Make a Plan
Summer is here! What are you reading? Now’s the time to choose books you’ll love, find the ideal reading spot and connect with bookish friends. It’s no secret that I look forward to making my summer reading plans almost as much as I look forward to planning a vacation. I just read differently in the summer than I do during the rest of the year. The anticipation makes me giddy.
Do you create a summer reading plan? How about an ideal place to enjoy that next book on your to-be-read stack? Now’s the perfect time to intentionally build reading into your day. For help and inspiration, I like to follow Anne Bogel of Modern Mrs. Darcy fame. She publishes an annual summer reading guide, and this year’s edition is her best yet! I have added a number of intriguing books to my summer reading list that I might not have discovered on my own. During the last several months, I’ve switched from reaching for my phone at breakfast to reaching for a novel instead. It’s transformed my outlook for the day. I read or listen to an audiobook before bed as well.
Find the Bookworms
If you haven’t already connected with others who share your affection for reading, might I suggest finding a group either online or in person? Virtual book clubs and Facebook groups dedicated to specific genres are plentiful. And let’s not forget the Goodreads community, as well as the vast numbers of readers hanging out on Instagram. Anne Bogel has a book club and she just announced that she’s hosting a (virtual) Readers’ Weekend in July. All of the details are available here.
Other places where I find book recommendations and friendly book nerds are: The Sorta Awesome community. This group of delightful folks share an affinity for the Sorta Awesome podcast, but there is also a reading-centric Facebook group, and occasionally the hosts offer book recs within the podcast. Author and podcast host Laura Tremaine started hosting read-a-long’s via Instagram. It’s such a clever idea. If you aren’t already following Laura, you can find her here and here.
Share Your Book Recs
Readers are inherently curious. We’re also overwhelmed by the plethora of choices available when it comes to choosing books. Sometimes we don’t know what we’re looking for until we find it. Goodreads, Bookbub, Facebook groups, Instagram and your local library are all great places to find book recommendations.
Here are a few titles that I’ve recently enjoyed:
- The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley
- The Tourist Attraction by Sarah Morgenthaler
- Let It Be Me by Becky Wade
- Good Apple: Tales of a Southern Evangelical in New York by Elizabeth Passarella
Here are the books I’m looking forward to enjoying soon:
- The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren
- The Seven Day Switch by Kelly Harms
- Home to the Harbor by Lee Tobin McClain
- Life’s Too Short by Abby Jimenez
Happy summer, friends! Leave a comment and let me know what you’re reading. I’m always looking for more book recs.
