“I may have found a solution to the Wife Problem.”
First line in The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
Summer Books
Hellooo. Welcome to my first attempt at recommending some books. I’ve scoured my ‘Read’-shelf on Goodreads to find books that I think are perfect to read during the summer. Just a heads up: I hear a lot of people saying that they can’t read fantasy during the summer but that’s not me. Fantasy is an all-year genre. That of course means that I’ve compiled a list with some different genres and tried to find some quick, light, funny reads to get you through the summer.
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
A contemporary romance (yes, we’re starting with the obvious) and the funniest book I’ve ever read. The socially challenged genetics professor, Don Tilman, is approached by the woman Rosie Jarman who needs his help to find her biological father. At the same time, Don is working towards his own goal: finding a wife. This he tackles the same way he would any work-related issue. That means statistics, facts and a stringent logical approach.
The Rosie Project is a book that actually made me laugh out loud several times (just so you know if you’re going to read it in public). It’s very short so it’s a quick read. I actually believe it’s a series, but I’ve only read this one. Just in case you want more.
The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater
A fantasy/paranormal YA story about the best friend group to ever exist. Blue Sargent is from a family of clairvoyants but Blue herself isn’t a psychic. However, she finds out that the boy Gansey is going to die within a year and she will either love him or kill him. She soon finds herself meeting Gansey and his odd mix of friends who are on a mission of their own: to find the sleeping Welsh king Glendower.
This series just feels like summer to me. Not because it’s set in summer (not all of it) but because it has so many nice scenes that underlines the strong friendship this group has. Hanging out with friends is something I connect with summer so if you still want to read fantasy in your summer vacation, I think The Raven Cycle is the perfect choice.
A Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Mythology retelling with a twist of romance that is so beautifully written I want to cry. This is a retelling of the lives of Achilles and Patroclus who participated in the Trojan War. We follow the perspective of Patroclus who as a young boy is exiled from his home and sent to live at the court of King Peleus, Achilles father.
I love Miller’s writing. It’s so slow and sensual that I can’t help but be completely lost in her stories. She just draws you in. I also really appreciated that you can tell that she knows all this mythology stuff.
Summer is a time for love stories and this is a grand one. So, if you’re sick of the never-ending line of contemporary romances, you should read A Song of Achilles.
Release by Patrick Ness
A YA contemporary with a pinch of paranormal. The story spans across a single summer’s day in the life of Adam Thorn. During the day he crosses paths with both family, friends and (ex)boyfriends while seeking release for all the problems that are weighing him down.
An incredibly short book that I personally really enjoyed reading. It’s thought-provoking and just feels very real. Patrick Ness really manages to capture the essence of these problems that many teenagers have to go through today. It’s a little more of a serious contemporary but it’s still set in the summer time. This is more for you if you’re looking for a read that portrays summer as the hopeful time of year. The one that gives you hope and confidence about the new school/work year.
Half Bad by Sally Green
A YA urban fantasy with a great magic system. In Nathan’s world there are two types of witches: White and Black. The Black witches are seen as evil (think Slytherin) and therefore oppressed and hunted. Nathan is half White and half Black and his father is the evilest Black witch to ever exist. That means that Nathan’s life is more than a little difficult. This story shows Nathan trying to figure out who he is and whose side he’s actually on in the coming clash between White and Black witches.
I feel like this is the kind of book that people either love or hate. I absolutely love it. It’s been a while, but I remember really loving Nathan as a character. He’s very gray and so many things have happened to him, so this grayness is believable. The writing style is a bit unusual I would say without revealing too much, but it’s a very fast read. The chapters are super short so if you really want to, this book can be read in a day at the beach.
I hope I came up with something that at least peaked your interest.
Happy reading,
Line
First Line Reader 