For most of the year in Canada, curling up with a book means staying inside to stay warm. Luckily, summer is here and the days of covering yourself in layers of blankets are over. We’re here to tell you it’s time to switch blankets for beach towels and a hot beverage for a piña colada while you dive into a good book.
Here is our summer reading list for any vacation you may be taking this season. Whether you’re going on an exotic getaway or settling in for a cozy staycation, here are a few of our favourite books for you to breeze through.
Lifestyle Inspiration
The Happiness Project – Gretchen Rubin
The summer season is all about appreciating the simple joys in life. It’s the only time you can wake up to the cheerful sounds of birds chirping and feel the grass between your toes. Follow along as Gretchen Rubin recounts her year-long quest to add more simple pleasures to her life in The Happiness Project. Learn how to add joy to your everyday routine through the lessons Rubin uncovers.
Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead – Sheryl Sandberg
From the comfort of your lounge chair, examine why women are often held back from leadership roles with the Chief Operating Officer of Facebook. While relaxing, spark the motivation you need to achieve your goals. Soak in Sandberg’s personal stories and advice about leading as a woman—while also soaking in lots of vitamin D.
Relaxing Reads
Milk and Honey – Rupi Kaur
Slip into the rhythmic prose of Rupi Kaur on a sunny afternoon. The revered Canadian poet has secured her ranking on The New York Times Best Seller list for almost a year with her collection of poems in Milk and Honey. While the book is easy enough to read in a matter of hours, if you can’t get enough of her poems, dive into Kaur’s second collection of poems in The Sun and her Flowers.
Eat, Pray, Love – Elizabeth Gilbert
Take a trip around the world without boarding a single plane with Elizabeth Gilbert in her memoir Eat, Pray, Love. After finalizing her divorce, Gilbert packs her bags and sets off for Italy, India and Indonesia on a journey of self-discovery.
Light-Hearted Comedy
I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts About Women – Nora Ephron
Laugh out loud wherever you are this season with a collection of personal essays written by Nora Ephron. Her relatable tone and dry humour make stories about aging gracefully—and sometimes not so gracefully—relevant to women of all ages.
Smart Women – Judy Blume
Fall in love with Judy Blume all over again this summer. The same author of the classic young adult novel Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret ventures into writing funny adult fiction. With a title based on a quote from the novel, “how come smart women like us keep falling for shmucks?” Smart Women is the story of two divorcees trying to restart their lives with teenage daughters and hilarious complications.
These are only a few of the great books you can add to your summer reading list. Share the must-read books on your list with us in the comments.
