Summer Reading List 2018

Can you believe it’s beach read season!? I’m in utter shock! I’m so excited though because there is nothing I love more than diving into a juicy beach read or feeling like I’m being transported to another time or another world as I turn a few pages. I am excited to share eleven wonderful books with you along with a few others that I plan to pick up this summer. I’d love to hear what y’all are reading too or hear if there is a great new book you think I left off this guide! With so many amazing books always being released, it can be hard to keep up! I hope this guide provides y’all with some direction, inspiration, and some conversation starters! Happy summer reading book worms!

P.S. for more book recommendations, read my Summer Reading List 2017 and my Winter Reading List 2017/2018 and all my other past reading lists here!

Summer Reading List 2018

1. The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine:

I completely missed this juicy thriller when it was released last fall, yikes a bee! I’m so glad it popped onto my radar because it’s such an engrossing page-turner. The book follows two women, one who has it all and one who is riddled with jealousy. The story shows the relationship between the women as one of them will stop at nothing to dethrone the other even if skeletons from her past threaten her entire plan.

2. Educated by Tara Westover:

This coming of age story will be one of the books that sticks with you the most this year. Imagine growing up in the mountains of Idaho with survivalist parents. Having no medical care, no education, and no knowledge of the outside world. The main character of the novel paints a picture of this reality and demonstrates tremendous courage on her journey to seek an education and attend college. However, she reaches a point where she questions her education and wonders if she’s gone too far… a MUST read. While I call this a must-read, I do so having not loved the book. It sounds contradictory I know! It is a must-read because the true story is so unbelievable. However, I struggled with the story at times because it seemed to me that the author’s mindset didn’t ultimately change too much by the end. It’s definitely worth debating!

3. Emergency Contact by Mary H. K. Choi:

A novel told from multiple perspectives is always interesting, especially when told from both male and female perspectives. This witty book does exactly that as it follows the unexpected relationship between two young adults, Penny Lee and Sam. If you’ve ever been in a relationship that you felt was heavily influenced by phones and/or social media, then this book is for you.

4. Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal:

The minute I saw Reese Witherspoon review this novel on Instagram for her Hello Sunshine book club, I knew I’d love it. Set in London, the book tells the story of a traditional Sikh community dotted with a few Westernized women. The main character, Nikki, teaches an English class to a group of Sikh widows who immediately turn her world upside-down. When she realizes their unexpected untold stories and fantasies. In Nikki’s efforts to help liberate these women. She hears gossip about the death of a young modernized woman in the community and a serious scandal ensues. This story is 100% not what you expect, which makes it so worthwhile and enjoyable.

5. You Me Everything by Catherine Isaac:

I just finished this book and loved it! It reads so quickly that you can truly finish it in a weekend. It’s a touching story of what family means full of love, heartbreak, confusion, and joy. The story is about a British family but mostly takes place in the French countryside, which sounds like the most magical place to spend a summer! I loved hearing the British accents and language come through in the book. I loved feeling like I was right there with the family as they navigated their tricky circumstances in such a marvelous setting.

6. The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand:

The ultimate beach read author is back this summer with another sure to be beautiful story set on Nantucket. The book doesn’t come out until June 19^th but you can pre-order it now so you’ll have it right upon release. The book tells the story of a Nantucket wedding gone awry as a dead body washes up in Nantucket Harbor hours before the ceremony. Suddenly, everyone in the wedding party comes into question along with the groom’s wealthy family.

7. Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate:

This book came out last summer so some of y’all might be familiar with it. I, however, hadn’t heard of it until my friend recently gave it rave reviews. I was drawn to it in part because a portion of the book takes place in Aiken, South Carolina and my mom and I recently took a 24 hour trip there to explore the historic town. The novel is based on the true-life notorious American scandal about an adoption organization that kidnapped and sold poor children to wealthy families. The book tells the story of two families that are two generations apart but linked together in an unimaginable way. I was hooked on this book!

8. The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah:

I have to admit that Alaska is at the top of my travel bucket list. I was immediately drawn to this novel based on the fact that it takes place in Alaska in the 1970s. This tale of resilience and the power of the human spirit will keep you up all night reading as you root for a mother and daughter in their fight to survive all that comes with an Alaskan winter. They followed their troubled POW husband/father to the last great American frontier in search of a better future… you’ll have to read to find out what happens. Thanks to harsh winters, unbelievable living conditions, an extremely troubled POW husband/dad, the odds are not in their favor. This book made me cry because I was so invested in the characters and I couldn’t have loved the ending more! P.S. this isn’t a run of the mill happy-go-lucky uplifting novel but it’s a MUST read.

9. Beauty in the Broken Places by Allison Pataki:

A heartbreaking, beautiful, and uplifting story all at once about a husband and wife who cope with unimaginable circumstances that turn their marriage upside down. This memoir will remind you of what it means to truly love someone enough that no fight is too big. The letters the wife writes to her husband in the book are so beautiful!

10. The Duchess by Danielle Steel:

Historical fiction lovers won’t be able to put this book down! The novel tells the story of Angélique Latham, the daughter of a Duke who has been cast out of society by her half-brothers after their father’s death. She uses her beauty, exquisite taste, keen mind, and an envelope of money to make her own path that takes her from Paris to New York. She create a new life on the edge of scandal so readers are left wondering if she will be able to regain her rightful place in society and the world.

11. An American Marriage by Tayari Jones:

Tackling timely issues of race and class is a popular trend in writing right now (for good reason!). If you want to read a novel that does this through gripping characters and relationships, then pick up this book. It’s a story of determination, love, devotion, pain, and hope that’s written in a beautiful prose. Everyone can relate to the three main characters. Even if you’ve never experienced anything like what they go through, because of the human emotion they experience. I was consumed by Celestial and Roy and their marriage. I loved both characters equally and simply couldn’t put this book down. I can’t recommend it enough! P.S. it’s part of Oprah’s 2018 book club so you know it’s good.

A few More Books that Caught my Attention for Summer 2018:

Happy Monday! xx