Well, it's that time again! School's ending, the sun's coming out and everyone's whisking away to tropical islands for their annual holiday. But there's one thing you must pack in your suitcase - a few good books, of course! I, for one, can't lay on a beach and not read because what else is there to do? That's precious reading time wasted.

 Even if you're not going anywhere this year, grab a towel and relax in the garden with a nice cup of tea and get lost in these cute, girly books.

 A summer read is usually something light, funny and romantic, so we've put together a list of our favourite summer reads (so far!) for you all to get stuck into while you're tanning it up.


Feel free to share your thoughts and recommendations on our Twitter, Facebook or in the comments below!

We've come across some brilliant books that we have to share with you. Check out these titles and pack them with your swim suits and sun cream, they'll have you laughing and cringing, crying and gasping.

 1. Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson


Amy Curry is not looking forward to her summer. Her mother decided to move across the country and now it's Amy's responsibility to get their car from California to Connecticut. The only problem is, since her father died in a car accident, she isn't ready to get behind the wheel. Enter Roger. An old family friend, he also has to make the cross-country trip - and has plenty of baggage of his own. The road home may be unfamiliar - especially with their friendship venturing into uncharted territory - but together, Amy and Roger will figure out how to map their way

 Why it's great for summer: You can't beat a good road trip book for when you're off on holiday. Amy and Roger is a quick and easy read for anyone who loves travelling, the different sights and situations our characters get into are entertaining for anyone, and the characters are quick to love.





2. Lobsters by Tom Ellen & Lucy Ivison
Sam and Hannah only have the holidays to find 'The One'. Their lobster. But instead of being epic, their summer is looking awkward. They must navigate social misunderstandings, the plotting of well-meaning friends, and their own fears of being virgins for ever to find happiness. But fate is at work to bring them together. And in the end, it all boils down to love.

 Why it's great for summer: You've probably seen me recommend this book a lot of times but I can't help it. I adore this book! It's set in summer, so that's one of the reasons why I've added this book but it's also got some funny, relatable characters going through situations we've all been through. They attend a holiday and end up at a festival so the setting and vibes from this book are a great beach read.






3. Between Friends by Amanda Cowen

The only way to have a friend is to be one…especially between the sheets…

When neurotically challenged and unlucky in love Megan Daniels, is propositioned by her life-long friend Ben Romano with a coin toss (heads, they sleep together, tails they don’t) the night before they are about to attend a destination wedding, she drunkenly accepts his challenge. But when Megan wakes up the next morning with a bad hang-over and Ben in her bed, she is more than mortified. It isn’t until the tropical heat begins to ignite emotions Megan never ever believed she could possibly have, that she starts to question if risking their friendship is the answer to finding true love.

 Why it's great for summer: This is a friends-to-lovers story, and I'm such a sucker for those. The main characters attend a wedding which is abroad, which gives us all the 'summer' vibe and the story is light, romantic and made me laugh so many times! 




4. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris--until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming,beautiful, Étienne has it all...including a serious girlfriend. 

But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss?

 Why it's a summer read: I think most people have heard of this book, but if you haven't, you really should read this one. It's set in Paris. Enough said! The characters are lovable and the main guy - swoon! You won't regret giving this one a go.





5. You Had Me At Hello by Mhairi McFarlane

What happens when the one that got away comes back?
Rachel and Ben. Ben and Rachel. It was them against the world. Until it all fell apart.
It’s been a decade since they last spoke, but when Rachel bumps into Ben one rainy day, the years melt away.
From the moment they met they’d been a gang of two; partners in crime and the best of friends. But life has moved on. Ben is married. Rachel is definitely not. In fact, the men in her life make her want to take holy orders…
Yet in that split second, Rachel feels the old friendship return. And along with it, the broken heart she’s never been able to mend.

