Favorite Summer Vacation Reads

It’s almost August, which means that all the families who haven’t taken vacation time yet this summer are anticipating some time off before fall hits, bringing with it the start of a new school year and the need for sweaters. We are among those families. In two weeks, we’re heading to Michigan, where we’ll make time to sit on the Lake Michigan shoreline, me with a book perpetually in hand. I could give you a list of new releases to check out on your own summer vacation, but instead, I thought I’d give you a list of my perennial favorites – the books I return to over and over at vacation time simply because I want to re-enter their worlds.

The Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer
Yes, these are YA, but who can resist the love triangle of Bella, Edward, and Jacob?  Twilight never fails to suck me in, and you don’t have to be into vampires to enjoy it.

The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
There’s only one word for this book: enchanting. Maybe it’s partly because I spent four years in Chicago, making the setting all the more real, but Henry and Claire’s star-crossed love story gets me every time.

Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy
This coming-of-age story set in 1950s Dublin will steal your heart, as will the ugly-duckling-turned-swan main character, Benny, and her best friend, Eve.

The Mitford Years Series by Jan Karon
The escapades of the irrepressible Father Tim Kavanaugh, an Episcopalian priest, and the cast of characters inhabiting the town of Mitford, North Carolina will warm your heart and have you chuckling page after page – and leave you craving orange marmalade cake! 

Summer Sisters by Judy Blume
Although Judy Blume is best known for her long list of young readers’ and YA titles, Summer Sisters is a triumph in contemporary women’s fiction. Best friends Caitlin and Vix, whose friendship spans a lifetime of summers on Martha’s Vineyard, confront every obstacle you’d expect a pair of almost-too-close friends to face, and some you won’t expect at all.

The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency Series by Alexander McCall Smith
Precious Ramotswe, Botswana’s only lady detective, and her assistant, Grace Makutsi, spend their days drinking red bush tea, solving the domestic problems of neighbors, and untangling capers in the African bush. Both charming and funny, you’ll want to read all fifteen titles.

Coming Home by Rosamunde Pilcher
The story of Judith Dunbar spans the decades surrounding World War II and takes you from Cornwall, England to the shores of Ceylon. Family, friendship, love, and loss are all themes in this, Rosamunde Pilcher’s best work of fiction.

The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
Some folks might consider Harry Potter a tired commodity, but I always find this series refreshing and fun. A true enjoyment.

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells
This Southern-fried tale of a circle of longtime debutante friends and the drama of their Southern social conundrums is as satisfying as a mint julep on a hot day.

The Beach Club by Elin Hilderbrand
Any of Elin Hilderbrand’s books are deserving of being on this list, but her first book is a great place to start – or return to. What better subject for vacation reading than Nantucket?

What are your favorite vacation reads?

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