You may have heard that the BookSparks Summer Reading Challenge (#SRC2018) has kicked off already and this year we’ve gathered up some of our favorite Bookstagrammers to share their diverse summer reading list. Kalli, or @kmbooks24, is sharing a few of her favorites!
Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
I can easily count the number of books I’ve reread in my life and that list is quite short, so for me to have read this book THREE times is a true testament to how much I love it. It’s hilarious and full of heart, centering around the titular character, Simon as he comes to terms with his identity as a gay teen and falling in love along the way – one of my favorite contemporary novels of all time! Be sure to have a pack of Oreos at the ready while you’re reading this one, just trust me on that!
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
A phenomenal start to a remarkable adult fantasy trilogy filled with magic, action and smart, witty characters. A Darker Shade of Magic takes you on a journey through four Londons (Red London, Grey London, White London and Black London) with a special traveller, known as an Antari, named Kell Maresh and a thief named Lila Bard. The diversity game is strong in this one and there are so many twists and turns that’ll have you stressed the entire time (and I mean this in the best way possible!). One of my favorite reads of 2017; the writing and world-building are outstanding and add to the richness of the story. You won’t be able to put this book down and you’ll immediately need to devour the next two books in the series!
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Essentially a young adult Ocean’s Eleven in novel form, Six of Crows is full of wit, adventure and a major heist that’ll have you on the edge of your seat. The group of teens that are the stars of this novel, known as The Dregs, set out to complete a seemingly impossible task and get into a LOT of tight situations along the way. Not to mention, the squad goals are off the charts in this book! These characters are pretty much as diverse as they come and very well-developed. You’ll want to pick up the conclusion to the duology, Crooked Kingdom, right after you finish because the ending of SoC is a HUGE jaw-dropper!
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
With quite a few similarities to our favourite Boy Who Lived, Carry On has some serious Harry Potter vibes but holds its own very well. The main character, Simon Snow, is an orphan on a quest to fight an evil that has been plaguing his magical boarding school and is threatening the safety of mankind. Oh, and Simon’s roommate may be evil and Simon may also be in love with him, which, of course, is not problematic in the least!
Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
Gentleman’s Guide is an adventure from start to finish as you follow Henry “Monty” Montague on a year-long excursion through Europe with his best friend (and possible love of his life) Percy. Every time I thought I knew what was going to happen, something extremely insane and ridiculous happened that either had me laughing or fearing for the characters’ safety. This book is so much fun and has a lot of quotable moments. It’ll also give you a serious case of wanderlust, making it a perfect read, and will make you want to go on an adventure of your own!
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
I’d been hearing rave reviews about this for MONTHS before I finally decided to pick it up. Recently having read it with a friend of mine, we were both pleasantly surprised by how much we enjoyed this. THUG is about a girl named Starr Carter who witnesses the tragic shooting of her unarmed friend Khalil by a police officer. The novel shows the struggle of balancing her two worlds; her life at her prestigious prep school versus that in the poor neighbourhood she lives in. This is by no means a light read, but it is certainly an eye-opening one. Starr is such a dynamic character who shows how hard it can be to be a young, African American in today’s society. Much like me, you’ll be thinking about this book long after you finish it.
Reason Number One by Briston Brooks
This book is so precious and sweet; words can hardly describe how much I love this one! It is told from the perspective of awkward, sweet and self-deprecating Taylor Lassau as he navigates his first year away at college while trying to leave behind the demons of his life back home. Between precious Taylor and his gorgeous, caring (boy)friend Calis Schrader, this book offers such heart and a ridiculous amount of feelings. Have some tissues ready because this one is sure to tug at your heartstrings. If it was possible to give hugs to fictional characters, I would do that a million times over with Taylor and Calis!
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