I’ve been doing some major outside reading already.
First it was at the park when it just started to get nice & the pool at our apartment obviously wasn’t open.
Then when the pool opened (HEAVENLY).
AND this coming weekend we will be making our first beach day trip of 2013 to the Jersey Shore and I’m already eyeing up my bookshelves (and Kindle) looking for some prospective beach reads! This weekend is one of many beach days/vacations of the summer and I MUST BE PREPARED.
Yesterday I gave you some books I’ve already read that I think would make good beach reads for YA readers. Today, however, I want to share with you the books– YA and adult— that will be in MY beach bag this summer because I think they look like worthy beach reads. Would LOVE your input to help me prioritize!
The Books Mentioned:
Spin by Catherine McKenzie: When Kate shows up drunk for her dream job at a magazine she obviously doesn’t get it. However, they think she would be perfect as an undercover assignment for their gossip portion and the assignment is to follow the an “It Girl” into rehab and get the scoop during the 30 day program. If she can get the scoop she’ll have a second chance at the job she wanted.
Revenge Wears Prada by Laura Weisberger: OMG SEQUEL TO THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA! ONLY LIKE A ZILLION YEARS LATER!!
Calling Me Home by Julie Kibler: This one sounds so great. An unlikely pair, a 30-something hairdresser and her elderly client, take a journey to a funeral in Cincinnati — a funeral that was so important the old woman attended that would ask this huge favor. Along the way the old woman tells of her forbidden love that happened in Kentucky back in the 30’s and why this is so important for her.
Why Can’t I Be You? by Allie Larkin: Jenny has always bore an uncanny resemblance to another woman, Jessie, and when she hears somebody call her name in a hotel lobby she decides on a whim to pretend to be her. Jessie’s friends have not seen her in 13 years and have been looking for her and instantly Jenny, as Jessie, is reunited and warmly welcomed into her old group of friends where she finds great friendships, romance and also a big secret about Jessie’s past.
Chose The Wrong Guy, Gave Him The Wrong Finger by Beth Harbison: The main character was about to be married when the best man, who happened to be the groom’s brother, told her not to get married because he had been cheating on her for a long time. She chose to bail on the wedding and ran off with the Best Man whom it didn’t end up working out with in the end. Ten years later, the brothers are back in town for a wedding and all the feelings of that even come surging back.
Someday, Someday Maybe by Lauren Graham: Um it’s Lauren Graham who has been a constant presence in my life between Gilmore Girls and Parenthood and I know she’s a smart lady who studied lit so I have faith that she has written an awesome book! Plus it sounds awesome!
Beautiful Day by Elin Hilderbrand: I was immediately hooked by this summary because, as a daughter who wasn’t able to have her mother at her wedding, I am so intrigued by the idea of the mother leaving a notebook with how her daughter’s wedding should go. Aside from that this sounds like drama-filled beach read with betrayal and scandal and probably pretty touching. Get in my beach bag already!
My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick: I’ve heard the romance in this one is TO DIE FOR. I had my own next door crush as a teen but it definitely didn’t sound as cute as this!
The Boyfriend App by Katie Sise: The MC enters a competition to win money for college and the app she creates for it is “The Boyfriend Apps” which helps girls find boyfriends. I have a feeling this will be adorable and there HAS to be all sorts of fun with that premise.
The Distance Between Us by Kasie West: I love the premise of this one. The MC is not well off and she and her mom almost have a distrust of the wealthy. A boy,who is clearly rich, walks into her mom’s shop and they hit it off but she knows it will never work out because he is rich — even though he really understands her like nobody else. I love stories where these sorts of things are explored & opposites attract stories are always fun!
Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland: I’ve only heard great things about this one so far! Cricket is supposed to spend the perfect summer with her best friend on the beach and getting together with her crush until a tragedy strikes and the two girls are thrust apart and now Cricket is stuck cleaning houses all summer. There is a hint of some off limits romance and I’m just loving the prospect!
Rules of Summer by Joanna Philbin: The MC, Rory, is working for a very wealthy family and has been warned about not socializing with them or getting involved with them which she learns is not so easy when she befriends their younger daughter who is having a secret summer romance with someone who her parents wouldn’t approve of.
The Moon & More by Sarah Dessen: Well, it’s Sarah Dessen so it makes sense it would be in my beach bag!
