I read SO many great books this summer, and so as the season ends, I want to share my very favorite reads (in no particular order) with you! All of these books are must-adds to your TBR.
THE LUCKY LIST
Find it: Goodreads, IndieBound, Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, Amazon
Rachael Lippincott, coauthor of #1 New York Timesbestseller Five Feet Apart, weaves a captivating, heartfelt love story about learning who you are, and who you love, when the person you’ve always shared yourself with is gone.
The Lucky List is a beautiful story that will pull on your heart strings! It’s full of so much summery goodness and adventures while also diving into the challenges of grief. Fans of Morgan Matson’s Since You’ve Been Gone will love this heartfelt story! See my aesthetic here.
THIS IS MY AMERICA
Find it: Goodreads, IndieBound, Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, Amazon
The Hate U Give meets Just Mercy in this unflinching yet uplifting first novel that explores the racist injustices in the American justice system.
I didn’t want to stop reading This Is My America—this mystery dived into so many important topics and had my complete attention. A powerful must-read, This Is My America is perfect for fans of Tiffany D. Jackson and Holly Jackson.
TOKYO EVER AFTER
Find it: Goodreads, IndieBound, Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, Amazon
Emiko Jean’s Tokyo Ever After is the “refreshing, spot-on” (Booklist, starred review) story of an ordinary Japanese-American girl who discovers that her father is the Crown Prince of Japan.
Tokyo Ever After is such an adorable read—I loved it so much! The voice is super fun and the bodyguard romance was so cute. I can’t wait for the sequel. This book is perfect for fans of The Princess Diaries!
WE CAN’T KEEP MEETING LIKE THIS
Find it: Goodreads, IndieBound, Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, Amazon
A wedding harpist disillusioned with love and a hopeless romantic cater-waiter flirt and fight their way through a summer of weddings in this effervescent romantic comedy from the acclaimed author of Today Tonight Tomorrow.
We Can’t Keep Meeting Like This is a heartfelt story with Jewish and OCD/anxiety rep. I loved the dichotomy between Quinn’s disillusionment with love and Tarek being a hopeless romantic. The contrast made seeing them grow and learn from each other all the more sweeter. Rachel Lynn Solomon is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors!
KISSES AND CROISSANTS
Find it: Goodreads, IndieBound, Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, Amazon
As sweet as a macaron from Laduree, with writing as crisp as a freshly baked baguette, this romantic novel set in Paris about an American ballerina and a charming French boy is parfait for fans of American Royals and Netflix’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.
Kisses and Croissants is such a fun read! I loved diving into the world of ballet and exploring Paris. The romance is so sweet, making this book the perfect summer read. Fans of Anna and the French Kiss and Emily in Paris will love it!
MEET ME AT MIDNIGHT
Find it: Goodreads, IndieBound, Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, Amazon
Teens waging a war of practical jokes declare peace when they fall for one another in this charming YA romantic comedy from Jessica Pennington.
I love all of Jessica Pennington’s novels, so it’s no surprise that I adored Meet Me at Midnight! I think this is my new favorite of her books?? It’s so fun—I couldn’t get enough of Sidney and Asher’s banter and pranks. The perfect summer romcom!
THAT WEEKEND
Find it: Goodreads, IndieBound, Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, Amazon
From the author of The Cheerleaders, comes a thriller about best friends on a weekend getaway that goes horribly, dangerously wrong.
I’ve been a fan of Kara Thomas for several years now and That Weekend was worth the wait. I loved the twists and suspense created from the main character’s memory loss as well as the multiple timelines. Go pick up this book (and the rest of Kara’s novels) ASAP!
SHE DRIVES ME CRAZY
Find it: Goodreads, IndieBound, Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, Amazon
High school nemeses fall in love in Kelly Quindlen’s She Drives Me Crazy, a queer YA rom com perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli and Casey McQuiston.
Basketball + fake dating? It’s like She Drives Me Crazy was written for me! I played basketball when I was in high school, so I’m always on the lookout for basketball books and this one did not disappoint. I loved this romcom so much!
HOW MOON FUENTEZ FELL IN LOVE WITH THE UNIVERSE
Find it: Goodreads, IndieBound, Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, Amazon
The Hating Game meets I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter in this irresistible romance starring a Mexican American teen who discovers love and profound truths about the universe when she spends her summer on a road trip across the country.
How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love With the Universe is such a gorgeous novel. At its heart, it’s a story about finding your self-worth—and it does it in such a beautiful way. The romance is A+, and Moon has the best banter with Santiago, the very grumpy love interest.
COOL FOR THE SUMMER
Find it: Goodreads, IndieBound, Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, Amazon
The guy of her dreams . . . or the girl in her heart? Dahlia Adler’s Cool for the Summer is a story of self-discovery and new love.
Cool for the Summer is the first book I’ve read from Dahlia Adler and I really enjoyed it! I loved switching between the present and past timelines, which had a Grease feel to it. This book is perfect for fans of Only Mostly Devastated!
What were your favorite reads this summer?