5 books we're dying to read this summer

This may be just me (okay very likely just me), but I literally get so excited to hop into bed every night because it means I can dive into a good book for the next ~30 minutes. I know, grandma status over here. Most times this ritual is the best part of my day because I can check out from life, work, general anxieties, everything -- and get lost in someone else’s story. Over the past few months, reading has been my saving grace and you better believe I have a running list of books that I’ve been eyeing! Before I share my top “want to read” books, I want to remind you all that I have *not* read any of these so I can’t be held responsible if you decide to try them out and they end up being terrible. Okay, onto my list! 

This is Not a Fashion Story: Taking Chances, Breaking Rules, and Being a Boss in the Big City by Danielle Bernstein 

I’ve been waiting patiently for this book to come out ever since Danielle posted about it on her @WeWoreWhat Instagram page. Good news is that the release date is nearly here (May 12...less than a week to go!). Is it basic of me to be excited about an Instagram influencer’s tell-all? Maybe, but I have a feeling it’s gonna be juicy. We’re all intrigued by other people’s lives, particularly those who are in the public eye and have managed to turn a fashion blog into several successful businesses all by age 27. Yea, Danielle Bernstein is not your typical blogger. If you’re looking for an entertaining read, this will most likely fit the bill. (Side note: I’m slightly embarrassed to admit that I just finished Jessica Simpson’s memoir, Open Book, but would 10/10 recommend for all the celebrity tea-spilling you could ever want).

Hiding in Plain Sight: The Invention of Donald Trump and the Erosion of America by Sarah Kendzoir. 

Hear me out before you skip over this because you see the name Donald Trump in the title. I first learned about this book on a podcast hosted by Betches founders Sami Fishbein and Aleen Kuperman, and immediately googled it. I’m not the most politically-inclined person, so it’s a surprise to me as well that I would gravitate towards a story about our president’s decade-long, calculated rise to power. The more I learn, the more I can’t wait to dive in: a Missouri reporter cuts through the curated media coverage and brings us a brutally honest recounting of how Trump got to where he is today -- leading me to believe that A LOT of sketchy business went on in the many years leading up to his 2016 election.

Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner.

Jennifer Weiner is the queen of beach reads, and I think we could all use a book that allows us to escape our current reality for a bit. Big Summer just came out (as in a day ago) so if you want to be the first of your friends to read what is probably going to become a staple summer novel, you’re welcome. I actually don’t know much about the plot line, but I’m going off the fact that I’ve liked other Jennifer Weiner books and assume this will be no different. We can expect drama, friendship, summer activities (hence the name - I do know it takes place on Cape Cod and involves a wedding), lots of love, and intrigue. Grab your sunnies, a towel, and find your beach.

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, HER Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed by Lori Gottlieb. 

I’ve seen this book pop up on several book club lists, so I naturally needed to see what the hype was all about. The verdict? Lots of really good reviews and praise on Amazon. Our girl Katie Couric even said that this book challenged her to see herself in an entirely new light, and was at the same time laugh-out-loud funny and utterly absorbing. I mean, how could we not read this one!? The premise of the story: Lori Gottlieb is a therapist who captures a time in her life when she was both treating patients and seeing her own therapist for a devastating breakup at the same time, giving us a very real inside look at what it’s like to be on either side of the couch. Probably safe to say that this is not your average self-help book. 

The Guest List by Lucy Foley. 

I’ll leave you with one last page turner. I’ve been knocking off all the psychological thrillers and murder mysteries recently (The Anonymous Girl, You Are Not Alone, Behind Closed Doors, to name a few) and Lucy Foley’s latest book seems to fall perfectly within this category. A big, lavish destination wedding in Ireland that ends in a murder? A classic “whodunit” scenario told from each character’s point of view? Sign me up! The Guest List comes out on June 2, so you’ll have to wait just a bit longer before you can dive into what is guaranteed to be a dark and very suspenseful story. 

Do you have any books on your "to-read" list? Share in the comments! Happy reading friends!!