The Day He Came Back by Penelope Ward

The Day He Came Back by Penelope Ward -- 336 pages

It was the summer of my life. I’d met the guy of my dreams. Unfortunately, he was the son of my uppity employer—and very much off-limits. But Gavin was a rebel. He knew his mother would disown him if she found out about us; in his eyes, we just had to be careful. He never treated me as his mother did—like hired help. Instead, Gavin put me on a pedestal and loved me harder than I’d ever been loved in my life.

What a summer it was. Until it all ended—badly.

I was never supposed to see Gavin again. That didn’t stop me from thinking about him every day for ten years. I knew little about his life now, just that he was an entrepreneur living an ocean away.

When a twist of fate had me working again in the very place our love affair started a decade earlier, I knew it was only a matter of time before I might see him again. But I wasn’t prepared. What if he hated me? What if he loved someone else now? I wasn’t prepared for all the unknowns. And most of all, I wasn’t prepared for today to be the day he came back. 

Breaking the Rules by Katie McGarry

Breaking the Rules by Katie McGarry -- 304 pages

For new high school graduate Echo Emerson, a summer road trip out west with her boyfriend means getting away and forgetting what makes her so... different. It means seeing cool sights while selling her art at galleries along the way. And most of all, it means almost three months alone with Noah Hutchins, the hot, smart, soul-battered guy who’s never judged her. Echo and Noah share everything — except the one thing Echo’s just not ready for.

But when the source of Echo’s constant nightmares comes back into her life, she has to make some tough decisions about what she really wants — even as foster kid Noah’s search for his last remaining relatives forces them both to confront some serious truths about life, love, and themselves.

Now, with one week left before college orientation, jobs and real life, Echo must decide if Noah's more than the bad-boy fling everyone warned her he'd be. And the last leg of an amazing road trip will turn... seriously epic. 

Say Yes Summer by Lindsey Roth Culli

Say Yes Summer by Lindsey Roth Culli -- 256 pages

The perfect book to kick off summer! For as long as Rachel Brooks can remember, she's had capital-G Goals: straight As, academic scholarship, college of her dreams. And it's all paid off--after years of following the rules and acing every exam, Rachel is graduating at the top of her class and ready to celebrate by . . . doing absolutely nothing. Because Rachel Brooks has spent most of high school saying no. No to dances, no to parties, and most especially, no to boys.

Now, for the first time in her life, there's nothing stopping Rachel from having a little fun--nothing, that is, except herself. So when she stumbles on a beat up old self-help book--A SEASON OF YES!--a crazy idea pops into her head: What if she just said yes to . . . everything?

And so begins a summer of yes. Yes to new experiences and big mistakes, yes to rekindled friendships and unexpected romances, yes to seeing the world in a whole new way. This book is a fresh and fun take on the coming-of-age novel that explores the quintessential themes of growing up: taking risks, making mistakes, and, of course, love. And who knows? Lindsey Roth Culli's hilarious and heartwarming debut may just inspire your own SAY YES SUMMER.

The Vast Fields of Ordinary by Nick Burd

The Vast Fields of Ordinary by Nick Burd - 309 pages

It is Dade's last summer before college and his life is imploding.  He has a boyfriend that refuses to acknowledge him.  His parents' marriage is breaking up.  He has no friends.  Then he meets Alex. 

I enjoyed this book.  It was a great look at a teen growing up.  I would recommend this book to older teens.

Summer of Supernovas by Darcy Woods

Summer of Supernovas by Darcy Woods -- 340 pages

As the daughter of an expert astrologer, Wilamena Carlisle knows that truth lies within the stars. So when she discovers a planetary alignment that won’t repeat for a decade, she’s forced to tackle her greatest astrological fear: The Fifth House—relationships and love. But Wil must decide whether to trust her heart or her chart when she falls for a sensitive guitar player whose zodiac sign points to cosmic disaster. If Wil’s fate is truly written in the stars, then this summer is about to go supernova . . .

