It’s that time of the year again. The hottest weekend so far is behind us but it seems to only get warmer and warmer. You still have to work or study or go to school and long for a nice bowl full of ice cream or the cool lake. Fear not, summer holidays come nearer as well! No matter if you go to the beach, go for strolls or just spend your days in the cool shade of your home, good books are still a necessity. Don’t know what to read? Let me help you, I’ve got some nice books to show you.
Summer is contemporary time for me. I don’t usually read that many contemporaries, but in summer I rarely read anything else, so be prepared to see a lot of those in this list.
- Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout (contemporary-sci-fi, YA)
takes place during summer mostly, is very light and quite fun and fast to read. there are aliens and one of my favourite main characters ever. - Night Owls by Jenn Bennett (contemporary, YA)
San Francisco in summer, girl meets boy on the night bus. very cliché in some things, nevertheless wonderfully written. you’re going to think it’s a light read, but it isn’t. - See you in the Cosmos, Carl Sagan! by Jack Cheng (contemporary, middle-grade)
boy and his dog go on a road trip to visit a rocket festival. more adventure than boy thought, wonderful friendships, actually quite deep. also, space. - Hour of the Bees by Lindsay Eagar (contemporary, middle-grade)
girl and family visit mentally ill grandfather over the summer on his farm, where he lives alone. amazing family portrayal, much love and friendship. will probably make you cry. - My life next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick (contemporary, YA)
girl likes watching her neighbours, a loud and very big and functioning family. own mum is very ambitious and controlling, girl starts seeing boy from next boy. awesome characters, much drama. - Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins (contemporary, paranormal, YA)
every girl in this place wants to be a Belle, strange things are happening. someone dies, people discover powers. very drama, very fun. - Everything leads to you by Nina LaCour (contenporary, YA)
girl in an on-off-relationship with girlfriend, both work at movie sets. new girl comes around. many garage sales, much family, much friendship, much love. - Dramarama by E. Lockhart (contemporary, YA)
the title says it all. there’s a lot of drama at drama camp. best friends spend summer away from home to learn a thing or two about being on a stage. they fall in love, they scream, they have fun. not so perfect main character. - Since you’ve been gone by Morgan Matson (contemporary, YA)
girl’s best friend moves away, leaves list of things for girl to do. girl starts doing those while trying to find best friend. learns important things about herself and people in general while having lots of fun. - Summer days & summer nights by Stephanie Perkins (mostly contemporary, YA)
many short stories by different authors. very cute, very magical, very summer-y. something for everyone in it. - Geekerella by Ashley Poston (contemporary, fairytale retelling, YA)
girl very obsessed with TV show, lives with stepmum and stepsisters, works at food truck. very cute Cinderella retelling, a lot about being nerdy and geeky and about the convention life. - The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan (mythology, middle-grade)
it’s always a good time to recommend something with Egyptian mythology. very cool siblings, crazy gods and amazing friendships. wonderfully written, fast read. - Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling (fantasy)
is there ever a time unfit to recommend Harry Potter? I think not. boy discovers he’s a wizard, goes to magic school, can’t shut his mouth and almost dies a few times. - Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz (contemporary, YA)
two boys meet at a pool, one teaches the other how to swim. start spending more time together. all about the friendship and the love. - Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder (fantasy, YA)
girl is supposed to die, gets job offer. takes job and lives very dangerous life at the court. manages to stay alive, despite secrets that might kill her. - The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater (contemporary, fantasy, YA)
girl from a psychic family is not psychic. meets a couple of boys, might kill her true love, becomes friends with boys. they hang out and search dead people.
I hope these help you and you enjoy any of them, if you pick one up! 🙂 Happy reading.
