Top Ten Tuesday – Books To Read By The Pool or Beach / Summer TBR

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Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Hello all and welcome to another Top Ten Tuesday! Today’s list is going to be some of the books I’m hoping to get to this summer. I don’t like hot weather AT ALL, it even gets too hot for me here in Scotland during the sunny months, so I don’t spend much time around pools or at the beach during July or August but these are books I think will be great summer reads, wherever I chose to read them – which will probably inside with a fan blasting cold air at me…

1. Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman

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Summary: from Goodreads

Call Me by Your Name is the story of a sudden and powerful romance that blossoms between an adolescent boy and a summer guest at his parents’ cliff-side mansion on the Italian Riviera. Unprepared for the consequences of their attraction, at first each feigns indifference. But during the restless summer weeks that follow, unrelenting buried currents of obsession and fear, fascination and desire, intensify their passion as they test the charged ground between them. What grows from the depths of their spirits is a romance of scarcely six weeks’ duration and an experience that marks them for a lifetime. For what the two discover on the Riviera and during a sultry evening in Rome is the one thing both already fear they may never truly find again: total intimacy.

Why I’m Excited To Read It:

I’ve been wanting to read Call Me By Your Name since I heard about it when all the hype surrounding the movie was taking place. I decided to save it for summer because it just sounds like the perfect summer read doesn’t it?! It’s set in the Italian Riviera which totally conjures up a glamorous, romantic image and I have heard so many people say they loved this book so I cannot wait to get started on it – I really hope it lives up to my high expectations!

2. Sunburn by Laura Lippman

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Summary: from Goodreads

One is playing a long game. But which one?

They meet at a local tavern in the small town of Belleville, Delaware. Polly is set on heading west. Adam says he’s also passing through.

Yet she stays and he stays—drawn to this mysterious redhead whose quiet stillness both unnerves and excites him. Over the course of a punishing summer, Polly and Adam abandon themselves to a steamy, inexorable affair. Still, each holds something back from the other—dangerous, even lethal, secrets that begin to accumulate as autumn approaches, feeding the growing doubts they conceal.

Then someone dies. Was it an accident, or part of a plan? By now, Adam and Polly are so ensnared in each other’s lives and lies that neither one knows how to get away—or even if they want to. Is their love strong enough to withstand the truth, or will it ultimately destroy them?

Something—or someone—has to give.

Which one will it be?

Why I’m Excited To Read It:

This one’s been on my TBR for a little while now and I think summer will be a great time to read it. It received a lot of praise upon it’s release and the story sounds really intriguing. I love psychological thrillers with mysterious, tricksy characters and a twisty plot and Sunburn looks like it will deliver both! The cover alone makes this look like the perfect summer read and I really hope the book is as good as it sounds!

3. The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar

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Summary: from Goodreads

This voyage is special. It will change everything…

One September evening in 1785, the merchant Jonah Hancock hears urgent knocking on his front door. One of his captains is waiting eagerly on the step. He has sold Jonah’s ship for what appears to be a mermaid.

As gossip spreads through the docks, coffee shops, parlours and brothels, everyone wants to see Mr Hancock’s marvel. Its arrival spins him out of his ordinary existence and through the doors of high society. At an opulent party, he makes the acquaintance of Angelica Neal, the most desirable woman he has ever laid eyes on… and a courtesan of great accomplishment. This chance meeting will steer both their lives onto a dangerous new course, a journey on which they will learn that priceless things come at the greatest cost…

What will be the cost of their ambitions? And will they be able to escape the destructive power mermaids are said to possess?

Why I’m Excited To Read It?

I bought The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock mostly because the cover is amazing and I love the title! The story sounds really fascinating too though. I love historical fiction and I am down for anything involving mythical creatures like mermaids. Mermaids seem to very popular in fiction at the moment which I am thrilled about. I think this will be a fun book to read during the coming months because it sounds like it has a slightly magical and mystical feel to it which I think is perfect for those long summery nights!

4. My Heart Goes Bang by Keris Stainton

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Summary: from Goodreads

Gemma, Lou, Issey, Liane and Paige are determined to make the most of this second year at uni. They want to have fun, but they want to focus on work. There’s no time for relationships. Except with each other. And even that’s not guaranteed. Gemma and Lou have always been close, but there’s tension between Issey and Liane, and none of them even knows Paige all that well.

