Summer 2016 Reads and Recs

Around these parts, we're kind of dying for summer. Not necessarily the heat of it because Jen's from the lovely state of Texas where Spring lasts two weeks and then the 100° days follow immediately. But both of our girls are out of school -- both are going to be 3rd graders in the fall, OMG! -- and we can relax our routines a little bit, maybe fit in some more reads along the way. Summery reads, hopefully.

And whether you're reading books about summer, vacation, or just reading books during summer, summer reads tend to be some of the most fun. Summer romances, road trips, beach settings...it doesn't get much better than that. So, we thought we'd once again compile a list of some of our favorite summer reads, new and old.




Jen: Last time we did a post like this, I recommended The Art of Lainey, My Life Next Door, and The Summer I Became a Nerd. And I'd still rec all of those. And other books by those same authors. But I wanted to showcase some newer favorites in this category. MoMa is always a good go-to author for fun, summer romance with a character who learns a lot about herself along the way. She's like Sarah Dessen in that way. You could add just about any of their books to this list. The Anatomical Shape of a Heart doesn't really sound like a summery book, I know, but all of the characters' escapades happen during those months of school-free bliss, so it counts. And is maybe my favorite on this list. I'll Meet You There is similarly serious but also so, so perfect for summer.


April: I've read so many great summer books over the last year or so, but these three stick out to me the most. What I Thought was True is so good. The Moon and More didn't have as great of reviews compared to other Dessens, so I was a bit nervous going into it, but I absolutely adored it. The Unexpected Everything was a recent listen of ours. I made Jen listen it too! We did a joint review.




Jen: I honestly haven't read too many novels featuring road trips since the last time we did a post like this, so I don't have too many recommendations in this category. Though the ones listed are all favorites and books that I've re-read because of how perfect they are for this time of year.

April: I haven't read too many road trip books either, though I did finally get to Amy & Roger's Epic Detour and I absolutely loved it. Probably my fave road trip book to date. I also read In Honor last year, and it was pretty good! There is a bit of a road trip towards the end of Summer.




Jen: Last time around, we suggested The Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy, Wish You Were Italian, Nantucket Blue and Nantucket Red. I apparently haven't read many novels lately where vacation or traveling was the focus, so I only have a couple of new ones to add. But they are very, very good ones.

April: The only new one I have to add to this category is Second Chance Summer, and that's already posted above. Hands down one of my favorite books of all time. Partly because it takes place in the Pocono Mountains where I live. I never understood the appeal to all the tourist who flood my town every summer until I read this book. Make me appreciate my home a little more. <3 I loved this one so much I made a little trailer for it.

Jen's TBR

I'm being a little more realistic in my approach to my summery books TBR this year. I know I have a TON of review copies to get to, so I'm limiting myself, especially since I've been SUCH a mood reader as of late. I still need to read the other two novels in the Jenny Han trilogy, and while cleaning my shelves the other day, I discovered a copy of Twenty Boy Summer. Score! And, of course, I have to pick up the Stephanie Perkins' edited Summer Days and Summer Nights, especially after pretty much loving her holiday-themed anthology. And I loved A Week of Mondays, so I can't wait to read Jessica Brody's hot boy book. :D

April's TBR

I'm gonna go with Jen's way of thinking and be more realistic, though I have to say, I did read most of the books I had listed on our last post, but it may have been over the course of more than a summer. All of these stories take place over the Summer. Wanderlost follows a girl named Aubree on a trip through Europe. I want to read that just for the girls name alone. <3 Wild Swans looks pretty good so I'm looking forward to reading that as well as If I Fix You. I grabbed both for review. That Summer is the one I'm least excited for. But I snatched it up a while ago on sale, and it's a Dessen, so I feel I need to give it a shot no matter what I've heard about it. Maybe I'll really like it since I'm going in with low expectations. :)

What books are on your summer TBR list? Plan on reading any of the ones we have listed here? Have any recs for us? It's obvious I could use some more summer books, especially travel and road-trip related ones. :D

Read More

Labels: 2016, discussion, funfunfun, road trips, summer

Our Favorite Summer Reads and Recs

Around these parts, we're kind of dying for summer. Not necessarily the heat of it because Jen's from the lovely state of Texas where Spring lasts two weeks and then the 100° days follow immediately. But both of our girls will be out of school -- both are going to be 1st graders in the fall, yay! -- and we can relax our routines a little bit, maybe fit in some more reads along the way.

