Summer is the time when beloved activities flourish. I spent most of my daily free time chilling on the beach with my current read. So, here is my summer recap for this year’s first edition of “What the world is reading.”
June was my best reading month of the year so far, with 10 books knocked off my TBR (to be read) list. I started June off with Carrie Soto is Back, by Taylor Jenkins Reid, after seeing Challengers in April. I fell in love with tennis and wanted to consume as much content as possible. Carrie Soto is Back is an intense book about retired tennis pro-Carrie Soto returning to competition at 38 years old to keep her title from being taken. This book was fun, exhilarating and addicting to read. I recommend everyone read at least one book by Jenkins Reid in their life.

In June I also finished Into The Wild, by John Krakauer, about Virginia native Christopher McCandless, who died in the Alaska wilderness; this was surprisingly interesting. Next, I delved back into the world of Bridgerton. After reading the first two books in the series in May, I continued to read up to Francesca’s book, book six. These are fun, easy reads when you’re looking for something simple. They take almost no brain power to comprehend and entice you into the romance as it plays out.

I then read two more romances, November 9, by Colleen Hoover, and The Wall of Winnipeg and Me, by Mariana Zapata. These were both three-star reads and nothing special. I didn’t love them, but I didn’t hate them. The last two books were thrillers: The Housemaid, by Freida McFadden, and The House Across the Lake, by Riley Sage. I loved The Housemaid; it was fun, intense and suspenseful, which is the recipe for a perfect thriller. The House Across the Lake fell off for me: It seemed like it had lost the plot, and I didn’t understand what was supposed to be happening anymore. In total, In June I read 10 books, with 3,584 pages and an average rating of 4.025 stars.

July didn’t start strong; I began by trying to read What Lies Beyond The Veil by Haper L. Woods, and I got 70% into it when I decided to DNF (did not finish). I decided this year to spend my time on something other than reading a book I wasn’t enjoying. So I DNFed, but just because I didn’t enjoy the book doesn’t mean somebody else won’t like it. Once I put What Lies Beyond The Veil down, I pick up the first Mortal Instruments book, City of Bones, and when I tell you I devoured this book and the next two after, I mean it: six days, three books, all fun. As I had already seen the Shadowhunters show, I knew a little about the plot, but the show didn’t do the books justice. I then started the Infernal Devices series, read the first one in July, and finished the second in August, which was also excellent.

After I finished Clockwork Prince, the second Infernal Device book, I started reading The Handmaid’s Tale, which was required for AP Lit. It was enjoyable at times and boring at others. I rated it a solid three stars. Next, I chose to read Emma by Jane Austen for Lit because, obviously, This book was incredible. I loved every second: It was messy, fun, romantic and drama-filled. This was my first Jane Austen book, and I will definitely be reading more.