Losing It by Cora Carmack: Ok, well technically I guess this is considered New Adult rather than YA. It’s set in college and the MC is so sick of being the only virgin so she makes a plan to just have a quick one night stand to lose it but ends up leaving the guy in bed and not going through with it. She waltzes into class late the next day only to find that her new professor was the one night stand she bailed on.
Famous Last Words by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski: I love that this one focuses on a summer job! The MC is spending her summer as an intern at her local newspaper writing obituaries where she meets a cute boy and gets a dose of the real world.
Starstruck by Rachel Shukert: There is nothing more fun than a historical book with glitz and glamour and this one has it with its Old Hollywood setting and an aspiring actresses looking to make it big! Sounds like one of those juicy, dramatic reads.
Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen: I LOVE FLAPPERS! I read Vixen by Jillian Larkin on the beach a few years ago and I just can’t wait to read another series about flappers, speakeasies and glamour in the 1920’s NYC.
Reboot by Amy Tintera: When the MC died she came back to life as a Reboot and has super strength and intelligence & the longer you’ve been dead the less human you are. The MC is one of the strongest Reboot soldiers and is in charge of training the Reboots. She gets stuck on her latest Reboot who isn’t catching on as quick, has slow reflexes and is always asking questions but there is something Wren can’t ignore about him.
Parallel by Lauren Miller: At different points in her life Abby wakes up in a completely different version of her life — a parallel life that she switches in and out of at points whenever her parallel self makes new choices. I feel like I can’t even explain it fully so go read the description!
Invisibility by Andrea Cremer & David Levithan: I love David Levithan SO MUCH so any collab he is doing I will read! It’s about a boy who has literally always been invisible because of a curse until one day when the new girl in town actually sees him. They get involved romantically and start to look for a way to break his curse.
Incarnate by Jodi Meadows: I honestly have no idea what this book is about but I’ve heard such good things about it that I bought it. I know there are dragons, that there are souls that reincarnate or something and a romance. But it sounds fantastical and awesome haha.
Mila 2.0 by Debra Driza: This one is a sci fi book about a girl who finds out that she was born out of an experiment involving artificial intelligence. She knows too much and is on the run from a group who wants to kill her and those who want to study her and unlock the mystery behind her — which is more than they even know.
Help me prioritize!! Which ones have you read and you think I should add to the top of my beach read list? Did you discover any off my list to add to your beach bag??
Liz says
I wish I could tell you which ones you should and shouldn’t read, but I honestly have only read MY LIFE NEXT DOOR. I didn’t care for it, but I can totally see it being a Jamie book! I’m really hoping to get my hands on a copy of THE MOON AND MORE this summer but I have very little cash for buying books lately.
I strongly, strongly, STRONGLY recommend adding ATTACHMENTS by Rainbow Rowell to your list. It’s a super fast read and definitely a Jamie book. DO ITTTTTTT.
Estelle says
My top picks:
Someday, Someday, Maybe
Starstruck
Rules of Summer
Nantucket Blue
These have all been highlight reads of my year! Can’t wait to see what you end up with!
Tiffany (AboutToRead) says
Nantucket Blue and Bright Young Things are AMAZING!!!!
Nantucket Blue is more of a beach read though–You HAVE to read it. It is simply un-skip-able.
Allison (Allure of Books) says
I’ll be curious to see what you think of Revenge Wears Prada! I only know a couple of people that have read it, but they both HATED it with a passion…which naturally makes me 5x as curious about it…
Bonnie @ A Backwards Story says
I’ve been meaning to read SOMEDAY, SOMEDAY, MAYBE, REBOOT, and INVISIBILITY. I *love* INCARNATE. Super love it. Some people have trouble getting into it for the first 100 pages or so…if you’re one of those people who doesn’t get sucked in from the start, please stick with it a little longer! 🙂
Ania says
Hey! All your options are aesome, but I’m picking my top 3, I really want you to read them:
– Someday, Someday Maybe by Lauren Graham:
– My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
– Reboot by Amy Tintera.
It’s sad, but I didn’t read any of those, but I wanna purcase & read them asap 🙂
Have a great summer reads!!!
Daphne @ Winged Reviews says
Wow, I don’t think I’ve read any of these, but given my love for Lauren Graham in general, I think I would read Someday, Someday Maybe first. I remember not liking the book The Devil Wears Prada (although I loved the movie), so I’m not sure how I’ll feel about this sequel.
