My Favorite Books of the Year (So Far) to Add to Your Summer TBR
By: Lanie Brice ‘24
Summer is finally in sight past the last few days of finals season, and that means that we’ll finally have time to get back to our favorite hobbies that fell by the wayside during the semester. While I’ve been making more of an effort to replace time on TikTok with reading more books, I’m excited for the summer to offer even more time to catch up on what I’ve been missing during the semester. From nonfiction to literary fiction to romance to YA, there are a handful of books that I’ve loved in this first quarter of the year, and I’m currently reading two books at once that I’m so excited to chat about. Here’s some reading inspiration if you need an activity for your plane ride back home.
The Roughest Draft by Emily Wibberly and Austin Siegmund-Brocca
This book owns my whole heart. This is 100% my favorite book of this year by far and is the perfect layered fiction read. The book follows Karina and Nathan who were writing partners who met at a conservancy program and went on to write bestselling books together. When feelings beyond the pages started to grow, though, their writing partnership fractured, and they stopped speaking for four years. Now with Karina’s engagement with her literary agent fiance on the rocks because of her early retirement and Nathan’s stalled out career without Karina, the two are pushed back together to write one more book to finish their contract. This is a romance (and because of that, you can pick it up in paperback right away), but it’s not over the top if you’re not a huge fan of the genre. It’s a breezy, quick, fast paced read that also has layers typical of literary fiction sprinkled in. This book made me make time to read even during the most stressful last weeks of the semester.
Portrait of a Thief by Grace D. Li
If you’re looking for a big of a thrill without the anxiety that comes with horror or thrillers, this is the book for you. Centered around a group of college students turned art thieves, this book has an intriguing plot that’s full of relatable fears, worries, and the end of college realities that we all know too well. This group of friends and strangers have to band together to reclaim stolen Chinese art and win millions of dollars that will set them all up for life after the group is offered a deal by one of the largest corporations in China. This book is more about emotions, relationships, and characters than the heists themselves, but it definitely adds an extra layer of tension to the plot.
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
While Daisy Jones and the Six is my favorite Taylor Jenkins Reid book, Malibu Rising is a close second. This story will transport you back in time, and if you’re heading out of LA for the summer, this book is the perfect way to stay connected with LA and reminisce as Los Angeles is the beating heart of all of Reid’s books. While everyone loves Evelyn Hugo, I wasn’t the biggest fan of Reid’s most popular book, so I highly encourage you to check out her other two books even if you weren’t a fan of one of the stories. They all have very different feels to them.
What I’m Currently Reading
Ophelia After All by Racquel Marie
I recently went to YALLWEST in Santa Monica to meet YA authors and fellow readers. I loved attending the festival, and while I was there, I grabbed a copy of Raquelle Marie’s debut book. While I don’t read a ton of YA anymore, I’ve been loving this story. Even though senior year of high school is long gone for me, I found myself immediately relating to Ophelia. With the authored by a 23 year old, it’s one of the rare books that’s really able to capture what it’s like to be a young adult right at this very moment with tons of inside jokes and a clear understanding of the reality of being Gen Z.
The Defining Decade by Dr. Meg Jay
This is an older book, but I actually really enjoyed it. I saw this nonfiction read recommended in a YouTube video that surfaced on my home page. I wasn’t sure what to expect as I started reading, but the book ended up helping me a lot. The Defining Decade is written by a psychologist who wound up specializing in helping young adults in their 20s make it through the beginning of adulthood and navigating so many consequential decisions. While I’m not quite into my 20s yet myself, I often feel like it, and this guidance proved quite helpful. Each chapter blends advice with stories and experiences she’s coached people through in her private practice to give relatable examples about how to navigate being stuck between two paths, a fear of closing doors, and nerves around love. While it’s not a perfect book, it was certainly thought provoking.
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