I love a good book. By good book I mean one that you cannot put down and you just HAVE to finish. During the summer I have more time to read since I am at the lake or by the pool most weekends. These are 6 books I have read recently that are absolutely perfect for your summer reading list.

1. Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris

I read this book on two plane rides! Such a thrilling, addicting, easy read. If you have a beach trip coming up soon this is a must read. The end is great so even if you struggle with the first few chapters try to stick it out. I promise it is worth it! It has mixed reviews online but I loved it. I thought as the book progresses it gets better and better.

Synopsis from Amazon: “Everyone knows a couple like Jack and Grace. He has looks and wealth, she has charm and elegance. You might not want to like them, but you do. You’d like to get to know Grace better. But it’s difficult, because you realize Jack and Grace are never apart. Some might call this true love. Others might ask why Grace never answers the phone. Or how she can never meet for coffee, even though she doesn’t work. How she can cook such elaborate meals but remain so slim. And why there are bars on one of the bedroom windows. “

Doesn’t it sound good?! It is currently 42% off on Amazon.

2. Make it Happen by Lara Casey

If you read my blog (or follow my social media accounts) you know I LOVE this book and Lara Casey. For my full book review check out my post. My post goes into detail about why I absolutely love this book and keep copies of it to give to other people. Lara’s new book Cultivate comes out end of June so make sure you read this one first! You don’t need to read them in order but you will get the background on Lara’s story if you read Make it Happen first.

3. Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson

I read this New York Times bestseller in one day (seriously could not put it down). Christine, following a mysterious accident, cannot remember her past or form new memories. She is desperately trying to uncover the truth about who she is and who she can trust. Also, the movie is on Netflix but personally I did not like the movie. They changed some parts and I think the book was 100x better. If you want to watch it after you can but make sure you read the book first or it will ruin it! I was NOT expecting the ending of the book. I know there are so many thrillers/psychopath books/shows (I am a Criminal Minds addict) but this book has such a remarkable story line you will be hooked the entire time.

4. Grace not Perfection by Emily Ley

I first heard of Emily Ley a few years ago when I was looking for a new planner. I am super type A so I really needed a planner. If you are in the market for a new planner you can check her planners out here. They are perfect. The academic year planners are on sale now and the calendar year planners will be on sale in September! PS: I will be giving a calendar year planner away to one of my subscribers in September so make sure you are subscribed! Anyway back to the point of this post, when her book came out I decided I HAD to read it. I love her planners and her story so I was super pumped to read this book. It did not disappoint. This book is super relatable and goes through different life stages we all face. I also love the workbook type pages within the chapters that you can fill out and reflect on your answers. Sometimes in life we feel we need to do it all and do it all quickly. This book gives actionable tips on how to prioritize and slow down. “Give yourself grace to do what you can, where you are, with what you have.”

5. The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines

Honestly I bought this book because I am obsessed with Fixer Upper and the Gaines’ family. I was excited to learn about their story but this book is SO much more than just their story. It is about never giving up on your dreams and even when things aren’t going your way it doesn’t mean that is the end. After I read this book I was more inspired and motivated to continue to reach my goals. Every single chapter is unique and tells their story from both Chip and Joanna’s point of view. They haven’t just been successful their entire lives and they weren’t born into money. They made mistakes like all of us have and continue to do. The key is they never gave up. They trusted God and each other. Also, it includes adorable pictures of when they first met and their family so I mean that is the only reason you really need to buy this book.

6. Present over Perfect by Shauna Niequist

This book was on my list for a while and I finally got to it. There are some parts of the book I just had to reread. I have about 15-20 post-its in it so I know which pages I want to go back to. There were a few chapters that were a little slow for me because it was mostly about her family/life and I couldn’t relate but overall, I would give this book a 8/10. It really helps you think about what you want out of life and how we need to be more present. One of the first quotes that really hit me (on page 30) says “if someone gave you a blank calendar and a bank account as full as you wanted, what would you do?” I am still trying to figure out my answer. Another quote (I won’t give away the entire book) on page 130 is, “Present is choosing to believe that your own life is worth investing deeply in, instead of waiting for some rare miracle or fairytale.” SO GOOD.

TIP: Download the Goodreads app. You can keep track of the books you’ve read, the books you want to read, and the book you are currently reading!

What books do you recommend? I am always looking to add some to my list!