Summer is my personal favorite time to get tons of reading in, especially having lots of empty time on my hands. This is the second article of the series, where I list all of the books I have read this past month to give some suggestions to those looking for new reads!
The Sun is Also a Star by: Nicola Yoon
Natasha and her family are about to be deported to Jamaica in twelve hours. Daniel is always trying to be the good kid, the good student, living up to his parents expectations. But when he sees Natasha, he forgets all that. When Natasha and Daniel meet on the streets of New York, they wonder if fate can change? This story is an amazing, mind boggling romance for anyone looking for an amazing novel.
Blackout by: Angie Thomas, Nicola Yoon, Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Ashley Woodfolk, Nic Stone
This group of amazing authors came together to write about one night when the electricity goes out in New York city. Each chapter follows a different cast of characters through their unique romances, all interweaving in the end. The Obama’s have announced that their production company, Higher Ground, will be producing Blackout as both a movie and TV series on Netflix. They have not yet announced an air date, but we have something to look forward too! This would be one of my top recommendations out of all my summer reads so far, and definitely check out these authors if you haven’t already!
Instructions for Dancing: Nicola Yoon
Evie has given up on love. Especially after the day she sees a couple kissing, she envisions how their romance began… and how it will end. As she tries to uncover the mystery of her visions, she comes across La Brea Dance Studio. There, she ends up signing up for a dance competition, with no experience in the art of dance, with a boy named X. As Evie and X tango, foxtrot, and waltz together, Evie is forced to question her beliefs about what she thought love meant. In the end, is love worth it? Another amazing romance novel writen by Nicola Yoon.
Scythe by: Neal Shusterman (Book #1of 3)
In a world where humanity has conquered hunger, disease, war, even death there is only one problem: without death, there is nothing to prevent the human population from getting out of hand. And so, the role of the Scythe is born. Scythes are the only ones who can end lives, and are commanded to do so in order to retain control and order in a perfect world. Citra and Rowan are chosen to apprentice to a Scythe, even though neither wants the job. These two teens must learn the “art” of ending human lives, especially since failure could mean death for one of their own. This is a huge genre switch compared to the other feel good romances I have been recommending. But this is such an amazing book!!! For those looking for a YA, scifi, dystopian, fantasy/adventure fiction novel… this is a must read!
An Ember in the Ashes by: Sabaa Tahir (Book #1 of 4)
Under the Martial Empire, resistance is met with death. In this novel inspired by ancient Rome, Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother in the backstreets of the Scholar homes. They have never challenged the Empire, they know what happens when you do. But when Laia’s brother is arrested and sent to prison for treason, under the order of the Empire, Laia knows she has to do something. Luckily, she finds rebels who promise to help save her brother. In exchange for their help she risks her life to spy within the Empire’s most dangerous and accomplished military academy.There, she meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier and secretly the most unwilling student. Elias only want to be free of the horror he has been trained to carry out his whole life. Laia and Elias soon find that not only are their destinies are intertwined, but that every choice they make could change the fate of the Empire itself. For those who have read the Children of Blood and Bone series, and/or the Hunger Games series, you should try this book series.
Those are all of my July summer reads! You can also check out my June reads by clicking the link below. I hope you check out some of these books, and be on the look out for my August list!