Student Blog: Guide to Summer Romance Novels

Summer is upon us. No more 6 to 10-page papers, 30-page readings for every class, or final exams worth 50% of your grade. Although I’m working two jobs this summer, I find that I now have extra free time to fill. I can finally accomplish the one thing I never had time for this past semester: reading every summer, young adult romance on the market. My favorite guilty pleasure read. What’s not to love about two career enemies staying in neighboring beach houses for the summer and falling in love through forced small-town interactions? Whether you’re escaping to your beach house for the summer, interning at a big corporation, or working a minimum-wage job to pay the bills, fantasizing about these dramatic romances will bring the beach to your cubicle. Bonus points if you read them while sunbathing on a warm summer afternoon. The recommended attire for these beach reads is not complete without a cozy sweatshirt for the AC or a bikini if you’re in AC. 

After months of constant classes, papers, and exams it is finally time to let off some steam and there is no better way than with YA romance novels. They have everything: vacations, cheesy tropes, and relationship arcs that would rival those on soap operas. The books are pure entertainment, which is the perfect cure for burn out or boredom. 

My personal recommendations are “Book Lovers” and “Beach Read,”by Emily Henry; “Love & Gelato,” by Jenna Evans Welch; and “The Unhoneymooners,” by Christina Lauren. The perfect YA romance novels complete with the best aspects of the genre. If you're looking for enemies to lovers on a vacation that couldn't be refunded, an Italian love story, or career enemies who find love in the same small town, these books are the perfect place to start. If you're looking to explore the genre more, check out Goodreads to read the reviews from other readers. You can also consult BookTok, a group of TikTok users that give book recommendations based on popular tropes and situations. The TikTok user, Chelsea Reads, is a one-stop guide to a wide-range of book recommendations based on personal preferences. If you're looking for the best summer romance to read, look no further than her TikTok!

Over the next couple of months, I will be veering away from summer romance novels (unfortunately) to discuss my past and current experience working summer jobs and how they’ve helped me in the entertainment industry and in the college admissions process. I’ll also discuss my favorite ways to self-care for auditions and how I’m building my resumé through work and training. 

Happy Reading!