This summer, I read 2,320 pages across the span of 12 books. Here is an overview of all the books I've read (and finished) this summer.
May 25 to June 1
Radio Silence by Alice Oseman
This book came to me at the perfect timing and I couldn’t be more grateful. I think because of its impeccable timing, I definitely enjoyed it more than I would've had I read it sometime else.
Frances Janvier is the perfect student—head girl, flawless grades and a role model to others. But in her spare time, she makes fan art for her favourite podcast, Universe City. Aled Last is the quiet boy in school but also the creator of Universe City. He goes by Radio Silence. When Radio Silence messages Frances asking to collaborate, Frances gets an opportunity to get out of her comfort zone and create lifelong friendships with the people she least expects.
Alice Oseman creates the most wholesome and wonderful characters you could ever ask for! If you go into this book, be prepared to fall in love with everyone you meet. Except for AtC leara At least that was the case for me never Carol.read.tread.teread.tea
Read the full review here.
June 2 to July 12
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
A Little Life follows four best friends across the course of their life—kind, handsome Willem; quick-witted JB; aspiring architect Malcolm; and bright, enigmatic Jude. As the boys grow older and move out of their small Massachusetts college room to an apartment in New York, they realise that Jude is keeping haunting secrets. Jude, living under a facade that's hidden behind the trauma of his unspeakable childhood, has to go through life with a fear he cannot overcome.
A Little Life was a struggle for me. It took me more than a month to finish and was such a pain for me to continue. Not because of the difficult topics that it covers but more because it was unbearably dry and boring. Forget what all the other influencers have said about this book because it will literally raise your expectations too high and make it an incredibly underwhelming read. At least, that was the case for me.
Reading vlog will be coming to you soon on my YouTube channel.
July 15 to July 29
The Cousins by Karen McManus
After the burden of A Little Life, The Cousins made me excited about reading again. This quick read is sure to get you out of a reading slump.
Milly, Aubrey and Jonah receive an invitation from their estranged grandmother, Mildred Story, to come work for her at her island resort for the summer. After going through their whole life not knowing their grandmother or each other, this invitation takes the cousins by surprise. When they arrive at the resort, strange occurrences keep happening, and Milly, Aubrey and Jonah soon find out that their family is hiding a very dark secret.
Read the full review here.
July 31 to August 8
Animal Farm by George Orwell
Ah, 14-year-old me's biggest nightmare. Required readings for my English class. Look, I love reading but when you make it compulsory, it doesn't make it so fun anymore.
It's safe to say that my opinion has vastly changed since then.
Animal Farm is set in a dystopian world where intelligent animals are literate, independent and rebellious. The animals have overthrown the Manor Farm by working together and creating an organisation that will be able to reap all their benefits. But as time passes, the animals find that some of them are getting more of the share than what was promised. As the rules mysteriously change, the animals are forced to question what society they were fighting for in the first place and whether their newfound freedom was as blissful as they had imagined.
Read the full review here.
August 16 to August 20
The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary
I was having a bit of a dilemma at this point on what book I should read next because I wanted something fun and lighthearted. When I saw someone recommending The Flatshare on TikTok, I knew it had to be my next read. And what a delight it was!
Tiffany Moore needs a place to live fast while Leon Twomey needs the cash. Their friends think they're crazy but it's the perfect solution: Leon would have the one-bed flat to himself during the day while Tiffy's at work, and Tiffy has the run of the place when Leon's doing his night shifts.
But what happens when obsessive ex-boyfriends, demanding clients at work, wrongly imprisoned brothers and the fact that they still haven't met yet, cause one big jumbled mess? Tiffy and Leon discover that their arrangement might not be as simple as it seemed.
I loved this book so much and it was the perfect read to end my summer.
Read the full review here.
I originally put in 26 books in my summer reading list, which is definitely a reach compared to the five books I read this season. However, I think it was a pretty great reading season nonetheless because some books took out more of me than it gave back—I'm looking at you, A Little Life.
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