Here are all of the books I read this summer and what my thoughts on them were. Attached to each title is a link to its author-approved synopsis. Enjoy!

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid: 3.2/5

This was the first book I completed after starting summer break, and it’s a great pool or beachside read! The aspect I loved the most about this book is how intricately each detail is described – multiple instances of imagery can be found on each page. On the other side of that coin was how frustrated I got at times with wanting the plot to develop quicker. I guess you can’t always get what you want ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.

Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown: 4.3/5

I’ve said this once but I’ll say it again – I will read this book to my future children as a bedtime story. It breaks down numerous emotions that are not only hard to describe but even harder to peg an exact name to. Atlas of the Heart was written in a way that makes reading about the dynamics of emotion palpable to people with little to an abundance of knowledge on the topic. The world would be a better place if everyone read this book.

The Rocks by Peter Nichols: 4.1/5

This is Malibu Rising’s sophisticated older sister. Another great pool or beach read that also took place at the beach (Mallorca instead of Malibu). I loved the structure of this book. It started with the apparent ‘end’ of the story, and each section went back in time to fill in the plot holes as to how the events transpired in the first place. Lovely read.

Tuesday’s with Morrie by Mitch Albom: 3.3/5

I loved this book (in theory) and how it was structured. Each chapter featured a certain topic that Mitch and Morrie went over together, and was largely what the focus of the section was about. Some parts of the text got a little redundant to me. Nonetheless, it was a heartfelt book that had many important life lessons compacted into one book.

Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay: 4.6/5

This book will take you through a rollercoaster of emotions. Both heartbreaking and hopeful at the same time, Sarah’s Key teaches of a significant historical event that is rarely talked about, known as Velo­drome d’Hiver. It made me view life in a different light from the parallelism found throughout, and was a novel I could hardly put down.

Paris in Love by Eloisa James: 3.6/5

Full of recommendations of things to do and places to visit in Paris unbeknownst to tourists, I loved how it was full of realities of life that people face even in as glamorous of a place as Paris. It was hard to motivate myself to read at times (maybe it’s because I really wasn’t in the reading mood and forced myself to anyways) so this rating may have a tinge of bias in it. Paris in Love did plant a seed in my mind that a change of scenery and getting out of your comfort zone can have a drastic impact on your livelihood.

Just Jackie: Her Private Years by Edward Klein: 3.7/5

Of course, I knew who Jackie Kennedy was before reading this book, but I now have more of a grasp on who she was as a human being. Klein takes a deep dive into some of the unseen parts of Jackie-O’s life that the media didn’t paint a full picture of while she was alive. I walked away gaining respect for her persistence in maintaining a certain standard of living for herself and her family despite the circumstances of her husband’s assassination.

French Milk by Lucy Knisley: 4.1/5

Hilarious, authentic, and a quick, enjoyable read considering it’s like a free-handed comic book. Another memoir centered around a woman moving to Paris (maybe this is a sign I need to look into?), this time a mother-daughter duo that takes us into the ups and down’s of growing up, stepping into the unknown, and how their relationship changed as a result. Would highly recommend this book to people about to make the transition into post-grad life, as it helped soothe my consciousness of the thought, even if it was for just a few hours.

Normal People by Sally Rooney: 5/5

This was such a beautifully written novel that examined an overarching theme of leaving things left unsaid and the lasting effects it can have on the outcome of a relationship. Each page influenced a new emotional response within me (one section even causing me to publicly cry on a train 🤣) that left me wanting to tell every single person I’ve ever loved how much they mean to me.

Circe by Madeline Miller: 5/5

Another 5/5 book from the summer reading lineup! Not only was Circle a page-turner, but it shed light on many important topics, such as the significance of standing in your own light, making the most of your current circumstances, and not forgetting who you are in the midst of adversity. I cannot wait until I get to read this book again and recommend it to anyone interested in modern takes on Greek mythology.

Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney: 3.5/5

This had a very similar plot line and style to Rooney’s Normal People, however, I found this one to be a bit more predictable and melancholic since it follows the trajectory of two couples instead of one. I loved how parts of the plot would sometimes be developed through email correspondence between the two main characters. Otherwise, if you’re choosing between reading this novel and Normal People, the latter takes the cake with being more interesting and an overall better read.

I know I mentioned this before, but add me on Goodreads!!! It’s a social media platform where you can review books you’ve read, make reading lists, and keep track of the progress of any books you’re currently reading. My favorite part about it is you can see the features I listed above for anyone you’re friends with, so it makes finding good book recommendations easy!

💘 Hanna