But when Gemma finds a magazine article with a list of men they should date before they’re 21 (someone who’s been on telly? Check; someone who’s got tatoos? Check;) they vow to complete the list before finishing university and set about it with a lot more enthusiasm than they do their studies … but will any of them end up with a full house? And when a secret from their first year comes out, it looks as if some of them might not be completing university, never mind the list …

Why I’m Excited To Read It:

I received this book through Readers First and I’m excited to give it a try this summer. The cover has a really summery feel to it with all the gorgeous warm orange and yellow tones and it looks like a fun, light read that will be perfect for sunny days. I haven’t read that many stories set during the university years but I’ve always enjoyed them when I have! The characters are not too much younger than me so I can connect to them really easily and feel like I understand the situations they are in. The whole list thing could be a bit of a silly plot device but on the other hand it has the potential to be a lot of fun so I’m going to give it a chance!

5. Social Creature by Tara Isabella Burton

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Summary: from Amazon

Louise is struggling to survive in New York; juggling a series of poorly paid jobs, renting a shabby flat, being cat-called by her creepy neighbour, she dreams of being a writer. And then one day she meets Lavinia. Lavinia who has everything – looks, money, clothes, friends, an amazing apartment.
Lavinia invites Louise into her charmed circle, takes her to underground speakeasies, the opera, shares her clothes, her drugs, her Uber account. Louise knows that this can’t last for ever, but just how far is she prepared to go to have this life? Or rather, to have Lavinia’s life?

Why I’m Excited To Read It:

Social Creature sounds so fantastic and I cannot wait to read it – in fact I think I’m going to start it sometime this week! I’ve heard from a few people that it has quite a Great Gatsby feel to it which sounds amazing and it has also been compared to The Talented Mr Ripley which is another great book. Both Gatsby and Ripley feel like decidedly summer books to me so I think Social Creature will be perfect reading for this time of year too. The story sounds dark and thrilling and I can’t wait to find out how things spiral out of control in this tale of toxic friendship.

6. Illuminae by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman

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Summary: from Goodreads

This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do. This afternoon, her planet was invaded.

The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.

But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet’s AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it’s clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she’d never speak to again.

Why I’m Excited To Read It:

Science fiction is so not my thing usually, in fact anything that is set in Space just doesn’t really appeal to me. However I have heard so many people on places like Bookstagram and Litsy raving about how amazing this book and it’s sequels are and that has made me curious enough to give it a try! I’m not sure why I think this is a good read for summer but for some reason I feel it is – maybe it’s the orangey cover. I’m really hoping Illuminae will live up to it’s reviews and I can’t wait to try it sometime in the next few months!

7. Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

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Summary: from Goodreads

Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now Simon is actually being blackmailed: if he doesn’t play wingman for class clown Martin, his sexual identity will become everyone’s business. Worse, the privacy of Blue, the pen name of the boy he’s been emailing, will be compromised.

With some messy dynamics emerging in his once tight-knit group of friends, and his email correspondence with Blue growing more flirtatious every day, Simon’s junior year has suddenly gotten all kinds of complicated. Now, change-averse Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he’s pushed out—without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he’s never met.

Why I’m Excited To Read It:

This book has been everywhere lately because of the movie release and it seems to be almost universally loved so I’m crazy excited to read it this summer. It seems like a funny, charming and romantic read and sometimes that’s just what I’m looking for as I do read a lot of dark and gritty books and it is nice to break these kinds of books up with something lighter and more happy!

8. The Gentleman’s Guide To Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

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Summary: from Goodreads

Henry “Monty” Montague was born and bred to be a gentleman, but he was never one to be tamed. The finest boarding schools in England and the constant disapproval of his father haven’t been able to curb any of his roguish passions—not for gambling halls, late nights spent with a bottle of spirits, or waking up in the arms of women or men.

But as Monty embarks on his Grand Tour of Europe, his quest for a life filled with pleasure and vice is in danger of coming to an end. Not only does his father expect him to take over the family’s estate upon his return, but Monty is also nursing an impossible crush on his best friend and traveling companion, Percy.

Still it isn’t in Monty’s nature to give up. Even with his younger sister, Felicity, in tow, he vows to make this yearlong escapade one last hedonistic hurrah and flirt with Percy from Paris to Rome. But when one of Monty’s reckless decisions turns their trip abroad into a harrowing manhunt that spans across Europe, it calls into question everything he knows, including his relationship with the boy he adores.

Why I’m Excited To Read It:

I have had this book languishing on my bookshelf for what feels like ages and I really feel like I need to get to it soon because it sounds like such good fun and really witty. A Grand Tour of Europe sounds absolutely perfect to read about in summer and since I’m too much of a scaredy-cat to actually get on a plane and go to any of these places I can at least live vicariously through characters in books exactly like this one!

