The 21st’s Summer Book List (Vol. 3, Guilty Pleasures)

List of Suggested Summer Reading - Guilty Pleasures Edition - by Rachelle Brandel, student librarian and Treasurer, American Library Association Student Chapter, UIUC; Jesus Espinoza, Vice-President, American Library Association Student Chapter, UIUC; and Anna Lapp, student librarian and Social Media Manager, American Library Association Student Chapter, UIUC.

1.     “Shopaholic” from the Shopaholic Series by Sophie Kinsella- This book is incredibly funny! Becky Bloomwood loves to shop, and is quite good at it, but doesn’t have the funds to support her addiction. When she loses her job and starts a new one at a financial savings company, she suddenly becomes the guru for helping women to understand how to save money. But she can’t let anyone know that she’s thousands in debt…

2.     “Incubus Dreams” from the Anita Blake Series by Laurell K. Hamilton - Incredibly sexy. Anita Blake is a Federal Marshall, Preternatural Unit, who’s in love with the vampire king of St. Louis, a werewolf pack leader, and involved with countless other men. Mystery, drama, love, zombies and a unique view of polyamorous relationships are found in this book.

3.     Amish book: “The Secret Keeper” by Beverly Lewis - Jennifer Burns, an Englisher, wants to join the Amish community, which almost never happens, and is given a trial period. During her trial, she begins to see that the Amish community isn’t as perfect as she always read about; will she still desire to give up all worldly things?

4.     "Outlander” by Diana Gabaldon- English, know-it-all nurse accidentally travels back in time to the 18th century and is forced to marry a Scottish hunk. Continues to think she knows better, puts lots of people in danger (including herself). Romance ensues.   

5.       “Jemina J” by Jane Green - Jemina has always been two things: overweight and mistreated. When she meets a hunk online, she suddenly finds the drive to get skinny. But when she travels across the pond to sunny California to meet her hunk, she realizes there’s something wrong with their ‘relationship.’ Surprise twist ending!

6.      “Nine women, one dress” by Jane L. Rosen - With a release date of July 15th, this up and coming novel is vignette-style. Following the lives of various women such as a Bloomingdale’s saleswoman, a private investigator who focuses on cheating husbands, and an assistant who’s been in love with her boss for 20 years, along with a whole cast of minor characters, Nine Women, One Dress weaves through the stories of women who all buy or wear this season’s fantastic little black dress.

7.      “Plain Fear: Forsaken” by Leanna Ellis - “Plain Fear: Forsaken”: Get ready for Amish life and vampires. That’s right, what a pairing. Hannah has never forgotten her love Jacob since he drowned. But Jacob’s brother Levi has never stopped caring for Hannah. When Jacob shows up suddenly undead, what will become of this Amish community?

8.      “Something Borrowed” Trilogy by Emily Giffin - The rules say: A BFF never sleeps with her BFF’s fiancé, let alone falls in love with him. But when Rachel confesses to her BFF, Darcy’s, fiancé, and finds out he feels the same way, they have to decide whether to follow their hearts or follow the rules. Really makes you question what is right and wrong.

9.      “If Only” (autobiography) by Geri Halliwell - In May 1998 a woman left her job and made front page news the around the world. Her name is Geri Halliwell, but the world knew her as Ginger Spice.  In If Only, an all at once superficial, touching, self aware, and pop culture artifact of a memoir, Geri recounts her early struggles in the entertainment industry, what it was like being in the Spice Girls, her battle with bulimia, and her reasons for leaving the world’s biggest girl group at the peak of their fame.

10.    Comic: “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” by Joss Whedon and Georges Jeanty

11.    “One Day” by David Nicholls - Every once in awhile I like to get lost in the lives of imaginary people, especially sort of lovers. “One Day” checks in on Emma and Dexter every July 15 as their relationship ages over time. Love lost (maybe?) and careers made (and unmade), One Day is about two people trying to make sense of their choices and how those choices reflect back on their own hopes, fears, and dream. Would categorize under “beach read”

12.    “Survivor” by Chuck Palahniuk - Survivor follows Tender Branson, the last survivor of the Creedish Cult, as he assimilates into society and rises in fame to become a religious celebrity. The story is narrated by Tender to a black box in the cockpit of a plane he has hijacked that is about to crash, and explains his life leading up to that moment. From the author of Fight Club and Choke. Classified as dark comedy.

13.    “Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar” by Cheryl Strayed - After documenting her hike of the Pacific Crest Trail in “Wild” Cheryl Strayed began writing a column for The Rumpus under the pseudonym, “Sugar.” For one year, Sugar doled out advice to her readers on everything from love and sex to careers and commencements speeches. “Tiny Beautiful Things” offers Sugar’s advice column in book form, with brutal, eloquent words of wisdom that will leave you wanting to give Strayed a big “thank-you” hug when you’re done.

14.    “The Young Widower’s Handbook” by Tom McAllister

YA novels:

1.      “Vampire Academy” series by Richelle Mead - Harry Potter meets Twilight, meets girl power! A vampire boarding school where vampires have magical powers over elements and over half-breeds referred to as Dhampirs. Forbidden romance, a world in peril, and a connection of friendship that may give a clue to unknown powers…

2.      “To all the boys I’ve loved before” by Jenny Han - Lara Jean has a coping mechanism for dealing with a broken heart—she writes letters. When Lara Jean’s box of love letters gets mailed out to all the boys she’s ever loved, the 16-year-old is in for a load of awkward conversations.

3.      “The Selection” series by Kiera Cass - “The Hunger Games” meets “The Bachelor” when America Singer, a citizen of a lower class in her society (5 out of 8) ends up in “the Selection”, a televised dating contest for the Crown Prince Maxon Schreave. Add in a hometown lover of an even lower caste, some rebel forces, and some steamy kisses and this book is about as guilty pleasure as a YA novel gets.

4.      “Pretty Little Liars,” series by Sara Shepard

5.      “Fault in our Stars” and “Paper Towns” by John Green

6.      “Saint Anything” by Sarah Dessen - Sydney’s brother Peyton is all her mother ever cared about, until a drunken driving accident, that leaves another boy paralyzed, sends Peyton to jail. But Sydney’s life changes when she meets a warm, loving, eccentric family (the complete opposite of her own) and begins to fall in love. A unique view of how the family of a perpetrator deals with the consequences.