I’ve got a booklist of summer reads that I am raving about every chance I get. Run, don’t walk, to your nearest gadget and order these books as quickly as you can. Use Kindle, Audible, or grab a physical copy from your library, and read these now. I’m not kidding around; you’re going to love these books!
Reading Helps Me Feel Normal
Know why I love reading?
I relish being transported to another space and time (and with my recommendations, you will.) But, more than that, I enjoy peering into the lives of other people (this is the therapist in me) and seeing how they “do” life—comparing their “doing” to my own doing.
Would I make the same decision if put in the same situation? Do I agree with the author’s choice of direction? When my emotions run high, do I want to punch someone in the face, or do I want to befriend one of the characters?
Reading Transports You to Another World
Books transport you to other cultures, scenes, situations, and worlds. They allow you to put a different lens on so you get another perspective of life.
So, without further adieu, I present to you:
My Top 5 Summer Reads
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune. Linus Baker is a quiet, introverted man who sticks to his routine like it’s his lifeline. He gets up, goes to work, goes home to his cat, dances in his living room, then goes to bed. Only to get up and do it all again. But when Extremely Upper Management gives him a new task, it shakes things up in a massive way.
Travel with Linus to Marsyas island and discover the enchanting, mystical home overlooking the beautiful Cerulean sea. There, you’ll learn about the orphanage, its inhabitants, and the magic they bring to each new day. Fall in love with the characters. It would be impossible not to.
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah. Leni is only a girl when she makes a cross country move to Alaska with her volatile father and submissive mother. It’s 1974, and the family is living off the grid. Ernt can be unpredictable (that’s putting it mildly), and Cora, who would do anything to keep her daughter safe (and does to the very end), lead tumultuous, erratic lives. As each new year passes, the threat of safety both in the wilderness (bears, long winters, and no grocery stores, running water, or electricity) and on the home front push Leni past her breaking point more than once.
Leni is a delightful, strong-willed character who helps you dig into your ideas of love, loss, grief, and sadness. She has a lot to overcome and much to step into as she learns her strength throughout time.
The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V.E. Schwab. When Addie doesn’t want to marry as a young girl, she makes a deal with the devil to save herself. The deal? She’ll live forever and be forgotten by everyone. Addie moves through time and across the world, learning and surviving in a world where she can’t create roots and has no way to leave her mark. She has fantastic experiences, but she does them alone.
One day, in an unpredictable turn of events, Addie meets a man who remembers her, and suddenly, Addie is transformed. But, why does he remember her? What does this mean for Addie’s soul?
Addie is a remarkable character, and for someone who isn’t to be remembered, she is a delight to your soul. You’ll find yourself embracing this journey with Addie, loving her, aching for her, and wishing others could know her magnificence as much as you now know her.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. Imagine going to a library with an infinite number of books with an endless amount of possibilities for your life. What if you could try out new lives, answer old questions, experience your people in various forms, live in different contexts, and have do-overs with people who matter most?
When Nora is faced with the possibility of changing her life upon visiting the Midnight Library, she journeys through a multitude of life adventures. She embarks on diverse careers, marries different partners, realizes various career aspirations, and finds new purpose and meaning with each unique experience. But, unfortunately, she also endures heartache in varying ways throughout her voyage.
Join Nora as she travels through an abundance of life experiences. But, at the end, which one does Nora choose?
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner. In 18th century London, a secret apothecary caters to only women, but with a twist. She concocts only poisons for those who want to get revenge on men who have harmed them in some unspeakable way. However, her secret shop is exposed when a chain of events brings light to the hidden apothecary. Once the shop and the apothecary are found out, lives change drastically.
Meanwhile, Caroline is on a present-day London trip of her own. She is faced with significant life decisions as she finds out her husband has been cheating. During her visit to London, her story collides with the apothecary’s, and she learns how even across time, another woman’s story influences her own.
Books Expand Your Soul and Give Insight
There are so many worthy books to fancy. Choose one I’ve listed here, or pick another that feels like it will expand your soul, give you insight, or transport you to a new world.
If you choose one of these, let me know in the comments if you liked them as much as I did. I’d also like to get your book recommendations!
