I haven’t been reading nearly as much lately as I have in past years, but something about the (unofficial) start of summer makes me want to sit in a park or on a beach and read through a stack of books. Here is an assortment of books on my ever-growing reading list from genres from crime thrillers to YA to dramas to professional development.

The Trespasser | Astrophysics for People in a Hurry | Exit West | American Street | The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell | You Are a Badass | Another Brooklyn | Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions | Everything, Everything

I’m all about self-care these days and reading has been a life-long hobby I’d also consider as self-care.  Here are a few books I’ve read since the year started.

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Here are my recent reads for the end of the summer (August and September).

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before | Type: Novel/Fiction | Rating: 4/5 – To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is a YA novel about a teen who writes love letters to all of her crushes and has to deal with the fallout when the letters she never intended anyone to see somehow get mailed.  She never intended for her crushes to actually see the letters.  It was a breezy read perfect for anyone who likes to read the more light-hearted of contemporary YA books out there (i.e. no paranormal or dystopian story lines).

Station Eleven | Type: Novel/Fiction | Rating: 4/5 – A far reaching flu pandemic changes the modern world as we know it in this post-apocalyptic novel.  Years later a travel acting troupe who performs Shakespeare every where they go face a religious zealot who threatens the life the troupe has carved out for themselves in the new world.  The interconnected stories of the characters before the pandemic and after weave this haunting story together.  Though I read across the board from all genres, this book is definitely a departure from the type of books I’m usually drawn to.  This would be a great novel to discuss in a book club.  It definitely warrants conversation, the characters stick with you.

The Royal We | Type: Novel/Fiction | Rating: 4/5 -This fictitious take on the Royal couple (Will and Kate) features an American protagonist named Bex who while studying abroad in England befriends Great Britain’s future King.  The book takes you through several romantic twists and turns to see if this unlikely couple will have their happily ever after.  I thought I’d get a couple of chapters into this book and let it go, but much to my surprise I devoured it.  It was a great light read.  I don’t follow news about the real Royal couple too much.  But you don’t have to be an existing fan of the Royals to like this book.  It was love story with a cool setting that is a great option to take along on your next vacation.

The Knockoff | Type: Novel/Fiction | Rating: 4/5 – This book focuses on Imogen, the Editor-in-Chief of a fashion magazine called Glossy who returns to work at Glossy after a six month medical leave to be surprised at all of the changes that took place while she was away. Her former assistant Eve, a recent Harvard Business School graduate, made drastic staff changes including firing more seasoned (older) staff members and running the company like a tech start-up.  Imogen is forced to figure out how to manage the huge changes in culture and technology at her magazine and deal with her aggressive former underling.  Anyone who has worked in a professional office environment has run into office challenges presented in the novel such as office bullies, under-appreciated staff, ageism, organizational restructuring/changes, among other things.  The Knockoff had a likable protagonist you wanted to root for which is definitely not necessary in all books, but can be enjoyable for a lighter read like this one.