Ideal Summer Park Reads

by: Courtney Hayes

While there’s nothing quite like curling up in your bed or in your favorite chair with a good book, the Summer weather brings on the opportunity for another kind of reading experience, one that can bring you closer to strangers and change the way you perceive the words in front of you.  There are coffee shops, libraries, and beaches, but there’s also a magical place out there where people go to play, to relax, to be alone, or to be with friends: the park. So if you’re about to venture to the park to enjoy a beautiful Summer day, what conversation starting, thought provoking, or feel good reads can you bring along for company?

Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur

This poetry book about blossoming from the dust of an old relationship into the light of a new life came to popularity last summer. Kaur’s mix of short and long poetry and her experimentation with form and imagery make this book an experience in emotion. If you want to feel something this summer that is both heart-wrenching and hopeful, this quick read will be your saving grace! 

As You Like It by William Shakespeare

It’s never a bad time to give Shakespeare a try. As You Like It has an undoubtedly summer vibe about it: Rosalind and Celia flee into the forest, meeting up with the likes of Orlando, Oliver, and Phebe, but since the girls are in the disguise a mess of a love web begins to unfold. You may know this as the play that She’s the Man was based on, so why not dive in and see where the similarities end! 

Once and For All by Sarah Dessen

 A queen of summer, Dessen knows how to write a realistic and enriching novel. In this one, the daughter of a wedding planner is cynical about love, but can one boy (a former king-of-dating) change that? With romance and wit galore, Once and For All is definitely a novel that will get you hooked on Dessen (or if you’re already a fan, make you dig your claws in deeper).

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James

This may seem like a random addition to a summer reading list, but no list is truly complete without a thriller. James’s novel is short and spunky, offering a great introduction to British Literature. When a governess takes to a country house to take care of two orphans, weird things start to happen. Time to curl up in the park and start reading about ghosts and ghouls in the beautiful countryside!

Autobiography of Red by Anne Carson

Both a novel and a poem, Carsons’s Autobiography of Red is a truly unique read. Based partially off of Greek mythology, it tells the story of Geryon, a boy who is also a winged red monster, as he takes on adventures in artistry and romance. Moving and lyrical, you won’t be able to put it down, or stop visualizing the images Geryon captures. 

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

This memoir, written in the form of a letter to his son, captures the essence of living in American as a black man, both in the past and today. Coates has a wonderful way with words and this book is enlightening in both complex and simple ways, and it feels deeply personal. This memoir offers a great opportunity to learn and discuss social issues in America today.

The Whole Thing Together by Ann Brashares 

Another queen of summer, Brashares (Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants) knows how to paint the perfect picture of summer friendship and romance. This novel is a family drama: two families who were once one family own the same beach house and use it at alternative times so that their new kids have never actually met. Sit down and enjoy the drama and the emotion that Brashares is so good at creating. 

Things That Happened Before the Earthquake by Chiara Barzini

The events of this book take place around the 1994 earthquake in LA and follow Eugenie, a Roman teenager whose family does not understand much about American culture. You’ll be inspired and intrigued by her unique character as she swims in new seas, and since summer is all about adventure and discovery, it’ll give you some insight on the trials of adapting to a new environment. 

Children of Eden by Joey Graceffa

A true summer escape needs a little fantasy. Graceffa’s novel follows Rowan, marked for death by population control in a world that has been ravaged by climate change. This dystopian novel introduces new characters for us to fall in love with, and it’ll keep your heart racing from beginning to end! 

So Much I Want to Tell You: Letters to My Little Sister by Anna Akana    

Akana has used her social media platform to talk about mental illness. After her younger sister committed suicide, Akana put together this compelling collection of essays about dealing with depression, self-esteem, and self-love. Moving and insightful, it’s the perfect read to really make you think about life.

What are some of your favorite Summer Park reads? Have you read any of the ones in Courtney's list? We'll write to you all soon! 

Love, Nashi & Courtney

About the author: Courtney Hayes is an editor and writer with a degree in English Literature from McGill University. She has a passion for adventure, comedy, animals, and theater. You can follow her on Instagram @x_courtneey_x