I don't know that I've ever made a summer reading list before now. That's probably because summer isn't a big deal to me. I basically spend June through September wishing that it was fall. My family doesn't go to the beach or the lake, and we don't have a pool anymore. Summers in Virginia are hot, humid, and sticky, and you can hardly walk across the yard without getting ticks on you. Yeah, I'm not a fan of summer, to say the least. :)
So, in an effort to give myself something to look forward to over the next few months, I've made a summer reading list. Because books make me happy.
Series
Wildwood trilogy, by Colin Meloy. I've read the first two of these, and I recently got the third one. But it's been over a year since I read the second book, so I'm thinking I might read the whole series over again. And possibly do a trilogy review here?
Harry Potter series, by J.K. Rowling. I am itching for a HP series reread. I usually get that way during the summer. It's a big time commitment, but I'm feeling so nostalgic for the series right now. :)
Anne of Green Gables, by L.M. Montgomery. I've only ever read the first Anne book, and I feel terrible about that! I want to finally read the series this summer. (And after I make it through the series, if I have the extra money, I really want to trade in my ugly thrift store copies for these editions. They are gorgeous.)
The Montmaray Jounals, by Michelle Cooper. I own all three of these, and Ruth gave them rave reviews, so I'm excited about reading them. :)
Travel Stories (so I can live vicariously through people)
Wanderlove, by Kirsten Hubbard. A novel about a teenage girl traveling in Central America. I usually go for Europe-ish travel stories, so this should be something different.
Paris, My Sweet, by Amy Thomas. Paris and desserts? Yes.
All Roads Lead to Austen, by Amy Elizabeth Smith. Jane Austen and travel! It doesn't get much better than that.
Paris In Love, by Eloisa James. I kind of love memoirs set in Paris.
Books With Summer in the Title (because it seems appropriate)
Barefoot Summer, by Denise Hunter. I've heard good things about this one!
Summer of the Gypsy Moths, by Sara Pennypacker. This is a middle grade with one slightly dark aspect to the plot. It sounds good, though. I think I remember Natalie recommending it on her blog once?
Contemporary
Here to Stay, by Melissa Tagg. I'm so excited to read this book. :)
Meant to Be Mine, by Becky Wade. I'm currently reading the first book in this series, so I'm anxious to get to the sequel.
Midnight in Austenland, by Shannon Hale. I guess this could have fit under the travel category, because I'm assuming the main character isn't English...
Any Sarah Dessen book. It seems like every girl except me has read at least one Sarah Dessen book. She writes contemporary YA, and I'm curious to see if she's as good as everyone says! I own three of hers that I picked up at a thrift store a while back. I think I'll try to read The Truth about Forever first, but I also own This Lullaby and Dreamland.
Miscellaneous
The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender, by Leslye Walton. This book is so gorgeous, and after I read the first few pages of it at Target, I had to bring it home. Plus, Madison, a booktuber whose videos I really enjoy, loved it.
Cress, by Marissa Meyer. I'm so excited to read this book.
Going Solo, by Roald Dahl. I seem to always read at least one of Dahl's books each summer. These are his memoirs from his time in the service...sort of like a sequel to Boy.
Rebecca, by Daphne du Maurier. This book seems like it would be a good summer read. Maybe because it takes place near the sea (I think? The Hitchcock film did, anyway).
Child Star, by Shirley Temple. I own a lot of unread biographies and autobiographies, and it would be nice to get one read this summer.
Emma, by Jane Austen. This is the next of Austen's works in my reread list.
This list is ambitious, I know. Especially with all of those series. I probably won't read nearly all of these books, but it's nice to have a general idea of what I'd like to read over these next few (hot) months! :)
What are you hoping to read this summer?
those look like great reads :P
ReplyDeleteI hope they will be! :)
DeleteYou've got some good books on that list! I'll have to check some of them out myself. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm just continuing to read Harry Potter. I'm currently right in the middle of The Chamber of Secrets. My sister, brother, and mom have been watching the movies together (we finished The Order of the Phoenix the other night), so now I'm itching even more to read them. I love the movies, but the books are incredible!
