YA Memorial Day Reads: Stories About Summer
YA Memorial Day Reads: Stories About Summer
This summer will be decidedly different from what we’re used to. Something that doesn’t have to change? Our reading schedules! If you’re working from home, working reduced hours, or you’re taking extra walks, you might have some extra time to curl up with a book or pop in your headphones for an audiobook. If that’s the case, this list has a few titles to help you reminisce and think about what summer can hold. Check out these YA Memorial Day reads.
Some of these books are on (virtual) shelves now and some are still to come. Also, keep in mind that many publishers are adjusting release dates due to COVID-19. Either way, this list has some fun reads to keep you busy now and into the summer.
1. This Is All Your Fault by Aminah Mae Safi (320 pages)
On the first day of summer, three friends find out the indie bookstore they work at is about to close. Taking place over the course of one day, This is All Your Fault is told from three perspectives. Rinn is finally ready to tell her crush that she loves him. Daniella spends her time writing poetry for her popular blog, but no one knows she runs it. Imogen is struggling to just make it through the day. Knowing they’re working against the clock, all three girls will have to set aside their own problems and work together to save Wild Nights Bookstore.
Why You Should Read It
The first day of summer always holds such promise, especially for school-aged kids. The promise of a perfect summer is broken for Rinn, Daniella, and Imogen much in the same way it has been for many of us. Even if our summer plans have changed, we still have our friends and families to help us through the day. If you’re looking for an uplifting story about three driven girls working together to save what they love, then this book will be hard to put down. Put this one on your TBR pile or pre-order it now because you won’t want to miss it.
5/5 Stars
2. Just a Boy and a Girl in a Little Canoe by Sarah Mlynowski (352 pages)
Sam’s summer is not going the way she planned. After her boyfriend suddenly decides to go backpacking through Europe, Sam ends up at the camp she spent her childhood summers at as a counselor. With little to look forward to over the next seven weeks, Sam is surprised by Gavin, the camp’s intriguing sailing instructor. With her boyfriend always in the back of her mind, Sam is understandably confused as she finds herself staring at Gavin constantly, especially when he takes his shirt off. As the time between her boyfriend’s phone calls grows longer and longer,, Sam needs to decide what she really wants.
Why You Should Read It
Summer camp can be a pretty formative experience for people, either for good or bad. When Sam returns to her camp, she feels like she’s taking a step backward. Her experience there helps her really understand what she wants and what decisions will make her happy rather than just sticking with the plan for comfort’s sake. While you may not be heading to camp this summer, Sam’s story is bright, sunny, and will make you think about your own comfort zone.
4/5 Stars
3. The Paper Girl of Paris by Jordyn Taylor (368 pages)
When her grandmother died two months ago, Alice and her family discovered a Paris apartment that no one knew about. Not only has it been locked for more than seventy years, but her grandmother left it to Alice. With school out for the summer, Alice heads to Paris to discover the secrets that surely hide in her new apartment. While trying not to be distracted by the pastries, the Louvre, and the Seine, Alice eventually enlists the help of Paul, a local student, to help her unravel her grandmother’s secret past.
Why You Should Read It
While you may have had to cancel your own trip to Paris this summer, Alice’s adventures are sure to entertain. Not only does she get to indulge in the finer points of Paris, but she also experiences a heartwarming and genuine journey as she learns more about the grandmother she thought she knew. Not only does this novel have an independent protagonist and historical relevance, but we also get some sparks between Alice and Paul. I’d expect nothing less in the City of Love!
4/5 Stars
4. The Falling in Love Montage by Ciara Smyth (368 pages)
When Saoirse shows up at her friend’s end-of-term house party, she’s definitely not looking for love. She’s looking for a distraction from her mother’s early-onset dementia, a condition Saoirse is terrified she’ll one day inherit. As she gets ready to drown her anxiety, Saoirse turns and meets Ruby’s eyes. After some courting, Ruby says she’s totally fine with Saoirse’s desire for a no-strings-attached relationship. They set off to have a summer of reckless fun but soon find themselves tripping over those strings they promised to leave behind.
Why You Should Read It
Even though these young ladies are still in college, their experiences are relatable at any age. Saoirse has to help take care of her mother, something no one is ever ready for, while simultaneously contemplating her own mortality. Ruby is carefree and wild, the kind of person we all know (or can relate to). What makes this story really great is the genuine care and affection that grows between these two. Pick this one up if you’re looking to get lost in a summer love story.
4/5 Stars
5. Mad, Bad, and Dangerous to Know by Samira Ahmed (336 pages)
Khayyam Maquet is in Paris for the summer. Not only is she trying to soak in all the art around her, but she’s also dealing with the pressures of her relationship, making college decisions, and navigating the complexities of her American-French-Indian-Muslim identity. With so much confusion around her, she just wants to head home.
Two hundred years before Khayyam lands in Paris, we meet Leila. Working in a harem, Leila struggles to survive while she hides her true love from the high-ranking Pasha that owns her.
As Khayyam continues to study the art around her, she begins to find threads of Leila’s life. Working with a charming French student, Khayyam discovers Leila and her impact on the powerful men around her.
Why You Should Read It
This novel is truly unique. While many YA novels are told through multiple points of view, this one crosses time in a way I find particularly interesting. While Leila is clearly dealing with more life-and-death struggles than Khayyam, Khayyam’s obstacles are in no way diminished. This novel has the beauty of Paris, a little bit of love, and heaps of growth for both characters. While you may not be jet-setting this summer, this novel will help you travel not only to another country but to another time.
5/5 Stars
The New Normal Can Still Be Fun
Adjusting to a new normal looks a bit different depending on where you’re sitting. Each country has its own plan and some places are taking a state-by-state or regional approach. While things may be a bit uncertain for us for a while, we can still find solace in books. Since my work hours have been reduced and I’m spending more time alone, I’ve taken the opportunity to dig into my TBR pile and to check some audiobooks out from my local library. While some people are leaning into pandemic reads, I find myself gravitating to lighter and more uplifting stories. This list will not only transport your imagination but also includes the complex issues we now expect from our YA titles.
Looking for more great recommendations? Check out The Journal!
Rachel Gomes is a 30-something high school English teacher who lives with her high school sweetheart-turned-husband and their son. Rachel is a voracious reader who loves to learn and has her doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction. She’s happiest listening to podcasts and talking to friends about the latest news in nerd culture.
Favourite book: Don’t make me choose between A Song of Ice and Fire and Harry Potter
Favourite brunch spot: The Farmer’s Table
