Summer Reads

Summer’s almost here, which means vacations, sunny days, and relaxation. One of the best things you can do to unwind (and unplug) is reading, which is why we’ve put together a handy guide to some awesome summer reads that you’ve (probably) never read before.

If you like Mystery try:

Five Little Pigs by Agatha Christie.

Agatha Christie is one of the best-selling authors ever, and for good reason. Her mysteries are engaging, fun, and perfect for the lazy days of summer. While not as famous as some of her other novels, Five Little Pigs is by far one of Christie’s best mysteries and will keep you enthralled until the last page.

If you like Fantasy try:

The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett.

The first book of the Discworld series, the Color of Magic, is a delightfully wry and engaging tale of a luck-challenged wizard guide and the naïve tourist who hired him. It’s an easy read that doesn’t take itself too seriously, making it a great pick for laid-back summer reading.  

If you like Sci-Fi try:

The Time Machine by HG Wells.

HG Wells is considered one of the fathers of science fiction, and for good reason. The Time Machine is a classic and has inspired countless other stories, adaptions, and even popularized the concept of a “time machine”. But more than its influence on literature, it’s also an exciting, interesting adventure through time that’s perfect for any summer day.

If you like action try: 

The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum

Before Matt Damon starred in the film of the same name, there was the novel The Bourne Identity. An action-packed thriller filled with excitement and intrigue makes this book a great way to spend some free time this summer. And don’t worry if you’ve already seen the movie – there’s a lot of differences that keep the book version surprising.

If you like non-fiction try:

The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge by David McCullough.

The Great Bridge is an intensive and interesting dive into the building of the Brooklyn Bridge, from its conception through completion. The Brooklyn Bridge was a feat of remarkable engineering for its day, and this detailed look into its design and construction is truly fascinating, even if you aren’t an engineer yourself. 

If you like horror try:

Dracula by Bram Stoker.

A good summer read should be light, fun, and engaging which makes the horror a difficult genre to pick a book for – but thankfully Dracula is all three. While still a spooky tale, Dracula is ultimately a fun and interesting look at vampires without being too depressing or dark. There’s a little something for everyone – vampires, romance, intrigue - and a cowboy for some reason!

If you like comedy try:

Three Men in a Boat Jerome K. Jerome.

A delightfully funny tale of three friends’ disastrous boat trip up the Thames, Three Men in a Boat is a perfect complement to your (hopefully) much more relaxing vacation.

If you like romance try:

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.

A delightfully charming romance in an enchanting setting, The Night Circus is an imaginative story, which unfolds its mysteries slowly but in an endlessly engaging way making it perfect for those magical summer nights.

If you like the classics try:

A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Shakespeare.

Okay, okay – this is technically a play not a book. But it’s one of Shakespeare’s best – it’s whimsical, funny, and beautifully written, and its setting makes it perfect for your own dreamy summer evenings.

And if you like books written by your fellow employee owners, check out:

Zada: Earth’s Twin by Christa Mandler!

An exciting mix of sci-fi and fantasy, Zada: Earth’s Twin is a unique adventure full of animals, dragons, invading aliens, and more. Written by BL’s own Christa Mandler, this is a perfect book to read while destressing away from work. We loved it so much, we even asked Christa to sit down with us for an author interview. You can check that article out here.