5 Books to Read this Summer

By Isla Poustie ‘26, Staff Writer; Edited by Kat Willson ‘26, Editor-in-Chief

Powerless

The extraordinary are loved and revered in the kingdom of Ilya. The Elites possess power, and the ordinary people are exiled. To survive, Paedyn Gray must fake a power to fit into society. When she is called to compete in the purging trials, she is told to showcase her powers, which she does not possess. Throughout the trials, she hides her powerlessness with much difficulty. This series, written by Lauren Roberts, follows her journey, struggles, and the trials and tribulations of the people around her. This fantasy series has three main books and an accompanying novella. It’s great for all the fantasy romance lovers!

Heartless

This book is a fantastic prequel to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Heartless immerses you in the magic and madness of Wonderland. The author, Marissa Meyer, takes the reader on a journey in the fantasy world with many twists and turns. The story construction and details that relate to the original story, Alice in Wonderland, are truly amazing. This book is perfect for someone who was a storybook lover as a little kid.

The Notebook

A popular movie to watch in the summer months is The Notebook, but the book is just as good, maybe even better (as books usually are). For all the romance book lovers, this book would be perfect for you! Written by Nicholas Sparks, this novel is about an old man reading a notebook to a dementia patient in a nursing home. The notebook follows lumber mill worker Noah Calhoun and 17-year-old heiress Allison "Allie" Hamilton. With her disapproving parents and the end of the summer approaching, their relationship faces many ups and downs. It shows young love, miscommunication and long-lost love. Whether you’ve watched the movie or not, this book is a great read for your time off and vacation!

Jo & Laurie

Little Women is a coming-of-age novel written by Louisa May Alcott following the lives, romance, and experiences of four sisters. It has been adapted into two films, one in 1992 and the other in 2019. While this book might be a little old to read, Jo & Laurie have a different plotline, which is more modern and takes a new direction with the story. If you wanted Jo and Laurie to end up together in Little Women, this book is for you. Written by Margaret Stohl and Melissa de la Cruz, they dive into the wants many people wanted when reading or watching Little Women. This alternative plotline shows the readers what could have been if Jo and Laurie were endgame. Even if you liked the original story’s ending, this book is still very enjoyable and worth your time for a read.