Books That Give Off Summer Vibes
Before I get on with the post for today, I wanted to acknowledge that yes, this is ‘normal’ content at a time when there are far more important things going on in the world that need our collective attention and engagement. So I really encourage you to sign petitions, donate if you’re able, and read books by black authors. There’s some great threads going round twitter at the moment that are worth checking out to help educate yourself. It’s what I’m trying my best to do as well.
FOR MORE INFO: blacklivesmatter.carrd.co
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Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
This week we’re looking at books that give off all the summer vibes! I’ve chosen books that make me think of summer, books I’ve read in summer… there’s a whole load of summer ahead, people.
1. Under A Dancing Star by Laura Wood.
I swear to goodness this is the PERFECT summer read. It’s a Much Ado reworking that pays homage to the Branagh/Thompson film (coincidentally, one of my favourite films of all time). It’s the 1930s, and Bea is fed up of having to behave like a lady when she’d much rather be up to her waist in the pond looking at various creatures and wildlife. Her mum would much rather she was making polite small talk with the vicar. So Bea is sent off to her uncle’s in Italy to ‘reform’ herself. But Italy is far more freeing than she had ever hoped, and very soon she faces a challenge - can she have the perfect summer romance, but without falling in love?
2. Anything written by Emery Lord.
I don’t read contemporary very often, but when I do it always seems to be an Emery Lord and it always seems to be the summer holidays. Who knows why. I like the Emery Lord I’ve read so far because it always seems to explore new beginnings, moving on from or learning to cope with a significant event, and there’s always a sweet romance in there somewhere. Unlikely to re-read them, but they are easy and comforting.
3. Heartstopper Volume 3.
They go on a school trip! To Paris! In summer! Honestly, what more could you want. Heartstopper is one of my all-time favourites anyway - so holiday Heartstopper is even better!
4. Unconventional by Maggie Harcourt.
This makes me think of YALC because it’s all about a book convention, and so I read it in the summer when YALC usually happens! It’s cute and great fun and makes me miss YALC and book conventions and all the loveliness that comes with it.
5. How Hard Can Love Be? by Holly Bourne.
I love the whole Spinster Club series but when I think of summer, this is the book out of the three that I turn to. Amber goes off to work on a summer camp in America, feeling gangly and awkward and very not-American. But she makes friends, has adventures, falls in love… and it’s utter comedy gold. Classic Holly Bourne.
6. The Paper and Hearts Society by Lucy Powrie.
So I’m not sure exactly what it is about this series that makes me think summer. Maybe it’s the bright yellow cover, or the fact they go on a road trip (which screams holiday, to me), or that they seem to be published in the summer months, but this book is really a joyous escapade and the perfect easy read for summer. Also, it’s a perfect excuse to reminisce over all my favourite books through the characters.
7. A Sky Painted Gold by Laura Wood.
Yes, I’m mentioning another Laura Wood title here. But it’s so decadent and escapist. It’s like if Downton and Gatsby had a book baby set in gorgeous rural Cornwall. Really escapist, a how-the-other-half-live, classic period drama but made YA and fabulous. A delight.
8. My So-Called Bollywood Life by Nisha Sharma.
I don’t know what it is about me reading cute romantic contemporaries in the summer! But this is another fabulous offering. Winnie has just broken up with her boyfriend, who seemed to be The One. Now he’s being a pain while they co-run the Film Club at school together… and at the same time Winnie is really enjoying hanging out with Dev. Hilarious (I genuinely laughed actual out loud while reading this) and brilliant.
9. A Quiet Kind of Thunder by Sara Barnard.
So apparently ‘summer vibes’ for me has become ‘cute contemporaries’. But if it means anyone picks up Sara Barnard books who hasn’t already, then I’m not sorry! AQKOT is a contemporary and a romance, between a deaf boy and a selective mute girl who are paired up at school. As with all of Barnard’s books, it feels authentic, awkward, and delightful all in one go (and this particular one is also very sweet). I really enjoyed curling up with this when I first read it.
10. Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston.
This isn’t set in the summer, but I was gifted it for my birthday last year (I’m a summer birthday) and read it once, became obsessed, and then re-read it at least four times over the course of August. So every time I pick this up it reminds me of lying in my friend’s garden with her cats on the blanket under the tree, re-reading what my friend has dubbed ‘the gay prince book’. It’s an absolute joy, and you should read it if you haven’t already.
