By Heather Tran
I just want to warn that these recommendations are not literary masterpieces with the depth that comes with those books. These are (mostly) light hearted feel good books.
- Red White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
This rom com has everything you could ask for. The son of the first female President of the United States? Check. The prince of England? Check. The First Son and the Prince fall in love as a series of unfortunate events tie them together. They are thrust into the public eye as fake friends and forced to like each other. After indulging in this book, head to Prime Video where you can watch a recent movie adaptation that does a good job of bringing the plot to life, albeit a bit rushed.
- Me Before You by Jojo Meyes
Get ready for the most gut wrenching heartbreak of your life. Me Before You follows Louisa Clark, an ordinary small town girl with a steady boyfriend and close family. She gets a job as a house nurse for Will Traynor, a former daredevil and adventurer. The book follows the growth of Lousia and Will as individuals and as a couple as they tackle everyday challenges together.
- The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther
Taylor Swift and rom coms aka the best way to spend a summer. This feel good romance is sprinkled with Taylor Swift references, without being too overbearing. We go with Meredith to Martha’s Vineyard, quite literally the cutest place in England, for a wedding as a bridesmaid. Her family has their own version of senior assassin, and while playing the game forms an unlikely alliance with one of the groomsmen. I feel like enough said.
- Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez
A quintessential English village summer romance. Because what’s better than reading about quaint cottages, local festivals, and blossoming love? The perfect mix of predictability and charm to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Before reading this book I would recommend reading Part of Your World and Yours Truly before starting this one. While this is a standalone, as are all the books on the list, this book is a standalone within the same universe so the book would definitely have more impact and depth if you read them all.
- Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
Yes, this is also a great movie, but it comes from an amazing trilogy. The plot of the book is overall covered by the movie, but I think that the depth of the characters that come out in the book is significantly better than the movie. It does start off a little slow, but push through because it is worth it. If you don’t want a regurgitation of the movie I would recommend reading the sequels: China Rich Girlfriend and Rich People Problems.