Love The One You're With by Emily Giffin

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

If You Like: romance, light reading

Similar to: Other Emily Giffin novels, Nicholas Sparks novels

Ages: 16-100

Ellen has been married to her husband Andy for less than a year when she passes her old flame while walking one day in New York.  The second she sees her flame, Leo, all of the feelings she had for him come rushing back in an instant.  They make plans that day to get together to catch up, but one thing leads to another, and Leo offers Ellen a job on a photo shoot across the country for an article he is writing.  Ellen knows that she shouldn't accept a job from a former love when she has a new husband, but she can't resist the feelings that have recently come rushing back.  Ellen has a big decision to make; take her second chance with the one who got away, or love the one she's with.

This book was a super short, light, fun read.  You don't have to do a lot of thinking with this one, which can sometimes be a welcomed change of pace.  I love the easiness of Emily Giffin's writing, and although this  book wasn't my all time favorite of hers, I very much enjoyed it.

See Me by Nicholas Sparks

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
If You Like: romance, mystery and suspense
Similar to: newer Nicholas Sparks novels
Ages: 16-100

See Me is about an unlikely love story that develops between a lawyer named Maria who is from a close knit Mexican family and a bartender/MMA fighter named Colin who is from a rich family that cut a deal for his past transgressions of fighting and having anger issues.  One rainy night when Colin is coming home from a recent MMA fight, he sees Maria stranded on the side of the road with a flat tire.  When Colin fixes Maria's tire he doesn't think he'll see her again, but boy is he wrong. Maria's sister, Serena, shares classes with Colin at the college they both attend, and when Serena sees Colin's beat up face, she realizes he is the man that Maria described had helped change her tire.  Serena finds out where Colin works so that she can reintroduce Maria to Colin.  From there, Maria and Colin start to open up to each other, and they realize that although they have little in common on paper, something just works between them.  The story doesn't end there. Colin is an open book about his past right up front, but it isn't so easy for Maria to talk about her troubled past.  As Maria opens up and shares the issues she has struggled with, we realize this isn't your typical love story.  This is a story of love, survival, and justice, in more ways than one.

Maybe it was the fact that I had read five duds from a famous YouTuber's summer reading list, or maybe I had just forgotten how good a writer Nicholas Sparks is, but this novel did not disappoint.  It seems like Nicholas Sparks has evolved his romances into something more than a typical romance.  Now his stories are full of suspense and mystery with the same romance we love.  Although I prefer some of his first novels, I like this newer style of writing for what it is. I thought I had this book figured out, but by the end, I realized that I really didn't.  This was such a fun read that was quick and fast paced for me.  I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a good fiction book with a little bit of everything.

All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

Rating; 1 out of 5
If You Like: Teen fiction, mental disorders
Similar to: Other teen novels
Ages: 13-18

This story is about a girl named Violet and a boy named Finch who come from two different social circles. One day they both meet on a rooftop where both of them are considering jumping.   Violet has been lost since her sister died last year, and Finch struggles with an abusive father with bipolar disorder and a mother who is too emotionally fragile to intervene. Violet and Finch start to develop feelings for each other when they are forced to work on a project together and it turns into an intense love.  Even after finding each other, both Violet and Finch have to battle their internal struggles, and although they have each other for support, they ultimately have to face their battles on their own.

I really had to force myself to finish this one. I definitely understand mental illness, and take it seriously, but this book was such a drag.  It didn't keep my attention, was far too long for the story that took place, and I don't even think that Niven really tackled bipolar disorder as well as she could have.  The love story was a little bit of a saving grace, but the ending really ruined it for me.  I read five books this summer, and although some were better than others, none of them were amazing. This book was my least favorite of the five.

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

If You Like: Teen books, romance, suspense

Similar to: Gossip Girl, M. Night Shymalan movies

Ages: 13-30

We Were Liars starts off telling us about a 17 year old girl named Cadence who has terrible headaches and issues with her memory ever since she was 15 and "the accident", that she can't remember, happened. Her family is rich, thanks to a rich grandfather, and every summer Cadence and her aunts and cousins travel to the island where the rich grandfather lives and owns many houses for them to stay in.  The liars are Cadence's cousin, Johnny, her cousin, Mirren, and her aunt's boyfriend's nephew, Gat.  Cadence has loved Gat ever since he started coming to the island every summer.  Every summer they get together and have their adventures on the island.  That is until Summer 15, when Cadence has her accident, and her mother forces her to go to Europe with her father for her sixteenth summer.  When she finally convinces her mother to let her go back to the island for her seventeenth summer, nothing is as it was.  There is a new main house where her grandfather lives, and all of the decorations are different. None of the liars will go to the main house for dinner like they used to, and Cadence is frequently too sick to leave her house.  This is the summer where Cadence discovers what really happened during her "accident"...

I had read about 2/3 of this book before it finally got took off for me, and then it took off, past the moon, past the planets, and out of this solar system.  In fact, this book was so shocking and upsetting to me that I found myself crying in my car as I was listening to this on audio book (the reader was fantastic by the way!).  I would consider this one of the saddest and most frustrating books I have ever read, but when I finished it, I knew that it was a work of art.  I would definitely recommend this  book.  It is such a quick read, and I urge your to press through the boring stuff to get to the good stuff. You will not be disappointed.

