7 Books To Fall In Love With This Summer For Every Occasion
“A first book has some of the sweetness of a first love.” – Robert Aris Willmott
The weather is warm, the city is alive, and our hearts are on fire. We’re just about ready to start the Summer. It’s the season where we finally let go of our inhibitions, take more risks, go on adventures, and relax after months of wearing ourselves down. Needless to say, we’re ready for it.
At some point over the Summer, we’ll find ourselves actually taking vacation days, taking advantage of Summer Fridays, and spending the weekends outdoors. We’ll be falling in love with the season, ourselves, or a significant other – love will be in the air.
So, what better to inspire (and add even more) love in our lives than a literary companion. Whatever the occasion, there’s a book for us to pair with this summer.
On the Plane
Have you ever thought of what it would be like to be an “emotional girlfriend” … for hire? Catherine Lacey’s, The Answers: A Novel explores the life of Mary Parsons. Mary is broke and agrees to be a part of a “girlfriend experiment” for an infamous actor. This novel makes you question how well we know ourselves, how well we can measure love, and what exactly is the “perfect relationship.” You’ll definitely be hooked enough to ignore the in-flight movies.
At the Beach
When you’re on the beach, it’s the ultimate time to let your body relax and your mind wander. This summer, read about an enchanted summer filled with sunshine, ocean breezes, loves, cocktails and the story of two couples whose transformative friendship will last more than 20 years. Dorothea Benton Frank’s Same Beach, Next Year is the perfect beach read. Added bonus: plug in your headphones to go hands-free to make room for a cocktail of your own next to your BFF or significant other.
On the Couch
When you need a break from the heat and the summer, plop down on the couch and get engrossed in the dystopian society in Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale. This literary tour de force remains unexpected throughout – and makes you wonder when love was taken for granted. Once you’re done, you can get the added bonus of watching Elizabeth Moss bring Offred to life in the Hulu series without even getting off your couch. Need something more lighthearted? This one explores the world of personal emails and a man that fell in love reading them.
At the Park
The author of Crazy Rich Asians (which is soon to be a major motion picture), Kevin Kwan returns with Rich People Problems for the perfect picnic read. The riveting novel is full of Asian family fortune, jealously, couture gowns, and long-buried secrets. Plus, the bright and trendy book cover design will easily stand out in bookstore aisles (if the NYF Bestseller label doesn’t already).
On the Train
If you liked The Girl on the Train then you’ll love Paula Hawkin’s newest book – Into the Water. The book is about a single mother who is found dead at the bottom of a river and leaves behind a 15-year old girl. Of course, there’s a twist about the dark waters. You can sit back on the train, look out the window, and listen to it in audiobook format for added ease. This suspenseful read will make your trip go even quicker.
At the Coffee Shop
This candid book is best paired with a cup of coffee (or a glass of wine). Mandy Len Catron’s How to Fall in Love with Anyone: A Memoir in Essays speaks to all of us. A collection of honest and vulnerable essays will help us think about the questions we all want to know the answers to, like what really makes love last? And, does love ever work the way we say it does in movies? By exploring romantic myths, Catron’s deeply personal writing explains how they limit our ability to sustain intimacy. Or if you prefer fiction, go for a book about a woman literally falling in love in a coffee shop.
On a Boat
Jess Walter’s Beautiful Ruins has been a popular one for quite some time. If you haven’t yet dived into this masterpiece of an almost-love affair on the Italian coast… then it’s about time. Read about the coast, on the coast, and fall in love with this funny and romantic novel while your tan lines 
