Hey guys,
“A room without books is like a body without a soul” – Marcus Tullius Cicero
So the fist Top 5 Wednesday of the month has been in my drafts for a while, and because its Wednesdays again, I though I’d post it now (I know there’s another T5W to do but I don’t have any books for that). And, I already have a Summer Reads Recommendation post, but it’s not the best, so I thought re-do the old one and make my drafted T5W a big post. So now, instead of it being recommended read, it’s my favourite Summer Reads (and there’s more than 5).
The Perks Of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chobosky
“Charlie’s not the biggest geek in high school, but he’s by no means popular. Shy, introspective, intelligent, yet socially awkward, Charlie is a wallflower, standing on the threshold of his life whilst watching everyone else live theirs.
As Charlie tries to navigate his way through uncharted territory – the world of first dates and mix tapes, family dramas and new friends – he realises that he can’t stay on the side lines forever. There comes a time when you have to see what life looks like from the dance floor.” Honestly, I’m not too sure why this is a good summer read for me. Yes, it takes place during high school, but I think the feelings you get while reading this book is perfect for the summer. This is such a great book that a lot of people relate to, and that’s one of the reasons why it’s great.
The Fault In Our Stars by John Green
“Despite the tumour-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist names Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.”
This book plays with your emotions (a lot), it is also filled with some fun scenes that helps give it a light hearted feel before we’re all on a roller-coaster that only goes down 😉 The words suck you in and it makes you forget about how sad you know you’re going to be at the end, which makes you fall down the rabbit hole of tears unexpectedly. And in my opinion, that makes this a good summer read.
The Art Of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson
“Two outsiders. Two secrets. David longs to be a girl. Leo wants to be invisible. When Leo stands up for David in a fight, an unlikely friendship forms. But things are about to get messy. Because at Eden Park School secrets have a funny habit of not staying secret for long…”
This book is very light hearted (which is great for a summer read), but it also knows how to leave an impact. Reading this you truly understand how hard it can be for someone who is labelled ‘different’, and it helps you appreciate the smaller things.
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
“A cold February morning… A snowy road… And suddenly all of Mia’s choices are gone. Except one. As alone as she’ll ever be, Mia must make the most difficult choice of all.”
This is a contemporary book, and for me that makes me think of a summer read, but it’s also a different kind of contemporary which is why I love it. It has an adorable romance in it that’s shown in a different way than most books show teen love. It’s a beautiful story that’s beautifully told.
Paper Towns by John Green
“Quentin Jacobsen has spent a lifetime loving the magnificently adventurous Margo Roth Spiegelman from afar. So when she cracks open a window and climbs into his life—dressed like a ninja and summoning him for an ingenious campaign of revenge—he follows. After their all-nighter ends, and a new day breaks, Q arrives at school to discover that Margo, always an enigma, has now become a mystery. But Q soon learns that there are clues—and they’re for him. Urged down a disconnected path, the closer he gets, the less Q sees the girl he thought he knew.”
The reason why this is in here is because it has a road trip in it. And when I think of road trips I think of summer. Also this takes place as school is ending, which happens in summer… I will admit, the ending isn’t as great as I hoped it would have been, but it’s still an enjoyable summer read. If you want to know my full thoughts (spoiler free) on this book, click HERE for my review.
Me And Earl And The Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
“Greg Gaines is the last master of high school espionage, able to disappear at will into any social environment. He has only one friend, Earl, and together they spend their time making movies, their own incomprehensible versions of Coppola and Herzog cult classics.
Until Greg’s mother forces him to rekindle his childhood friendship with Rachel.
Rachel has been diagnosed with leukemia – cue extreme adolescent awkwardness – but a parental mandate has been issued and must be obeyed. When Rachel stops treatment, Greg and Earl decide the thing to do is to make a film for her, which turns into the Worst Film Ever Made and becomes a turning point in each of their lives.
And all at once Greg must abandon invisibility and stand in the spotlight.”
Honestly, I don’t know why I like reading this in the summer so much. I think it could be to do with the fact that it’s a funny book. The writing style is also very different, which is great and refreshing, and I think that helps add to the summery feeling I get when I think of/read this book.
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowel
“Cath and Wren are identical twins and until recently they did absolutely everything together. Now they’re off to university and Wren’s decided she doesn’t want to be one half of a pair anymore – she wants to dance, meet boys, go to parties and let loose. It’s not so easy for Cath. She would rather bury herself in the fanfiction she writes where there’s romance far more intense than anything she’s experienced in real life.
Now Cath has to decide whether she’s ready to open her heart to new people and new experiences, and she’s realising that there’s more to learn than she ever thought possible.”
The reason why this has a summer feel for me is because that’s when I first read it. The cover is a big push as well, because it’s a ice fresh green colour. Some people might think this is just a quirky read about a fangirl with nothing much to it, but it’s so much more. There’s so much scattered through it and it is amazing, you will not regret reading this at all!
Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
“After a tumble down the rabbit hole, Alice finds herself far away from home in the absurd world of Wonderland. As mind-bending as it is delightful, Lewis Carroll’s 1865 novel is pure magic for young and old alike.”
Wonderland is colourful, summer is colourful, how could I not have this in here? There’s something about the way this book is written that gets me lost in its pages. I’ve read this book a few times, and each time I read it, I fall in love even more. It’s a truly beautiful book.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
“A talented tomboy and author-to-be Jo, tragically frail Beth, beautiful Meg, and romantic, spoiled Amy, united in their devotion to each other and their struggles to survive in New England during the Civil War.”
Thinking of this book makes me happy and being happy reminds me of summer. It’s such a nice story to read outside and enjoy the sun. This book is so amazingly written and I sometimes think that some people forget about it, which upsets me because this book does not deserve to be forgotten. Little Women is a master piece and I love it.
And that is the end of this post. If you haven’t read a book that is on this list, I suggest you do because you won’t regret it. And I live in Australia now, so even though it’s Winter it’s still soooo hot, which means I’ll probably be re reading some of these in the near future. If there’s somethings you think I could improve on, tell me, because I’m always looking for ways to improve 🙂 I’m also re-doing my Instagram (making it prettier than it is now) so go follow that (the link will be at the end), obviously there will be very little photos on at the moment (there is only 1 as I’m typing this) but more will come.
Till next time Byeeeeeeeeee
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