5 Books for your Summer TBR

Sunshine and beach days are quickly approaching with the summer months. With that, many are looking for the perfect book to curl up in the sand while sunbathing. There are a few books that perfectly embody the heat and vacation vibes, and this list will add not only to your reading list, but your shopping cart, for books you need to pick up this summer. 

1. Seven Days in June by Tia Williams

Perfect for the summer, as indicated by its title, “Seven Days in June” is a beautiful little novel following two authors who have been writing to each other through their novels years after their initial separation from one another– using each other as their muses. Not only do the characters feel incredibly real, in both their flaws and aspirations, they are loveable and fleshed out even deeper with every page. Romantic, witty, and heartbreaking, this novel will have you hooked until the very end and is the perfect emotional read for your reading list this summer. 

2. Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan

Author and Audiobook narrator Julia Whelan writes “Thank You for Listening” about her own audiobook narrating characters. In fact, listening to the audiobook for this novel is the perfect way to get some extra reading done on your next vacation. After years of absence from the audiobook scene, Sewanee begins work on a new romance audiobook with the famous Brock McNight. Spinning a story of hope and new beginnings, Whelan will ignite a new passion for romance within the reader. 

3. She Gets the Girl by Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick

If you’re looking for a queer love story that will make you kick your feet, “She Gets the Girl” is the perfect read for your summer. Written by two married co-authors, the novel takes on the same romantic glow. Following the opposite personalities of Alex and Molly as they come into university life, this novel handles difficult topics with ease and poise without losing the charm that makes this novel a true romance. 

4. Beautiful World Where are You by Sally Rooney

For a more intellectual twist to your summer, author of “Normal People” – Sally Rooney–  is the perfect author to inspire profound thought while scratching that literary itch you may have. The humor is sharp and the plot is minimal, but the characters are constantly pondering about the deeper meaning of the world as we know it. The character’s deep flaws make them human in spite of the straightforward writing, the novel is intricately woven into a beautiful web of thoughts. 

5. A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman

Fredrick Backman as an author is the ideal place to begin when beginning the journey of translated literature. Easily accessible and incredibly poignant, “A Man Called Ove,” like many of Backman’s novels, follows a mundane plot which actually reveals far more about humanity. Grumpy, and bitter, Ove is an old man who likes to yell at most things that bother him. He is stubborn and unfathomably dedicated to his routines. In fact, he is certain that life is no longer worth living without his wife. That is, however, until his neighbors wiggle their way into his life until he finds himself having a new joy in his life. Wholesome and a certain tear-jerker, this novel is perfect for a late night reading under the covers. 

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