{CC-Berrys}
So your looking for some great summer reads. Light and airy...romance, fun, food, anything that makes reading whimsy and happy with a touch of mystery, drama or suspense.
Or are you looking for something intense with emotional drama and significance? Well, here are my favorite summer reads....past and new...ones Ive read recently and the ones I continue to go back to.
Or are you looking for something intense with emotional drama and significance? Well, here are my favorite summer reads....past and new...ones Ive read recently and the ones I continue to go back to.
The Serious, Dramatic & Emotional:
The Help by Kathryn Stockett (Adult-Fiction)
~A story about segregation, friendship and loyalty in the 60's. Told by two African American maids and one white woman who writes theirs and other maids story's about working for white women, the town, the injustice and the children they love.Backseat Saints by Joshilyn Jackson
~Rose finds the courage to leave her abusive husband and finds her mother who left her as a child. The journey takes unexpected twists, self-discovery and a chance at love......again.
The Bungalow by Sarah Jio (Adult-Fiction)~WWII nurse Anne is stationed in Bora, Bora during which she falls in love and discovers a secret bungalow on the beach that is said to be cursed.
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton (Adult-Contemporary)
~A young girl inherits an old book full of dark and mysterious fairy tales from her grandmother and learns that a mystery surrounds all she knows about her family, the past and her future.
Dear John by Nicholas Sparks~A army solider falls in love over the summer with a pretty girl named Savannah, everything changes after 9/11 as the couple try and maintain a long distance relationship.
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
~A missionary moves his family to the congo and each daughter shares a side of the story in this gripping, raw account of living with the villagers, the conditions and the unstable in their life.
Here On Earth by Alice Hoffman
~A woman returns home after many years away and reconnects with her highschool sweetheart, only to rediscover the unique, reckless bond they once had still simmers under the surface.
The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain~A kidnapping gone wrong brings about devastating consequences, an unexpected love and a secret life that effects generations to come.
The Fun, The Light Hearted..And the Romance......
Arranged by Catherine McKenzie (Adult-Contemporary)
~A thirty something looking for love and failing miserably decides to use a dating service that promises a husband (not a boyfriend) presented in a secret location where she will marry and live happily ever after...if only it were that easy.How to Eat a Cupcake by Meg Donahue (Adult-Contemporary-Humor)
~Charming pastry maker Annie starts up her own shop with childhood friend Julia. The past, the present and all its secrets collide in an explosion of mystery and lemon cupcakes.
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins~During her senior year in Paris, Anna meets St. Clair, the perfect guy who makes her heart melt, only problem he's already taken....or is he?
Always the Baker Never the Bride by Sandra Bricker
~A funny story about a wedding cake maker who wants to fall in love but can never seem to find the right guy....she's also a diabetic who can never eat her own cakes....oh the irony.
On The Island by Tracey Gravis Graves
~A teacher Anna and her 17 year old student T.J crash on an island and quickly have to survive. As the years pass, Anna can't help but notice the man T.J has become, nor can T.J ignore the intense attraction he feels for Anna.One for the Money by Janet Evanovich (Adult-Comedy-Mystery)
~And so the adventures of bounty hunter and food lover Stephanie Plum come to life, in this hysterical 80's feel good comedy romance......PS-The entire series of Stephanie Plum (up until book 15) is funny and entertaining for quick beach reads.
Honorable Mentions:
The Distance Between Us by Kasie West
Faking It by Cora Carmack
The Matchmaker by Erin Hilderbrand
Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson
Someone Else's Love Story by Joshilyn Jackson
So, what do you guys think, good list? Hopefully you'll pick one of these up and love it as much as I did.
*I will update this list as needed.
*I will update this list as needed.
Those are some great suggestions! I can't bring myself to read Nicholas Sparks LOL He just seems to sad for me :)
ReplyDeleteI do think the Help on Audiobook is a great one. That story just transported me!
lol- Dear John is actually his least depressing one, and it was about a father/son relationship, I rarely read about fathers and sons in romance novels...so it had to go on the list.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great list. I see some I want to read and some I have.
ReplyDeleteI really must listen to Backseat Saints. I've been meaning to for ages. And The Help.
I wish Arranged & How to Eat a Cupcake were an audio.
You've reminded me to add The Forgotten Garden to my TBL.
And you've convinced me to try On The Island.
Thanks for this awesome awesome list.
The Forgotten Garden was so good....but its more heavy reading. On the Island is one of my favs ever, its super sexy but its a great read!!!!
DeleteGah! I haven't read any of these. Thanks for the suggestions - they all sound good.
ReplyDeleteWell depending on what mood your in.....for funny Id go with the Stephanie Plum series....if your wanting more serious Id go for The Help or The Poisonwood Bible.
DeleteI LOVE On The Island. I've read it over and over! Such a great book. :)
ReplyDeleteMe too, I read it 3 times, but still cant bring myself to review it...LOL....Ill just ga-ga all over it.
DeleteAnna and the French Kiss! Loved that book so much, and you're right, it's a perfect summer read. Makes me wish I could pick up and go to Paris and meet a British gentleman ;-) Hubs needs an accent pronto:) Love the Stephanie Plum series too, those books are just so absurd and ridiculous and they never fail to make me laugh!
ReplyDeleteYay!!! I just noticed all my books that I love feature a character with the name Anna!!! I must really love that name or something....LOL
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