The Summer of Chasing Mermaids by Sarah Ockler

The Summer of Chasing Mermaids by Sarah Ockler -- 403 pages

SOMETIMES, THERE ARE NO WORDS...

The youngest of six talented sisters, Elyse d'Abreau was destined for stardom - until a boating accident took everything from her. Now, the most beautiful singer in Tobago can't sing. She can't even speak.

Seeking quiet solitude, Elyse accepts a friend's invitation to Atargatis Cove. Named for the mythical first mermaid, the Oregon seaside town is everything Elyse's home in the Caribbean isn't: an ocean too cold for swimming, parties too tame for singing, and people too polite to pry - except for one.

Christian Kane is a notorious playboy - insolent, arrogant, and completely charming. He's also the only person in Atargatis Cove who doesn't treat Elyse like a glass statue. He challenges her to express herself, and he admires the way she treats his younger brother, Sebastian, who believes Elyse is the legendary mermaid come to life.

When Christian needs a first mate for the Cove's high-stakes Pirate Regatta, Elyse reluctantly stows her fear of the sea and climbs aboard. The ocean isn't the only thing making waves, though - swept up in Christian's seductive tide and entranced by the Cove's charms, Elyse begins to wonder if a life of solitude isn't what she needs. But changing course again means facing her past. It means finding her inner voice. And scariest of all, it means opening her heart to a boy who's best known for breaking them...

Yotsuba&!, v.3-5 by Kiyohiko Azuma

Yotsuba&!, v. 3 by Kiyohiko Azuma - 184 pages
Yotsuba&!, v. 4 by Kiyohiko Azuma - 192 pages
Yotsuba&!, v. 5 by Kiyohiko Azuma - 216 pages

Yotsuba passes out flowers to the neighborhood, goes fishing for the first time, learns to ride a bike, visits the beach, and more.
This is a really cute manga series appropriate for kids, teens and adults.

Through the Woods by Emily Carroll and This One Summer by Jillian Tamaki

Through the Woods by Emily Carroll-200 pages; Eisner Award Winner for Best Graphic Album-Reprint, 2015

This is an eerie collection of short stories about journeys into and out of the woods. Each story involves a family member (or family members) disappearing, going crazy, killing one another, and/or being possessed. The graphics/illustrations are well done and the stories are interesting, if weird. Overall, it was an easy read and I enjoy reading graphic novels.

This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki-320 pages; Eisner Award Winner for Best Graphic Album-New, 2015; Michael L. Printz Award Honor Book; Caldecott Honor Book

Rose and her family (the Wallace family) go to the same place for vacation every summer: Awago Beach. Rose has a cabin friend she hangs out with every year named Windy, who is a year and a half younger. Rose's parents fight because her mom really wants to have another kid but can't and so she doesn't want to have fun anymore. I read some reviews on Goodreads and some of them said that the book didn't have much of a plot and I agree to an extent. There is a bit of a plot. Rose's mom (and the family) getting past the miscarriage and not being able to have another baby. The story does show Rose sort of "coming of age" a little bit and she seems to be "outgrowing" her friend Windy in many ways, but they stay friends. Other than that, there is not much plot, but the book was an okay read.

The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen

The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen- 435 pgs.

Emaline just graduated from high school and is spending the summer working for family's beach house rental company before heading off to college at the local university.  She has a long term boyfriend and is spending the summer by the beach.  Life is good, until a documentary film crew moves into one of the beach houses and she meets Theo.  Life takes an unpredictable turn with Theo and the return of her biological father that she has had little contact with.  It is a summer Emaline won't forget.

I have to say I love Sarah Dessen's books and I was pretty excited to read this one.  It is good, but I don't think it's as strong as some of her others.  I also appreciate how she connects things with all of her books.  You will see characters from other books make appearances and a lot of the places mentioned once, will be mentioned again.  It is a little wink to all of her fans out there.