Watching you and Tayler (below commenter) on Goodreads, reading through Harry Potter for the first time, is one of the reasons why I'm craving a reread! :) The movies are really good, too, but of course the books are better. :)
DeleteI loved your list!!! So far, Harry Potter is tip-top on my summer reading list. I've only read it one time, and ever since the night I finished the series I've been dying to read it again. I made myself wait until my birthday (I'm asking for the books) so I could read the series from my very own copies. I've only got a matter of days left to wait and I'm getting SO excited!!
ReplyDeleteHarry Potter is one series that you'll never get tired of rereading. :) Usually by the time I finish reading them I'm ready to start all over again! It will be so awesome to read from your own copies. :)
DeleteYeah, I'm not a fan of summer either. It's just TOO hot for my taste.
ReplyDeleteGreat list, Kristin! I should do a similar post - because it looks fun. (Not sure, but there is probably a TTT post upcoming that asks us to make a summer reading list.) You've got a great list here - love so many you added, and you are not alone. I've never read a Sarah Dessen either! I own a few but am trying to weed them out because as I understand it, some of hers are "cleaner" than others - i.e., language. Needless to say, I'm trying to find those that are less profanity-fueled. :)
Enjoy your books.
Yes...much too hot! I hope you will do a similar post, whether for TTT or otherwise, because I'd like to see what you're planning on reading this summer. :) I don't know much about the Dessen books I own...like I said, I just found them in like-new condition at a thrift store for about 50 cents each, so I couldn't pass it up. :) I'm hoping mine are some of the cleaner ones!
DeleteFantastic plans! I especially like reading series during the summer for some reason, so that part of your list made me extra happy. Yes, you NEED to read Anne of Green Gables (and I won't be quiet about it until you do)! ;) I'll join you and Rissi in confessing to a Sarah Dessen-less existence. I've been meaning to read The Truth About Forever ever since I first heard it gushed about on booktube. Now I'll wait to see what you think of it, so I can find out if it's worthwhile. :)
ReplyDeleteSummer here in the mountains of Colorado is actually my favorite season. Especially after six or seven solid months of cold and snow (I woke up yesterday to a lovely 16 degrees on the thermometer), the gorgeous weather we get from June to September is much appreciated. I understand where you're coming from though – heat, humidity, and ticks would take all the fun out of it. Unfortunately I don't have nearly as much time to read this time of year because I stay pretty busy with my seasonal job at a local general store that basically runs on tourism, and with all the family and friends that end up visiting us to escape their less desirable summer weather. ;) Anyway, I'm hoping to finish Harry Potter and maybe squeeze in a few more books before September. I feel like I'll need at least one L.M. Montgomery novel (probably Jane of Lantern Hill since I haven't read that one yet), and I really want to read The Ascendance Trilogy by Jennifer Nielsen.
There's something about series and summer that just go together. :) I know, I know, I feel terrible for not having read the whole Anne series. It's not like they're big intimidating books, so I don't know why I've put it off for so long! A lot of people on BookTube talk about Sarah Dessen, don't they? That's the main reason her books are on my radar. :) I hope it'll be worthwhile!
Delete16 degrees? Wow...we've already had several 90 degree days. I daydream about places that actually have beautiful, lovely summers. :) Like Maine, for some odd reason? I probably have one of the Sarah, Plain and Tall books to blame for that, ha. Summer really is the perfect time to read Harry Potter...I hope you'll be able to finish them this summer! I can't wait to hear what you think about the later books. :)
I think one of my sister's rereads HP every year, she just asked for The Socercer's Stone. I told myself that for my graduation I would get to reread them (I tend to make myself sick of things easily) I would reread them, but I haven't been in the mood; I feel like they won't be as good and I have my huge Classics Club list to work on. I finished Wildwood (for now . . .). I have Austenland from the library. I will probably put a few of these on my list to read at some point. I like finding books to try on blogs. I haven't had much courage to grab books off shelves without ANY recommendation.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could reread Harry Potter every year! I usually want to, but there are so many other books to read (and reread). It's been several years since I reread HP, so I'm really excited about doing it this summer. :)
Delete