Need book recommendations for the summer? You’ve come to the right place. Here are the best books to entertain you during the summer. Each one has a rainbow of emotions, but overall cheerful, summer vibes. They will either make you jump up and down or have you in salty tears while listening to the waves crashing against the shore.These books may actually interest you rather than have you groaning about the required essay that goes with it.Whatever your preference, maybe there is a book out there that is perfect for you.
Something Like Gravity, Amber Smith
Something Like Gravity is a warm, but doleful novel that will leave you grinning from ear to ear while tears trickle down your face. The story is centered around Chris, who is a transgender boy spending the summer with his family at his Aunt Isobel’s house in the country, and Maia, a local, who he happens to literally crash into one day while driving. They end up being neighbors for the summer and cannot stay away from each other. After several horrible encounters between the two, they eventually begin to rely on and trust one another. They have many bumps in the road leading to a heartbreaking plot twist in the end. This book is perfect for anyone who enjoys a slow burn romance story with wholesome, relatable characters.
Goodreads rating: 3.68 out of 5 stars
Personal Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
The Midnights, Sarah Nicole Smetana
The Midnights focuses on Susannah Hayes and her journey through grief, joy and finding herself. Susannah has always had the dream of following in the footsteps of her former rockstar father. Susannah and her father spend their quality time together playing songs and just rocking out, until one day her father is taken away from her in a tragic car accident. Not only does she have to deal with that grief, but she also has to struggle through a new chapter of her life in a new town. Here, she can build a new life, join a band and live the dream she has been chasing. Unfortunately, she is struck by more emotional turmoil. This book will have your heart singing and screaming at the same time. The Midnights is a relaxing read to fill your time while relaxing on the beach, enjoying the warmth of the sun’s rays.
Goodreads Rating: 3.72 out of 5 stars
Personal Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
All the Bright Places, Jennifer Niven TW: Suicide/Suicidal Thoughts
All the Bright Places is known to be quite the tearjerker and a read-at-your-own-risk book. This story is an emotional rollercoaster that will have you soaring one minute and then sobbing the next. Finch is a witty, yet unnoticed boy interested in the concept of death and what it is like to die. He has several encounters and eventually becomes close with Violet Markey, a once popular girl who has been pushed into the shadows by grief and depression. Finch and Violet come across each other on the ledge of a bell tower and help each other to find themselves and their worth. Finch helps Violet in rediscovering her passion for words and writing as Violet helps Finch through his thoughts. They go through many struggles together while also sharing little joys and good times with each other in hand. This story handles the topics of mental health and grief in a way the reader can empathize with the characters and share their emotions. This book will not only leave you thinking during the summer, but give you a new perspective on life and the complexity of mental health and happiness.
Goodreads Rating: 4.15 out of 5 stars
Personal Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Heartstopper,Alice Oseman
The Heartstopper series is a top-notch collection of graphic novels to binge read this summer while sitting by the pool and drinking lemonade. The novels contain cute drawings of Nick and Charlie depicting their journey as they find each other and discover how they truly feel towards one another. Nick struggles with his sexual orientation due to his newfound feelings towards his best friend Charlie, who is openly gay and falls for him first. They share many good times with their friends Darcy, Tara, Elle and Tao who all have struggles of their own. This novel collection will pull at your heartstrings and make you feel warm and fuzzy inside while following the adorable and cute romance between Nick and Charlie. To bring these characters to life, See-Saw Films produced a series also titled ‘Heartstopper’ which is available on Netflix and was instantly a hit.
Goodreads Rating: 4.74 out of 5 stars
Personal Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
What If It’s Us, Adam Silvera and Becky Albertalli
Adam Silvera’s books have made the New York Times bestseller list many times before, including They Both Die At The End, but his and Albertalli’s What If It’s Us truly takes the cake. This is another good LGBTQ+ novel to enjoy during summer vacation. The story features Arthur, a 16 year old boy spending the summer as an intern in New York City, and Ben, a young writer spending his days taking chemistry tests and trying to pass summer school. Everything changes for the two boys when they meet in a post office and are instantly stunned by one another only to be instantly separated by a flash mob marriage proposal without sharing contact information. Desperate to find his dream guy, Arthur reaches out via poster in a coffee shop and eventually Ben reaches out to him by email. This book tells the story of their summer together as they support one another through work and summer school and find out just how meaningful even a short time together can be. These two will have you smiling and laughing at witty comments.
Goodreads Rating: 3.87 out of 5 stars
Personal Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Whether you believe it or not, there will always be the perfect book out there that will suit your preferences and make you laugh and cry. The books in this list are all quite enjoyable and fun to read. Each one has a little something to make you feel happy inside and get you in the mood for summer. So sit down and shell-abrate the summer with a good book!