Top 5 Summertime Reads

Poor a glass of lemonade & turn on the A.C. 

Summer has arrived.

Personally I am a way bigger fan of Autumn and actually get burnt out on Summer pretty quickly into the season. The air gets so heavy & thick at times, even breathing becomes a chore. Kentucky Summers can be brutal, y'all. Thankfully I can still do my favorite activity (reading, of course) without breaking too much of a sweat. And I'll admit, there is something very nice about reading whilst relaxing poolside. I imagine it's also lovely to read on the beach during Summer, but sadly I live here. Surrounded by land. (Definitely must change that ASAP.) 

Getting back to the point, Summer's most redeemable quality for me is the type of book it brings along with it: The Summertime Contemporary. These books are generally set during the Summer, in a summery town, with Summer-ish activities going on, & Summer romances blooming all around. I love these kind of stories & they make the heat filled months way more bearable. 

With that said, I shall now recommend to you my Top 5 Summertime Reads. Some of these books I have read recently and some I have reread many times over the years. Each one radiates summertime & goes oh-so-well with sunglasses & sunshine. They're perfect for summer vacations or trips to the pool. They're also perfect for sitting in your air-conditioned house while the sun beats down on those poor fools who remain outside. 

Whatever the case may be, these books are sure to provide you with hours of entertainment all Summer long. 

5.  

Coming in at number 5 on my list is The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks. To be honest, I read this one so long ago that I can't remember much about it. I just remember that I LOVED it. The main character, Ronnie, leaves her city life to spend a summer with her father in North Carolina (at his beach house obviously, I mean look at the beachy goodness all over the cover of this book). Ronnie & her father have had a troubled relationship for the past 3 years, since her parent's divorce. As the Summer unfolds she learns more about her father, herself, and even experiences the bittersweet taste of first love. 

The Last Song is an absolutely beautiful story that will yank on your heart strings big time. I love how the summary on Goodreads puts it: "The tale that unfolds is an unforgettable story about love in its myriad forms - first love, the love between parents and children - that demonstrates, as only a Nicholas Sparks novel can, the many ways that deeply relationships can break our hearts... and heal them."

Well, I think I just convinced myself to reread this book asap. Care to join me??

4.

Number 4 on my list is Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson. This book is Morgan Matson's most recently published work of art. (Published May 6th, 2014). The day it hit stores I ran right out and gobbled it up. I was so eager for this book because Matson is currently my favorite author of contemporary YA novels. She is a master at her craft & I love her work so, so much. 

Since You've Been Gone's main character, Emily, is an introverted, meek, quiet girl. But her best friend, Sloane, is exactly the opposite: outgoing, loud, & very, very bold. As long as Sloane is by her side, Emily feeds off her confidence & tags along on her many adventures. But as soon as Summer begins, Sloane & her family disappear leaving a confused and hurt Emily in a daze of unanswered questions. As she tries to figure out why Sloane would have abandoned her without a word, she receives a bizarre to-do list in the mail... From Sloane. The list is packed with wild & scary tasks Emily would never dream of doing. But what if it will lead her to Sloane? 

I adore the way Morgan Matson can write a sweet summertime contemporary but yet it's not just a fluffy piece of cake you enjoy & then forget about. Her stories are always overflowing with depth & beautiful self-growth. Since You've Been Gone is a fantastic summer read that will teach you about self-confidence & friendship, while showing you how to pull off some pretty uncomfortable dares along the way. 

PS: This cover is so fun! And there's even an awesome poster on the inside of the dust jacket! *Bonus Points*

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We are down to the Top 3! I am excited to tell you about this next one. Third on the list is actually a whole trilogy. These three books radiate summertime page after glorious page. The Summer Series by Jenny Han starts with The Summer I Turned Pretty, followed by It's Not Summer Without You, and concludes with We'll Always Have Summer. 

The series begins when "Belly" (short for Isabel) is about 16. Every Summer since she can remember, Belly & her mom have spent summers at the beach house they share with her mom's best friend, Suzannah, and her two sons, Conrad & Jeremiah. But this Summer is different. Belly is no longer a little girl & everyone can't help but notice. She's always had a huge crush on Conrad & this Summer it finally seems like he may be feeling the same way... along with his brother, Jeremiah. 

