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One of my favorite summer activities is lounging in the sun with a good book, my beach bag always has one tucked in it and I never go on vacation without 2 books. And while I more often find myself trying to read while making dinner or watching a toddler play in the yard, something about summer always makes me want to grab a pile of books, a bottle of water and my sunglasses and read outside. In fact if my husband and my son are involved in whatever manly endeavours they do in the garage, I will quietly sneak out to the yard and lay on a lounge chair and read.
This summer I’ve put together a reading list that is part serious lit and part fun.
Fun Reads:
Jessica Darling’s It List: by Megan McCafferty
I’m a huge fan of New Jersey author Megan McCafferty and consider her YA Jessica Darling series to be one of my favorite book series. It List is the prequel to Sloppy Firsts . And while this book is for ages 10 and up, I always find Megan’s books to be very insightful, funny and enjoyable. I’m looking forward to learning what happened to Jessica Darling before she met Marcus Flutie in Sloppy Firsts. If you love Judy Blume you will love Megan McCafferty.
Sisterhood Everlasting: by Anne Brashares
Remember the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants? About 4 friends who all “magically” fit into the same pair of jeans. Well Tibby, Lena, Carmen and Bridget are back in Sisterhood Everlasting which finds the girls on the cusp of turning thirty. I’ve always had a soft spot for stories about friendships and I read the first few books in this series and really enjoyed them. I’m looking forward to seeing where these girls are at 30 and if those pants still fit them all.
The Litt Reads
Dirty Love by Andre Dubus III
I had the pleasure of meeting Andre Dubus in November at an event at my local library. Andre was so not what I imagined from a NYT best seller and Oprah book club pick author. Andre was nice, funny, self deprecating and approachable. I picked this book up at his reading and haven’t been able to get into it yet. I love the title and I love the premise of three linked novellas about “disillusioned intimacy and persistent yearning”.
The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri
Every book I’ve read by Jhumpa Lahiri has been wonderful. I love her style of writing, the way she pulls you into a story and makes you care about the characters. Even her short story collections are wonderful and filled with stories that will stay with you. So needless to say I have high hope for The Lowland which is about two brothers bound by tragedy in Calcutta.
Ladder of Years by Anne Tyler
Ladder of Years is about a wife and mother who walks away from her family and is lead into a life that she never imagined. I’m fascinated by the premise of this book and wonder how the author is going to be able to make the main character likeable after she abandons her family. Of all the books on this list I’m most excited to read this one.
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
I’ve heard really great things about this book and waited over 2 months to get it from the library and then it sat on my dresser for 3 weeks because I was in the middle of my book club pick. So now I have to get it back. The Goldfinch is about a 13 year old boy who survives an accident that kills his mother and then is taken in by his wealthy friends family. Amazon calls The Goldfinch, a “stay-up-all-night and tell-all-your-friends triumph” and I just love books like that.
Bonus Book
I’m Having So Much Fun Here Without You by Courtney Maum
I came across this book on Amazon and I just loved the title. I’m Having So Much Fun Without You is a reverse love story set in Paris and London about a failed monogamist that decides he is going to win his wife back. I was on the fence about including this book because I know nothing about it and I’m not really sure what a “reverse love story” is but I’m willing to give it a shot.
What will you be reading this summer ? I would love to add it to my list.
Want to follow along with my summer reading, follow me on Good Reads.
I liked Sisterhood Everlasting.
I need to make a reading list for summer.
I look forward to reading your summer list, I always love your book suggestions.