Summer reading lists growing up were the worst. I absolutely loathed it. I thought the lists were bad in middle and even elementary school, but they paled in comparison to the high school lists. Every single one of my classes had books assigned, including math classes, it was ridiculous. And, frankly, the books were never as enjoyable as the books we read during the year for some reason. I used to cram the reading into the last two weeks of summer (because we had tests on the first day of school and the books had to be freshly read for a good grade), which really ended summer vacations on a sour note.
Did you/do you feel the same way?
I’ve put together a fun summer reading list. These are all books I’ve personally read and think would make for light and enjoyable summer reading. Great for planes, long afternoons at the park or beach, and long nights when you just don’t want to fall asleep yet.
I’ve written about most of these books already, but I just finished Big Little Lies. Arguably one of the best books I’ve read this year. Entertaining, funny, a great plot. The author balanced big topics with a quippy tone that made it a very light, enjoyable read even if the actual plot was a little dark. I also loved that it was set in Australia. I read a lot of it with an accent in my head, ha! It’s so good, in fact, that it’s supposedly getting picked up for an HBO mini-series with Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman!
I've never had assigned readings over the summer before *knock on wood*. I like using my breaks to cram in all the independent reading I didn't have time for during the school year. I've been wanting to read Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay 🙂 -Audrey | Brunch at Audrey's
Oooh I definitely want to check some of these out!! I just finished The Selection which I actually really liked and was a super quick read. My roommate absolutely loved Me Before You so that might be the first on my list!
I love when you post book recommendations! Most books are pretty enjoyable, but a truly great book is hard to come by. Not sure if you've flipped through any of these, but these are some of my favorites from last summer:
Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore, by Robin Sloan The Time In Between, by Maria Duenas Beautiful Ruins, by Jess Walter
Oh gosh I hated summer reading too but mine was never as intense as yours, no books for math class and no tests! Just a whole lot of annotating 😉 I just finished The Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing, a good read but a little lighter for summer 🙂
You should 100% read "What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding" by Kristin Newman. I cannot recommend it enough – it's hilarious, first of all, and it's got tons of travel and romantic misadventures and you just kind of want Kristin to be your best friend. (She's a sitcom writer for shows like That 70s Show which explains the hilarity.) I hope you'll give it a read; you won't be disappointed!
Since you enjoyed "Big Little Lies" you would probably enjoy "A Hundred Summers" (Beatriz Williams) and "We Were Liars" (E. Lockhart). I finished both in a day each, classic beach reads. Both are told in a similar style of alternating perspectives and time periods, keeping you guessing as to how the story ends.
"Tiny Beautiful Things" by Cheryl Strayed is my favorite Strayed book, I couldn't recommend it highly enough! (and I loved Wild). Also, I'm reading "The Art of Fielding" by Chad Harbach, and, although it's long, I'm really loving it.
I've been slowly working on Wild, but I plan on definitely getting it done while I'm on vacation! I also want to read Paper Towns before I see the movie!
Yes please to Yes Please! I loved that book so much, and I totally agree it's perfect for a light summer read! Last summer I read Bossypants by Tina Fey, which I recommend if you haven't read it already!
Thanks for the suggestions Carly! I never minded summer reading in high school but I was lucky-I think my teachers tried really hard to make summer reading more interesting than the reading during the school year. I've been wanting to read Paper Towns and contemplating Yes Please (I've heard so many mixed reviews, I should just read it for myself, ha!)
I've been wanting to read some of these and put them on my personal summer reading list! I just finished A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams and I highly recommend! It's the perfect balance of romance, mystery, adventure and scandal, and the writing is SO good.
"Wild" is not a book I'd put on a fun summer reading list. It's definitely a great book but there are some parts that are just horrifying. Good list though!
📌 Save this post! Can’t get over the MAGIC that is @backtonature.nj’s Christmas Market during the holidays! 🎄🌟🎅🏻🧣The decor this year is on a new level. If you need to get into the holiday spirit (or pick up speciality gifts or more decorations for your home), 100% recommend making the drive! It’s worth it ❄️
When you don’t actually feel cute but then kind of end up feeling cute because you put a bow in your hair, slipped into a dress that fits, and swiped on your favorite red lipstick 💋 @hillhouse @annmashburn 🎥 by @carterfish, maybe I’ll post the video without music so you can hear her hyping me up, because you can’t imagine the crowd the bore witness to the making of this Reel 🫣
And then there were three ❤️❄️🎄🌟⛸️ Needlepoint stockings are a huge undertaking… they take hours (and hours and hours) of stitching. The final results are more than worth the effort though. These will hang on our mantle every Christmas and I can’t think of anything more special than that. I finished Mike’s stocking at the end of the summer after stitching almost every night for seven months. I am taking a little break and then I’ll start on the baby’s stocking for next Christmas!! 🥹
This tree feels extra special this year. 🎄💫⛸️❤️🕯️ Jack is fully embracing the magic of Christmas (“kiss miss”) and his enthusiasm is downright contagious!
Not one of my best qualities, but I typically feel immense pressure trying to make things feel extra special and perfect and then I get disappointed when the reality doesn’t live up to my (unrealistic) expectations. I wish I could blame social media for this.... but I know the call is coming from inside the house.
