If by a stroke of luck, you have a dump load of free time this blistering hot summer, (and not summer school/camp or work,) I envy you. Here are some of my personal favorite books that will keep you (hopefully) entertained. 

I'll try to touch base with a variety genres, and show off some beautiful covers (to relieve your eyes of mine) in the meantime!

I'm going to try and dodge the most popular books, only because I'm fairly sure most of you already know them.

Historical fiction(ish) - Passenger by Alexandra Bracken

"In one devastating night, violin prodigy Etta Spencer loses everything she knows and loves. Thrust into an unfamiliar world by a stranger with a dangerous agenda, Etta is certain of only one thing: she has traveled not just miles, but years from home. And she's inherited a legacy she knows nothing about from a family whose existence she's never heard of. Until now.

Nicholas Carter is content with his life at sea, free from the Ironwoods-a powerful family in the Colonies-and the servitude he's known at their hands. But with the arrival of an unusual passenger on his ship comes the insistent pull of the past that he can't escape and the family that won't let him go so easily. Now the Ironwoods are searching for a stolen object of untold value, one they believe only Etta, his passenger, can find. In order to protect her, Nick must ensure she brings it back to them-whether she wants to or not.
Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the traveler who will do anything to keep the object out of the Ironwoods' grasp. But as they get closer to the truth of their search, and the deadly game the Ironwoods are playing, treacherous forces threaten to separate Etta not only from Nicholas but from her path home forever. " -Amazon

My non-spoilery thoughts:

This book is about a girl, Etta, who after a chain of unfortunate events of one night, finds out that she is a time traveler, and she isn't alone. Etta meets Nicholas, a half-black sailor that is exiled in the time traveling word, who accompanies her on their journey to find an important object. As both eventually warm up to each other, Nicholas is torn between his growing feelings for Etta, and his promise to the Ironwoods, his powerful time traveling "family" to hand over the astrolabe at whatever cost. 

I categorized this as historical fiction because although Etta is a modern day girl, her journey takes her to different time periods in the past. Usually, I find time traveling books to be not worth my time, but Passenger is truly different. And yes, there is a second book, Wayfarer, which is out. 

Fantasy - Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpartick (Book 1 of the Hush Hush Saga)

"For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. At least, not until Patch came along. With his easy smile and probing eyes, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment. But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust—she can't decide whether she should fall into Patch's arms or run and hide from him. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth more unsettling than any feeling Patch evokes. For Nora stands amid an ancient battle between the immortal and those who have fallen—and choosing the wrong side will cost her life." - Amazon

My non-spoilery thoughts: 

Honestly, the fantasy section was the hardest to choose- there are so many great books! This story follows a girl by the name of Nora Grey, who is a normal girl that is still mourning her father's death, and the events that follow after she meets the enigmatic Patch. Although it may seem cliche at first, the next three books that follow have a plot-twisting storyline that will leave you stunned. 

Fantasy - Caraval by Stephanie Garber

"Whatever you've heard about Caraval, it doesn't compare to the reality. It's more than just a game or a performance. It's the closest you'll ever find to magic in this world . . .

Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett's father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the far-away, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over.

But this year, Scarlett's long-dreamt of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval's mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season's Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But she nevertheless becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic with the other players in the game. And whether Caraval is real or not, she must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over, a dangerous domino effect of consequences is set off, and her sister disappears forever.

Welcome, welcome to Caraval . . . beware of getting swept too far away." -Amazon

My non-spoilery thoughts: 

If you like a lot of description, this one is totally for you! This book toys with the idea of deception and illusions, and also strongly deals with themes of family, as Scarlett and Tella's relationship plays a key role in this story. 

If you've ever read The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, Caraval would be slightly similar to Bailey's story- the perspective of a reveur. I believe that a book 2 is set to come out in 2018. Can we just take a minute to marvel over the spellbinding cover? 

Science Fiction - Delirium (Book 1 of the Delirium trilogy) 

"In an alternate United States, love has been declared a dangerous disease, and the government forces everyone who reaches eighteen to have a procedure called the Cure. Living with her aunt, uncle, and cousins in Portland, Maine, Lena Haloway is very much looking forward to being cured and living a safe, predictable life. She watched love destroy her mother and isn't about to make the same mistake.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena meets enigmatic Alex, a boy from the Wilds who lives under the government's radar. What will happen if they do the unthinkable and fall in love?"-Amazon

My non-spoilery thoughts:   

Honestly, this book isn't healthy for my emotions. Lena from the beginning is definitely different from the Lena at the end of this book. If you've ever why someone would throw away a perfectly fine life for love, perhaps this book will help you find your answer. 

This is one of my favorite dystopian books of all time and though it is based on romance, politics also play a role in this book. 

