Who doesn’t love carefree romantic books to pull out at the beach, while poolside, or when travelling? I love reading light romances during the summer because you can still enjoy time with family and friends but you also have something to read during down time. Here is a list of some of my favorite romantic books I read this summer.
Easy to Read Romantic Books
American Royals by Katharine McGee. When America won the Revolutionary War, its people offered General George Washington a crown. Two and a half centuries later, the House of Washington still sits on the throne. A fun, easy read, what would it be like to live with a monarchy here? Lots of young love, not sure how I feel about the romances still, but it was hard to put down.
Majesty by Katharine McGee. The sequel to American Royals. Also, really good, and also not sure if I love the relationships.
Glamorous Illusions by Lisa T. Bergren. Cora discovers that her birth father is a copper king—a man who invites her to tour Europe with her new family. As she travels from England to France, Cora faces the hardships as well as the privileges of assuming the family name. This is a trilogy and I’m currently on book, three. They’re really good, and I love this author.
The Upside of Falling by Alex Light. A fun, flirty teen debut about a fake relationship and real love. It’s been years since seventeen-year-old Becca Hart believed in true love. But when her former best friend teases her for not having had a boyfriend, Becca impulsively pretends she’s been secretly seeing someone. I really loved this one!
The Secret of Pembrooke Park by Julie Klassen. Abigail Foster fears she will end up a spinster, especially as she has little dowry to improve her charms and the one man she thought might marry her–a longtime friend–has fallen for her younger, prettier sister. So many twists and turns in the plot, it’s almost as much a murder mystery, as a romance book. Such a page turner though. I finished this one so quickly, because I just wanted to know what happened.
Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella. Audrey is a teenage girl suffering from Social Anxiety Disorder. She has experienced bullying, and as a result has become virtually a prisoner in her own home. This is the story of her journey to recovery, with the help of a boy named Linus. Reading this one helped me gain more empathy for people struggling with social anxiety. *Content warning: some heavier language.
Jo&Laurie by Margaret Stohl & Melissa de la Cruz. I really enjoyed this one. It’s a romantic retelling starring Jo March and her best friend, the boy next door, Theodore “Laurie” Laurence. Of course, Little Women is a great one for this list too. Check out my blog post all about the Little Women book and films.
Love and Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch. Lina moves to Italy and discovers secret romances, art, and hidden bakeries. A world that inspires her, along with the ever-so-charming Ren, to follow in her mother’s footsteps and unearth a secret that has been kept for far too long. I love this series (not sequels, each is an independent novel) but they’re all really good!
Instant Karma by Marissa Meyer. Prudence Barnett, a chronic overachiever, with a lot of judgment to pass, learns some good self-reflection lessons. By changing her perspective, she’s able to enrich her life in important ways. Another teenage love story. I liked it a lot!
Arabella by Georgette Heyer. This was the first book I’ve read by Georgette Heyer, and it did not disappoint. I loved Arabella’s character and how compassion and kindness always trump political correctness. I also appreciate her strength of character. A funny, sweet, and memorable story. I’m looking forward to reading The Grand Sophy next.
Roommaid, by Sariah Wilson. Some cheesiness in this one, but a really cute love story. It may seem like everything is going along perfectly, but just wait for the huge plot twist toward the end.
With summer coming to a close, I’m currently planning our next vacation. It’s a good coping mechanism for dealing with the start of school stress. With every good vacation comes a good book list, so here you go! I hope you enjoy these books as much as I did!
Sincerely,
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