This summer I wanted to share with you a collection of posts to feature a few books that I just absolutely have to recommend to you for fantastic summer reads a well as books I plan on reading this summer myself! Summertime is a fantastic time of year for so many different kinds of books. I don’t know how many people out there are mood readers or even “season readers” but I feel like summer is the great time for epic books, cute contemps, and emotional roller coasters — basically any book you can totally and completely get lost in. Enter: feature.
Missed the first edition of Summer Showcase? Check out which blockbuster books I’m recommending for this summer (and reading myself) here!
Summer Showcase: Blockbusters
THE CUTE CONTEMPORARIES
One of my favorite types of books to read in the summer are the cute contemporaries. I just LOVE a cute, summery, light read in the summertime. They’re just perfect for kicking back and relaxing, reading on the beach, chilling on the porch, or just letting your mind relax with something cute and cozy!
There’s just something about contemporary books that scream summer and I just love all the light and fluffy and/or cute and/or swoony reads paired with warm weather and cold drinks!
OPEN ROAD SUMMER is the perfect summer read. I mean HELLOOOO it has the word “summer” in the title! But seriously, folks. I read this one a few months ago and I am still swooning over it. I read it, fell in love, and then immediately ordered my hardcover copy because I NEEDED this book to stay on my shelves. I already want to do a re-read. That’s how much I loved it!
What you need to know about this book is that it’s about teenage country & pop superstar Lilah Montgomery and the story spans the course of the summer during her concert tour (hence the title) but the book isn’t actually Lilah’s story. Yes, that’s a very big part of it, but OPEN ROAD SUMMER is very much Reagan’s story. Reagan and Dee (short for Delilah — Dee to her friends, Lilah to her fans) have been best friends for years and after a very rough patch in her life, Reagan spends the summer with Dee on her multi-city concert tour. It’s a story about redemption, friendship, love, and finding oneself. OPEN ROAD SUMMER is one of my top recommendations for summer reads because this book really has it all!
Anna and the French Kiss – Stephanie Perkins
Now is the perfect time to read ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS if you haven’t already with companion novel ISLA AND THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER coming out in August! I read ANNA a couple years ago and instantly fell in love. I really related to Anna in so many ways and she also happens to fall in love with one of my favorite book crushes of all time, Etienne St. Clair. ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS takes place at a boarding school in France and not knowing much about France (and not being a Francophile like so many of my friends), I was scared I’d get lost in French culture and references… but it was just the opposite. I ended up learning a lot and quickly fell into step with Anna who also knew absolutely zip about France before she was shipped off there.
ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS is adorable, enjoyable, and one of my favorites. Read it or start a re-read this summer! Now is the time!
MEANT TO BE actually takes place over spring break, but I think it’s a wonderful light read for summer as well. I felt like it was very reminiscent of ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS when I first read it which was all positive for me! I really connected with Julia who was a total book nerd and someone who always felt like things would fall into place, especially when it came to her love life. I loved Julia’s story of figuring out that sometimes you need to work at the best things in life to make them happen and that life can be a great balance of both Fate and choice. The romance is cute and so much fun to watch develop and MEANT TO BE also has some really funny lines and slapstick comedy which I don’t always enjoy but Lauren Morrill did it just perfectly!
The Summer I Became A Nerd – Leah Rae Miller
THE SUMMER I BECAME A NERD is one of the most underrated cute contemporaries that I’ve read. It’s not a bigger title and it’s from a smaller publisher so I really feel like this one really slipped under people’s radars but I absolutely loved it! The book is an almost Cinderella story in reverse… Instead of a transformation from geek to chic, we get the story of Maddie, a closet geek who slowly starts to turn from popular cheerleader into the nerd she really is. I thought the book was so much fun and it has a great nerdy-hot love interest!
