Happy June! Summer is (basically) here and I'm so ready for all of the Summery reads ahead!
Jealous of all of you in the south and west who are already done with the school year - we still have four weeks to go (blah). I'm so excited about my Summer reading plans, though! Here's some that I've either already read and got seriously Summery vibes from, or that I'm really looking forward to diving into very, very soon!
If I missed anything I need to know about, do let me know!!
All the seasons inspire their own version of mood reading for me,
so if you've got something quintessentially summer to share, I need to know about it!
Sunkissed by Kasie West
I've read this one already and it's such a great summer read! I love YA, so if that's not your cup of tea you may not like it as much as I did, but there's so much to love. Avery is dragged on a two-month wifi-less family vacation to a resort in the middle of the woods. There she decides to broaden her horizons and try new things with the help of a hunky resort employee. This book has Dirty Dancing vibes (although more innocently) with all the satisfaction of self-discovery and secret romance set in a resort atmosphere. All the summertime goodness in this one.
Float Plan by Trish Doller
Anna embarks on an adventurous sailing trip through the caribbean that she was supposed to take with her late fiance. She takes the trip in his honor, but soon discovers that she can't do it on her own. She decides to hire an experienced sailor who helps her navigate the ocean as well as her sadness. Their relationship evolves as they travel together and experience life and culture at each of their stops. I've read this one too and really loved being transported to their tropical destinations as they sailed along. There are a lot of boating/sailing terms that I did not connect with so I had a hard time picturing their time on the boat, but that wasn't too much of a hinderance. It's a great book for taking a trip when you can't actually take one!
Looking for summer camp vibes? This is the one. In this book, you get to follow Abby to summer camp as she accepts a job as a camp counselor. Part of her motivation to spend her summer this way is to spend the time connecting with the sister she never knew she had. Her DNA test results matched with a local famous Instagrammer and the pair are determined to find out what happened in their mutual past. At the same time, her best friend (and unrequited crush) is one of the cooks at the same camp, and they have some things of their own to work through together. There's drama, there's romance, there's a little bit of mystery, but most importantly, there's the ultra-summery vibes of experiencing it all at camp.
This is book two in a series (the first of which, Island Affair, I haven't yet read and have listed below under backlist books). This story has a prodigal son flare - Alejandro returns to his hometown in tropical Key West. While there's enough drama for what this means for him and his family, he's also got the added complication of running into his old flame - the one he left behind when he decided to travel without her. Their flame hasn't gone out, though, and they soon find that their attraction to each other still exists. I can't wait to watch this unfold in the summery tropics!
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
TJR is one of my favorite authors - anything new she comes out with automatically makes it onto my list but I'm extra-excited for the summertime mixed with socialite vibes in this one. Set in 1980's California, the famous Riva family is throwing their annual end of summer party and bringing a whole lot of drama along as their guests. The party gradually flies off the rails, and by the end of it, their mansion is a pile of ashes. This book makes us guests with front row seats for the drama, and I can't wait to attend! (I just ordered this one from BOTM this morning, yay!)
If you're looking for something with travel, a bit of angsty romance, and a bunch of unexpected laughter - this is the one for you. It was adventure and traveling mishaps and unrequited feelings - all of which I expected. But it was also hilarious! I really didn't expect to laugh as many times as I did, and the witty banter between long-term friends and travel buddies Poppy and Alex was so, so fun to be a part of. You find yourself rooting for them as the timeline shifts between past and present, but also just grateful to be present for their realistic and humorous conversations. SUCH a good summertime book!
I think this is third release by Beth O'Leary and I've loved her previous books so much! This time we get to go along on a road trip with Addie and his sister as they travel to a friend's wedding. The kicker is that shortly after they set out on their adventure, they end up in a car accident with Addie's ex. The pair haven't spoken in years, but now they're stuck together for the rest of the drive as Addie had no choice but to offer him a ride. This sounds like the very best kind of angst while on a fun traveling adventure and I am here for it!
The Summer Job by Lizzy Dent
This book sounds like one of those "so ridiculous it's good" Hallmark movies. Birdy pretends to be her best friend as she works at a Scottish hotel over the Summer. Only she not only has to pretend do know what she's doing with her job, she has to carry on with her false identity as she strikes up a romance with the hotel's chef. I have a feeling this is a perfectly lighthearted Summer book with the classic rom com happy ending, and I'm here for it.
So I grabbed this one as a BOTM pick thinking it was going to scream Summer, and I'm sure it is. But then I saw an ad for it that said it was Dirty Dancing meets Schitt's Creek and oh my gosh, I'm SO excited! For Decades, the Golden Hotel was the vacation destination of the Catskills. Over the years, though, it has lost its luster, and the two families who run the place have to make some hard decisions about its fate. Everyone wants a say in the hotel's fate, and it stirs up all kinds of drama and secrets. Angst set in a summery vacation spot sounds pretty perfect.
I love stories about Hollywood because they are such an exciting departure from my actual life. This one focuses on a divorced couple of superstars who were cast in the same movie that's being filmed on a remote island in the Caribbean. As if that's not enough drama, a hurricane comes to spice things up! This sounds so dramatic and extravagant and I can't wait to read it!
I included this book because it takes place in lake town. In fact it reminded me a lot of the 1,000 Islands in upper New York State (if you are familiar). I pictured Alexandria Bay the whole time I read it. The story is focused on Josie and Lucky - a pair of best friends that were separated at 12 when Josie's mom abruptly moved them away. Josie and her mom came back to town to help run their family book shop for the Summer, and Josie and Lucky try to mend the space between them. There's a lot of drama and confusion about the past swirling around their newly patched up relationship, and while that's the story to be told here, I loved hanging out in the vibe of a town that's based around lake life.
And a few backlist....
Island Affair by Priscilla Oliveras
So this is book one to the above's Anchored Hearts, but it doesn't seem like the series follows the same characters. Possibly just some crossover or maybe happening in the same area of Key West. This one involves a fake to real relationship, though, which is my favorite romance trope of all time! So, YES to this one, asap. Can't believe it's taken me so long!
The Summer I Met Jack by Michelle Gable
I fully intended to read this one last summer (and was told that the writing is incredible), but I never did get around to it. This is slightly apart from my usual tastes, and I just get the feeling that it's best enjoyed on a quiet patio on vacation or something. A book to be savored, ya know? This is a fictional story based on reality, about the affair between John F Kennedy and Alicia Corning Clark. Their marriage was forbidden by JFK's father, so Alicia went on to find happiness in Hollywood and Rome, rising in popularity and connections as she went. I don't know the actual history behind this story, but I think it sounds exciting and dramatic in all the ways one might imagine when dating someone prominent in politics. Also - some of the book is set in Hyannisport, and I've been there, so I'm excited about that little detail, too!
Well Met by Jen DeLuca
I read this one last Summer and really liked it! It's centered around a Renaissance fair, and while I have no experience or connection to those I've always thought the camaraderie and playfulness at them sounds like a lot of fun. It was fun to go along to the fair with Emily each day, and even more fun to watch her relationship with the faire's curmudgeon blossom. Their angsty, hate-to-love romance was my favorite part! If you want to feel like you're off to enjoy your summer at the faire, this is a great book for that!
A lot of other good ones come to mind, though, so if you still want more - check out some of my older posts on Summer books.
2020: 19 Summer Books For the Mood Reader
2019: Summer Books I'm Excited About
2015: The Perfect Fun, Light Reads for Summer
Enjoy, and let me know if you find something you love!
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