Jillian Heise says
I loved loved loved The Distance Between Us! It was also a favorite of students in my classroom this year getting handed off from one to the next. Would make a great beach read!
Caitie F says
You should put Bright Young Things at the top of your list. If you love flappers and the time period, you will really love it.
Mel@thedailyprophecy says
I’ve read one book from your list and that is Mila 2.0 I would say: don’t prioritize it. It was disappointing and not as action-paced as promised. It’s actually about an angsty girl with a severe case of insta-love.
Mel@thedailyprophecy.
Christina (A Reader of Fictions) says
Looks like you pack books for trips like I did before my e-reader. Obviously I need ALL the books. Alright, since you asked, here’s what I think you should read:
Someday, Someday, Maybe
Nantucket Blue
The Boyfriend App
My Life Next Door
The Distance Between Us
Losing It
Parallel
Also, DO NOT take Invisibility on your trip. It’s a big bummer how bad it is. Like, no. I do not want you to be sad on vacation. AND Reboot and Mila 2.0 are sort of similar, so I probably wouldn’t read those too close together.
Ginger @ GReads! says
I just finished Rules of Summer & feel like it’s not getting the attention it deserves. Was it the best thing I ever read? Not quite. But it was so entertaining & the PERFECT story to escape to when needing that time away while you lounge by the pool. I hope you get to that one Jamie! I think you’d really like it.
Book Girl from South Carolina says
Great list – I have My Life Next Door on my list too! I have heard it’s amazing. I like the idea behind The Distance Between us too! On my list I have so many it’s hard to count, I feel like I keep needing to narrow the list but I’m excited about reading Losing it and Faking it, the Colleen Hoover series Slammed, Wait for you, and The Secret of Ella and Micha/The Forever of Ella and Micha by jessica Sorenson. Looks like a summer of great reading!
Kaley @ Books Etc says
Spin is awesome (personally I love Arranged more but Spin is really great). Someday, Someday, Maybe was mildly disappointing but that’s just because I had ridiculously high expectations. It’s definitely a good beach read. I’m always pro Sarah Dessen so that’s a good pick, too 🙂
ashley says
My picks would be:
The Distance Between Us
My Life Next Door
Someday, Someday, Maybe.
I have not read any of them; however, I trust your opinion and I am interested in what you think.
Heidi @ YA Bibliophile says
MY LIFE NEXT DOOR!!! You have to read that one! Also, I loved The Moon and More 🙂
Morgan says
Losing It is so good!! It’s a very funny, sweet, fast read. The Boyfriend App was cute, and I am dying for The Distance Between Us!
I liked Parallel, but it was kind of confusing at times. Therefore, I would not have wanted to read it on the beach as I liked to not have to think very hard about what I am reading.
Hope that helps!
Danielle Nguyen says
Why Can’t I Be You was really good. Her debut, Stay, is good too. She’s one of the few adult realistic fiction authors I read, but I would highly recommend her books.
Stormy @ Book.Blog.Bake. says
I haven’t read too many of the books you listed, but I think Someday, Someday Maybe would make a GREAT vacation read. I also really love Parallel, but I’m not sure I’d select it for the beach–if you get distracted easily, you’ll probably be confused. It’s one of those books you REALLY have to pay attention to in order to keep up with the story.
BarefootMedStudent says
Ooooh! These are the ones I would take:
1. Calling Me Home
2. Losing It
3. Reboot
4. Invisibility
Cassie says
OKAY SO. Lets do this!
Nantucket Blue was great. My Life Next Door is a personal FAVE. Rules of Summer, well I READ IT ON THE BEACH, need I say more?
HOWEVER, for the non-contemporary, I think Reboot would be fun! I own that as well and maybe I’ll read it on the beach sometime! Also. LOSING IT is on this list.. but may I suggest Faking It instead? I personally think it is SO much better than her first novel! I loved it. The female lead is eccentric and I loved her!
OKAY. I will shush now!
<3
Steph says
My Life Next Door! Not only is the romance totally adorable, but the GARRETT FAMILY. I want them to adopt me! I think that’s the only one from your lists that I’ve read, but it was really fantastic. Have a great beach trip!!
