Top 5… summer time reads!

Today’s Top 5 Tuesday is ‘summer time reads’, and is hosted by the super lovely Shanah over at the Bionic Bookworm. You can visit her here, and join in for Top 5 Tuesday by checking out all the amazing topics we have coming up!

Excuse me while I layer on seventeen more jumpers before I write this post, because it is FREEZING in Australia at the moment. And by freezing, I don’t mean it’s literally freezing (well, I’m sure it is in some parts), but we don’t get snow or frost or anything nice in winter. We only get rain. And rain. And then some rain. The occasional thunderstorm. And some more rain. Have I told you it rains here yet? It rains CONSTANTLY. You might think this is exaggerated, but, it literally rained 10 days of the last 14 here. Also, I grew up in drought (proper drought where you weren’t allowed to wash cars, have showers longer than 2 minutes, or drink the tap water), so it rains A LOT from my perspective.

Now that I’ve filled you in on our weather sitch (sorry!), let’s look at some summer time reads! I don’t know about you guys, but I prefer me some lighter type books in summer. Usually contemporaries; often books I can take to the beach and not be judged as that “weirdo so involved in her fantasy novel, she forgot to put sunscreen on and now looks like a lobster”. Yay for the hole in the ozone layer! (OMG, how did I get back to weather so quickly??)

Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde is perfect for that summer read. It’s light and funny, while still dealing with some serious issues. It has great character development while still being a standalone novel. There’s a bit of romance, some killer friendships happening, a little drama, and LOTS of book nerdiness! And it’s got LGBTIQA+ characters! ✅ ✅ ✅

All the books (seriously, ALL of them: Simon vs, Upside and Leah) by Becky Albertalli absolutely make this list. Particularly if you’re ok with crying in public (no, seriously). While not a ‘trilogy’ in the traditional sense of the word, these books can be read as standalones, but best when read in order (not that I’d know, I read the second one first). Also, light-hearted, LGBTIQA+ mains and sides, serious issues, but funny! ✅ ✅ ✅

If you’re into a dramatic chick-lit book with heaps of plot twists and scheming (basically if you like the Netflix show Dynasty), look no further than Adored by Tilly Bagshawe. Now, I must admit, it’s been a few years since I have read this myself, but I read it a few years in a row when it initially came out, and it’s a great introduction to Tilly (and Louise) Bagshawe’s work. Tilly has spent a lot of time writing follow ups to Sidney’s Sheldon’s works, and also writes crime fiction under the pseudonym M. B. Shawe.

Recommendation number four is for those of you who are after something a little less dramatic than Adored, and probably something that will make you sob into your towel uncontrollably. Back After the Break by Anita Notaro is that book. You’re welcome. Please don’t send bills for excessive use of tissues. This book is set in Ireland and is about a girl who has just had her heart broken, and changes her whole life. And then plot points that make you cry lots. (Although I cry as soon as I pick it up now, it’s kind of soul-destroying… in a good way!)

And finally, I am actually going to give you a fantasy read (because seriously, who am I kidding?). Although, I’m not entirely sure how much this counts! Carry On by Rainbow Rowell absolutely fits the bill for a classic summer read. It’s light-hearted (pokes fun at all the fantasy tropes), has hilarious characters (Baz is the epitome of the dark,-brooding,-mean-but-secretly-amazing-vampire, where Simon should be in the dictionary against golden-boy-saviour-of-the-world), AND it has LGBTIQA+ main characters! (This is fast becoming a pre-requisite…) This book is not only entertaining, but also deals with stereotypes in a hilarious way.

So, to everyone who lives in the northern hemisphere, I hope you’re a lovely summer! And to everyone on my side of the world, let’s all be miserable and bitch about the cold together… ?❄️?

Happy reading! ☀️