Best Summer Books
By Alexa Dowd
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Starting strong on our list of Best Summer Books tells a story of Nina Riva. Born into Hollywood’s famous Riva family, Nina’s Father was never in the picture growing up and her mother died when she was young, leaving her to raise her family on her own. Fast forward to present day, Nina and her siblings always throw an epic summer party every year but this year is different. Jay Riva is a professional surfer while Hud Riva is a photographer. Kit is a college student navigating life and Nina is a swimsuit model whose husband just left her. This family dynamic and heartbreak takes over a 24 hour period, only to end in flames.
The Summer I turned Pretty by Jenny Han
This book follows Belly, a teenage girl, on an annual summer vacation to their family friend’s beach house. Through navigating a tension filled love triangle, she is faced with new love experiences, emotions and difficult decisions that greatly impact her and her loved ones. This is also a three book series making it the perfect summer beach read.
Where the Crawdads Sings by Delia Owens
Abandoned as a young girl, Kya was forced to protect and raise herself in the North Carolina Marchlands. Gaining the reputation of a ghost haunting the community, she finds refuge with two men who show her compassion by showing her a whole new world. One man is suddenly found dead, only making Kya the main suspect. Her fight to freedom and struggle to keep many hidden secrets from bubbling to the surface makes this book even more suspenseful.
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
Following Lily Bloom through her new life after suffering from abuse, family problems and self discovery, This book shows what it means to find joy after the world knocks you down. Hope is a strong theme throughout this novel, encouraging readers to do what they love. Readers are left with a “feel good” feeling with a hint of sorrow for Lily in the end. This book has a squeal as well that is equally as entertaining and heart breaking as this.
Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson
Number five on our best Summer Books list is the exploration of the one-percenters in New York City. Displays family drama of a wealthy inheritance by explaining the perspectives of three female characters in different stages of their abnormal lives. Mixed with a coming-of-age and romance, this book makes you question how others live and feel. Wealthy families, such as this one, have the potential to harm personal growth in Americans today.
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
From the perspective of Cadence, her wealthy family drama becomes uncovered when her injury from last summer on her family island off the coast of New England caused memory loss. She is left to find out what happened to her on her own but uncovered untold family lies along the way. As her memory comes to life, she only wishes it would go back to how it was when the family didn’t seem to be filled with liars.
The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller
The story tells of a happily married woman, Elle, with a gorgeous husband and three well mannered kids. They go to their summer home nicknamed “Paper palace” and Elle suddenly meets her old first love again. Her choices from there make this book all the more confusing but interesting when the love triangle tangles even more.
Funny Story by Emily Henry
The last book on our Best Summer Books is actually a funny story. With the picture perfect life, engaged to a perfect guy, living on a Michigan lakefront and working as a Librarian, Daphne couldn’t ask for anything better. Until her fiance leaves her for his childhood best friend, Pelta. Devastated and alone, Daphne ends up staying with Pelta’s ex boyfriend, Miles, where they bond over their similar heartbreaks. This situation only leads them closer to each other. Their feelings become too much to bear and decisions become harder and harder to make as the tension only increases.
