Top Ten Tueday-Beach Reads

This week The Broke and The Bookish are asking for beach reads. I am told that sun, sand, surf, a fruity beverage with a paper umbrella, and a good book are an ideal way to spend a summer day. I am all for good books and fruity drinks, but I can do without sand. However, I recently learned that baby powder removes sand. If that does the trick, I may be able to rethink my position on sand! Anyway. Beach reads.

Here’s the deal: a handful of books are going to be on everyone’s lists. They should be; they are awesome, perfect summer reads. I have read them. I love them. I wholeheartedly recommend them as beach reads. You know the ones I am talking about. The Summer series by Jenny Han, Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson, Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles, anything Sarah Dessen or Cassandra Clare. These books get all the love. They don’t need my help. I am here to remind you of the other awesome books that are forced to live in the shadows of these giants.

1. Megan Meade’s Guide to the McGowan Boys by Kate Brian. Megan is an Army brat, tired of moving around. When her parents go overseas she stays with family friends,the McGowans. Overnight she goes from an only child to the only girl among 7 brothers!

2. Past Perfect by Leila Sales. Chelsea starts the summer before senior year nursing a broken heart and working at a historical reenactment community. There is another camp across the road and there is an ongoing rivalry. Is it true what they say about all being fair in love and war?

3. Wanderlove by Kristen Hubbard. Bria takes her broken heart to Central America where she meets a group of young travelers, ditches her tour group, and crams a whole lot of living into a few short weeks.

4. Enthusiasm by Polly Shulman. Jane Austen meets Shakespeare meets Glee. Enough said.

5. Into the Wild Nerd Yonder by Julie Halpern. When Jessie’s best friend goes punk and makes a move on Jessie’s long-time crush, she decides to make some changes herself. Embracing her inner nerd, Jessie finds some new, true friends.

What about the guys? Easy-peasey!

6. Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld. Steampunk, alternate reality WWI story. Full of awesome gadgets and curious beasties. Guys will love this one.

7. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness. There are no secrets in Prentisstown, a town full of men afflicted with the Noise. Everyone’s thoughts are public. Todd is a boy on the brink of manhood and will soon learn the terrible secret about his town.

8. Carter Finally Gets It by Brent Crawford. William Carter, has ADD,  a stutter, and is totally clueless when it comes to girls. He is doomed when high school starts! A hilarious stream of consciousness account of the average guy headed to high school.

9.  Pop by Gordon Korman. Sixteen-year old QB Marcus Jordan befriends an aging NFL legend after a mid-summer move to a new town.

10. Erebos by Ursula Poznanski. I haven’t read this yet, but I have it on good authority that is an amazing must read (my coworker’s fifteen-year old son is my test reader and he devoured it and wants more. That’s good enough for me!).