MUST READ | The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

This book was on my summer must-read list and was the first one I tackled :) It was pretty much the opposite of a light beach read, in the best possible way!

Yes, this is a long book but I promise you it’s worth it! I fell in love with the two main characters, Isabel and Vianne, and I devoured the book.

Maybe it was because I find WWII so interesting, maybe it was because I have an older sister and can relate to sister-sister relationship, or maybe (most likely) it was because it was so beautifully written!

BOOK CLUB | Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

This month’s Beltway Book Club book was Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout.

When this book was nominated at last month’s book club as the “June read”, everyone jumped at it! The winner of the Pulitzer Price in 2009 AND now an HBO Miniseries?? Ding ding ding, I think we have a winner!

Don’t worry, this review doesn’t contain any spoilers… because sadly, there are really no spoilers to give away…

SUMMER READS | 5 books for my beach bag

When I was a wee-little-tot, summers would be the perfect time to read all day long without having any other cares in the world. Now that I’m an adult (most of the time) I have other real life things to deal with during the summer…. like work.

My Goodreads “to-read” bookshelf is getting virtually stacked up to the brim with books I’ve come across that I want to read. This summer I’m not going to let my day job interfere with reading anything and everything I find appealing :)

Here are my first five books I want to tackle this summer, ideally on a beach with a cold drink in my hand and the boyfriend next to me!

BEACH READ | The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P. by Adelle Waldman

Adelle Waldman sets Nathaniel P. up to be hated. And I hated him indeed!

Every thought that ran through his head made me cringe. Then it made me feel sad for the poor girl that crossed his path. And then it made me just want to throw a drink in the man’s face.

BOOKWORM LIFESTYLE | Five reasons I love to read

I’ve been a bookworm all my life, obnoxiously reading under the table at restaurants or getting car sick as I tried to finish one last chapter on a family road trip. At first it was Goodnight Moon, then Nancy Drew, now Gillian Flynn and Sheryl Sandberg.

There are many reasons people read. Some read to find out celebrities’ dirty life secrets, some read to learn more about SEO, and some read to lose themselves in an amazing mystery novel and stay up all night with the lights on because they’re scared (holla!).

BOOK CLUB | We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Finally, after a year of book club, my book recommendation was selected! I was on cloud nine… but then the fear set in. What if no one likes it??

I nominated We Were Liars by E. Lockhart mainly because it seemed mysterious (and got pretty good reviews). All of the summaries of the book were short and to the point. Lies lies lies! And don’t read anything about the ending because it will spoil it. Just read the book instead.

That summary drew me in, and clearly the other book club girls, for it was selected!

READ THIS | Five career books every girl should read in her 20s

Three of these books were given to me by my father, one by my best friend, and the other I just stumbled upon. What all these books have in common is a purpose, some can argue that all books have “a purpose”, but these will help your career.

They’ll not only help with your people skills and how to ask for a raise, but they will help you excel in other aspects of your life as well.

Here are the five books I recommend that every girl (woman?) should read in her 20s:

BOOK CLUB | The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

We’ve all done it, stared out a car/ bus/ train window at people and made up a little story about their lives in our head. It’s a great way to pass the time, but for Rachel Watson it turned into an obsessive hobby.

The Girl on the Train was recommended by three of our book club members and was written up in theSkimm… aka it was the clear winner when we took it to a vote in last month’s book club.

VACATION READ | Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

The author of Gone Girl and Dark Places, Gillian Flynn, is at it again, writing an equally disturbing and amazing page-turner, Sharp Objects.

All of the characters in this book are twisted. Some of the things they do to each other made me feel sick, but for some reason I kept on reading. This book will keep you up reading way past your bedtime, then when you finally pull yourself away, it will keep you up because of your haunted dreams.

MUST READ | The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Add this to your reading list right now! Even if you aren’t into historical fiction novels, I strongly recommend this. The narrator, lovable main character and plot development will keep you turning the pages all night!