HAPPY SUMMER BOOK-A-PALOOZA

In honor of this ‘holiday’ that we completely made up, we read a bunch of summer themed books and decided to drop them all on one day. We hope you find something you might enjoy. Happy reading! And happy summer!

INVISIBILITY

BY ANDREA CREMER, DAVID LEVITHAN

Stephan is a teenage boy living in New York City. He reads books, goes the park, and loves people watching. But nobody can actually see Stephan—he’s invisible. Until his new neighbor, Elizabeth, starts talking to him in the hall. That’s never happened before…

I’ve decided I should probably stop reading books that I randomly find and think I might have read before. If I don’t remember what it was about, I probably didn’t like it the first time and really won’t like it the second time. That’s what happened here.

CHECK OUT OUR FULL BOOK REVIEW OF INVISIBILITY HERE

THAT SUMMER

BY SARAH DESSEN

Haven’s life seems to be changing too fast. Between her Dad getting remarried, her sister getting married, and her mom changing right before her eyes, Haven has to discover who she wants to be in her “new” world.

I think I had a hard time with this book because the main character, Haven, is only fifteen years old. This story also lacked the overarching “love” storyline that is usually present in Sarah Dessen’s books. I missed having that to root for.

CHECK OUT OUR FULL BOOK REVIEW OF THAT SUMMER HERE

THE TRUTH ABOUT FOREVER

BY SARAH DESSEN

Macy has spent the past year and a half trying to be perfect. She has the perfectly ironed clothes, the perfectly parted hair, and the perfectly controlled attitude. She also has the perfect summer plans: filling in for her perfect boyfriend at his library job. Then, on a whim, she decides to accept the offer of a not so perfect job at a not so perfect catering company.

Yep. I loved it. This was another beautiful work of art by Sarah Dessen and another one of my favorites. I loved the storyline. I loved all of the characters.

CHECK OUT OUR FULL BOOK REVIEW OF THE TRUTH ABOUT FOREVER HERE

WILD ABOUT YOU

BY KAITLYN HILL

Natalie, a theatre student who is most confident in a full face of makeup, decides to spend her summer on an adventure reality tv show. The prize is a $100,000 scholarship. She needs it. She’s going to win it. Finn, the most outdoorsy outdoorsman, whose favorite form of communication is grunting, also ends up on the show. As Natalie’s teammate.

This book had me hooked from the start. It was funny and fast paced, and I loved how the majority of the book was set on the Appalachian Trail. The outdoorsy adventure mixed with the reality tv show was the perfect combination.

CHECK OUT OUR FULL BOOK REVIEW OF WILD ABOUT YOU HERE

RULES

BY CYNTHIA LORD

Catherine is twelve years old and wants to have a normal life. But with a brother like David, life will never be "normal." Catherine makes rules for David to follow in an attempt to be less embarrassed by him.

I feel like it isn’t very often that you get a children's book that tackles the storylines like these. I feel like Cynthia Lord did a great job at telling this story. I would recommend this book to any tween out there.

CHECK OUT OUR FULL BOOK REVIEW OF RULES HERE

OPEN ROAD SUMMER

BY EMERY LORD

After a series of bad choices that led to a broken wrist, Reagan decides to spend the summer becoming a better version of herself while on tour with her best friend Dee. But when Matt has to join the tour as the opening act to save Dee from some bad press, he might be a distraction from Reagan’s summer plans.

Who doesn’t love a romance where the famous musician falls in love with a regular girl? I know I do, and this one did not disappoint. Reagan and Matt’s almost-enemies-to-lovers situation was good, and I liked how they didn’t immediately get together.

CHECK OUT OUR FULL BOOK REVIEW OF OPEN ROAD SUMMER HERE

SECOND CHANCE SUMMER

BY MORGAN MATSON

After some unexpected news, Taylor’s family decides to spend the summer at the lake house they haven’t been to for five years. Unfortunately for Taylor, that means she now has to deal with the people and problems she ran away from there five years ago.

