If you’re like me, you have a stack of books that have been pilling up for years and you keep telling yourself that one day you’ll get to them. You look at them fondly, like each one is a precious gift that you cannot part with.

Or is that just me?

Books have been a way of life for me as long as I can remember and much to my boyfriends dismay, I keep collecting more.

But, this year I have made it my GoodReads goal to read at least 25 books by the end of 2018 and so far (as of June 2018), I have read 10. Three of these books I think are just perfect for summer time reading.

Book 1: “Perennials” by Mandy Berman

 I picked up this delicious read from my local library and read it in about two days. Yes, it was that good and yes, I highly recommend it.

You can read a review about the book here, but if you want my abridged version, continue reading.

“Perennials” is at once a novel about growing up and facing the facts of life but also about the bitter sweet serenity that summer camps have to offer.

Following the lives of Rachel and then her friend Fiona, the reader gets the chance to view how each of their lives unfolds throughout their summers at camp; going from campers to counselors themselves.

This book made me ache for those summers at camp, where you had nothing to worry about except for your mosquito bites and sunburns but it also made me realize just how different someone’s life may be under the superficial surface and that growing up can be as tough as everyone says.

Ratings Score

8/10 for it’s ability to draw you in and leave you wondering where the last 5 hours went.

Book 2: “The Girls” by Emma Cline

Another book that I picked up from the library was “The Girls” by Emma Cline. This book made waves when it was first released in 2016 and since then I have wanted to get my hands on it.

Starting from the first couple of pages, I could tell immediately that this book was going to draw me in and not let me go until I was throughly intrigued and slightly freaked out.

Set in 1969 in Northern California, this book follows the life of 14-year-old Evie Boyd. Child of divorce, Evie is left alone to ponder life in the summer before she is set to go off to boarding school.

Longing to be prettier and to essentially belong to something or someone, Evie is drawn in by a mysterious girl she meets at a gas station. When Evie gets onto a bus full of girls in long dresses, heading towards a place referred to as “the ranch,” she feels terrified but ecstatic at the same time. Little does she know what sinister events are about to take place.

This novel is about the mysticism that surrounds a cult mentality but also touches on the growing pains that come with being a fourteen year old girl.

Ratings Score

9/10 for it’s mix of chilling events and real life drama.

Book 3: “The Vacationers” by Emma Straub

Have you ever been on a vacation with your family and no matter

how hard everyone tries, something goes wrong?

“The Vacationers” by Emma Straub dives into this theme with such precision it left me feeling like I was a part of the Post family, our main characters, vacation on the island of Mallorca.

Each chapter is told from the perspective of a different member of the Post family, from moody 17- year old Sylvia to Sylvia’s mother, Franny who is struggling to come to terms with a cheating husband.

As the story unfolds, you learn about the cracks in the Post family’s life and the painful steps that must be taken to repair it.

Throw a bunch of different characters and life situations into a hypothetical home on the island of Mallorca and you got this page-turning read.

Save this read for the beach or for a quick and easy weekend read.

Ratings Score

6/10 for it’s drama and easy to read chapters.

Thoughts?

All three of these books I enjoyed in their own ways and I would love to hear what you have to say!

Have you read them, did you like them? Has this amazing review made you want to read them? Let me know in the comments.

I would love to hear what books you recommend for summer, I’m always looking to add more to my pile :).

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