Summer Book Review



To say I ever read a book for pleasure pre-college would be a lie. But I finally found a book that had me interested in it enough to read the entire thing and since then, I've been hooked. For me, that book was James Patterson's "Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas." Today, I can't even tell you what it is about but I still remember reading it and realizing how great a good book can be.



I never read as much throughout the year as I do in the summer (there is just something about sitting by the beach/pool/lake with a book in hand) so I try to read as much as I can over those summer months to get my yearly fill.  Here are the books I have read this summer with my comments. I can't say I hated any of them so definitely check them all out at some point!

1. Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins

I really enjoyed all 3 of these books. They definitely got stranger as the 3 books progressed but I'm into a little strange so it worked for me. Also went and saw the first movie which Brett and I both enjoyed. They left out some key details in the movie that I had to later explain to Brett but I really enjoyed seeing the book come to life in the movie, especially all the "Capital" scenes.

2. I Do, Now What by Giuliana and Bill Rancic

I don't know about you but I am in love with this couple so this book was a must read while we were on the honeymoon. The book is their advice on how to have a healthy marriage and has all kinds of personal stories. It was super cute and definitely a must-read for any newlyweds who love them as much as me!

3. Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult

If you have never read a Jodi Picoult book, you should! All of her books tackle a tough subject and put an interesting spin on it. This one was a little strange for my taste but still enjoyed reading it. I highly recommend Nineteen Minutes, The Pact or House Rules by her.

4. Bright Lights, Big Ass by Jen Lancaster

This book was given to me by my good friend Lauren and was a perfect quick summer read. It was super cute and had me literally laughing out loud during a few parts. Lauren loves all her books so I need to read another soon.

5. 50 Shades Trilogy by E.L.James

Well, I couldn't possibly go through the summer without seeing what all the hype was about over this series. Here is my short and sweet summary: Book 1) Graphic, borderline porn, no storyline. Book 2) Slightly less graphic, still borderline porn, starting to develop an interesting storyline. Book 3) Even less graphic and actually an interesting storyline (definitely the best of all 3).

6. The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan

This book was recommended to me by my good friend, Aston (who I get a lot of my book recos from) and it certainly did not dissappoint. It's such a great story about a woman in her "middle place" in life between still wanting to be cared for by her parents yet having to end up caring for them and her own family. If you have a great relationship with your dad - this is a read for you (bring the tissues).

7. Where We Belong by Emily Griffin

I was a little hesitent about reading this one because the last 2 books by Emily Griffin have fallen a little flat for me but I was pleasantly surprised! She really changed things up with this one and got rid of the whole "girl meets boy, boy breaks girl's heart, girl gets back with boy" storyline with something completely new. The end kind of keeps things open for a sequel so here's hoping!

8. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

I really enjoyed this one, especially since it was such a change of pace from previous books I've read this summer. It's an interesting mindgame and has you always trying to figure out what the next twist is. My mom read it after I raved to her about it and she simply said that it is "really weird, but good" which I'd say it pretty accurate.

9. The Light Between Oceans by M.L.Stedman

This is one that Brett found for me to read - well, technically he initially thought he would read it (lighthouses, boats and oceans, what's a guy not to like) but then realized it was more of a love story than anything so he passed it along to me. It was a pretty slow start with really long chapters that never seemed to end (think Old Man and the Sea) but about halfway through it really picked up and I ended up really, really liking it!

10. The Next Best Thing by Jennifer Weiner

I've read a few of Jennifer Weiner's books before (In Her Shoes and Best Friends Forever - both fabulous) so when I was looking for a new book I figured I couldn't go wrong with her latest, and I was right. Great story and perfect for a summer beach read (or in my case a "sit in your cubicle during lunch" read).

So, now that I'm done with my latest book, I need some suggestions on what to read next! Leave a comment with some of your favorites from this summer!