It’s official – summer is a time to kick back, relax and get stuck into a good old-fashioned book. Whether you’ve already polished off the last of your exams (lucky you!) or you’re after a bit of motivation to keep plugging away until that glorious final paper, some of you might be looking forward to that little luxury that’s seemed impossible for the last few weeks – reading for fun. For seasoned bookworms and occasional readers, the real question is – where to start? Mikhaila Friel rounds up five of the best books that’ll be cropping up on sun loungers this summer…
Looking For Alaska – John Green
“If people were rain, I was drizzle and she was a hurricane.”
Bestselling author John Green gained huge success with The Fault In Our Stars, but now fans are paying attention to his earlier works too. His debut novel Looking For Alaska is one of my personal favourites. Main character Miles just wants some adventure – a “Great Perhaps” – and in doing so, meets the wild and rebellious Alaska Young. Set in a boarding school where students break all the rules, what could possibly go wrong? Although the plot may sound un-extraordinary, this book teaches us about friendship, first love, and the value of life.
Divergent – Veronica Roth
“Fear doesn’t shut you down; it wakes you up.”
If you saw the movie adaption back in March, then you’ll already know that this book is worth a read. And if you didn’t… where have you been? Set in a dystopian world, society is divided into five factions: Abnegation (selfless), Dauntless (brave), Erudite (intelligent), Amity (peaceful), and Candor (honest). Tris Prior doesn’t fit into any one faction – she’s Divergent. Warned that she must keep this a secret, she hides inside the Dauntless faction to survive. But it isn’t long until Tris discovers why Divergence is so dangerous in the first place…
The Last Song – Nicholas Sparks
“Sometimes you have to be apart from people you love, but that doesn’t make you love them any less. Sometimes you love them more.”
When Ronnie is forced to spend the summer with her father, she is anything but happy about it. Since divorcing her mother, Ronnie has alienated herself from him and everyone else around her. But love is a tricky business. After years of shutting off her emotions, Ronnie learns that you can’t choose who you love. Sometimes it chooses you. A heart-wrenching story that stays with you long after the last page. WARNING: Don’t read this in public. You may shed a tear or two…or three… or four…
The Giver – Lois Lowry
“Life without colour, pain or past.”
This futuristic novel conveys twelve-year old Jonah’s struggle to find his place in society. But it’s easy to fit in when your life is decided for you. Contently accepting a culture of “Sameness” – no colour, no emotions, no free will – it isn’t long until Jonah is assigned the job Receiver of Memory. Through watching flashbacks of the past, Jonah learns what it’s like to live in a world of liberty and love – and everything changes.
The Mortal Instruments: City of Heavenly Fire – Cassandra Clare
Okay, so this book hasn’t actually been released yet, but I can assure you it will be worth the wait! Clare’s dramatic plot-twists and descriptive writing have made for an excellent series so far. In the final instalment, Clary and Co face their biggest battle yet – against Clary’s own brother! In this epic finale, surely some blood will be shed. But who will survive the ultimate showdown? Pick up the book on 28 May to find out.
Main image: iStock
