One of my favorite parts of summer is reading books of my choice, books not selected by my professors, books that I don't need to highlight key quotes in, books that I genuinely enjoy paging through. Nothing beats curling up in a beach chair with my toes in the sand and a great book in my hands. But finding the perfect summer read isn't always easy, so I've compiled four of my must-reads this summer to give you a place to start.
1. "Me Before You" by Jojo Moyes.
Recommended for the "hopeless romantic."
"A Love Story for this generation and perfect for fans of John Green’s "The Fault in Our Stars," "Me Before You" brings to life two people who couldn’t have less in common—a heartbreakingly romantic novel that asks, What do you do when making the person you love happy also means breaking your own heart?" (Amazon.com)
I'll admit, I haven't read this one, but I'm definitely considering it. I read a really fascinating Odyssey article about the movie and the way disabled life is presented, and I high recommend at least glancing at it before you pick up the book. This writer's critique of the film made me very interested in seeing how the author outlines the plot, and the inner romantic in me can never resist a whirlwind love story.
2. The "Women's Murder Club" series by James Patterson.
Recommended for the "pseudo-detective."
"Imagine a killer who thinks, "What is the worst thing anyone has ever done?"--and then goes far beyond it. Now imagine four women --a police detective, an assistant DA, a reporter, and a medical examiner --who join forces as they sidestep their bosses to track down criminals. Known as the Women's Murder Club, they are pursuing a murderer whose twisted imagination has stunned an entire city. Their chief suspect is a socially prominent writer, but the men in charge won't touch him. On the trail of the most terrifying and unexpected killer ever, they discover a shocking surprise that turns everything about the case upside down." (Amazon.com)
I devoured this book. The series is a bit dated, approximately a decade old, by James Patterson, is a master when it comes to murder mystery, and his writing is 100-percent still relevant. I found this to be a quick and speedy read that captivated me and kept me guessing through every twist and turn!
3. "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood.
Recommended for the "English major" or the "dystopian fanatic."
"Offred can remember the days before, when she lived and made love with her husband Luke; when she played with and protected her daughter; when she had a job, money of her own, and access to knowledge. But all of that is gone now...." (Amazon.com)
I read this book for an English class last semester, but I completely forgot that it was required reading after the first chapter. Atwood presents a chilling tale of a future in which women are valued based on their ability to reproduce, and only that. It's dark, and it's haunting, but it's an incredible story of self-preservation and how every choice we make impacts someone, somewhere, even if it isn't ourselves.
4. "Cinder" by Marissa Meyer.
Recommended for the "fantasy addict" or "fairy tale lover."
"Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She's a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister's illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world's future." (Amazon.com)
I have not read this novel either, but I always pick it up when I go to Barnes and Noble and never leave with it, afraid to take the plunge into a genre I normally don't read. However, it comes highly recommended by a friend of mine, and I've decided that I must give it a try -- and you should, too.
Read any of these books already? Have another recommendation? Leave your thoughts below!
