Top Ten Summer Reads

          Summer is upon us, which means that I will be reading a couple dozen books these next few months. I have a few suggestions for those of you who need them, and for those of you who don’t. ;) Here they are.

          The Help by Kathryn Stockett

          This book is amazing. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll laugh until you cry. The characters are lovable, you can’t help but hate the guts of others, and the plot irresistible.

          A Dog’s Journey by W. Bruce Cameron

If you don’t like to cry in public, read this one alone, in your bedroom, with the door shut and locked. Make sure you have a box of tissues by your side and your favorite furry friend—whether it be a dog or a teddy bear—snuggled in your lap.

I was able to read the whole book over two late nights of reading. It's very good, but you're guaranteed to be in tears by the middle of the book. And if you're a dog lover or you have a dog or both you'll use up your whole box of tissues in minutes.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Three words: A. Maz. Ing. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and I missed the characters as soon as the book was over. It has a ton of five-star reviews on Amazon, our family has recommended it to several friends who have all read it and adored it, and the book is great for all ages. I can’t oversell this book. Nothing I say will do it justice.

The Revised Life of Ellie Sweet by Stephanie Morrill

I’m not sure how well known this book is, but it is so good. I haven’t even finished it yet (I’m barely halfway through), but I can already tell that I’m going still going to love it when I finish it. Ellie is one of the greatest nerdy main characters in a long time and writers can easily relate to her. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to get published.

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Though while it may sound girly or Twilight-y, this book is neither. This book is one of those books that would not be the same if it weren’t set where it is (which is deep in South Carolina). It’s impossible to choose a favorite character in this book, because how can anyone choose between Lena and Ethan? The romance is sweet and believable rather than the usual paranormal, “How much kissing can I fit in this book?” I also highly recommend the movie (after first reading the book)!!!!

Gamer Girl by Mari Mancusi

Admittedly, this one is sort of girly. Okay, really girly. But if you like video games (especially RPGs) and you like Manga, this book is great for you. I liked it more than I thought I would and it’s light, easy, and fun.

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

For the people who don’t like Twilight that are reading this, do not dismiss this book! I would never have read The Host if it weren’t for my BFF recommending it. And boy am I glad she did. The characters in this book are some of my best literary friends. I love stories about a secret community that works together as a team for survival. This story revolves around love, whether it be the love you have for your family, your friends, or your significant other. But boy, did I bawl like a baby at the end. (If you want to know why, read the book).

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

(If you were wondering, Stephenie and Marissa are not related).

          Cinder is . . . bizarre. A steampunk Cinderella story set in China? This book screamed weird when I read the premise and even after I read it I thought it was extremely strange, but I’d seen recommendations for it online enough that I finally gave up and read the book. I’m so glad I did. Though it’s not one of my favorite books, it’s a great summer read and an excellent new series.

The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong

This is another paranormal book that I didn’t think I’d like. Maya Delaney and her friends are on par with the characters in The Host (which I’m telling you are amazing)! The plot twists are completely unexpected, as is the ending of the last book. I loved it from beginning to end and ate up each book in hours.

The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

(For those of you who know me, how could you not see this coming)? ;)

If you haven’t read this series by now, you must be mentally insane. Nothing can top this series in my opinion. Nothing.

What are you reading this summer?

Big thanks to Kate also known as the "magicviolinst" for this guest post! She talks about anything writing or reading related and gushes over fantasy! :) You can check out her blog here.