Summer is officially here! (Well, for me at least. Almost. Today is my last day of finals. But, not the point.) That means going to the beach, new adventures with your friends, and, not to mention, it's contemporary season! So, I thought it was the perfect time to share with you my favorite summer-y books.

       Ready Player One is a really neat science fiction novel about a boy named Wade Watts. He lives in the year 2044, where the only place he feels alive is a virtual reality called the OASIS. In the OASIS, there is a secret puzzle left by the creator who was obsessed on 1980's pop culture. When Wade stumbles into his first clue to the puzzle, he finds that the other OASIS players are willing to kill him to win.
​       Ready Player One is a hilarious adventure novel filled with nerdy references and fantastic writing. 

       My Life Next Door is your average boy-next-door story. (Although, I assume you got that from the title. I mean, come on.) Samantha Reed has been watching the Garrett's from her balcony for months, wishing she could go and be one of them. That is, until Jase climbs up and introduces himself one night. Samantha is knee deep in her first love and his family when everything starts to fall apart in her own.
       My Life Next Door embraces the idea of summer love and adventure, and is the perfect summer romance novel.

          You Are Here is a classic road trip story of Emma and Peter. Emma was born into a very eccentric family, and being the only normal member made her feel a little lonely. That is until, she discovers the birth and death certificates of a twin she didn't know she had. She decides to go back to the town where she grew up to find her brother and share their eighteenth birthday together. When her family finds her gone, however, her next-door-neighbor, Peter, decides to go and look for her on his own. They meet up no more than fifty miles into their journey, and what becomes of it is what neither of them expect.
       You Are Here is a brilliant story of finding yourself, and even finding someone you didn't know existed.

       Rebel Belle is the story of Harper Lee, your average southern belle. What she doesn't expect at the Homecoming dance is a not-so-average run in that turns her into a Paladin, one of an ancient line of warrior guardians with super strength and fighting skills. Upon being forced these new abilities, she finds out that the one person she has to protect is the only person she truly hates, David Stark. Things get even more complicated when Harper starts to fall for him.
       Rebel Belle is a great story that takes fantasy and humorously combines it with a cute contemporary read.

       Since You've Been Gone follows the story of Emily, who can't wait to spend her summer with her best friend, Sloane. Sloane is the who got Emily to lose her shell and be a little more interesting. But, when summer begins, Sloane is no where to be found. Instead, Emily finds a list of thirteen things that only Sloane could dream up for Emily to do. Emily figures that if she wants Sloane to come back, she should do everything on her list.
       Since You've Been Gone is my all time favorite summer read, combining adventure, friendship, and even some love.

       Over-hyping is the bane of my existence. The world gets you so excited to read the book that everyone loves, then punches you in the face with disappointment. (Metaphorically, of course.) So, without further ado, here are my top five over-hyped books.

       The first two (or three, I don't remember) books of the Lux Series were absolutely fantastic. I remember being in awe of a book that had sci-fi, romance, and comedy all wrapped into one. But, towards the end of the series, the books seemed repetitive and forced. I still don't understand why authors feel the need to crank out five "bleh" sequels rather than grant the reader a great duology. This will forever be the bane of my existance!

       I have a full review of Armada here if you would like to read in-depth about my feelings for this book, but I'm going to sum it up here for you as well. I read this book after reading Ernest Cline's more beloved book, Ready Player One, and loving it. Armada had the potential of being a great story. Zack Lightman plays the popular video game, Armada, for years, and then finds out that the sci-fi storyline is real, and has to enlist in an intergalactic army. The whole time I was reading this book, it felt like a chance for Cline to show off his 1980's pop culture knowledge, rather than an actual novel. The characters weren't overly interesting, and the chemistry between them was flat as well. It just did not give me nearly the same experience as I had with RPO.

       I have to say, The Selection Series was pretty much just okay. When you are reading it, the first book gets your attention. The next few books, however, are just romance. This isn't bad, though. The series is pretty decent for your generic romance novel. After a while, though, the story gets repetitive, and America gets a little more annoying each time you read about her. And, c'mon people, we all knew how the third book was going to end. Let's be real here...

       Divergent by Veronica Roth is probably the main reason that I found a love for reading. Tris was so easy to relate to, and the world that Roth builds in futuristic Chicago just captivated me. But, I have to say, Roth should have stopped at one. I was so excited to see what was next in store for Tris and her friends. Unfortunately, I was let down the lowest of lows. Insurgent and Allegiant both had a hard time keeping my attention and trouble being relatable.

       I was so excited for The Maze Runner when I first picked it up. Everyone was talking about the upcoming movie, and that it was an action-packed adventure novel. I even sat down one Saturday over summer break and binge read it in one sitting. And when I closed the book and finally took in the day's events, I realized that TMR was not nearly as good as my expectations had been let on. A lot of things happened that just didn't make sense in the world the characters lived in. All in all, it should not have been surrounded by the hype that it did.

        Book hangover is the bane of almost every book lover's existence. It's when you've read such a good book, your book reading groove hits a brick wall. You start book after book, but you can't seem to make yourself read.
       I have put together a list of six very different books to help you get through any type of book hangover you might have.

       My best advice to cure your book hangover has to be cutesy romance. Specifically, Stephanie Perkins. And if you have already read them: read them again. They still work. Now, this list is for the people out there who have exhausted the cutesy romance, or for those of you who want something a little different to cure your book hangover.

       My Life Next Door is your typical boy-next-door story. Samantha Reed lives in the perfect house in the perfect neighborhood, all except for her neighbors, the Garrett family. Samantha has watched them from her bedroom's balcony, but the day Jace Garrett climbs up to her balcony is the day her life flips upside-down.
       My Life Next Door is the perfect read when your last romance read has left you in a rut.

       To All the Boys I've Loved Before is not you're everyday romance novel. It follows the story of Lara Jean, who deals with her past crushes by writing them a love note, and sticking it in her mother's hatbox under her bed. When someone sends them out to all the boys, she has to confront her past, and maybe, even fall in love all over again.
       To All the Boys I've Loved Before is a great read for anyone looking for a new breed of YA romance.

       Rebel Belle is not your run-of-the-mill contemporary novel. Harper Price is a perfect southern belle: good looks, good grades, and good friends. That is, until she is attacked in her high school bathroom right before prom.
       She finds out that she is a Paladin, one of an ancient line of guardians with agility, super strength and mortal fighting instincts. Then, when things can't possibly get any worse, she finds out she has to protect the school reporter, David Stark, who just so happens to be Harper's least favorite person.
       Things start getting more involved when Harper starts to fall for David, and David's fate could destroy the entire Earth.
       Rebel Belle is definitely a book to not be judged by its cover. It is a fun, action-packed, and witty read.

       The Iron Trial is written by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare, and is about a boy named Callum Hunt. He has been warned by his dad if he passes the Iron Trial, he will be sent to the Magisterium, a school for children with magical abilities. It is also home to his dark and mysterious past. When he fails to fail, he is sent to the Magisterium, where the biggest test is not the Iron Trial. The biggest test is yet to come...
       The Iron Trial is a quick and easy read, and entertaining for everyone alike.

       We Should Hang Out Sometime is about Josh Sundquist and his adventures with all of his ex-girlfriends throughout his youth. Josh doesn't know why he is still single, so he goes back and investigates all of his previous relationships to see exactly what went wrong.
       We Should Hang Out Sometime is a great read to relate to and entertain anyone looking for a good laugh.

       Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops by Jen Campbell is an account of all of the weird and crazy things have been said and have been asked of her while she worked at a small indie bookstore in London.
       A great read for all book-lovers out there looking for a quick and funny read.