I’m a reader.
In a typical year, I’ll read between 50 and 60 books. Each year I find I read some books that I love and some that I don’t, some that are more involved and stay with me for months afterwards, and some that are a quick romp - light and fun.
Light and fun - sounds like summer!
Here are few books that I’ve read and enjoyed that I’d consider great summer reads. Hope you enjoy them!
The Brothers K by David James Duncan
I love this coming of age story of a family moving through the 50s, 60s, and 70s. At times it’s profoundly sad, and at other times remarkably uplifting. And the continual use of baseball as a metaphor for family life makes this one of my favorites to re-read in the summer.
Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
I’m going to guess that this books makes a lot of summer reading lists this year. It’s witty, entertaining, and entirely heartwarming. It will only take you a couple of trips to the beach to read, but you’ll want to spend more time with Bernadette and Bee.
Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan
While John Green’s other book will likely get more attention this year, I strongly recommend reading this one too. Two teens - both, strangely, named Will Grayson - have a chance encounter puts them on new and different paths. You should read this book to meet Tiny Cooper, and wish you had a best friend like him when you were in high school.
Lightning Rods by Helen DeWitt
Likely one of the strangest books I’ve ever read, this absurd book will leave you questioning what employee benefits really are. It’s silly, irreverent, and will leave you both shaking your head and laughing out loud
Bringing Home the Birkin by Michael Tonello
Having worked for an online private sale retailer for a few years, this book was almost required reading for the marketing team. If you’re unfamiliar, you’ll be amazed at the lengths some women will go to to get their hands on the elusive Hermes Birkin bag. Michael Tonello figured out the tricks of the trade and established an amazing business reselling Birkin’s on eBay. The book is funny and very well written - a great summertime read!
Pure by Julianna Baggott
There’s a trend in YA literature right now for post-apocalyptic stories, and this trilogy certainly falls into that genre. However, I liked this series more than the Hunger Games or Divergent series. The character development here is stronger, the story is far more engaging, and the characters, although impossible to believe, are actually more believable. A great way to lose yourself to another world for a while.