And whether you're reading books about summer, vacation, or just reading books during summer, summer reads tend to be some of the most fun. Summer romances, road trips, beach settings...it doesn't get much better than that. So, we thought we'd collaborate to bring you a list of some of our favorite summer reads of all time.






Jen: I just ADORED The Art of Lainey! It's such a cute summer read that has a lot more depth than you might expect. In fact, all three of my summer picks are similar in that respect. My Life Next Door is STILL one of my favorite contemporaries to this date. And I couldn't pass up a nerdy read like The Summer I Became a Nerd. Honestly, the genuineness of each of these novels is something I search for in every contemporary read.

April: I have not read any of these yet, though I do have My Life Next Door in my must read this summer pile. Like I will drop shit so I can get it done, because I've heard nothing but good things about it. I hope to get to the other two as well, but honestly, that probably won't happen. Not enough time in the day.


April:  I know This Is What Happy Looks Like wasn't liked as much by the public as her other book was, but as far as summer reads, I thought it was perfect. Along for the Ride was actually my very first Dessen book and I loved it. It just screams summer. I'm only a few percent into On The Fence. I had full intentions of getting it read while on our cruise last week, but time just did not allow. I can already tell I'm going to love it, so I couldn't not add it! :)

Jen: Along for the Ride was my first contemporary on audio, and I still consider it one of my favorite Sarah Dessen books, but I've only read four to date, so I'm sure that'll change eventually. :) I am still loving the quirkiness of Jennifer E. Smith's books and hope to get to her newest one soon. I only just started On the Fence, but I'm already in love with it. But that's nothing new...I've loved every Kasie West book so far.



Jen: April and I read Open Road Summer together earlier this year, and it was love at first read. This book is THE perfect summer read: romance, friendship, music, a road trip. It's got it all. Of course, Amy & Roger's Epic Detour comes in a close second for me. I haven't read as many road trip books as I would have liked, but this will always be a favorite. How My Summer Went Up in Flames wasn't the story I was expecting, but it was still so fun...and I LOVE that girl's shoes on the cover! =)

April: Yes!!! Open Road Summer is perfect! I've not read the other two, I plan on trying Amy & Roger's Epic Detour on audio soon though. Soon means like hopefully before fall. lol. I think our pitiful collection of road trip recommendations means we need to read some more from this category.



April: The Summer series by Jenny Han is absolutely amazing. It has everything you could ever want in a YA contemporary. I will pimp those books till I die. I just finished Wish You Were Italian while on vacation last week and it was so cute. Nantucket Blue, I read that one last year, Nantucket Red is soon on my to read list.

Jen: I haven't read the Summer series by Jenny Han yet, but it's in the works thanks to my wonderful co-blogger gifting it to me for my birthday. :D Wish You Were Italian was absolutely adorable, and it made me crave gelato like no other book before it. There's a pint of vanilla bean in my freezer right now because of it. :P The Nantucket books were fun but also a touch sad, but overall I really like how this duology played out.

Jen's TBR

Ha, this is a very ambitious summer TBR pile, but if the audio's available from my library for any of these, that would make this a lot easier. I actually own quite a few of these already, so that won't be a problem. It's just a matter of making this summer about reading what *I* want to read rather than what I feel like I should be reading, i.e. review copies. *le sigh*

April's TBR

LoL, I am not nearly as optimistic as Jen is, though I see Unbreak My Heart and that should be on my list as well. I've been wanting to get to that one. I have full faith that Jen can read all those summer books. I will have to enforce it. Review books are great, but you gotta take time to read what you buy as well. I don't know how it is for everyone else, but I don't read as much in the summer. I tend to get distracted by all the outdoor things to do. So I need to break up my review books with books I've been dying to get my hands on. Maybe Jen and I should challenge ourselves to read at least 5 of these summer books from our lists. Then post about how badly we failed when fall comes. lol

What books are on your summer TBR list? Plan on reading any of the ones we have listed here? Have any recs for us? :D

Read More

Labels: 2014, discussion, funfunfun, road trips, summer