Don't get me wrong; I love laying out on the beach or by my pool, but I have a tendency of getting bored. I can only nap for so long or listen to my summer playlist so many times before the boredom gets to me. I love to read, but I never have time to read for pleasure during the school year. Here's a list of books on my summer reading list -- both classic summer reads and new releases.
1. "The Summer I Turned Pretty," by Jenny Han.
This is my favorite series to read in the summer! The series follows Isabel, "Belly" for short, through summers that she spends with her brother, her mom, and her mom's best friend with two sons.
2. "Me Before You," by Jojo Moyes.
Soon to be a movie, the book tells the story of Louisa, a girl in need of a job, who becomes a caretaker for Will, a man who has become disabled from an unfortunate accident. The romantic movie is set to come out in theaters on June 3.
3. "Unashamed," by Lecrae.
4. "See Me," by Nicholas Sparks.
Nicholas Sparks' books are just the best summer reads. Colin is giving his second chance all he's got. With a history of violence and bad decisions, the threat of prison is stalking him, so he's focused on getting his teaching degree. Maria is the daughter of Mexican immigrants with a Duke law degree and a job at Wilmington. Even though she's the picture of success, she has a traumatic past of her own. A chance encounter brings the two of them together. Will love grow around the demons of their pasts?
5. "Pride and Prejudice," by Jane Austen.
This is definitely one of my favorite books. If you've seen the movie, but haven't read it, I would highly recommend it!
6. "Made to Crave," by Lysa Terkeurst.
A dear friend recommended this book to me a few summers ago, but I haven't had a chance to read it yet. This book goes through a woman's desire to be healthy but her lack of the spiritual empowerment to do it. We were made to crave God; He designed us that way. If you're struggling with bad habits, the "I'll start Monday" cycle, then this is the book for you.
7. "Esther: It's Tough Being a Woman," by Beth Moore.
Beth Moore leads the reader on a journey through Esther in this nine-week Bible study. If you've ever felt inadequate, threatened or pushed into an overwhelming situation, this is the book for you.
8. "#Struggles," by Craig Groeschel.
I bought this book around Christmas and have yet to finish it because the topics Groeschel discusses take some time to digest. He's the pastor of the church that created the YouVersion Bible app. In his book he talks about following Jesus in a world that is so focused on social media and selfishness. With topics such as envy, cultivating intimacy and cultivating gratitude amidst social media, this book is truly life-changing.