This tree seems perfect to me, though, just the way it is. It was a true group effort getting it here. Another one of my not-so-great qualities is that I’m terrible at asking for help when I need it.... this year, I can’t ignore it though. I needed help, and a lot of it. Mike got every holiday storage box up from the basement (no small feat) and hoisted the into the house and got it up in the stand within minutes (then redid it twice to get the angle of the tree just so); my mom and I took multiple trips to the hardware store and drug store for the “right” colored lights (in case you’re wondering, “bright white” is warm yellow and “warm white” is actually bright white... make it make sense); my mom wrapped the tree in lights a second time when we learned the hard way that when the box says you can’t plug in more than five strands together they mean it; and Jack was there to help and hype us all up to say how “boo-full” the tree and lights are– and keeping us in line by scolding and reminding us that we aren’t allowed to touch the ornaments 🤭
I feel a little pang of sadness that we aren’t celebrating a first Christmas with a baby who was supposed to be here, while also struggling through a third trimester (just feeling physically tired and exhausted), while also cherishing our last Christmas as a family of three, while also getting excited knowing our baby will be here before we know it. Sure, it’s a lot of pressure to put on one single tree, yet here I am. ⭐️
Spent the weekend decking the halls 🎄 the garland is up, the tree is up, the wreaths are up! Fueled by three peppermint mochas, one bag of Milanos peppermint slices, one batch of chocolate chip cookies, and one loaf of zucchini bread… my mom and I got it done 🙏🏻
These boots are TOTALLY made for walking! Taking a spin in @stuartweitzman’s iconic 5050 Bold Boot and feeling like an it girl, who happens to value both fashion and comfort! ⭐️ Take advantage of #StuartWeitzman’s Black Friday sale with an extra 25% off full-price and sale styles with code FORYOU25! (Select exclusions apply; through 11/27) This *rarely* happens!! I’ve linked this exact pair of 5050 Bold Boots in the @shop.ltk app! You can shop the boots and a couple of my other sale picks here #liketkit https://liketk.it/4oWbB #fallfashion #swpartner
I've never had assigned readings over the summer before *knock on wood*. I like using my breaks to cram in all the independent reading I didn't have time for during the school year. I've been wanting to read Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay 🙂 -Audrey | Brunch at Audrey's
Oooh I definitely want to check some of these out!! I just finished The Selection which I actually really liked and was a super quick read. My roommate absolutely loved Me Before You so that might be the first on my list!
Annie N Belle
Yes Please! Is on my summer reading list, although I never had to worry about those when I was in high school 🙂
xoxo, SS
The Southern Stylista
I want to read YES Please!
http://www.bonjourchiara.com
Bonjourchiara Facebook Page
I love when you post book recommendations! Most books are pretty enjoyable, but a truly great book is hard to come by. Not sure if you've flipped through any of these, but these are some of my favorites from last summer:
Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore, by Robin Sloan
The Time In Between, by Maria Duenas
Beautiful Ruins, by Jess Walter
Oh gosh I hated summer reading too but mine was never as intense as yours, no books for math class and no tests! Just a whole lot of annotating 😉 I just finished The Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing, a good read but a little lighter for summer 🙂
Kristina does the Internets
You should 100% read "What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding" by Kristin Newman. I cannot recommend it enough – it's hilarious, first of all, and it's got tons of travel and romantic misadventures and you just kind of want Kristin to be your best friend. (She's a sitcom writer for shows like That 70s Show which explains the hilarity.) I hope you'll give it a read; you won't be disappointed!
Since you enjoyed "Big Little Lies" you would probably enjoy "A Hundred Summers" (Beatriz Williams) and "We Were Liars" (E. Lockhart). I finished both in a day each, classic beach reads. Both are told in a similar style of alternating perspectives and time periods, keeping you guessing as to how the story ends.
"Tiny Beautiful Things" by Cheryl Strayed is my favorite Strayed book, I couldn't recommend it highly enough! (and I loved Wild). Also, I'm reading "The Art of Fielding" by Chad Harbach, and, although it's long, I'm really loving it.
I love Me Before You but it is the farthest thing from a "light and enjoyable read"! Sob.
Ha! Yes, you are right… I think that one falls under the "enjoyable, can't put it down, but grab the tissues" column.
I've been slowly working on Wild, but I plan on definitely getting it done while I'm on vacation! I also want to read Paper Towns before I see the movie!
<3
kimberrleigh
I strongly recommend Paris by Edward Rutherford! I can't wait to read his others like New York and London. The novels are long, but so enjoyable
Alyssa J Freitas
I really want to read Paper Towns, the movie looks so good!
xo, Liz
http://lipstickandconfetti.com
Yes please to Yes Please! I loved that book so much, and I totally agree it's perfect for a light summer read! Last summer I read Bossypants by Tina Fey, which I recommend if you haven't read it already!
http://www.yellowmondays.com/
Thanks for the suggestions Carly! I never minded summer reading in high school but I was lucky-I think my teachers tried really hard to make summer reading more interesting than the reading during the school year. I've been wanting to read Paper Towns and contemplating Yes Please (I've heard so many mixed reviews, I should just read it for myself, ha!)
I've been wanting to read some of these and put them on my personal summer reading list! I just finished A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams and I highly recommend! It's the perfect balance of romance, mystery, adventure and scandal, and the writing is SO good.
http://thegretaelise.blogspot.com/
"Wild" is not a book I'd put on a fun summer reading list. It's definitely a great book but there are some parts that are just horrifying. Good list though!
Me Before You should not be read on vacation! It will make you cry your eyes out!!
Her Heartland Soul
http://herheartlandsoul.com
Paper Towns is great!! Delirium and The Royal We are both on my "to-read" list
-Nicole
http://www.meetmeinmidtown.blogspot.com
I just read "I Was Told There'd Be Cake" – so relatable and hilarious. It has been the perfect subway read for my commute.
I loved BIG LITTLE LIES! Right now I'm reading LUCKIEST GIRL ALIVE, which is amazing.
I really liked We Were Liars by E. Lockhart! It was the perfect summer beach read! It was so good and it was sort of a suspense novel!
Anchors and Pearls
Ahh I want to read all of these!
Xo
Peyton
perfectlytayloredblog.com