Top 5 Summer Vibe Reads

Chana:

It’s that time of year again. That heat stroke, dehydration, sunburn, and sticky ice cream time of year. The time when everyone wants to go to the beach and tan, but you’d rather just stay at home and read a book. Or more accurately, I’d rather just stay at home and read a book. It’s summertime and I’m on a personal mission to catch up on all the reading I’ve missed out on this year, it’s working out pretty well so far, I’ve conquered 18 books and we’ve only just started July. But I shouldn’t be the only one who gets to catch up on my reading! I know, I know, just because it’s summer doesn’t mean that everyone gets off of work or school, but that doesn’t mean you can’t squeeze in a good read over the weekend or while on your way to work. So, without further ado, here are my top 5 summer vibe reads, (all covers link to goodreads)

Summer Vibes Read #1: The Undomestic Goddess, by Sophie Kinsella

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Though this story is not technically summer themed, it is about a stressed-out workaholic who flees to the countryside after a colossal mess up at the office. Have you ever had that moment where something completely terrible happens and you just wish you could excommunicate everyone you know and flee the country? Well, in The Undomestic Goddess, by Sophie Kinsella, Samantha Sweeting does something quite like that. In this fun story, an a million dollar mistake sends attorney Samantha Sweeting rushing away from her work at the firm and into the role of a housekeeper for a rich old couple in the countryside. Unbeknownst to the couple, Samantha knows nothing about housekeeping and is just hoping to stay under the radar to escape the stress of the city life she left behind. If you’re looking for a light romantic read to bring to the beach this summer, then this is the book for you. A super sweet rom-com that’s a perfect mood read for the bright summer weather.

Summer Vibes Read #2: Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson

Genre: Classic

Have you been meaning to read a classic so that you too can be cultured and suave? Well you can kill two birds with one stone this summer by reading a summer mood book and a classic all at once. Treasure Island is full of cool stuff that we all wish we could have during our summer adventures, the open ocean, treasure, pirates, and a sprinkle of mutiny. Told from the point of view of young Jim Hawkins, Treasure Island follows a crew of men and their journey to find, you guessed it, buried treasure. Following the instructions of a map found in a dead man’s sea chest, Jim and the morally ambiguous crew journey towards the promise of riches. A great summer read for those yearning for a bit of adventure.

Summer Vibes Read #3: The Mostly True Story of Jack, by Kelly Barnhill

Genre: Modern Fantasy

Every summer reading list needs a book about kids who just met each other banding together to defeat a great evil, so what better book to put than one that has a big helping of weird and pinch too much of magic? The Mostly True Story of Jack, follows the (mostly true) story of a boy named Jack. Banished to spend the summer with an aunt and uncle that he’s never met by parents who never pay attention to him, Jack is prepared for a summer of misery and boredom. However, upon arriving in the sleepy town of Hazelwood, Iowa, Jack starts to notice a few strange things that just don’t seem to add up. Why does everyone seem to care so much about who he is? What’s the deal with his weird aunt and uncle? With the help of his new found friends Jack will discover the secrets of Hazelwood. This book is a good read for the days when the stormy summer rains trap you inside your house. Rather than letting the Cat in the Hat ruin your mom’s new dress, sit down for this fun magic filled adventure.

Summer Vibes Read #4: The Summer that Melted Everything, by Tiffany Mcdaniel

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Has the heat been getting to you this summer? Has the blasting hot sun sent you inside to seek solace in front of the AC? If so, then you have one thing in common with the people of Breathed, Ohio during the summer of 1984. The Summer that Melted Everything tells the story of what happened after Autopsy Bliss invited the devil to Breathed, Ohio. Obviously, this goes down about as well as you would expect. This book proves that the heat brings out the worst in people, and I definitely recommend it if you want to be awed and freaked out while escaping your own summer heat wave. Serious Warning: You may become thoroughly disturbed and want to put down the book, but you won’t be able to because the awesome writing will anchor you to the spot.

Summer Vibes Read #5: The Ocean at the End of the Lane, by Neil Gaiman

Genre: Fantasy

If you’re looking for a read that’s filled with nostalgia, supernatural, and just a touch of full on weirdness, The Ocean at the End of the Lane is the book for you. Childhood is a weird place for all of us, but it was even stranger than usual for the narrator of this book. Dive through the memories of a boy who had to deal with a malevolent money giving spirit and an evil being from another world. Promised protection from a peculiar girl named Lettie Hempstock, the boy and Lettie work together to defeat the evil that has taken residence in his home. For some reason, probably related to a whacked version of memory association, this book makes me think of summer. Not the fun in the sun kind of summer though, more like the adventure together in the woods and fear for your life type of summer. Regardless, this book is the perfect short read for a boring summers day.

So what are some books that give you summer vibes? Let us know in the comments

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