Are you taking advantage of the sunshine and balmy weather by making a serious dent in your summer reading list? Lazy lounging on grassy lawns in the park and working on your tan on golden stretches of sandy beaches are not complete without a) lathering on a strong SPF and b) a good book.
Not only has the lockdown given me time to slow down long enough to dive into my lengthy “to read” list but I’ve been able to re-visit some old favourites without feeling guilty that I’m wasting my time. What else am I going to do #AmIRight?
So while the following recommendations aren’t all recently published, they are all guaranteed to have you glued to your seat (or beach chair/towel) til the last page. Make sure to schedule in some bathroom breaks!
‘The One to Watch’ by Kate Stayman-London
Get ready for the most dramatic season of…..the Main Squeeze? Bachelor fan or not, this is the summer reading list add you won’t want to miss. Follow the journey of plus-sized fashion blogger Bea Schumacher as she navigates the world of kiss offs and fantasy dates as the romantic lead of a hit reality dating show. Her fears and insecurities about worthiness, self-love and acceptance is so relatable, whether you’re a size 2 or size 16. It’s both entertaining yet a razor-sharp exploration of body diversity in media and society as a whole.
‘The Fitness Junkie’ by Lucy Sykes and Jo Piazza
After Janey Sweeney, CEO of a wedding dress company, gets an ultimatum from her business partner to either lose 30 pounds or her job, she falls down the rabbit hole of wild fitness trends. From clay diets to Free The Nipple yoga, this satirical exploration of the health and wellness industry will have you questioning our weight-obsessed culture and reaching for the nearest croissant. A worthy add to your summer reading list just in time for bikini season.
‘The Royal We’ by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan
If you have a subscription to HELLO! Magazine to keep your pulse on the latest royal news, you’ll love this playful and dishy novel. It follows ballsy American, Bex Porter, as she hops the pond to study at Oxford University where she meets (and inevitably falls in love with) fellow classmate and future monarch, Prince Nicholas. I’m excited to find out what the cast of characters gets up to in the recently released sequel, ‘The Heir Affair’!
‘Circe’ by Madeline Miller
If you’re a mythology buff then this Greek epic retelling of the most infamous female figure from the Odyssey will have you glued to you beach chair. Daughter of a sun god and an ocean nymph, misfit Circe is eventually banished to a deserted island where she discovers and hones her craft, crossing paths with legendary figures from murderous Medea and cunning Odysseus to ambitious Icarus and a monstrous Minotaur.
‘Daisy Jones & The Six’ by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Be warned: once you start this book, you won’t be able to put it down. A New York Times Bestseller and vouched for by Reese Witherspoon’s book club, this page-turner is all drugs, illicit affairs and rock and roll. The narrative is written as a compelling series of interviews, following the whirlwind rise to fame of an iconic rock band (not unlike Fleetwood Mac) and an alluring lead singer (not unlike Stevie Nicks).
‘The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo’ by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Reclusive Hollywood movie icon, Evelyn Hugo, decides to divulge her scandalous life story of forbidden love, ruthless ambition, as well as who was the true love of her life….but only to a very specific magazine reporter with barely a credit to her name. Clearly I’m a fan of books that are fictionalized versions of reality since Evelyn is loosely based on Elizabeth Taylor (who married 8 different times to 7 men) and Ava Gardner who revealed the secrets of her life to a journalist.
‘The Kiss Quotient’ by Helen Hoang
Heat up your summer reading list with this steamy debut novel by Helen Hoang that’s sure to get you all hot and bothered. The protagonist, Stella Lane, is a genius at math but having Asperger’s Syndrome makes her love life an equation she can’t seem to crack (see what I did there?). That’s why she hires Vietnamese-Swedish male escort, Michael Phan, who’s described as a better looking Daniel Henney to help her improve her… “technique.”
‘What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding’ by Kristin Newman
This book is for my ladies who are more interested in filling their passports than their wombs (too graphic?). I originally bought this travel memoir by sitcom writer, Kristin Newman, solely for the title only to discover that her racy stories about sexy Argentinian priests and Israeli bartenders reminded me of my own international adventures. A hilarious add to your summer reading list.
I’m one of those people who find great comfort in re-reading books that I’ve read dozens of times so it better be a good one! These ones are as light and fun with a little bit of romance to hold you over till lockdown is over.
Now that you have the perfect summer reading list, time to find a beach to read it on or a relaxing glamping trip to unwind.
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