ON THE FENCE was just plain adorable. Kasie West is a contemporary mastermind and this book did not disappoint me whatsoever. I loved reading about tomboy Charlie (short for Charlotte) and her day-to-day life growing up in a house full of men. The book was just plain fun and I loved the best-friend-to-boyfriend romance (I always do) between Charlie and her neighbor Braden, who’s practically a part of the family. ON THE FENCE is light, adorable, and just plain fun!
MY SUMMER 2014 CUTE CONTEMPORARY READS
MY LIFE NEXT DOOR by Huntley Fitzpatrick
I KNOW. How have I not read this yet?! I’ve heard nothing but good things from everyone and I just haven’t had the time to sit down and really enjoy it. I’m constantly working my way through ARCs and review copies that my backlist copies tend to get pushed to the side but I REALLY want to read MY LIFE NEXT DOOR sometime this summer! It’s been on my list for years and it just needs to happen!
A LITTLE SOMETHING DIFFERENT by Sandy Hall
A LITTLE SOMETHING DIFFERENT is one of my review copy reads but I’m also really excited to get to it! I’ve been hearing nothing but good things about it and just how stinkin’ cute it is. I’m really excited to pick this one up for summer and just kick back and relax with an adorable book.
13 thoughts on “Summer Showcase: Cute Contemporaries”
SO many great books here! I love me a fun, cute contempt and your list introduced me to a few new ones. Thanks so much!
A Little Something Different does sound really stinkin cute. I wish I had grabbed it at BEA! But I guess I will just bide my time until it releases. And I am not going to say you need to read MLND since you know you need to. I will just silently judge 😉 Also maybe I should read The Summer I Became a Nerd? I remember Ashley was lukewarm on this one but we don’t always see eye to eye. I’ll keep it on my radar!
Yayyyyyy My Life Next Door! <3 Thanks for the lesser-known recs. Adding them!
BRITTANY, how have you not read My Life Next Door?! You must fix this immediately! *throws book at you* You will not regret it because… JASE. <3
Also, I adored A Little Something Different – it's very cutesy, which might not be everyone's thing, but it had me smiling.
The Summer I Became a Nerd – yes! This one of those underrated gems, but I thought it was adorable. I'm glad you mentioned it. 🙂
I still haven't read On the Fence yet, but I swear I'm remedying that this week. 😛
I KNOW, RIGHT? It’s insanity. I’m sure I’ll love MLND too! 😀
YAY I hope you love On the Fence! It was soooo cute!
I love light and fluffy too and I absolutely adored Anna and the French Kiss, Meant to Be, and Summer I Became a Nerd. You have On the Fence, but have you read Distance Between Us? I actually like that one better (although I loved On the Fence too). And To All the Boys…such a cute read!!! I would recommend that one too. Great post!
I have read The Distance Between Us! Both were SO cute but I think I connected just a bit more with On the Fence so that one pushed me a little closer to love 🙂
I’ll have to check out To All The Boys! I’ve heard a few mixed things but mostly still positive. Thanks!!
I’m not also a fan of cute contemporaries but when I read them, summer seems like the perfect time! I totally agree about Open Road Summer and On the Fence–so great & fun. I’ve actually been really wanting to re-read both of them since I read them in the winter or early spring. Now that it’s officially summer I should re-read!
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I can’t wait to read Open Road Summer haha. It was just SO good and now that it’s summer… it seems appropriate, right? LOL
Oh my gosh, cute contemporaries are about all I’ve been reading this summer. I am definitely a seasonal reader. There is something about Spring and Summer that makes me only interested in reading contemporaries. I don’t know why, but that’s the deal.
I’ve read all of these books except Open Road Summer (although I have the book and plan to read it very soon) and A Little Something Different. I think you will like My Life next Door. I’m sure you’ve heard this before, but the Garrett family (actually I can’t remember if that is their last name but I think it is) is awesome!
I’m a seasonal reader too! I love picking books to fit the season. Hoping to get to MLND soon! I have just heard nothing but good things 🙂