Feature

Centennial’s top summer reads for sunny days ahead

Abby Conrad|June 13, 2022

With summer right around the corner, Centennial students will no longer be burdened with homework, studying, and after-school activities. What better way to spend all this extra time than lounging by the pool or beach and opening up the pages of a great new read?

For avid reader and freshman Cami Schwartz, that is her plan exactly. On her reading list for the coming months, Schwartz includes Circe by Madeline Miller; a retelling of classic Greek myths, as told from Circe’s perspective, who is the goddess of sorcery. In addition, Schwartz hopes to read Verity by fan-favorite author Colleen Hoover. Verity is a psychological thriller that follows a writer who is tasked with finishing a book series started by an injured author. Along the way she discovers shocking secrets about the mysterious novelist.

For readers looking for a sunny vibe in their books, Schwartz recommends The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren. “It is a really light-hearted romcom that’s kind of dumb in the best way and very predictable,” she says. “It’s the best book to have by your side at the beach.” Sophomore Renee Wu, however, would recommend We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. “The storyline revolves around a group of childhood friends who reunite on an island each summer, so the interactions, adventures, and mysteries that occur between them match a summery vibe,” she describes.

Also a fan of Madeline Miller, Wu hopes to read The Song of Achilles this summer, a popular reimagining of The Iliad by Homer. The book follows the romance of Patroclus, a young, exiled prince, and the classic Greek hero, Achilles, as they experience many trials and tribulations during the Trojan War.

Both Wu and Schwartz love to dive head-first into reading. “I feel like I form personal connections with the characters and I like to get invested in the plotline…[and] I like to imagine the scenes in my head,” Schwartz states. Reading is an especially immersive experience for Wu when she reads works by her favorite author Michelle Zauner. “When reading her work, I find that there are many memorable quotes, almost like hidden gems, that are worth marking down and coming back to,” she says. “Every now and then, the writer will hit you with a line that speaks toward something that feels greater than the context of the book itself.”

Whether you’re gripping the cover of an exciting thriller while tanning poolside or flipping through the pages of a sweet romance novel in the sand, a good book is the perfect way to relax this summer.