Whether you’re headed to the pool, beach or coffee shop, summer break is the perfect time to finish some of those books you’ve been waiting *all* school year to start. Don’t know where to begin? We’ve got you covered. Whether you’re looking for a good cry or a wholesome romance, keep reading for a few of our fav YA must-reads.
Love & Gelato By Jenna Evans Welch
After her mother’s unfortunate passing, Lina Emerson heads to Florence, Italy, with the plan of fulfilling one mission and *one* mission only: to finally meet her father. But uncovered family secrets threaten Lina’s initial plan and instead introduce her to an endless list of people who claim to have known her mother. To top it all off, she meets a cute friend (or two) who make her wonder if meeting her father is the only relationship she’s been looking for. Follow Lina as she relies on her new friends, her mother’s clues and pages of her family’s history to discover who she really is–and who she’s meant to be.
Better Than The Movies By Lynn Painter
We can’t get enough of the fake-dating trope, and rumor has it that no one does it better than Liz Buxbaum and Wes Bennett. To her, he’s always been the annoying boy next door, and to him, she’s been nothing more than a girl to tease. But their relationship is put to the friendship test when Liz’s all-time crush makes his move back into town, and she knows there’s no better way to get his attention than with a little jealousy. Take a front-row seat as Liz and Wes, childhood frenemies, attempt to take their relationship to the next level for nothing more than a little game (or so it starts). Iconic movie references (Pretty Woman or 10 Things I Hate About You, anyone?), flirty banter and 350 pages of “fake” dating? Yes, pls.
A Walk To Remember By Nicholas Sparks
Our favorite book couple of all time? While it’s hard to choose just one…consider us voting for Jamie Sullivan and Landon Carter. You might’ve seen them on the big screen (shoutout Mandy Moore and Shane West), but we bet you’ll love the book even more. Landon, a popular and daring teenager, meets Jamie, a shy and gentle girl–and suddenly, he begins to question everything he once believed about young love. At first, they spend their time together completing school projects and rehearsing for a play (per his community service). But soon, Landon finds himself seeing Jamie in an entirely different light. When a devastating piece of news threatens the time they can spend together, he obtains a new perspective on what it means to truly appreciate life and, eventually, learns how far he would really fight for the people he loves.
All The Bright Places By Jennifer Niven
No one paints a better picture of the teenage struggles than Jennifer Niven. Theodore Finch and Violet Markey, both battling their own forms of grief and isolation, meet each other just as they’re figuring out how to balance their mental health struggles with the daunting challenges of high school. When they become partners for a class project, they explore the hidden corners of their city to embark on a journey that opens a door to inspiration, companionship and self-discovery. Niven shows us that, sometimes, it’s not about how we overcome our biggest obstacles, but who we face them with. Read on as Finch and Violet find comfort in each other’s presence, overcome their inner challenges and discover what it really means to have a true friend.
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Images: @dreamerwithabook, @booksbymariie
All book covers from Barnes & Noble.
