IT’S SUMMERTIME!
Especially in summer, I always need some good books to bring with me to the pool, the beach... anywhere really.
Recently, I’ve stumbled across some really amazing books that I couldn’t put down. Here are my top 7 books that everyone should read this summer. All of these are also available on Kindle!
- Unbroken
There’s simply no other way to put it – this book is incredible. The true story of Louie Zamperini, Olympic Track Star who joins the military in World War II is one of faith, survival, redemption, and resilience. It may look like a history book, but it’s so much more than that. The book was recently made into a movie by Hollywood superstar Angelina Jolie, but the book is still worth the read! It’s definitely more than a light read, but it’s a book that will stay with you forever.
- The Consequence of Loving Colton
This one is definitely a 180 from “Unbroken,” but definitely a decent book. It’s a typical young adult romance novel, but it’s light enough that you can read it at the beach or at the poolside in the span of an afternoon. Milo, a headstrong teenager, has always loved the boy-next-door Colton, but in one weekend, everything changes for her. Definitely a summer book that you can enjoy with a nice drink of your choice, and it's good for some laughs along the way!
- Gone Girl
Gillian Flynn brings psycho-thriller to whole new level in this twisted crime book. Released in 2012 and made into a major motion picture in late 2014, “Gone Girl” is the story of Amy and Nick Dunne’s marriage, until Amy goes missing on their 5th wedding anniversary. Nick quickly becomes a suspect in the case, but through its many twists and turns, he discovers the truth about his wife and her life. You won’t be able to put it down.
- Since You’ve Been Gone
Another young adult book, it's quick poolside or beach read. When Emily’s best friend Sloane leaves town suddenly, she is at a loss for what to do – until she finds a list of tasks to accomplish. Thinking that finishing the list will bring Sloane back, Emily begins on a summer adventure that she isn’t sure she can complete. It can be a little slow-paced, but it’s definitely a book that will bring smiles and laughs on a hot summer day.
- Thirteen Reasons Why
A young-adult fiction novel released in 2007, this book is about a young girl who took her own life by drug overdose. Clay, a boy who had a crush on Hannah, comes home one day to find an anonymous package containing 7 cassette tapes from Hannah explaining why she took her own life. The tapes have instructions to send them to the next person on the list – or else another copy of the tapes will be released to the entire student body. This book takes you through every emotion you can feel while bringing up several important issues that teenagers face. A fantastic book that I would highly recommend to anyone.
- The Statistical Probability of Love at First
Sight
For those of you who love to travel, this book will be right up your alley. Hadley is on her way to her Dad’s wedding in London, but she misses her flight by 4 minutes. When she boards her new flight, she meets Oliver. A friendship quickly forms 35,000 feet over the Atlantic. The book doesn’t only deal with Hadley and Oliver – it looks into Hadley’s relationship with her father after her parents' divorce, and how that affects her everyday life. This book is another quick read that you can bring with you to the spa, pool, beach, or anywhere!
7. Dark Places
Gillian Flynn has made my list once again, but this time with her second novel (“Gone Girl” is her third.) She knows how to really twist a crime into a thriller that is unlike any other book you’ve ever read. “Dark Places” takes you on an adventure through one night in 1985 when Libby Day’s family is murdered and her brother is put in jail for the crime. Over 25 years has passed, and Libby now wonders – was it really her brother that committed the crime that left her homeless and with no family?
So hit that beach, pool, or wherever you see fit and curl up with a good book!
Feel free to add some of your favorites in the comments!