I flew through this series. I seriously could not put it down. I read all three books in less than two weeks. (And I would have finished faster if I didn't have to do mundane things like sleep or eat or go to work.) I kicked off my Summer this year with these books & they could not have been a more perfect choice. Not only did I feel like I was at the beach the whole time I was reading them, but the story was awesome. The first one is a bit light & fluffy, but the second and third deal with much tougher issues. I fell in love with the characters & the environment their story takes place in. My only complaint is that there wasn't more! I would kill for a fourth book to this series! Pleeeeease, Jenny Han, Pleeeeeeease????

2.

Second from the top is my absolute favorite contemporary novel to date. Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson is... well, epic! As I have previously mentioned (see #4) Morgan Matson can do no wrong in my book. Her talent at writing a fantastic, fun contemporary tale that drives home a deep, thought-provoking message is flawless. And in my opinion, Amy & Roger's Epic Detour is her best work yet.

In this summertime story, Amy's mother has moved across the country and left Amy with the task of driving the car from California to Connecticut. However, Amy hasn't been behind the wheel since her father died in a car accident a few months prior. This is where Roger comes in. Roger, an old family friend also needing to make the long journey, offers to drive with Amy. Her mother has laid out a meticulous map of the road trip they are to take... but sometimes going your own way is better than following the rules. 

I can't say enough good things about this book. The characters are so genuine & realistic. To experience this cross country trip with them is a joy. Morgan Matson took this road trip to do research for the book so you'll find actual pictures & mementos throughout the pages, making the journey even more real for the reader. Fantastic playlists are included too!

PS: On Morgan Matson's website (Click Here) there is a link that enables you to listen to said playlists for free! *Bonus Points*

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I love all of the books on this list & think each one is perfect for summer. But, The Sisterhood of The Traveling Pants series (by Ann Brashares) I have loved the longest. I started reading this series in my early teenage years and have reread it many, many times. At first, I reread each book to prepare for the newest book in the series to be released. Now,  I reread them because I simply love the story they tell. (The look of my blog is actually based on the font of the title of these books!)

The first book, The Sisterhood of The Traveling Pants, introduces us to the four main characters as they begin the summer of their sixteenth year. Lena, Tibby, Carmen, & Bridget have been best friends their entire lives and this summer is the first summer they'll ever spend apart. Right before departing for their different adventures, they stumble upon a pair of pants. The Traveling Pants: A magical pair of blue jeans that happens to fit four differently-shaped girls perfectly. The girls cling to the pants as a symbol of their sisterhood. They vow to rotate wearing them for the summer and document what magical events take place while wearing them. 

Now, I'm not naive. I know the premise of this series sounds a bit silly (especially if you're over the age of 16). But I promise you this series is about SO much more then a pair of pants. As soon as you start reading them you quickly discover (along with the main characters) that these summers are about so much more than a pair of reality-defying pants. Over the course of four summers, the girls grow into young women & experience life at its best and life at its hardest. I absolutely adore these characters & their stories. Every book is loaded with emotional life lessons, taking the reader from tears to laughter as each chapter passes. I reread this series every couple of years and each time it feels like I'm coming home in a literary way. I am currently listening to the audiobook versions for the first time and would highly recommend them, as the narrators capture the tone perfectly.  I would genuinely love to hear the opinion of someone reading these books for the first time at an older age. I never know if they resonate so much with me because I started them when I was young. So, if that you- leave me a comment letting me know! 

PS: If you've watched the movie versions, just know the books are different. The second movie is a collaboration of the last three books. Also, there is a fifth book to this series. Sisterhood Everlasting takes place many years after the fourth book and picks up with the girls as adults... and I hate it. It's very dark and heavy and honestly not enjoyable at all. (In my opinion of course.) I don't find it necessary and never plan on reading it along with the series again. 

Alright! Those are my Top 5 Summertime Reads! I hope you'll check them out. Please let me know if you do! I'd love to know you're thoughts and if they enhanced your Summer at all. Also, let me know what your favorite Summer reads are. I am always looking for new suggestions & would love to add more books to my never ending TBR list :)

Happy Summer reading!

Jes