I'm a reader, always have been and probably always will be. As much as I adore school and learning, I find that I lack the time or concentration to read books for pure enjoyment. To combat this problem, I always have a book on me during the summer.
Whether I'm sitting on a train, relaxing at the beach, or just laying outside working on my tan, I always find the energy to delve into a new story. If you see yourself having some extra time that you would like to dedicate to a new book, check out these works!
1. Sad Girls by Lang Leav
Fiction
As the debut novet for this poet, I have nothing but roaring compliments for this masterpiece. Her words never cease to amaze me as her poetry skills seep through the plot line of this complex book.
It all started with a lie that led to the suicide of a fellow classmate; battling the demons of guilt, anxiety and reckless love, the protagonist is taken on a whirlwind. Dreamy yet nail-biting, this story will always have you wanting more and I can almost guarantee you will be begging for a second book, much like me.
2. Modern Girls by Jennifer S. Brown
Fiction
Based in 1930's New York City, a late teen struggles to find her place as a Jewish woman in the work field as a book keeper in Midtown Manhattan. Everything seems perfect when she lands a job title as an accountant at an esteemed business and maintains a dreamy relationship with her hopeful future husband, but before she could blink, her life is taken on a rollercoaster with an unexpected pregnancy... and it's not her boyfriend's.
Each chapter switches between Dottie and her mother's point of views as we are taken on the trip of Rose's woes as well, as she recalls her own life changes moving from Russia at a young age, still finding her own path in this city, and becoming pregnant herself at an older age.
Abortion, lies, and suspicion surrounds this family. Who follows through with their pregnancy? What does Dottie tell her highly religious boyfriend about her adulterated child? Who marries who? Find out for yourself.
3. Tru & Nelle by G. Neri
Fiction
Although this book can be classified as juvenile, it's such a sweet, warm-hearted story of the young Truman Capote and Nelle Harper Lee as they begin their friendship in 1930's Alabama. Based on real-life stories, the young writers play pirates and even more often, Sherlock and Watson, as they run around finding themselves trouble.
If you love To Kill A Mockingbird written by Haper Lee herself, you can find connections between storylines as Lee inferences her own childhood in the novel, some of which you see in Tru & Nelle. It's a very quick, easy read so if you just want something upbeat, this book is for you.
4. Too Late by Colleen Hoover
Fiction
Colleen Hoover is a guilty pleasure for me; she writes the most dramatic love stories but as cliche as they are from time to time, something about it is so satisfying. In Too Late, undercover cop, Carter, goes to a college to bust a drug lord when he falls for that man's girlfriend, Sloan.
In a messy connection, lust, anger, and possession surrounds the triangle. Who will win in the end? What will happen when the truth comes out? Check it out for yourself!
5. Almost Adulting by Arden Rose
Self-Help
Marked by humor and real-life experience, Arden Rose offers advice to her readers about how to subside the chaos of entering the adult world. As someone who experienced her own struggles of diving in head-first, she attempts to comfort young adults who are afraid of messing up and failing at "adulting."
Her book is essentially a guide from a Youtube, blogger, and internet personality, who makes herself become ordinary as she lists every struggle and screw up she experienced when she made the shift from dependent-teen to budding grown-up. Not to mention, the artwork by Hannah Jacobs throughout the novel is adorable. And in the most Youtube styler, she created a video to tease her book:
6. Eighteen Years by Madisen Kuhn
Poetry
You may think, "Ugh poetry is not for me... it's so pretentious," but let me break something to you: it doesn't have to be. Madisen has a way of allowing you to relate to every single things she writes. This book is about the good days, the bad days, and every emotion you feel within those time slots.
From love to anxiety, she really encompasses what it means to feel each experience in a way that makes you go "...Wow she really put my thoughts into words for me." And Laura Supnik illustrates the book so you already know it's going to be stunning.
7. The Universe of Us by Lang Leav
Poetry
Before, I was talking about her novel Sad Girl, but this time I'm bringing in her poetry book, because she really is incredible. The way Leav writes is absolutely dreamy; she takes you to another land of bliss with sunset skies and plush clouds. I love the way she transports you in the matter of a few words.
She writes about love like no other; you feel every single word she writes and if you have a significant other; you are forced to feel like she is writing about you. Leav's lover is actually fellow poet Michael Faudet, and the way they write about each other will make your heart melt.
Which one will you read next?
