This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see the terms page.

an it really count as a “book club” if it’s really just me reviewing the books I’ve been quickly devouring this year? For whatever reason, there’s something about summer that has always made me into a voracious reader. It’s not unusual for me to rip through a book in a weekend or less – normally by the pool, but I’ve been making a real effort to remove my computer from my bed and reading a book before falling asleep instead. It’s been a great change of pace and has allowed me to read through several books already this summer! I thought I’d share my thoughts in case you’re looking for something to pick up next.

Attachments: A Novel by Rainbow Rowell This is one of the cutest books I have read in a long time, and I’m still itching for more. It’s told half through email exchanges and half through narrative of the main male character, who is an overnight email security analyst at a newspaper (and, oh yeah, it’s 1999.) I found it to be extremely relatable and very engaging, with great character development on both ends (even in the characters who are only ever addressed in email communique) and it’s a good study in how small the world can really be.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher It’s no secret that I love YA books, and I have had this one in my Amazon cart since last summer. I finally pulled the trigger on it and finished it within 26 hours of it arriving at my house. This book was incredible. Another novel told through a unique medium, this follows tapes recorded by a high school senior before she commits suicide, and the aftermath on one student when she distributes these tapes to only 14 people. This quote really embodies the novel for me, and it’s something I related to deeply. It was a great book that really makes the reader think about how everything affects everything, and I would love a follow up to see how the fallout effected the rest of the recipients. Highly, highly recommend.

Last Night at Chateau Marmont by Lauren Weisenberger One day at my parents house, I signed up for an Audible account on a lark. I was looking for something long (as I had that 11+ hour drive back to Nashville to look forward to) and at 12:30 with a reference to California in the title, this novel fit the bill. But honestly… I really hated it. I’m not sure if it was the narrator’s voice, or that I actually disliked the characters, or if the storyline of a woman who was killing herself working two jobs to support her aspiring musician husband, but it felt like it took far too long to get through

Paper Towns by John Green It’s no secret that I love John Green, and I’ve actually read Paper Towns before. I was so engrossed by it that time that I read it in about eight hours. This time, I read along with the Paper & Glam book club in preparation for the movie coming out. This is my second favorite of his books (after Looking for Alaska,) and I enjoyed it much more this time since I took my time a bit more with it. It’s easy to argue that the female leads in his books are the stereotypical quirky chick, but it’s always so nice to pick up a book that you can see yourself in – makes you feel a lot less alone, and that’s true of Margo and Alaska for me.

Now, I’m trying to work my way through Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace (thanks a lot for this, Craig) and follow along with the infinitesummer.org reading guide, but I’ve fallen behind. It’s been really interesting and thought-provoking so far! I’m also midway through Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) and up next is In the Unlikely Event, which I got in the June PopSugar Must Have box.