The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbe
Rating: 4.5/5
As you may now by now, I am a huge historical fiction fan. I often read books about the French Resistance, but when I found this one, the title intrigued me. It is a beautiful narration of a girl who is a prisoner in Auschwitz and how she finds a way to use her love for books to keep the kids entertained and keep their innocence intact.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Rating: 4/5 (but the writing is a 5/5)
A classic! Previously, I had read parts of the book for academic purposes, but I never read the entire novel. I decided that this summer, I would. I grabbed the book without knowing what to expect. I immediately fell in love with the writing style. It was descriptive and eloquent. However – unpopular opinion, I don’t think I loved the plot as much as I thought I would. It was definitely interesting but not my preferred genre.
Normal People by Sally Rooney
Rating: 4/5
I saw this book go viral on social media so I had to read it. Again, this is not my preferred genre. This summer, I tried to read books outside of my “comfort zone” aka historical fiction.
This book was definitely a summer read, a book that you can’t put down once you grab. It is a realistic portrayal of an almost-relationship. I enjoyed how realistic and relatable it was. It had a lot of interesting reflection on what it means to love someone which sparked thoughts. However, I do think it was a bit overhyped on social media.
Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton
Rating 5/5
This is my favorite book ever. I believe everyone should read this book at least once in their life, especially if you are in your twenties. The writing in this book is super easy to follow yet it has some of the deepest reflections on love that I have ever found in a book.
I should warn you that this is a nonfiction compilation of essays narrating Alderton’s experiences with love (romantic love and friendships). I know that the word “nonfiction” may sound intimidating and boring but it is another one of those books you will not be able to put down. The flow of the writing and the style of the author make it very easy to read.
The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel
Rating 4.5/5
I had to include some other historical fiction books. I was particularly interested in this one because one of the narrators travels to Florida, where I live. So, it was interesting to see how an author implements my home to the history of World War II.
There is mystery, chaos and love which are the main elements that drive the story forward. If you are new to the genre, I definitely recommend this book!
Three Martinis at The Ritz by Gail Crowther
Rating: 3/5
I bought this book without even knowing what it was about and when it arrived, I realized it was nonfiction. Like in many of my other recommendations, I said that the writing flows very well, in this case, the writing is very dense.
The book is an analysis of Sylvia Plath’s and Anne Hexton’s lives which draws similarities between the two. Having read some of their work, it was interesting to learn more about these women. However, I will warn you that unless you are interested in the lives of these poets, then this book is not for you!
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Rating: 5/5
This is a historical fiction classic! Even though I have read dozens of historical fiction books, I have never read The Book Thief until this summer. It is a book that goes beyond the story itself. It is written in such a beautiful language with such creative devices that it is impossible not to fall in love with it.
In my opinion, this is a must-read!
It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
Rating: 4/5
I heard so much about this book on Tiktok that I ended up buying it. Like I said before, I am not a huge romance reader. Yes, I went through my romance phase when I was younger but it’s been years since I read a romance book.
That being said, I believe that if you are into romance and drama, then this is the book for you! The story deals with physical abuse so check the trigger warnings before reading. However, this topic is portrayed in such a realistic way that I truly believe it helps bring attention to a very real issue in today’s society.
Sisters of the Resistance by Christine Wells
Rating: 4.5/5
Fun fact: this book was on my Amazon wishlist even before it was released. It merges fashion, since it narrates the beginning of Dior as a fashion icon during World War II and his sister’s involvement in the resistance, with history.
Two of my passions are fashion and history (other than literature), so I found this book to be super insightful. The events narrated here shaped the world we live in today.
Ghosts by Dolly Alderton
Rating: 4/5
Like I previously said when talking about Dolly Alderton, her writing style is genuine, humorous, relatable and very easy to read. For that reason, when her debut novel came out, I had to read it.
The genre would be millennial fiction. It deals with, as the title indicates, ghosting in today’s culture. Thus, it is a very relatable read if you are in your twenties or even thirties. However, I think that I went into this book with very high expectations after having read Everything I Know About Love and my expectations weren’t completely fulfilled.
But this is still a book I recommend as a good, light summer read!
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Rating: 5/5
Another book I read because of TikTok. Wow. This was a very powerful read that also deals with topics of love, identity, and sexuality. I grabbed this book with no expectations, which I think is how every book should be approached, and I was surprised for good.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone who is into fiction and is willing to allow the words to spark a wide range of emotions within them.
