It’s almost impossible to describe the chokehold that The Summer I Turned Pretty had over everyone last year. Whether or not you were Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah (or you simply watched to enjoy the chaos), there was a certain kind of magic to the Wednesday night episode premieres. Now that the show is over (and we’re stuck waiting for the movie), you’re gonna need a few new summer stories to keep you occupied. Lucky for you, we have a list…
Meet Me Under the Lights by Cassie Miller
Imagine that Romeo and Juliet was set in a baseball-obsessed town in North Carolina. We present: this adorable summer romance. It follows Eliza, daughter of the wealthy Crowley family and her town, Fairfield’s, local “princess,” and Reed, the grandson of the struggling Fulton farm who hopes to lead his baseball team to victory against the rival Crowleys upon his return to Fairfield. As Eliza attempts to focus on her local community theater production, she finds herself entangled with her old friend/technical enemy Reed. Soon, their summer heats up, and they must decide whether they’re willing to risk their reputations as family rivals to be together. All’s fair in love and baseball!
Sunrise Nights by Jeff Zentner and Brittany Cavallaro
Summer stories don’t always have to be bright and fast-paced. This beautiful novel in verse blends the dark realities of life with the endless possibilities of a summer night. When aspiring photographer Jude and struggling dancer Florence meet on Sunrise Night, their arts camp’s final celebration, there’s an instant spark. However, both facing their own life complications (namely Jude’s parents’ divorce and Florence’s crippling eye disease), they agree to contain their relationship to the one night only. Written over the course of three Sunrise Nights, the story explores love, loss and the magic of a good sunrise.
Summer Girls by Jennifer Dugan
Cass and Birdie are from different sides of the tracks. While Birdie is the stereotypical summer girl (rich family, sunkissed skin and a rebellious streak), Cass is a no-nonsense townie who avoids relationships with the yacht-owning socialites who flood her beach town every summer. Their lives intersect, however, when Birdie’s father enlists Cass to get his daughter back on track after she crashes her boyfriend’s car. Soon, Cass’s strict “no summer girls” rule starts to slip away as she spends more time with Birdie, who proves to be much more than a stereotype, and who turns her summer into something completely new.
Sixteenth Summer by Michelle Dalton
We all love a good fleeting summer romance, and this sweet and gushy story delivers exactly that. It follows Anna, a Dune Island local who’s used to living on the sidelines and dreads another summer flooded with tourists and the same old routine. She isn’t expecting anything new from this vacation…that is, until she meets Will, who’s visiting from New York City and somehow turns Anna’s life into an actual rom-com. However, as the summer draws to a close and Will must return home, the pair must decide how to say goodbye… or if they want to turn their summer fling into something real.
Check out our book club @glbestiebookclub for more rad reads!
More summer fun right this way…
☀️ We Just Planned Your Fourth Of July Outfit
☀️ Make Pen-Paling Your Hobby This Summer
☀️ 5 Ways To Work Wellness Into Your Summer Vacay
Image: @addiesbookshelf
