No matter if you are stuck in Gainesville by a pool, or relaxing on the miles of Florida coastline, a good book always compliments a sunny day! Out of all the memorable experiences summer holds, perhaps a book will stick with you more than any romance, beach day, or seasonal job. Sit back with fruity drink in hand, and let these exciting reads make your summer a little sweeter!
The Spectacular Now
Fans of the wildly successful "Perks Of Being a Wallflower" will want to check out this story of charming ladies-man Sutter Keely and shy sci-fi nerd Aimee’s unexpected romance. When Sutter’s developing alcoholism threatens his popularity, ends his relationship and reveals his shaky future, he turns to the bottle and finds himself on Aimee’s front lawn the next morning. Over time, the two young people try and find a balance between the spectacular now that Sutter continues to dwell in, and the unknown that lies ahead. With the film adaptation set to release in August, Tim Tharp’s novel is a must read in your dog days!
Divergent
Fans of the "Hunger Games" trilogy will kill for the first installment in Veronica Roth’s dystopian trilogy. Five separate factions split future Chicago into pods of utopian virtue, Abnegation (selflessness), Amity (peacefulness), Candor (honesty), Dauntless (bravery) and Erudite (intelligence). At the age of 16, every citizen is required to take a test telling them which faction they belong in and are given a chance to move to that faction. When sixteen-year-old Beatrice takes the exam, she shows equal skill in three factions: Abnegation, Dauntless, and Erudite. This, she is told, means Beatrice is Divergent, which she must keep a secret. As Beatrice moves through her training to become a member of the Dauntless faction, she must hide who she really is from those who threaten to expose her. With a movie version coming out in 2014, and the third installment to be released this September, get reading on the next big hit!
Joyland
Just released last week, Stephen King’s mystery thriller will bring excitement to your relaxation. Set in 1973 at a North Carolina amusement park, college student Devin Jones comes to work as a “carny” and becomes intertwined in the mystery of a young woman, befriends a small disabled boy and is described by Charles Ardai, King’s editor, as "a story about growing up and growing old." He also said the ending made him cry. Thrills and tears? Put me down for a copy and a beach chair.
The Best of Me
It wouldn’t be a summer reading list without Nicholas Sparks. His latest novel features two high school sweethearts from different sides of the tracks come back together through the death of their mentor, Tuck. Through the instructions left behind for both of them by Tuck they unearth secrets, knowledge and their love for each other once more. “Can love truly rewrite the past?” Sparks asks.
The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls
For lovers of history and thrills, this novel follows free spirited 15-year-old Thea Atwell, sent from her Florida home to a riding camp in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Thea stands out with her middle class upbringing (most of the girls are incredibly wealthy), zest for learning (“It meant you were too hungry, that you sought something unappealing and vague. It was better by 10 to be charming and witty”) and yet her smarts allow her to ally herself well. Mixed with a love for horses that many will relate to, this coming of age story about a girl’s first romantic experiences and how they play out is a page-turner that will leave you out for so many hours, you’ll get that golden tan without even realizing it.
