Summer has arrived. From road trips and cross-country flights, to beach days and water play, it’s the time of year I can typically find the most time to read. Although a book in hand on my front porch on a warm summer night with a La Croix on ice (or a crisp white wine) is my ideal form of reading, more often than not I am squeezing in a chapter in the passenger seat or while overseeing outdoor play.
As a mom, I need books I can jump in and out of easily. Books that hook me from the first couple pages and make it worth staying up just a little too late to finish (knowing full well my toddler will be up at the crack of dawn).
If any other moms are searching for their perfect summer read, look no further, because I have compiled a list of books made for busy moms. Books you can sink into with a smile, but put down fast when you have to intervene in a sibling spat or save a child from whatever-they-are-about-to-put-in-their-mouth.
First up, for the romance lovers. Those of us that need a little spice and a lot of flirting when we read. Books with tall, dark, and handsome love interests and endearing, or sassy, protagonists. I love a second chance romance, but this list covers all the tropes:
1. Happy Place by Emily Henry (& Beach Read by Emily Henry – can’t pick just one)
2. Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez
3. Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
4. Unhoneymooners by Lauren Christina
5. The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn
For the mystery and crime gurus; the ladies addicted to a little thrill who aren’t scared of anything. Those of us who turn page-after-page to find out “whodunnit”, these are the books for you:
1. The Family Game by Catherine Steadman
2. The Maid by Nita Prose
3. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
4. The Last Mrs Parrish by Live Constantine
5. When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole
And finally, for when you’re simply craving a heartwarming story or a good cry. I think everyone gets in this mood now and again. When you just need to feel something. All of these books have left an impact and the lessons learned still linger with me:
1. This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub
2. The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune
3. Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano
4. We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter
5. The Measure by Nikki Erlick
Whether you have shelves overflowing with books that need to be read, or it’s your first time picking up a book in years, there are so many benefits to reading. From purely enjoyment to a little escape, to improving writing and vocabulary, learning a new viewpoint, or to reduce stress – it’s worth it to read all summer (& year) long.
Be sure to check out your local independent bookstores for any of the books above. Resources like Bookshop.org and Indie Bound can help you shop local.
Happy reading!