Devastating. Tragic. Heart wrenching. Beautiful. Was this possibly the saddest book I’ve ever read in my life? Yeah… I think it might’ve been. And I don’t regret my time spent reading it.

CHECK OUT OUR FULL BOOK REVIEW OF SECOND CHANCE SUMMER HERE

BEAUTY AND THE BEACH

BY GRACIE RUTH MITCHELL

Phoenix Park and Holland Blakey have never gotten along. For years, they’ve argued and insulted each other. Both in desperate situations, they agree to a marriage contract. Purely a business arrangement. There will be no feelings. It’s only for a few months anyway.

I really enjoyed reading Beauty and the Beach. I cruised through this book in one day… I loved the enemies to lovers and marriage of convenience combination. I couldn’t get enough of Phoenix and Holland together.

CHECK OUT OUR FULL BOOK REVIEW OF BEAUTY AND THE BEACH HERE

JUST FRIENDS

BY HALEY PHAM

After graduating college, Blair moves back home for the summer because her great aunt is sick. She’s put her life on hold with the expectation of moving to New York for work in the fall. Everything changes when she runs into her best friend/ex-boyfriend that she hasn’t seen in 4 years.

For the most part, my feelings towards Just Friends are pretty neutral. There were moments where I was having a decent time reading the book, and then there were moments where I struggled to enjoy it.

CHECK OUT OUR FULL BOOK REVIEW OF JUST FRIENDS HERE

LIARLAND

BY MADISON RUPP

For some reason, somebody wants Pineland to close. After three employees mysteriously die, Gwen and Valerie decide something is not what it seems. All these deaths can’t be accidental. When Valerie goes missing, Gwen must do everything she can to get her back safe.

This book started out a little slow and took me a bit to get into, but once I did, it was hard for me to put it down. Towards the end of the book, I was starting to feel like it was an episode of Pretty Little Liars… And I loved it!

CHECK OUT OUR FULL BOOK REVIEW OF LIARLAND HERE

SAFE HAVEN

BY NICHOLAS SPARKS

Katie has been hiding from her husband for a few months and has found her way to Southport, North Carolina. While there, she meets Alex, the local convenience store owner. Alex can tell that there is more to Katie than meets the eye. Will Katie learn to trust him?

I loved this book! Even though I already knew the overarching storyline, I found myself needing to keep reading to see what was going to happen next! I was up way later than I should have been many nights in a row reading this book.

CHECK OUT OUR FULL BOOK REVIEW OF SAFE HAVEN HERE

THAT FINE LINE

BY CINDY STEEL

After graduating from college and getting engaged, Kelsey heads back home for the summer. She’ll be helping her dad on the ranch, spending time with her best friend, and planning her wedding with her mom. She doesn’t have time for a prank war with her high school nemesis! Why couldn’t her dad have hired anyone else?

I had the best time reading That Fine Line. I loved the banter between all the characters, not just Kelsey and Cade. They were hilarious, so I’m excited to read more about this group of people in the other books in this series.

CHECK OUT OUR FULL BOOK REVIEW OF THAT FINE LINE HERE

THE SUMMER OF YES

BY COURTNEY WALSH

After a near death experience, Kelsey is reevaluating her life and decides she needs a summer of yes!

I loved the whole concept of the book. Saying yes to things you would usually say no to. That wouldn’t be something easy for me to do. I was thoroughly entertained!

CHECK OUT OUR FULL BOOK REVIEW OF THE SUMMER OF YES HERE

ON THE FENCE

BY KASIE WEST

Charlotte, aka Charlie, has always been one of the boys. After getting a speeding ticket, Charlie’s dad makes her get a job to pay it off. Somehow Charlie ends up working at a boutique and modeling makeup.

This is such a cute book! I really like the relationship that Charlie had with her brothers and how overprotective they were of her. It just warmed my little heart!

CHECK OUT OUR FULL BOOK REVIEW OF ON THE FENCE HERE