13 Must-Have Books To Add To Your Summer Reading List
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Bookworms Rejoice! It is time to start your search for those must have books for summer reading! Here is the official round-up of what I believe you MUST read this summer.
I have scoured the internet for the top best books to read in 2020. New books are emerging while old books are still hot and entertaining readers of all ages.
The books are broken down by category. You’ll notice I’ve even made some up… just bare with me.
Be sure to grab your free checklist for easy reference.
CATEGORY: WHAT THE ENTIRE WORLD NEEDS MORE OF
EVERYBODY, ALWAYS
Becoming Love in a World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People
This is currently my #1 favorite book ever. Period. No contest.
This entire book is like a cozy warm blanket of love being wrapped around you.
The end will completely rock your world. You won’t be the same when you’re done.
I believe if more people would read this book and apply the lessons, it would change the world!
What happens when we give away love like we’re made of it?
In his entertaining and inspiring follow-up to Love Does, Bob Goff takes readers on a journey into the secret of living without fear, constraint, or worry.
This liberated existence we all long for is as simple to say as it is difficult to do: we are called to love everybody, always – even when it’s really difficult.
CATEGORY: PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
GET OUT OF YOUR HEAD
Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts
This is on my summer list. It has all 5-star reviews which are uncommon, usually in a book review you see someone say something they didn’t like. Not this one!
I learned a long time ago that thoughts are things and things can be controlled. Which meant I could control my thoughts. This changed my life.
That is exactly why this book is on my must have books for summer reading… I cannot wait to read this one.
“A must-have resource for anyone looking to get control of their thoughts.”—Lysa TerKeurst, #1 New York Times bestselling author and president of Proverbs 31 Ministries
Are your thoughts holding you captive? I’ll never be good enough. Other people have better lives than I do. God couldn’t really love me. Jennie Allen knows what it’s like to swirl in a spiral of destructive thoughts, but she also knows we don’t have to stay stuck in toxic thinking patterns.
IT’S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THIS WAY
Finding Unexpected Strength when Disappointments Leave you Shattered.
By far one of my top 5 authors, Lysa will talk to you straight like a best friend, she will make you laugh, make you cry, and fill you up with so much love.
This is a must read. If you are dealing with massive disappointment then please add this to your must have books for summer reading.
What do you do when God’s timing seems questionable, His lack of intervention hurtful, and His promises doubtful?
Life often looks so very different than we hoped or expected. Some events may simply catch us off guard for a moment, but others shatter us completely. We feel disappointed and disillusioned, and we quietly start to wonder about the reality of God’s goodness.
CATEGORY: BUTT KICKING / CEO OF YOUR LIFE
GIRL, WASH YOUR FACE
Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are So You Can Become Who You Were Meant To Be.
This book single-handedly launched me, my mindset, inspiration, and motivation into literal overdrive. I haven’t been the same since I read it.
I couldn’t put it down!! I didn’t want it to end.
If you are looking for someone’s permission to kick all excuses aside and to finally stand up to ROCK THE WORLD… then here it is.
Do you ever suspect that everyone else has life figured out and you don’t have a clue? If so, Rachel Hollis has something to tell you: that’s a lie.
If you have ever said any of these things to yourself . . .
- Something else will make me happy.
- I’m not a good mom.
- I will never get past this.
- I am defined by my weight.
- I should be further along by now.
. . . then you could benefit from the unflinching faith and rock-hard tenacity Rachel Hollis has in store for you.
Want more top picks in the person development category?
Check out The Best Resources to Live a Life You Love asap!
CATEGORY: THRILLER / SUSPENSE
THE 20TH VICTIM
If you love a good “who done it” mystery then you will love this.
I read #19 when it launch at the end of 2019 and could NOT put it down. I finished it in just a few days.
#20 is on my list for this summer.
Sergeant Lindsay Boxer tackles an ambitious case that spans San Francisco, L.A., and Chicago in this pulse-pounding thriller of “smart characters” and “shocking twists” (Lisa Gardner, #1 New York Times bestselling author).