9. The House With Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson

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Summary: from Goodreads

All 12-year-old Marinka wants is a friend. A real friend. Not like her house with chicken legs. Sure, the house can play games like tag and hide-and-seek, but Marinka longs for a human companion. Someone she can talk to and share secrets with.
But that’s tough when your grandmother is a Yaga, a guardian who guides the dead into the afterlife. It’s even harder when you live in a house that wanders all over the world . . . carrying you with it. Even worse, Marinka is being trained to be a Yaga. That means no school, no parties–and no playmates that stick around for more than a day.
So when Marinka stumbles across the chance to make a real friend, she breaks all the rules . . . with devastating consequences. Her beloved grandmother mysteriously disappears, and it’s up to Marinka to find her–even if it means making a dangerous journey to the afterlife.
With a mix of whimsy, humor, and adventure, this debut novel will wrap itself around your heart and never let go.

Why I’m Excited To Read It:

I had to buy this book when I saw it in Waterstones a few weeks ago in part because of the unbelievably lovely cover! The House With Chicken Legs just sounds so original and charming and imaginative. I think it’s based in Russian folklore which I know doesn’t immediately scream ‘summer’ but I like to read cosy wintery books during summertime because I’m usually suffering in the humid hot weather and reading books set in cold places cheers me up!

10. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

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Summary: from Amazon

‘”People never like me and I never like people,” Mary thought.’

When Mary Lennox is sent to Misselthwaite Manor to live with her uncle everybody says she is the most disagreeable-looking child ever seen. It is true, too. Mary is pale, spoilt and quite contrary. But she is also horribly lonely. Then one day she hears about a garden in the grounds of the Manor that has been kept locked and hidden for years. And when a friendly robin helps Mary find the key, she discovers the most magical place anyone could imagine…

Why I’m Excited To Read It:

I loved The Secret Garden book and movie when I was young, it was just such a magical story for me and so I have decided to reread it this summer. Beautiful gardens always make me think of summer and I think this classic book will be perfect reading material for a pretty evening with the sun slowly setting. I can’t even remember exactly how the story goes because it has been so long since I read it but I’m really excited to rediscover this amazing book.

Well that’s it for today! I really hope you enjoyed my list and if you’ve read any of these books I would love to know what you thought of them in the comments. Also please feel free to pop a link to your own Top Ten Tuesday list in the comments because I can’t wait to read all your amazing lists! Happy reading everyone!

89 thoughts on “Top Ten Tuesday – Books To Read By The Pool or Beach / Summer TBR”

  2. Elen @ The Dragon Reader says:
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    My Heart Goes Bang sounds like so much fun! And you should definitely read Illuminae, it’s really good (and you really don’t need to be a massive sci-fi fan to love it).

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Jessie says:
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    The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock is phenomenal, TGGTVAV is tons of fun, and The Secret Garden is delightful. I really want to read Call Me By Your Name soon too. Hope you enjoy them all!

    Liked by 1 person

  13. beccaggray says:
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    I had no idea until today that Love, Simon was based on Simon vs… – genuinely thought it was a coincidence which shows how much I kept up with book news recently 😂

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Ellie says:
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    Gentleman’s Guide is on my TBR as well – I’ve seen so many good things about it, plus one of my book club friends recommended it so I’m going to have to get round to it soon!

    Liked by 1 person

  25. pagesandtea says:
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    I have The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock on my TBR pile. It’s such a pretty book, and the story sounds like it will be really good. Perhaps I should add that to my Summer TBR too. I have so many books already but there’s always room for one more 😀

    Liked by 1 person

  27. Beth (Reading Every Night) says:
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    Great picks for this week, and I hope you love all these books as well. I haven’t read it myself but I know a lot of people have enjoyed Call Me By Your Name. I have read Illuminae, Simon Vs and The Gentleman’s Guide and those are all all-time favourites of mine so I especially really really hope you love them! 🙂
    Great post, and again great picks. ❤

    Liked by 1 person

  34. jessicabookworm says:
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    Thank you and happy reading to you too 🙂 Sounds like you have a great selection of books to look forward. In particular, I think Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman, with its Italian Riviera setting, sounds perfect for summer and I am sure a re-read of the wonderful Secret Garden will be delightful this time of year too. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  35. @lynnsbooks says:
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    Some good books on here. Illuminae and Secret Garden in particular. But, I must say I adored the Mermaid and Mrs Hancock. It’s an amazing book and I would read the next book by the author in the New York minute. It’s a romp of a historical drama filled with intrigued and cheeky sauciness.
    Lynn 😀

    Liked by 1 person

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