I have recently been on the reading kick of a lifetime. Well… my lifetime. If you would have asked me two years ago what I do in my spare time, the word “reading” wouldn’t have even been in my vocabulary. NOW, I try to read as much as I can when I get the chance to. I will say, I’m not one of those readers who reads 15 books in one month. I never said anything about being a fast reader. But the fact that I would rather read a book than watch tv is a massive win for me.
Before I get into my top reads of the summer, I want to let you know the three steps I took that actually got me into reading for fun, in case YOU want to do it too!
The very first thing I did was set a goal for myself. At the end of 2022, I decided I wanted to read 12 whole books throughout the 2023 year. Now, you’re probably thinking, ‘Only 12 books?? That’s only one book a month – how hard can that be?’ For me, even 12 books in 12 months sounded daunting. I am a very competitive person, so when I set a goal for myself, there’s no way I’m not going to accomplish it. Whether you believe it or not, I ended up reading 17 books in 2023. Goal = Crushed.
The second thing I did was find two of my closest reader friends and asked them to recommend books and authors to me. Like I said, I was starting from scratch – the most intimidating thing was choosing which books to actually pick up. With their help, I was able to start with a few great books that gave me the reading itch, and the rest is history. Once you find the genre of book you like, an author that you like, a trope, a writing style, or whatever it is, it makes it so much easier to choose books you know you will love.
The third thing I did was schedule specific time to read. When I was starting out, if I didn’t make it a point to set aside certain time in my day to read, I would have never done it. This didn’t always mean reading alone either. I know it sounds crazy, but my friends and I would get together some nights and each read our own book in silence. There was something about being with people but reading your own book that felt very comforting to me.
Okay people! If I can do it, you can do it too!! Reading has become one of my most favorite hobbies. I love that reading can transport you into a new world while flipping through the pages of a book. With that being said, I want to recommend five five-star reads from this summer. When I give a book five stars, it means I will definitely read the book again, I LOVED the characters and often think about them even when I’ve finished with the book, and it’s a book that I just didn’t want to put down and couldn’t wait to pick up again.
In no particular order…
- Just for the Summer – Abby Jimenez
I love Abby Jimenez books. Most of her books are cute, funny, easy reads. This one is about a guy who thinks he’s cursed – every women he dates goes on to find their soul mate the second they break up. When Emma slides into his DMs with the same problem, they decide to date each other and then break up, essentially to break the curse. What’s supposed to be a quick fling, just for the summer, turns into something neither of them would have ever imagined.
- The Paradise Problem – Christina Lauren
This is another fake relationship book (apparently I like those??) where Liam (West) marries Anna in order to receive a massive inheritance. Anna is very quirky, but I actually really liked her character. The book is based in paradise, so I truly felt like I was in a different world reading this one.
- The Five-Star Weekend – Elin Hilderbrand
This was my first ever Elin Hilderbrand read and she did NOT disappoint! I LOVED this book. It’s about a women named Hollis who, after a tragic event, hosts what she hopes to be an unforgettable weekend on Nantucket. The book follows multiple people from their point of view and I love this writing style. It keeps you entertained and you are able to follow the story from so many different perspectives. I would highly recommend this book to anyone.
- The Perfect Couple – Elin Hilderbrand
Another Elin book coming in hot! This is the perfect summer murder mystery. Like The Five-Star Weekend, this book follows multiple different people throughout the story. When the maid of honor of a massive Nantucket wedding is found dead the morning of the wedding, it’s only a matter of time before someone is found guilty…
- Part of Your World – Abby Jimenez
Last, but not least, we are rounding off the summer with another Abby Jimenez read. I don’t know what it was about this book, but it made me feel some type of way. Big city, rich family, Alexis finds herself in a tiny town falling for a carpenter named Daniel. Can the two worlds be combined or is it easier to just go their separate ways?
There you have it! I truly hope you give reading a try, if you aren’t already a reader, because it has honestly changed my life for the better.
Thanks for reading.
SS