The only time I ever find myself hunkering down and reading, it seems, is to be in the summer time, and we're in the thick of it in my area. The days are perfectly long, and the air thick and warm. It kind of makes sense, I guess, that I only really read in the summer, since I love nothing more than sitting out in the warm sun, a glass of lemonade in hand, luxuriously lapping through an easy, indulgent, summer read. It's always been one of my greatest pleasures. I even went so far as to make myself a cozy little reading nook in my bedroom, which I have an upcoming post getting ready to hit your screens within the next month or so (my bedroom is currently a HUGE work in progress, and I'm so excited to share!!)
So, as this is my first summer reading list, with titles I think you just have to try, it's turned out to be a bit of an eclectic mix of oldies but goodies. Seriously.... this baby is about 24 years in the making! How perfect! Dare I call it the ultimate summer reading list?!
Oh yeah, I just went there.
Hope you enjoy!
1. The Buenos Aires Broken Hearts Club
This book is forever stamped on my heart and mind. I loved this book, and read and re-read it so many times! The plot is simple, the 28 year old protagonist was always living life super safe, and always had everything planned out. Until she gets fired, and find's her fiancé in bed with another woman, on the same day! Gasp! Like any self respecting woman would do, she gets super drunk and books herself a one way trip to Buenos Aires. Logical, right? No turning back. What ensues next is hilarity, adventure, and light-hearted healing, making you wish you had the guts to leave it all behind for a strange, but beautiful new life. Meeting new people along the way, and starting a "Broken Hearts Club" with her new-found friends, mixing in a few new love interests.... It makes for a book you can't put down!
2. Something Borrowed
This one, I just can't. I love it so much. They even made a movie out of it, which I love too, but the book has way way way more detail, and puts so much more depth to the characters, that you really can't hate any of them, despite their huge flaws. This novel finds a love triangle between three long-time friends, Darcy, Rachel and Dex. Handsome Dex and pseudo- good girl Rachel were friends since college, only Dex is now engaged to Darcy... and getting married in the fall! Where does Rachel come in? Well, she's been friends with exuberant, spotlight stealing Darcy since elementary school, and is the maid of honour, and sleeps with Dex mere months before the wedding, the pair just now figuring out they've had feeling for each other the whole time. What's a gal to do?
3. Something Blue
Something Blue is a sequel to Something Borrowed. I love this book because it gives more information into Darcy's background, giving some explanation to why... ahem, she is the way she is. It also gives Darcy's end of things on the happenings in the previous book, and how she overcomes her shortcomings, and gets a personality transplant, of sorts. This is Darcy in all her best ways, and I love her transformation.
4. With Her Boots On
Fashionista Mel is tasked with being a bridesmaid in her brother’s wedding and the bridesmaids’ are dresses from Hell. These dresses are the poofiest ever, even before the full-crinoline attachment and are, the kicker, construction cone orange colored. But that's not all that's going on, Mel’s career is run off the rails with she clashes with co-workers, makes a friend with a very large dog, and her plain as rice boyfriend's sudden love affair with modern dance...and the instructor. This book takes you through the trials and laughs of Mel's journey to self discovery, and learning to let go, and keeps you chuckling along the way. You'll find yourself cheering with her triumphs, and fighting the urge to pick her up off the ground during her low points. Page turner is not a strong enough description.
5. Safe Haven
My little paperback copy of this book is beaten to death, because I cannot put it down. I love the movie version of this as well, but much prefer the book, for deeper character analysis and more detail. Katie, a young woman, gives herself a makeover and moves to a quiet, coastal town of Southport, North Carolina in search of a new beginning, running from her haunting past. There, she finds peace serenity, and that love is a true safe haven. The backdrop of he book is just as beautiful as the story, and the scenery is just as much a character as the people. For greater visual effect, pop in the movie to really get how adorable this town is. Bonus, it's a real place!
6. Can You Keep a Secret?
I read the crap out of this book when I was in High School. It was my "out on the deck, tanning" special, and I think every one of my friends borrowed it. Emma is a young lady set in London, England. She has a steady, but boring relationship a good guy, and is trying to advance her career at a Cola company. She's pretty pleased with life, until she blurts out all her secrets to a stranger on a plane, when she thinks its going to crash. She thinks she's OK though after it lands, I mean who ever sees strangers on a plane ever again? Except this guy is the founder of the Cola company she works for, and things just get a bit wild after that. Best pool read!
7. Thin, Rich, Pretty
This is a really great kind of, "ensemble character" book. When they were kids, Holly and Nicola were the outsiders at a summer camp. Holly was the "plump" one, and longed to be an artist. Nicola, was shy and plain and wanted nothing more than to be beautiful. Their "Mean Girl" was Lexi. Rich, spoiled, and had everything the girls wanted. Holly and Nicola decided to get back at Lexi, but they never knew at the time, that mean things that happened in childhood can hurt for life, even for "perfect" girls.
In the present, Holly owns a successful art gallery, even though she isn't an artist herself. She still is insecure about her weight, and always wants approval from her, in my opinion, horrible boyfriend. Nicola is a pretty decent actress, and thinks that she's just one plastic surgery appointment away from real fame.. Lexi is down on her luck and totally broke.
Holly will do anything to be thin. Lexi will do anything to be rich. And Nicola will do anything to be pretty. Funny isn't it? The grass is never greener on the other side. This is a funny book that puts the emphasis on every woman's inner "if only" monologue. It really re-iterates that the grass is greener when you water it, and perfect for when bikini season gets you down.
8. Hope in a Jar
This book was probably the only impulse buy I have never regretted. I grabbed it because it was called Hope in a Jar, and at the time I really liked the moisturizer by Philosophy of the same name. Add that in with my love of makeup and beauty products, and you have a great lounge book.
Back in High School, Allie was the pretty one and her best friend Olivia was the smart one, and they were inseparable, until a rumor tore them apart.
On the eve of their twentieth high school reunion, Allie finds herself single, chubby, and feeling old. Olivia has made something of herself as a beauty editor in New York,but realizes she’s lonely, and is finally ready to face her demons.
This book is a great read for when you have the summer blues. It touches how most women can get a little bit of confidence from a jar, whither it be a new shampoo, haircut, or tube of lip gloss.
9. Water for Elephants
If books can take you from where you are currently sitting, to a brand new world, this one does it flawlessly.
The story is a series of memories by Jacob a 93-year-old man who lives in a nursing home.
As the memories begin, Jacob is a 23-year-old preparing for his final exams as a vet student, when he devastating news. Because of this, he takes off and jumps on a train, a Circus train. Because of his vet training he is hired to care for the circus animals. Jacob is thrust into the circus life, making many memorable friends along the way.
Among these friends, is Beautiful Marlena, a performer who does a liberty act with horses, who is married to August, the equestrian director and is a brutal man. Jacob and Marlena slowly fall in love.
Through this, there are trials and heartache, as you pull for the Circus to go on, and Jacob and Marlena to be together. I read this book in seriously 3 days. I couldn't put it down.
Amber and Vicky have the opposite lives, Amber a mom of three in Conneticut, but hasn't found fulfillment from just being a Wife and Mom. Vicky is a successful magazine editor for a Magazine in London, but hasn't found love yet. What would happen if the two swapped lives, to sample their "missing pieces?"
We find out in this book!
This book is adorable and heartwarming. It's another one that was passed around heavily by myself and my friends.
Soo... what's on your reading list this summer?
Share titles below, I'm sure a few will make next years' list!
xox- Court
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