Summer is one of my favorite seasons for reading. I have always been a bookworm, burying my nose in fairy tales and fiction, getting lost in story lines and falling in love with characters, but there’s something about the summertime that makes reading even more enjoyable. There’s nothing more relaxing than reading on the beach or by the pool… but I also love reading a few chapters before bed each night. I’ve rounded up a few of the books I’ve been reading lately, so I hope you’ll enjoy them as much as I did!
1. With This Heart by R.S. Grey
With This Heart is a quintessential summer read. The main character, Abby, receives a second chance at life after undergoing a heart transplant and spending several years in the hospital. She plans a two week road trip (alone), when she unexpectedly meets a boy who wants to join her on the trip and ends up changing her life. Abby and Beck depart on the road trip as perfect strangers but fall in love throughout their epic journey, everything you think a summer road trip should be (bonfires by the beach, sleeping in teepees, getting caught in the rain, etc).
Some parts of the book seem too-good-to-be-true (I mean, what girl goes on a road trip with a perfect stranger and he turns out to be intelligent, sexy and the love of your life?) but it provided an evocative look at what a person goes through after beating a life threatening illness. Sometimes the book was very thoughtful and serious, while other parts were hilarious and had me laughing out loud (especially at Abby and Beck’s witty banter!). Before anyone reads the book, though, they should be prepared for the sex scenes. The book was sexually explicit and sometimes made me feel uncomfortable… for that reason, I wouldn’t recommend the book to anyone under the age of 17!
You can download With This Heart on Amazon for $2.99 here (or check out my giveaway at the end of this post!).
2. Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead
If you liked the Twilight series, you will love the Vampire Academy series – possibly even more! I picked up the first book on a whim because I was stuck in an airport for a few hours by myself. It took me at least 100 pages to understand the vampire society that the main character, Rose, lives in, but after that I was hooked. There are five books in the series and each one was better than the last – I couldn’t read them fast enough. The protagonist, Rose, is perhaps my favorite character out of all the books I’ve ever read! She is tough, quick-tempered, but extremely clever with a great sense of humor. And Dimitri – oh Dimitri! – you will fall in love with him, too. The series is very consistent and there are so many plot twists and action scenes that it continuously keeps you on your toes. This is the type of book that has you thinking about it even when you are not reading it. I would highly recommend the series to anyone who is even slightly interested in science fiction/romance!
3. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Rebecca is a timeless classic – and also my all-time favorite book. I have re-read it several times and it never gets old! Daphne du Maurier weaves together mystery, secrets and romance into an intricate novel, one that will leave chills down your spine. The plot goes a little like this: a young girl is swept off her feet by an older, handsome man and taken to live with him to a beautiful mansion (called Manderley). As she adjusts to married life, she learns that her new husband was once married to a woman named Rebecca… whose ghost now haunts Manderley. Rebecca is one of the most beautifully written books I’ve ever read, but it is also a little dark (so be warned). It’s definitely not a light read, and it is a classic that was written many years ago so some of the language is antiquated. However, it is definitely my favorite book of all time and I promise you will get lost in it too!
Since I love summer reading so much, today I am giving away five e-books and two signed copies of the novel With This Heart (review above). This is seriously the perfect book to bring with you on vacation or read by the pool and you will love it just as much as I did! Even if you don’t win, it’s only $2.99 on Amazon 😉 You can enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below.
Good luck!! And if you have any recommendations for summer reads, I’d love to hear them in the comments below!
Rebecca is one of my favorite books ever!
Rebecca sounds really interesting! Can't believe I haven't heard of it before… Going to add to my TBR list
I'm the same way when it comes to reading, I find it to be so relaxing especially in the summertime! I'll have to check these books out!
Kendal // Life With Kendal
Yay! I have been looking for some summer books to read, and these look amazing! I really want to read Rebecca now, and I have heard good things about Vampire Academy too!
xoxo
Rachel
http://www.blondewithachanse.com
Totally agree that summer is the best time for reading! I really recommend Model by Cheryl Diamond.
Alyssa | Keep It Simple
All those books look so interesting! And thanks to your first picture I'm now craving some macarons!
RhodeIsland-Prep.blogspot.com
Thanks for the giveaway! That book looks amazing!
I made a post about my June reading please check it out!
http://monogrammedmidwesterner.blogspot.com/
I really want to read With This Heart!
blousesandblush.com
going to have to check out these books
Rebecca is a favourite classic of mine. It took me an incredibly long time to getting round and actually picking it, but it was well worth it when I did last year. I can't wait to reread, and discover more of the author's works.
🙂
Bits & Bobs
Hi Caitlin! Actually I came across here because I saw these yummy Macarons. And I wonder…did you make them!? Or would you like to bake some Macarons!? 🙂 Well, this is my post about Parisian Macaron http://www.thetuliproad.com/2014/02/pink-love-macarons.html
I'll be glad if you would give it a try! Let me know!
Wishing you a great sunday!
http://www.thetuliproad.com
TRAVEL| FOOD| LIFESTYLE and about my FASHION line.
Rebecca is one of my all time favourite books. My mum also feels the same way and it influenced her when choosing my name.
Rebecca Elizabeth
xox
EnglishPrepster
I'm such a bookworm too. You should check out Gone Girl, I just read it and couldn't put it down!
Gone Girl was amazing!! Such a good book! I heard they are changing the ending for the movie; I'm really curious about it.
Looove that top picture that you posted! I just finished the Divergent series and now I'm reading Prodigal Summer. I definitely liked the first Divergent book the best (sometimes I felt like it was definitely too young adult for me) and I don't love Prodigal Summer either (but it was on the Buzzfeed list of books that will change your life so I'm reading it). Hopefully I will love the next book I read!
Kasey
http://www.preplovelove.com
I loved the Vampire Academy series, Dimitri is definitely what kept me pushing through them!
nueyork.blogspot.com
I loved the Vampire Academy series. Probably more than an educated 27 year old should. The movie is a total guilty pleasure too!
i am totally a book worm too and totally prefer the fiction variety. my huz only reads non-fiction and biographies but i always joke with him that i am not trying to learn something when i read, i am trying to be transported to another world!
these three are definitely going on my list! (i was a total harry potter, hunger games, twilight lover!)
xo mk
gold-hatted lover
Try Orphan Train. Great book!
I'll need to check these out! I've been searching for another summer read!
I read Rebecca in my freshman year English class and it is still one of my favorite books ever! I've reread it at least three times since then.