Books to Read: Vacation Edition
A concept: me, on a plane, book open in my lap, sipping a Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha; every single time I travel, this is my ideal version, the one I'm always hoping to experience. As pictured below, once in a while it comes true.
With this in mind, whenever I embark on a new journey, I'm convinced I'll finish at least one book, since I'm entirely free of all distractions and have lots of travel time to kill. So, naturally, I pack a minimum of three different books in my carry on.
Unfortunately, just like life, not all flights happen exactly the way I imagine. The trip I'm currently on, for example, came to a start at 2:30 a.m., which meant I was not exactly bright-eyed and bushy tailed at the airport. This also meant that the last thing on my mind was reading. Instead, I spent the four hours of flight time taking a nap.
Needless to say, with my packed schedule, I have read about zero pages of the books I brought with me. Luckily, I'm looking forward to a few days at the beach to finish off my week, where, fingers crossed, I can make a dent in at least one storyline. Just in case something pops up, I wanted to share my vacation TBR (to-be-read) with you, in the hopes that someone can actually enjoy them!! (Side note - these have been on my GoodReads to-read list forever. Based on my high expectations, you won't be disappointed in any of these selections!)
1. The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
I have heard nothing but incredible things about Jandy Nelson's writing. Last summer, I picked up her second novel, I'll Give You the Sun, and fell in love. Since then, I've been waiting to pick up this one as well, so it will definitely be the first one I start.
It's the story of Lennie, a teenager who is always in the shadow of her older sister, Bailey. Then, one day, Bailey passes away unexpectedly, leaving Lennie all alone in the limelight. Though she doesn't have any experience with boys, she turns to two in her time of sorrow. One, Toby, is Bailey's ex-boyfriend, who seems to be the only person who understands what Lennie is experiencing. The other, Joe, seems to be the only person capable of bringing her out of darkness. She knows she has to balance the two if she wants to stay happy, but one day, they collide, causing an explosion.... Will Lennie's world ever be stable again?
Supposedly, it's both a tragedy and a love story, a plot I always seem to get wrapped up in. For those of you who enjoy reading about growing from loss and trying to rediscover happiness, this is a book you'll have to look into.
2. Paperweight by Meg Haston
One of the top reasons I read is to better understand lifestyles and viewpoints different than my own. The topics I tend to gravitate towards include eating disorders and mental health, which are so important to be aware of in today's society. Ultimately, it can help you spot signs and approach discussions or situations in better ways. As a result, whenever I come across a new novel on one of the subjects, I make sure to read up, and Paperweight is no different.
Stevie is a teenage girl, facing a life-threatening eating disorder, but it's not the biggest concern on her plate. Though her dad signed her up for two months of treatment, in less than a month, it's the anniversary of her brother's death, a death that was Stevie's fault. The same day, she plans to take her own life, unbelieving that she deserves to live. Through her days in treatment, she struggles to discover whether or not she'll ever absolve her own past mistakes.
I truly think this will be an eye-opening read, based on the rave reviews it continues to receive. Although, as a warning, some readers have encouraged others to get their tissues out, so if you're soft-hearted, like myself, it may be a good idea to have a box of Kleenex nearby.
3. The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand
Like I said, I read to understand. Based on the short, but informative description of The Last Time We Say Goodbye, I assumed it would be a very thought-provoking and emotional choice.
This book follows a main character by the name of Lex. She's been housing a secret, one that could have saved her brother's life: a text he sent her before committing suicide.
Basically, that's all I know about the plot line, but again, I have not heard a bad reaction to this novel. It has even been compared to Thirteen Reasons Why, a book, and now Netflix series, that has taken the world by storm. If you're looking for something to make you think a little deeper, especially about appreciating what you have, this just might be the perfect thing.
Honestly, until I was writing this, I didn't realize I had chosen only books with such heavy topics. In the future, I will try to diversify my selections a little more to try accommodating for all tastes. If you have any genres in particular you'd like recommendations for (such as "breezy, summer contemporaries," "nonfiction, motivational books," "favorite books of all time"), please leave a comment below or in the Connection box on the home page. I'd love to write you more of what you want to read!
i hope you get a warm, sunny day by the water (or a rainy, sunday morning) to curl up with one of these new books tomorrow!
xoxo madison