Here are a few summer reads that aren’t summer reading (you know the school kind). All these YA books take place during the summer. A little romance, a little angst, a little family drama, and a little murder along the way! Grab your snacks and sunscreen and head to the beach with one of these beach reads.
The Counselors by Jessica Goodman
First up is The Counselors by Jessica Goodman. Goldie Easton has only really felt safe and happy at Camp Alpine and she’s happy to be back at the camp this summer as a counselor. Especially after the school year she’s had. She’s hoping for a fun and relaxing summer with her friends and enjoying the camp she’s always loved. But this summer is different. When a fellow camp counselor is found dead at the lake Goldie knows that this wasn’t accident and she knows that her friend Ava had been there when it happened. What isn’t Ava telling her? What happened that night at the lake? What other secrets does Camp Alpine have that are waiting to be unleashed?
The Way You Make Me Feel by Maurene Goo
Next up we have, The Way You Make me Feel by Maurene Goo! Clara Shin never takes anything too seriously. She’s a prankster and likes causing a little disruption here and there. But when one joke goes just a little too far her father tells her that she’ll be working during the summer at the family food truck, the KoBra. Clara’s plan for a carefree are ruined even further when she realizes that she’ll be working alongside Rose Carver, a fellow classmate that’s very uptight. But as the summer progresses maybe Clara starts to realize that Rose isn’t so bad and neither is the boy at the coffee shop next door to the food truck. And maybe, just maybe, working at the KoBra isn’t as awful as she thought it was. Maybe it’s time for Clara to get a little serious and see where this summer takes her.
What’s a summer vacation without a trip to summer camp? You Have a Match by Emma Lord takes us on this trip with a fun little twist. After taking a DNA test and learning that she has a sister, Abby does the next logical thing. Signing up for the same summer camp as her Instagram star secret sister, Savannah Tully, and attending to hopefully learn more about her. And well maybe she also plans on getting closer to her crush Leo. What Abby doesn’t plan on is how difficult her plan becomes. Savannah and Abby are complete opposites, things with Leo are as awkward as ever, and her parents have even more secrets that could unravel everything.
A Little Bit Country by Brian D. Kennedy
Finally, we take a trip to an amusement park with A Little Bit Country by Brian D. Kennedy. Emmett wants to be country’s music next big star which is a little difficult considering he’s from Illinois. So, he does the next big thing and gets a job preforming at an amusement park in Tennessee. But this isn’t just any amusement park. This is an amusement park owned by his country music idol (and mega star) Wanda Jean Stubbs. Meanwhile, we have Lucas who hates country music but has no choice but to get a job at Wanda World in order to help his pay his mother’s medical bills. Lucas, the grandson of Verna Rose (who had a MAJOR falling out with Wanda Jean Stubbs) is not happy to be here but is doing what he needs to do but he meets Emmett and well sparks fly. As they become close a secret about Wanda Jean and Verna Rose comes out and everything changes. Can Emmett and Lucas work through it?
