Written by Joyelle Ronan
Finals are approaching which means that Summer vacation is only a few exams away. My favorite way to spend a sunny day is sitting poolside with a good book. Here are some recommendations that you might want to add to your reading list.
Looking for Romance?- The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han is the perfect easy beach read. Written by the author of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, this trilogy follows Isabel “Belly” Conklin who spends every summer on the beach with family friends, The Fishers. Belly has always been close with Conrad and Jeremiah Fisher, but this summer is different. The major themes of the series are love, loss, and growing up. It will make you feel nostalgic in the best way possible.
Looking for Fantasy?- Caraval by Stephanie Garber is set in a unique fantasy world that will leave you wanting the next book in the series right away. Every year, a mystical, mysterious game happens known as Caraval. Scarlett has always dreamed of attending Caraval, but after her sister is kidnapped she’s not sure how much of Caraval is just a game and what is real life. In a word, this series is spellbinding.
Looking for Mystery?- How She Died, How I lived, by Roanoke College’s own Professor Hill (Mary Crockett), is the emotional story of a girl trying to find her place after the tragic murder of a classmate, Jaime. Based on true events, the narrator is one of five girl that the murderer texted, while she didn’t respond, Jamie did. This book will likely make you cry but it also has moments of romance and hope as well as a great mystery.
Good luck on your exams and have a great summer!
Looking for Sci-Fi?- Red Rising By Pierce Brown is the epic story of Darrow and his quest to infiltrate elite society. Set on Mars, this futuristic novel has the action of The Hunger Games and the violence of Game of Thrones. In order to break the class system, Darrow transforms into a high ranking “Gold” and competes in a test known as the Passage which involves killing another Gold. My recommendation is to read the book before the movie comes out.
Looking for Adventure?-Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue By Mackenzi Lee has all of the adventure, love, humor, and History that you want. Set in the 1700’s, the story follows Monty, a wild Englishman with an inclination for trouble as he, his best friend Percy, and his sister Felicity embark on a grand tour of Europe. Monty comes to realise he might be in love with Percy, but if his father finds out, he will be disowned. Narrated in first person by Monty, this book is a hilarious and fresh take on a classic adventure novel.
All of these books are available on Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble. For further book recommendations, check out #summerreads on instagram. Have a great summer everyone!