Three victims, three bullets, three cities. The shooters’ aim is as fearsomely precise as their target selection. When Lindsay realizes that the fallen men and women excel in a lucrative, criminal activity, she leads the charge in the manhunt for the killers. As the casualty list expands, fear and fascination with this suspicious shooting gallery galvanizes the country.
The victims were no angels, but are the shooters villains . . . or heroes?
THE DANCING GIRLS
As a relatively new author on the scene to have a #1 Best Seller on Amazon is kind of a big deal. You won’t search very far to have this book pop up as a must-read, so I’ve added it to my summer reading list. Also because I LOVE a good mystery story.
Jo pulled together the victims’ pictures. In all cases their arms were askew, in a way that looked like—what? It was like they were freeze-framed in the middle of some action. It was like they were dancing.
When loving wife Jeanine Hammond is found dead in a small leafy town in Massachusetts, newly promoted Detective Jo Fournier is shocked to her core. Why leave her body posed like a ballerina? Why steal her wedding band and nothing else? Hungry for answers, Jo questions Jeanine’s husband, but the heart-breaking pain written on his face threatens to tear open Jo’s old wounds. It’s the same pain she felt when her boyfriend was cruelly shot dead by a gang in their hometown of New Orleans. She couldn’t get justice for him, but she’s determined to get justice for Jeanine’s devastated family.
But before Jo can get answers, another woman is found, wedding ring stolen, body posed in the same ritualistic way.
CATEGORY: FICTION / NOVELS
WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING
Everywhere I look this book is there. Amazon. Target. Barnes & Noble. Everywhere. It’s been on the top-selling list for a long time.
The longevity of its popularity is causing me to put this on my must have books for summer reading.
And when Reese Witherspoon says:
“I can’t even express how much I love this book! I didn’t want this story to end!”–Reese Witherspoon
That helps too!
For years, rumors of the “Marsh Girl” have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl. But Kya is not what they say. Sensitive and intelligent, she has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home, finding friends in the gulls and lessons in the sand. Then the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. When two young men from town become intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new life–until the unthinkable happens.
LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE
Another one I’m adding to my must have books for summer reading list.
The full description of the book is incredibly captivating so I’m excited to dig in.
This book has rave reviews everywhere I turn and once again Reese has chimed in:
“To say I love this book is an understatement. It’s a deep psychological mystery about the power of motherhood, the intensity of teenage love, and the danger of perfection. It moved me to tears.” —Reese Witherspoon
From the bestselling author of Everything I Never Told You, a riveting novel that traces the intertwined fates of the picture-perfect Richardson family and the enigmatic mother and daughter who upend their lives.
THE BEACH HOUSE
I just watched this movie on Hallmark last week! It brought me to tears. I can only assume the book will be better than the movie… that’s almost always the case. I can’t wait to read it!
Known for her moving characters and emotional honesty, Mary Alice Monroe brings readers a beautifully rendered story that explores the fragile yet enduring bond between mothers and daughters
CATEGORY: CHRISTIAN LIVING
PRAYER JOURNAL FOR WOMEN
52 Weeks Scripture, Devotional, & Guided Prayer
If you’re looking for a clean, crisp Prayer Journal then this is one to check out.
I love this because it is a guided prayer journal, meaning it has printed scripture for you to follow. You don’t need to come up with your own.
Prayer Journal for Women: 52 Weeks Scripture, Devotional, & Guided Prayer Journal includes Scripture verses, reflections on the Word, and journaling prompts to guide your walk with God and strengthen your faith.
Verses are organized thematically:
Love & Inner Beauty • Provision & Faithfulness • God’s Love • Adversity & Trials • Awe & Sovereignty • Strength Through Faith • Fear • Grace & Forgiveness
CATEGORY: IN THE KITCHEN
HALF BAKED HARVEST SUPER SIMPLE
More Than 125 Recipes for Instant, Overnight, Meal-Prepped, and Easy Comfort Foods: A Cookbook
I know it may seem strange to add a cookbook to the must have books for summer reading list… but I did.
I’m definitely interested when I see a book that covers it all.
