Summer Reads for 2022

Maria-Angelica Christakis '23 ~ April 2022

With summer around the corner, students need some way to keep their brains busy while soaking in the sun. After a hectic school year, one of the best ways to relax is to dive into a good book. So, whether you are on vacation or staying home, crack open a book for your next great escape!

Here are six must-reads for this upcoming summer:

Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins-Reid

A fictional story, told in an interview style, follows the rise and fall of an admired rock band in the '70s. The novel focuses on two strong-willed characters, rockstar dream girl Daisy Jones and the pretentious lead singer Billy Dunne, who are often at odds but eventually come to find a strong connection together. Despite the heavy topics mentioned throughout the story, there is lightness to be found in the complex characters. These characters have their personal issues going on, but Reid perfectly portrays how the stars juggle their romantic lives and fame all at once.

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

We Were Liars is a mystery-driven novel telling a suspenseful story. The novel is set on a private island off the coast of Massachusetts, making it a thrilling beach read. The story follows the seemingly perfect family, the Sinclairs, and their vacations to their private island every summer. Lockhart focuses on the four cousins and their memories together on the island. But once one of the cousins, Cadence Sinclair, ends up in a mysterious swimming accident, the story takes a dark turn.

Emma by Jane Austen

If you are a lover of Victorian literature, you need to read Jane Austen’s Emma. However, if Clueless is more your style, you’ll also want to read the novel that inspired everyone's favorite rom-com. The story follows the young, captivating Emma Woodhouse and her talent in matchmaking. Blinded by trying to match her friend Harriet with a husband, Emma is oblivious towards her true feelings for George Knightly. Austen tells the story of a young woman and her romantic misadventures in this 19th century classic.

Normal People by Sally Rooney

This bittersweet romance will have your emotions all over the place. Opposites attract in Sally Rooney's Normal People when popular jock Connell and introverted Marianne interact. However, we soon find out their at-school personas don't match the characters' at-home lives. The novel juggles heavy, real-life topics as their relationship progresses throughout the novel.

The Summer I Turned Pretty (trilogy) by Jenny Han

Jenny Han’s The Summer I Turned Pretty is a coming of age trilogy with sweet bits of teen romance. The novel follows average teenager Belly Conklin and her magical summers away at Cousins Beach, where her family friends, the Fishers’, spend their summers. The Fisher brothers Jeremaiah and Conrad Fisher have known Belly since she was little, but one summer changes the future of their relationships forever. Han takes you through the exciting life of Belly, from ages 15-24, progressing from her first love to her first heartbreak.

Title Photo: “Lectura Playa” by Josue Goge, Flickr, CC BY 2.0