Summery Books

Every book has it's own personality. Characters show off all different quirks, scenery whispers anything from forest breezes to salty ocean waves. The best stories aren't the ones that stunned you with their prose. They are the ones that left you feeling out of breath and a little like you stepped into another world.

Over the years, I've found that with every change of season I start craving certain books. Maybe because the first time I read that particular one, the lilacs were blooming. Or my sister bought me another and I read it on a rainy day...

Today, I've gathered up a little collection of my favorite reads for a summery afternoon, old-fashioned, new, and everything in between. 

1. My Friend Flicka just begs to be read on a warm summer afternoon, when you can almost taste the greengrass of Wyoming on the breeze and hear horses thundering over mountains in the distance. Ken's enthusiasm for summer is honestly the most contagious you will ever find from a character, and the old-fashioned writing style will suck you in for the scenery and the fresh air. ​
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2. Anne of Green Gables is one of those books I like to flip open and just live in for a while. Take your time, enjoy the giggles, the fancy, and the romance of new things. Anne has a habit of grabbing me by the hand and reminding me why every summer blossom is a miracle. 

3. Dear Mrs. Bird is a fairly new book in my library. I picked her up one day and didn't set her down until a few hours later when I finished. Although not on the Christian market and probably most suitable for adults, I really enjoyed the unique angle on 1940s London and loved the unique blend of heart-rending plot twists and humorous style!

4. An Untamed Heart is one of those very rare women's romance titles that I actually enjoyed. Ingeborg's time in the mountains thrums with the beauty of summer, nature, a woman desperate for Truth, and the deep heart of new beginnings.

5. Little Men always strikes me as another of those books to live in for a while. Every chapter is a new story sifted into the lives of a rollicking boarding school with old-fashioned flavor where anything can happen.

6. South Seas Adventures are difficult to find. As a twelve-year-old, I loved these books about Abby and her family as they took to the South Seas to encounter unexpected adventures and the ever-present hand of God. These are a great pick for younger readers who enjoy riveting stories - all while instilling a special love for Jesus. 

7. The Enchanted Attic series contrary to it's title, has nothing to do with magic. Three friends stumble across an anomaly in their attic that literally brings book characters to life, and it makes for an amusing and edge-of-your seat kind of summer!

8. Winne the Horse Gentler is another series I fell in love with in as a kid. It invites you into a neighborhood sprinkled with horseplay, mystery, middle-school adventures, and difficult questions, all while inspiring a relationship with God. (Also check out the companion series, Starlight Animal Rescue​)

Are there books in your library with their own seasonal aesthetic?
​What does your summer look like so far? I would love to hear about it!