The keywords:
- instant
- overnight
- meal prepped
- easy comfort foods
Yes, yes, yes, and yes!
Tons of great reviews… this cookbook is definitely on my list this summer!
There’s something for everyone in these 125 easy, show-stopping recipes: fewer ingredients, foolproof meal-prepping, effortless entertaining, and everything in between, including vegan and vegetarian options!
We all want to make and serve our loved ones beautiful food—but we shouldn’t have to work so hard to do it. With Half Baked Harvest Super Simple, Tieghan Gerard has solved that problem.
INSTANT LOSS
Cook Your Way to a Healthy Weight with 125 Recipes for Your Instant Pot, Pressure Cooker, and More
If you haven’t discovered the incredible power of the Instant Pot it may be time to do that this summer. I’ve started using mine more and more and am falling in love with it more and more.
However, stumbling upon this cookbook not just designed for the Instant Pot but also for Weight Loss and Health Gain… it caught my attention.
This just went on my list!
Brittany Williams lost more than 125 pounds using her Instant Pot® and making all her meals from scratch. Now she shares 125 quick, easy, and tasty whole food recipes that can help you reach your weight loss goals, too!
Brittany Williams had struggled with her weight all her life. She grew up eating the standard American staples—fast, frozen, fried, and processed—and hit a peak weight of 260 pounds. When her 4-year-old daughter’s autoimmune disease was alleviated by a low-sugar, dairy-free, grain-free, whole-food-based diet, Brittany realized she owed her own body the same kind of healing.
MAGNOLIA TABLE, VOLUME 2
A Collection of Recipes for Gathering
Confession: I have never wanted to or ever liked to cook. I’ve been married for 18 years and have 4 children, my people can attest to this statement.
Always feeling like it was a ton of work and stress for a quick 20 minutes at the table… and that was it. To me it was just too much.
For years my family has had to settle for ordering out (waaaaaay too expensive), meals from boxes and cans, freezer meals, and anything pre-made that I didn’t have to do myself.
I have had the original Magnolia Table cookbook in my kitchen since it’s launch in April 2018. That beautiful book has been sitting there, untouched. I think I was just hoping that a miracle would happen and I could do what she does… maybe… someday.
March of 2020 hit and suddenly we were stuck home for 2 1/2 months. Restaurants were closed but grocery stores were open.
And after 2 years in my kitchen, I finally opened that beautiful book to attempt one simple recipe… chocolate chip cookies.
I followed the simple recipe and wouldn’t you know it? They were the most delicious and moist cookies I ever had. My family RAVED!
Ok, I thought, I will take that small win and attempt something else.
That is when “Joanna’s Cooking School” officially opened!
20 recipes in 2 months… every single one amazing! Mom’s new cooking skillllllz are a hit!
When Volume 2 launched, stores still weren’t open, but I could preorder and do a curbside pick up. The very first trip we made out was to go pick up that cookbook.
Yes, all for a cookbook. But it is so much more than that.
You can literally feel the love and warmth of the Gaines family as you open the book and read her stories about the recipes.
I feel these two cookbooks are some of my most prized possessions. Why?
The love, joy, and precious time that has been spent working in the kitchen and sitting at the dining room table together as a family will be cherished forever.
Magnolia Table, Volume 2 is filled with 145 new recipes from her own home that she shares with husband Chip and their five kids, and from the couple’s restaurant, Magnolia Table; Silos Baking Co; and new coffee shop, Magnolia Press.
From breakfast to dinner, plus breads, soups, and sides, Magnolia Table, Volume 2 gives readers abundant reasons to gather together.
If you are looking to dig more into health and weight loss books… head here to grab the top 12 Best Weight Loss Books to Read in 2020, According to Dietitians
Get your FREE Checklist for your Must Have Books to Add to your Summer Reading here
Now it’s time to crawl into your favorite reading spot, grab your coffee, iced tea, or lemonade, and enjoy your sweet summer.
Tell me, friend, what book have I missed that needs to go on my must have books for summer reading list?
I would LOVE to hear your suggestions! I’m always looking.
Happy Reading ~
Mo
