With summer on the horizon, I couldn’t help but think about some of my favorite summer reads. I wanted to share a few of my ideas and put my finger on why I think they are the perfect summer read. I have already mentioned some of these books, but I think they deserve it.

First up is the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. A classic summer read. I cannot recommend this book enough. I think it’s perfection. The first book is so good and really captures the feeling of summer—the excitement, the adventure, the freedom, the boredom, the growth. We follow four high school friends during their summer break as Lena visits family in Greece, Bridget kicks butt at a soccer camp in Baja, California, Carmen visits her father in South Carolina, and Tibby stays home in Maryland working retail and making a movie. The characters are distinct, but they are all relatable. It’s hard to pick a favorite or one that I relate to the most because there are parts of me in all of them. Even the mundane is treated with reverence as the girls navigate shifting family dynamics, tragedy, and self-discovery. I was unconsciously inspired by Anne Brashares’s writing when writing The Remmington Triplets. There is a beautiful balance of humor and heart with a range of emotions displayed throughout the narrative. The friendship between the girls is the true heart of the story, and it’s superb.

Next up is the first Gilda Joyce book, Gilda Joyce Physic Investigator. I re-read this last summer, and it’s so funny! Gilda is a precocious 8th grader who worms her way into visiting her mother’s cousin in San Francisco. While there Gilda wants to figure out the mystery of what really happened to her cousin’s aunt who died, since she loves the supernatural. I don’t like scary and I can’t lie when I read this in eighth grade this did scare me a little. But if you ignore the scary bits, then it’s essentially a comedy. Gilda is so outlandish and at times, annoying, but she is still likeable. There is a deep heartful core to the story as both Gilda and her cousin, Juliet, are familiar with grief. One of my favorite parts of the story is seeing the relationship develop between the girls. The premise may not scream summer, but I relate to Gilda thinking ‘what will I do this summer?’  It’s a fun, easy read that will make you chuckle, especially if listen to the audiobook because the narrative is top-notch.

When I was nineteen, I was a camp counselor for a summer, and I had a lot of fun and unique experiences. The seventh Mother Daughter Book Club book, Mother Daughter Book Camp, reminds me of that summer. The only book in the series that is exclusively set in summer, we follow our beloved characters as they get into fun adventures as camp counselors before they go away to college. These books do have a younger audience so some of the plot feels contrived and silly, but it’s a light and easy summer read. I don’t think you need to read the previous books before you read this one. But for a quick reference here is a rundown of the characters. Emma is the bookworm, who used to be chubby and loves literature. Jess is Emma’s best friend from childhood who is really smart, and loves science, animals, and singing. Megan is a fashionista who has wealthy parents and a mom who’s super into the environment. Cassidy is the tomboy jock with two sisters and a mother who was a famous super model. Becca is the former popular girl/mean girl who bullied Emma and is Megan’s best friend. The girl’s bond with each other and their campers while doing silly camp spirit things, like spending the night in a floating cabin and making crafts. I like watching the girl’s mature as they prepare to go away to college, but they still have their fun-loving, mischievous streak.

Anne of Green Gables is an anytime book; you can read it at anytime of the year and enjoy it as the book is set over the period of several years. But I think there is a certain charm to sitting outside, enjoying the breeze, drinking lemonade, and reading about this spunky orphan adjust to life in a small town. Anne is tenacious, intelligent, romantic, and a bit chaotic. She gets into many shenanigans with her friend Diana and by herself that will make you laugh and smile. The characters are sweet, and the imagery in the book is beautiful. Avonlea and its townsfolk will come alive as you read, and you might find yourself trying to think of idyllic names for places near your house while reading it. This book is a classic for a reason. It’s wonderfully written with timeless themes, memorable characters, and a great message.

Let’s see, some common denominators for my summer reading list are: books set in the summertime, books that are light, sweet, and easy to consume, and books that have humor, wit, and heart. I want some fluff but some substance.

What’s on your summer reading list?