What is it about summer that makes reading so enjoyable? In the good ol’ days I could sit on the beach during a vacation and make my way through 3 books a week! Of course life with a toddler has definitely changed my reading pace, but I have found I’ve been reading a ton this summer thanks to picking up books at night instead of flipping on the TV. I have a big stack I’ve been collecting for my summer line-up and thought I’d share my 2019 summer reading list to spark some inspiration if you’re looking for a good beach read of your own:
Small Fry by Lisa Brennan Jobs – This book was recommended to me by the owner of InkFish books when we were swapping recent favorite reads; it’s a memoir in the same camp as Educated (add that to your list!) – except this complicated childhood comes with a father by the name of Steve Jobs. It’s next on my list, so I’ll report back on my review!
Summer of ’69 by Elin Hilderbrand – I’ve never read an Elin Hilderbrand book before, but this cover jumped out at me when I was walking by the bookstore on Nantucket last week and it looked like the ultimate summer beach read with the beautiful Grey Lady as the book’s backdrop.
Dear Mrs. Bird by AJ Pearce – This book jumped out at me as I was browsing my local bookstore; it’s set in London during World War II and is about a young woman who longs to be a war correspondent and inadvertently becomes a secret advice columnist. I’ve been on a WWII-female protagonist kick for months now so this seems right up my alley! (Try Transcription and The Alice Network if you’re into this genre too!)
City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert – This almost needs no explanation, I will read anything Elizabeth Gilbert puts on paper (I’d probably pre-order her grocery list if she put it on Amazon!). I’m excited to dig into her latest fiction work.
Cape May by Chip Cheek – I just wrapped up this book and it was a Gatsby-esque ride through the coastal town in the 1950s, following a couple of newlyweds as their lives become intertwined (and full of drama) with a set of wealthy friends.
My Life in France by Julia Child – I can’t believe it took me this long to tackle this autobiography of the incomparable Julia Child; I learned so much about this fabulous lady and her incredibly interesting life bouncing around Europe as she wrote Master the Art of French Cooking.
And if you need more inspiration to get you rolling on your own reading list, below are 25 of the best books I’ve read in the last few years — pack a few of these in your beach bag this summer!