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
If you like: teen novels, forbidden love stories
Similar to: other teen novels, Romeo and Juliet
Ages: 13-100

Everything Everything is a book about a girl named Madeline who has to live in a house sealed from the outside world due to a disease that causes essentially everything to make her sick.  For 18 years she only is able to see her mother and her nurse, Carla.  That is until the new neighbors move in across the street and Madeline finds herself in this whirlwind romance she never thought was possible. Being in love with Olly is everything Madeline always wanted but never thought she could have.  Being in love with Olly makes Madeline want to see the world, even if it might mean she could die.  You only get one life after all...

Everything Everything is a beautiful, well-developed book that is a little different than what you're used to.  I found myself enjoying it more and more as the story went on, and I even found myself completely surprised by a twist, which is unusual for me.  This is book three out of my five summer reading books, and it is my favorite so far.  I definitely would recommend this book to every reader because it is a beautiful piece of literature about love and seeing beauty in the little things that we might normally take for granted.

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

Rating; 3 out of 5
If you like: teen novels, quick reads
Similar to: other Jandy Nelson novels, Fangirl by Rainbow Rowen
Ages: 12-30


Lennie lost her sister, Bailey, and now she is struggling to get by.  She doesn't want to play her clarinet anymore, food doesn't taste like anything, and she just doesn't really feel much at all anymore, until she starts spending time with Toby, Bailey's boyfriend.  Toby makes her feel again what she lost when Bailey died, but Lennie is having feelings about Toby that she knows her sister wouldn't approve of.  Lennie also has her heartstrings being tugged by a boy in school named Joe who is charming and sweet and everything Lennie has ever wanted in a boy.  What will Lennie do with the feelings she has for both of these boys?  How can she cope with her best friend being gone forever?

This book was a quick read that never got super deep for me, but I enjoyed it.  All throughout the book I preferred the boy that Lennie didn't end up with, although by the end of the book, I came around a little. Overall, a nice story about love and loss and finding yourself.

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowen

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
If you like: Teen novels, coming of age novels
Similar to: Harry Potter, Sarah Dessen novels
Ages; 13-30

Fangirl is about twin sisters, Cath and Wren, trying to make their way as individuals in the college world. Wren is social and outgoing while Cath is a very reserved homebody.  Cath is having a hard time adjusting to being away from her father who has been her sole parent since the girls were eight years old. While Wren is out partying, Cath is in her dorm room writing her fanfiction stories about Simon Snow, a Harry Potter like character.  This is the story of Cath breaking out of her shell, finding herself, making friends, and possibly even finding love.

I loved this book. It was interesting, well written and sweet; your typical teen novel with a bit of fanfiction thrown in.  The only thing I didn't like was that I thought the book could have very well ended half way through with most of the storylines coming to a close, but when it finally did end it seemed abrupt.  Still, I was drawn into a world of life, romance, and fanfiction.  Overall, a fun and quick read I would definitely recommend.

Sticky Fingers by Niki Burnham

Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
If You Like: Teen novels
Similar to: Other teen novels, but not good ones
Ages: 13-20

Jenna is the kind of girl who got early acceptance into Harvard because she has chosen to always focus on school work, even if it meant missing out on all of the fun stuff that high schoolers get to participate in. She has a boyfriend, Scott, who is totally hot, but for some reason Jenna hasn't been able to allow herself to lose her virginity to him. Her friend Courtney is with a great guy named Mat, and she has already lost her virginity after only having been with him for a few months. Jenna has been with Scott for over a year, so what gives?

This book was far from my favorite. Scott was highly unlikeable, and all of the problems the characters dealt with seemed insignificant to me. Although some people might think that this book explores some serious themes, I found it far from deep, and quite frankly a waste of time. After I finished this book (which thankfully was a quick read), I didn't feel the longing that I love to feel after I have finished a good book. The book I had just finished before this one was amazing. Maybe this was the rebound book after the book that I loved before. If that's the case, I'm hoping I can get on to the next real thing now that I've gotten this out of my system.

First & Then by Emma Mills

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
If You Like: Teen romance, adult romance
Similar to: Nicholas Sparks books, Susane Colasanti books
Ages: 13-40

I am so in love with this book. After the longest span of not reading, I picked up this, and it sure kick started my love for books again.

Devon Tennyson may seem kind of average, but she is a kind, opinionated, strong character. Her cousin Foster, comes to stay with her because his mother has a drug problem, and although he can be annoying at times, Devon grows to love him. She has been in love with her best friend, Cas, for as long as she remembers, but unfortunately he doesn't reciprocate her feelings. Throw in an all star football player, Ezra, who Devon loves to hate, and you have a perfect teen novel.

This is such a good read written so well by an author my age. It is similar to a modern day Jane Austen novel. I chose this book because I liked the cover, but I will choose Emma Mills's future books because she writes great content.

Royal Wedding (Princess Diaries 11) by Meg Cabot

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
If You Like: Teen Romance, Adult Romance, Princess Diaries novels
Similar to: Other Princess Diaries novels, other Meg Cabot novels
Ages: 13-35

It's finally happening!! Princess Mia and Michael are saying "I do", which definitely isn't easy when you are a Princess. This book is a fun, mindless read with cute little surprises. It brings out memories of my teen years, and I love reliving some of the good memories. :)

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
If You Like: teen romance with a little something more
Similar to: Other Sarah Dessen novels, other teen genre books
Ages 13-40

Saint Anything is another good read by Sarah Dessen that keeps me coming back for more. A typical teen friendship and romance book. Mac is the type of guy you love to fall in love with. He is protective and loving and just who Sydney needs to help her go through dealing with her brother spending time in jail. Throw in a perky best friend, and you have a fun read with a nit of darkness and drama.