Contemporary Romance (set in present time) - All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

"Theodore Finch is fascinated by death. Every day he thinks of ways he might kill himself, but every day he also searches for—and manages to find—something to keep him here, and alive, and awake.

Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her small Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister's recent death.

When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school—six stories above the ground— it's unclear who saves whom. Soon it's only with Violet that Finch can be himself. And it's only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet's world grows, Finch's begins to shrink. . . ." -Amazon  

My non-spoilery thoughts:    

I usually don't like YA contemporary, because I feel like it's too cliche at times, but All the Bright Places is certainly different. Maybe I just have an affinity for characters that have it rough and bring out the best in each other.

This is a love story like no other, and a glimpse into harsh reality. I hope you find their story as moving as I did. 

Mystery/ Adventure - Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

"A mysterious island.

An abandoned orphanage.

A strange collection of very curious photographs.

It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive. A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows." -Amazon

My non-spoilery thoughts: 

No, I have not watched the movie, though people say that it's good. As you read the tale of Jacob and his peculiar friends, photographs have also been included of them, and allows you to visualize the strange characters and the even stranger mystery. And yes, time traveling is also important in this book. There are a total of three books of the series, and each book leaves you with a cliffhanger that left me stunned. So, if you like plot twists as much as I do, you're bound to love this book. 

Humor - The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

"Bestselling author Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Determined to take his future into his own hands, Junior leaves his troubled school on the rez to attend an all-white farm town high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot.

Heartbreaking, funny, and beautifully written, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, which is based on the author's own experiences, coupled with poignant drawings by Ellen Forney that reflect the character's art, chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he was destined to live." - Amazon

My non-spoilery thoughts: 

I read this book about two years ago, for a book club thing at school. I don't remember much, but I do recall laughing at certain chapters of the book. Despite the humor, the story also deals with hardships in Junior's life that we cannot even begin to imagine. Throughout it all, I admire Junior's ability to continue on and break out of the life he leads.   

Werewolf - Twisting You by @explode (a wattpad novel)

"Just because someone is meant to be right for you doesn't mean they are. Just because he loves you, doesn't mean he needs you. Perhaps that is where Chloe and Xavier's story starts. With Xavier knowing that while he may love Chloe, he doesn't need her and that is where Chloe's heart breaking tale begins. A story that proves that not every love story gets a happy ending." - @explode

My non-spoilery thoughts:   

This book differs from most werewolf books because the plot is way more original than most popular werewolf books, and is every bit as heartbreaking as story goes. The mating bond in this book is more of a curse than a blessing, and this is probably one of my favorite werewolf books of all time. 

Vampire - Belle Morte by Bella_Higgin (A Wattpad book)  

"It's been ten years since vampires came out of the coffin, and now they are the world's greatest, most-talked about celebrities, living in lavish mansions and feeding on the blood of live-in donors.

Renie Mayfield is a new donor, assigned to the most famous vampire House - Belle Morte. Unlike the other donors, Renie isn't here for fame and fortune, and she doesn't care about getting close to the vampires. Months ago, her sister disappeared in this House, and Renie wants to know why. But Renie is unprepared for Edmond Dantès, the smouldering, seductive vampire who turns her blood to fire. The last thing Renie wants is to fall for a man she can never have, but she cannot ignore the sizzling chemistry that she and Edmond share. The more time Renie spends inside Belle Morte, the deeper she is sucked into the decadent, sensuous vampire world, and as she pursues the truth about her sister, the closer she comes to uncovering Belle Morte's secrets. The closer she comes to losing either her heart or her humanity..." - @Bella_Higgin

My non-spoilery thoughts: 

Honestly, when you think of vampire books (especially on wattpad) you think of a gullible human that begins a hot passionate relationship with a bloodsucker, but there is more to romance when it comes to Belle Morte. From vampire politics to publicity, Belle Morte is without a doubt the best vampire book on Wattpad I've read so far. 

Horror - The Cellar by Natasha Preston

"Nothing ever happens in the town of Long Thorpe – that is, until sixteen-year-old Summer Robinson disappears without a trace. No family or police investigation can track her down. Spending months inside the cellar of her kidnapper with several other girls, Summer learns of Colin's abusive past, and his thoughts of his victims being his family...his perfect, pure flowers. But flowers can't survive long cut off from the sun, and time is running out..." -Goodreads

My non-spoilery thoughts: 

I actually read the wattpad version, though The Cellar is an actual published book- a bestseller too. This book gives us a glimpse into the lives of a mad man's victims and leaves us in fear when Colin snaps, keeping you enthralled until the end. 

AND THERE YOU HAVE IT, some books you can read for the summer! If you need anymore, feel free to ask me (I have a looooooong list) and feel free to also recommend some books to me too!