Why it's a summer read: I bought this book without really knowing what it was and I ended up adding this to my favourites - and it only cost me 99p! It reminded me of a cheerful version of One Day by David Nicholls (another book I love!) It was entertaining, heartbreaking, at times cringeworthy but overall  it was bloody hilarious! A great British romance book for your beach bag.





6. My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

"One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time."

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, messy, affectionate. And every day from her rooftop perch, Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs up next to her and changes everything.

As the two fall fiercely for each other, stumbling through the awkwardness and awesomeness of first love, Jase's family embraces Samantha - even as she keeps him a secret from her own. Then something unthinkable happens, and the bottom drops out of Samantha's world. She's suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?

Why it's great for summer: This is a feel-good book if ever there was one. And it won't be until you've finished and put it aside that you'll realize just how many valuable lessons it's taught you in a thoroughly effortless way. Oh, and it takes place during the summer and features everything from beaches and lifeguards, to pools, hoses and summer dresses.





7. Open Road Summer by Emery Lord


After breaking up with her bad-news boyfriend, Reagan O’Neill is ready to leave her rebellious ways behind... and her best friend, country superstar Lilah Montgomery, is nursing a broken heart of her own. Fortunately, Lilah’s 24-city tour is about to kick off, offering a perfect opportunity for a girls-only summer of break-up ballads and healing hearts. But when Matt Finch joins the tour as its opening act, his boy-next-door charm proves difficult for Reagan to resist, despite her vow to live a drama-free existence. This summer, Reagan and Lilah will navigate the ups and downs of fame and friendship as they come to see that giving your heart to the right person is always a risk worth taking. A fresh new voice in contemporary romance, Emery Lord’s gorgeous writing hits all the right notes.

Why it's a summer read:  The title says it all. It's about touring. With musicians. Over the summer. All across the country. It's escapism at its finest. Wherever you are while reading it, you'll be cruising the country with celebrities. We promise!






8. The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer--they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one terrible and wonderful summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.

Why it's a summer read: Aside from the obvious (just look at the title!), this is also the first book in a series. So you won't have to dread coming to an end and wondering what to read next - there is much, much more to come! And it will make you wish the summer lasts forever.






9. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.

Read it.
And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE.

Why it's a summer read: This book covers three years' worth of events in the lives of one family - but only those events that take place during the summer. When the family gets together. On a private island. With a private beach.
Having said that, be warned: this isn't as lighthearted and feel-good as the rest of our recommendations, so proceed with caution. And definitely pick it up if you're in the mood for some guesswork and a whole lot of feelings in the end.




10. Wanderlust: A Love Affair with Five Continents by Elisabeth Eaves

Spanning 15 years of travel, beginning when she is a sophomore in college, Wanderlust documents Elisabeth Eaves’s insatiable hunger for the rush of the unfamiliar and the experience of encountering new people and cultures. Young and independent, she crisscrosses five continents and chases the exotic, both in culture and in romance. In the jungles of Papua New Guinea, she loses herself—literally—to an Australian tour guide; in Cairo, she reconnects with her high school sweetheart, only to discover the beginning of a pattern that will characterize her life over the long-term: while long-distance relationships work well for her, traditional relationships do not.

Wanderlust, however, is more than a chronological conquest of men and countries: at its core, it’s a journey of self-discovery. In the course of her travels, Eaves finds herself and the sense of home she’s been lacking since childhood—and she sheds light on a growing culture of young women who have the freedom and inclination to define their own, increasingly global, lifestyles, unfettered by traditional roles and conventions of past generations of women.


Why it's a summer read: This isn't merely a story about wanderlust, travel and exploring the world. This is also a memoir, a true story, as non-fiction as non-fiction gets. Every adventure covered in this book is an adventure the author herself has been on and experienced firsthand. No suspension of disbelief required!




What are your favorite summer reads? What sort of books do you prefer to read during your vacation(s)? Have you read any of our recommendations, or are you considering giving one of them a chance this summer? Let us know in the comments below, or share your thoughts with us via Twitter or Facebook.