I have always been an avid reader.

Every summer was filled with multiple trips to the library where I marveled at the way the curved marble staircase echoed and the whole place smelled of books.

I used to spend hours scouring the bookshelf at the top of the staircase, my head tilted to the side as I went row by row reading each title to see which one jumped out at me and gave me the tingle of excitement to uncover the story that unfolded inside.

My mom used to have to limit how many we would checkout and I still came home with a stack piled high.

Even before I could read fluently and my older sister could, I vividly remember lying on my bed as I flipped page by page through a novel making up the story in my head as I went along.

I love how a good book can draw you in.

How it can give you a new perspective of the world.

How it can teach you something you never knew before (and maybe didn’t expect to learn).

Even now, I have hundreds of pictures on my phone of pages of books where a specific line felt profound enough to make me stop and read it again to make sure I fully took it in.

Books to me have always equaled summer and even today reading is my #1 self care hobby.

It can be done almost anytime, anywhere.

The stories allow me a vacation from any of my own worries, thoughts or stresses.

I only read printed books I can hold in my hands, so it gives me a break from screens and technology.

It allows me to support authors and the causes they often donate proceeds of their sales to.

Here are 6 Beach Read Book Recommendations for your summer reading

The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry: This one was unique and about a story within a story. It’s main characters were two sisters with a love and connection so beautiful and deep it made me even more grateful for my relationship with my own sister.
Happy Place by Emily Henry: I haven’t read this one yet as I’m waiting for the paperback to come out later this summer, but I devoured her other beach reads last summer; The People We Meet on Vacation, Book Lovers and Beach Read and then promptly passed them along to my sister. They are fun and feel good and, as an added bonus to me, always take place near or in Michigan.
The Paris Daughter by Kristin Harmel: I haven’t read this one yet, but is probably the one I’m most excited about along with Happy Place. I love everything Harmel writes (like The Book of Lost Names and The Room on Rue Amelie) and I love Paris. Feels like a win-win.
The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand: This one is on my list to read this coming 4th of July weekend. Hilderbrand is a Nantucket native and so far both the books I’ve read of hers take place there with lots of fun details about the island so you can feel like you’ve been even if you haven’t! (I went once long ago).
The Keeper of Happy Endings by Barbara Davis: My mom recommended this one to me. I love happy endings and a little bit of magic and this one, which takes place in Boston, has both.
The Homewreckers by Mary Kay Andrews: I told my mom she would love this one because it’s like HGTV, a murder mystery and a love story had a book baby. It takes place in Savannah, which feels like the perfect mysterious town.

Just in time for the holiday weekend!

Wishing you a safe, healthy and happy holiday weekend full of freedom, fun and stories. Both ones you read and ones you create.