It’s definitely a little late into the season to be writing this type of post, but I realised recently that I stopped doing seasonal recommendations for some reason. As someone that tries to match their monthly to be read to the seasons, it makes no sense for me to not share the books I think suit them best. Anyway, that’s just a long-winded way of me saying I’ll try to remember to do these for each season going forward.
A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow by Laura Taylor Namey
Forget heatwaves, summer camp and hurricanes, and get ready for a classic British summer. Also known as bring your knitwear, especially if you’re used to the Miami sun like Lila. The British summer vibes have been perfectly captured, right down to our ‘can’t make its mind up’ weather and drinking tea no matter what season it is.
I adored this book. It’s not often you get summery books set in the UK, but this one is so lovely. I did read these out of order but they’re not technically a series so it doesn’t matter.
Get your copy of A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow here:
*Kindle Ebook
*Paperback
*Hardcover
*Audible audiobook
Synopsis: For Lila Reyes, a summer in England was never part of the plan. The plan was 1) take over her abuela’s role as head baker at their panadería, 2) move in with her best friend after graduation, and 3) live happily ever after with her boyfriend. But then the Trifecta happened, and everything—including Lila herself—fell apart.
Worried about Lila’s mental health, her parents make a new plan for her: spend three months with family friends in Winchester, England, to relax and reset. But with the lack of sun, a grumpy inn cook, and a small town lacking Miami flavor (both in food and otherwise), what would be a dream trip for some feels more like a nightmare to Lila…until she meets Orion Maxwell.
A teashop clerk with troubles of his own, Orion is determined to help Lila out of her funk, and appoints himself as her personal tour guide. From Winchester’s drama-filled music scene to the sweeping English countryside, it isn’t long before Lila is not only charmed by Orion, but England itself. Soon a new future is beginning to form in Lila’s mind—one that would mean leaving everything she ever planned behind.
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
I always say this book has autumnal vibes because I find it so cosy, but I think it actually does take place over the summer. It’s been so long since I read it, I can’t actually remember, but I’m pretty sure I read this during the summer so that’s why it has summer vibes to me.
It’s got a real sense of adventure and the writing feels so magical. If you haven’t read this series yet, you absolutely need to. I love it so much. It’s one of those series that I think about every now and then and I just remember being so enraptured in every single book – it truly was a magical experience.
Get your copy of The Raven Boys here:
*Kindle Ebook
*Paperback
*Hardcover
*Audible audiobook
Synopsis: It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.
Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.
His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.
But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.
For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.
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