5 YA Books Perfect For Summer
Summer is finally here, and with it, the perfect excuse to sit outside all day and read. Honestly, is there anything better than settling into a beach chair wearing a chic pair of sunnies and opening up a brand new story that you’ve never read before? Definitely not.
And if you don’t feel like getting ahead on your summer reading for school, there are plenty of YA gems to choose from. No matter whether you’re into lighthearted comedies or serious dramas, the perfect page-turner for you is definitely out there. Here are a few books you might want to consider checking out in order to get your summer started.
1/6The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli (April 2017)
Molly Peskin-Suso is a 17-year-old girl who has had a crush on approximately 26 people in her life – all of whom didn’t like her back. Her experience with unrequited love is made even worse by the fact that her twin sister Cassie is head over heels for her latest girlfriend. Luckily, Cassie’s girlfriend has a cute best friend – one that quickly catches Molly’s eye. Things get complicated, however, when Molly’s coworker starts to show interest in her as well. Simultaneously humorous and poignant, this novel definitely captures what it’s like to be young and in love … even when it’s not reciprocated.
2/6It Started With Goodbye by Christina June (May 2017)
Summer vacation is supposed to mean freedom, but for 16-year-old Tatum Elsea, it’s literally the worst summer ever. After being falsely accused of a crime, Tatum has to endure house-arrest with her step-mother and has to attend community service every single day. Battling boredom and frustration, Tatum decides to channel her creativity in a graphic design business that she runs out of her house at night. From there, she meets some interesting people and even manages to make amends with her family in the most unique of ways.
3/6When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon (May 2017)
Dimple Shah and Rishi Patel have just graduated high school, and they are both headed off to the same summer program to hone their web development skills. There’s just one thing – their parents are pushing a “suggested arrangement” on the two of them to marry. To Dimple, the idea of marrying someone she barely knows is absurd; she just graduated, and she wants to explore her life. Rishi, on the other hand, likes the idea of a traditional arranged marriage. But when the two of them actually meet, the most unexpected relationship ends up developing.
4/6It’s Not Like It’s a Secret by Misa Sugiura (May 2017)
Meet Sana Kiyohara: a 16-year-old on the brink of a huge change in her life. Her family is about to move to California, and even though she’ll have to leave her friends behind, Sana is hopeful that a fresh start might help her open up and be who she truly is. It turns out that Sana has been carrying some secrets close to her chest: including the fact that she has romantic feelings for her female best friend. It’s Not Like It’s a Secret is a powerful story of friendship, growing up, and embracing who you truly are.
5/6You’re Welcome, Universe by Whitney Gardner (March 2017)
Julia was just trying to help her best friend, and it ended up getting her kicked out of school. It all started when she noticed that someone had drawn a horrible slur about her best friend across the wall of Kingston School for the Deaf. Taking matters into her own hands, Julia decided to cover up the cruel words with a gorgeous graffiti mural – but the principal only sees her actions as vandalism. She’s forced to leave the comfort of Kingston and attend a school where she is the only deaf student. It’s now up to Julia to figure out how to navigate this new life – and find solace in her art.