Jessie Hall says
Oooh! So many great choices! Out of the adult lit, I definitely want you to read Revenge Wears Prada and Someday Someday Maybe first. I loved Weisbergers first Prada novel (her others were…. okay) so I am excited to see where that one goes. Someday Someday Maybe is getting such good reviews and I love Lauren Graham.
Contemporary YA: THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US! Kasie West made a huge fan of me with Pivot Point and I desperately need to know how her contemporary is. I love her.
Scifi YA: I didn’t enjoy Mila or Parallel too much, but I hope you fare differently. I DID really like Reboot, so I vote for that one soon! It’s pretty entertaining and full of action.
Susan (Bloggin' 'bout Books) says
I’ve only read one of these, but I highly recommend it. CALLING ME HOME is a really touching, but also hopeful and thought-provoking read. I wouldn’t call it a “beach read” necessarily because it’s not exactly easy-breezy. Still, it’s an excellent read!
Emmah says
Definitely read “Incarnate” first! I absolutely loved that book.
Alexia says
Someday, Someday, Maybe was awesome. I’m dying to read both Incarnate & The Moon & More.
Andi says
I read My Life Next Door and loved it! Also Parallel is one of my favorite reads of 2013. And I have heard awesome things about The Moon and More, Nantucket Blue(which I have on hold at the library for me) and The Distance Between Us.
I would definitely recommend moving Parallel up and if you haven’t read it yet adding Pivot Point by Kasie West. It’s like getting two books in one with both.
Lena @ Addicted 2 Novels says
I vote for Nantucket Blue, My Life Next Door, and Losing It (It’s more New Adult so you get that YA feel with some adult sexy times mixed in, rawr!).
Debbie @ Snuggling on the Sofa says
I’d definitely recommend Losing It, and Revenge Wears Prada! I really enjoyed Kasie West’s first book, so I’d probably go for that as well. In fact, just pick all of them!
Annie says
I have heard great things about Starstruck so even though I haven’t read it, I highly reccommend it! Hope you get to all your books! And have fun reading outside! It’s only just started to be summer up north!
YA Book Queen says
BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS is fantastic, and THE MOON AND MORE is very good (not Dessen’s best, but still perfect for summer).
Sarina says
I haven’t ready many books on your lists, but I have read My Life Next Door and completely LOVED it!! The romance is like you said, to die for, and I think it would be a great read for you! Jase is the ultimate book boyfriend!!
kelly says
Honestly? I was soooooo looking forward to Revenge Wears Prada and I was so disappointed. There was nothing there. It was like Andy’s diary 10 years later and a VAST majority of the book is told in flashbacks and info dumps. It was just a let down and I loved all of her other post-Prada books. If you are going to read visit the library so when you get to the end you don’t ask yourself “Did I really pay for that??”
Anya says
Of the sci-fi/paranormal: Incarnate hands down 😀
Rosie says
Definitely read Someday, Someday, Maybe, it is AWESOME! I am sad to say that I am struggling with The Moon and More. It’s OKAY, but not nearly as good as Sarah Dessen’s other books 🙁
I am jealous of your Jersey shore visit! I made it down once while I was visiting the States and lucky me it was that 85 degree day in early May. I was able to eat Macks pizza and it was amazing! Also, check out The OC Surf Cafe. Their breakfast is worth the drive. Get the red, white, and blue french toast, YUMMMM!!!!
Wendy says
So many of these are on my summer to-read list! I have only read Losing It from this list and it was such an awesome read! It’s a light fun read and seriously, had me laughing out loud at some points. Definitely check it out!
Alexa Y. says
Your selection of beach reads is pretty darn great! I’d personally recommend My Life Next Door, as I adored Jase and the Garrett family a whole lot. It’s a lovely teen romance! Also, I will always and forever endorse Incarnate, as it is one of my favorite series. Love what Jodi Meadows has created!
(P.S. BEACH TRIP IS IN OUR FUTURE!)
Tiffani says
Revenge Wears Prada (Juuuuuust finished it. I liked it.), The Moon and More (Sarah Dessen, duh, beach read.) Reboot (Holy crap. That was gooooood. Goooood.) I haven’t read a good ‘fluffy’ flapper read SINCE Vixen et al, (and The Diviners is long and NOT fluffy) and Bright Young Things seem to fit the bill. I haven’t made it to the beach YET this summer, but I plan to!
Anne says
Just finished Invisibility and it was great! Exceeded my expectations completely!