I love reading outdoors during a nice, sunshine-y day, so as soon as the weather starts to warm up, I beginning planning my summer TBR. Whether you’re looking for a book to read while traveling or just to enjoy reading outside, here are some of my favorite books and books I’m looking forward to reading this summer.
There’s Something About Sweetie by Sandhya Menon
I read Sandhya Menon’s first book When Dimple Met Rishi earlier this year and absolutely fell in love with Menon’s cute romances and sweet characters. When the companion novel was released in May, I knew I had to read it! It didn’t disappoint, and in many ways I liked the characters and themes even better than the first book.
Romanov by Nadine Brandes
If you’re looking for a little magic this summer, Nadine Brandes’ newest novel is the perfect choice. It’s an Anastasia retelling and includes a heartfelt love story, a creative magical system, and characters learning what it means to forgive. For more info, read my review here!
The Kiss Quotient and The Bride Test by Helen Hoang
The Kiss Quotient was hugely popular when it hit the shelves last summer, and Helen Hoang’s newest book is promised to be just as good. Both feature main characters who are autistic, and in the process of writing The Kiss Quotient Hoang actually realized she herself had high-functioning autism. These are classic summer beach reads with characters so charming, they’re hard to put down!
The Great Unknowable End by Kathryn Ormsbee
This book has a Stranger Things vibe, and the lush writing transports you to the ’70s small-town setting. Weird things are happening in the Kansas city where Stella and Galliard live, and as they begin to consider that they might be facing the end of the world, they’re forced to answer that age-old question: If you knew you would die tomorrow, what would you do with your last day? Read my interview with author Kathryn Ormsbee here!
Hot Dog Girl by Jennifer Dugan
Lou knows the secret to high school summers: it’s not the stressful pre-college summer after senior year that counts; it’s the summer after junior year, when it still seems like all the possibilities in the world are yours. And she’s determined to make the most of it. Her plans are thrown off when she’s cast as the hot dog for her summer job at the local amusement park, not to mention the guy of her dreams already has a girlfriend. This book made me laugh out loud, and I love a good “let’s pretend to date but then actually fall in love” trope, so it was right up my alley!
The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory
People have been raving about this book, so I knew I needed to add it to my summer TBR. When a power outage strands Alexa and Drew in an elevator together, she ends up agreeing to be his date to his ex’s wedding, to help him save face. Naturally, they realize that there might be something more between them than just a one-time deal. This steamy romance will leave you swooning, but it also explores interracial relationships and other important themes.
You’d Be Mine by Erin Hahn
Maybe it’s because I’m from Texas, but nothing says summer like some good ole country music. Erin Hahn’s debut novel tells the story of Clay, country music’s newest bad boy, and Annie, whose parents were country music icons who chose their music over their daughter. As the two go on tour together, they each must wrestle with the demons of their past and what their feelings mean for the future. The novel is full of witty and adorable songs, and I really just want this to be made into a movie ASAP so I can listen to them!
Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi
This has been one of my favorite reads of 2019 so far. Penny is a college freshman, and when life throws her together with Sam, the cute barista of her favorite coffee shop, she might have the chance to leave her uneventful high school life behind. Almost their entire relationship takes place over text, and their conversations just feel so real and natural that it’s hard to not fall in love with them yourself! Balancing the cute romance, the book also explores topics like sexual assault, immigration, and what it means to find yourself.
Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
To be honest, I get enough of politics in real life, so I don’t typically want to read about it in my fiction. But the buzz around Red, White, and Royal Blue is hard to ignore, and so I’ve finally added it to my TBR! When the president’s son Alex and Prince Henry of England are forced to stage a friendship to smoothe over a would-be international incident, they discover that there might be more to the other guy than they might think–but what does that mean for each of their parent’s careers?
Love & Gelato and Love & Luck by Jenna Evans Welch
I picked up Love & Gelato on a whim last summer before my trip to Italy, and was entirely unprepared for how much I would love it. Set in Florence, Italy, it balances an adorable romance, while also telling the story of the main character dealing with the death of her mother and secrets she left behind. The sequel I managed to love even more: a road trip around Ireland following a quirky guide to healing a broken heart leads to new love. Each book is full of gorgeous descriptions of the settings and relatable, lovable characters.
What books are you planning to read this summer? Let me know in the comments!
