5 Excellent Summer Reads
Olivia Páez is a Cuban-American girl studying journalism. When she’s not writing articles for her classes, you can probably find her devouring a novel or watching a classic film. Along with reading and watching films, she has a hodgepodge of interests. Some of them include writing, sketching, traveling, dressing up as some of her favorite characters, and caring for the environment.
Summer is in full swing, so that means it’s time to sit back, relax, and pick up a great novel. Whether you’re on the beach, on a road trip, or in your favorite book nook at home, here are some novels for readers to fall head over heels in love with this summer.
While some of these novels don’t take place during the summer, every single one of these stories provided me with the feeling of happiness and got me in the mood for warm days full of laughter, friends, and of course, books!
The Way You Make Me Feel by Maurene Goo
Maurene Goo’s newest release is the perfect summer read. This cute young adult contemporary novel follows a rebellious teen named Clara who is living in Los Angeles with her single father. One day, Clara pulls a prank in her high school, and is then told to spend her summer working alongside her school rival in her father’s Korean-Brazilian food truck. Told through hilarious dialogue and heartwarming moments, this book is the perfect read if you are looking for a lighthearted story filled with blossoming friendship, romance, and a close bond between Clara and her quirky father.
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
There’s no better time to read Jenny Han’s contemporary novel because it is being adapted into a Netflix original that will air in August! This young adult contemporary series follows a girl named Lara Jean who writes letters to all her crushes in hopes of getting over her feelings for them. One day, all those letters secretly get mailed to her crushes, forcing her to deal with past loves and new ones along the way. Han really is the queen of writing cutesy stories that are perfect for hot summer days spent at the beach!
Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas
Dangerous Girls is a thriller that readers can devour in one sitting. This young adult novel follows Anna, who spends spring break in Aruba with friends and her closest companion, Elise. Things immediately turn south when Elise’s dead body is found in their vacation house. All eyes turn to Anna as the main suspect for the murder of her best friend, and she is forced to fight for her freedom while the truth of that night gets revealed to the reader through flashbacks. If you’re looking for a novel that will keep you up at night waiting to see what happens next, Dangerous Girls is the book for you.
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Nothing’s better than diving into a fiery fantasy novel full of secrets, lies, war, and deceit. An Ember in the Ashes follows Elias, an Empire soldier who is forced to fight for a cause he doesn’t believe in. Meanwhile, a girl named Laia disguises herself as a slave and spies on one of the strongest military academies, in hopes of finding a way to rescue her captured brother with the help of rebel spies. In a series that never has a dull moment, this is fantasy world inspired by ancient Rome is one that readers will not forget.
Vicious by V.E. Schwab
While this novel isn’t set during the summer, I happened to read it on the beach one summer and I could not put it down. This story follows two college roommates, Victor and Eli, who conduct experiments and realize that, when someone has a near-death experience, they gain supernatural abilities. Flash forward ten years and these men are now enemies. Victor is trying to reconnect with Eli, who’s killing everyone who has superpowers. This Slytherin-esque novel will take you on a journey full of villainy and deception which leaves readers in awe of the two morally grey characters.
