident that left her in a coma. She has an out of body experience to give her the chance to make her choice. This story is full of painful issues as well as a lot of hope and happiness. A love story also unfolds.
To Kill a Mockingbird
Scout lives with her brother, Jem, and their father, Atticus in Alabama. They have an obsession with the Radley Place and the scary guy that lives there, Boo Radley. They start finding treasures in a tree on the property until it gets filled with cement. With Atticus being a lawyer, a huge case unfolds with a black man and white woman who lies about being raped. A lot of other things unfold, but it’s an intense story with a lot of speculation. This is one of my all-time favorite stories, having also been assigned in 9th grade English class.
A Thousand Splendid Suns
This historical fiction story is a little intense but tells the story of Mariam, a young girl who lives in a small village with her mother. She is the daughter of a wealthy businessman who lives in a nearby city. After her mother’s suicide, she is sent to live with her father and soon gets married off to an abusive shoemaker. There is a lot of heartache and surprises throughout, as well as very scary moments with the Taliban in Kabul, but it is an intense story that is worth the read.These books have all been read by me and I thoroughly enjoyed each one, including the ones that were assigned to me for a class. I think they all have interesting life lessons and give great perspectives on what other people face in the world.