Summer is the perfect time for reading! Summer is my favorite time of year to find a good book and sit outside, whether it be on the patio, on the beach, or in the woods. Somehow, I always find myself caught up in at least two good "hopeless romantic" novels per summer. In case you haven't started any summer reading yet, here are a few to get you started.

1. Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin

The 2004 novel takes place in the most popular rom-com city around: New York City. The book and its events that unfold are based around the friendship of Rachel and Darcy. The plot begins to unfold around Rachel’s 30th birthday party. After drunkenly climbing into bed with Rachel’s long-time crush, Dexter, who is Darcy’s fiancé, the love triangle of sorts takes off in a tailspin. Reading the novel shows the sacrifice people will make to receive the love of someone, even if it costs a friendship.

2. The Last Letter From Your Lover by Jojo Moyes

This book is not just another romantic novel: it is a search for the truth after an accident that caused amnesia for victim Jennifer Sterling in 1960s England. Soon after awakening, Jennifer realizes she is not in love with her husband, a rich man who runs coal mines in Congo. After coming across a love letter written by a mysterious man signed “B,” Jennifer begins to wonder who this man is, and what their love story was before the accident. The novel flashes to 2003 when English journalist Ellie Hawthorne finds one of the mysterious B’s letters while researching a story. Soon, Ellie becomes entangled in the past of Jennifer and B. Will Jennifer and Ellie ever find out the truth?

3. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

This book is another novel that takes place in two different times. 90-year-old Jacob Jankowski reflects on his younger self while stuck in a nursing home. Young Jacob finds himself unable to complete veterinary school during the Great Depression and desperate, he finds himself hired by the Benzini Brothers circus as a cage cleaner. Later, the unstable and benevolent owner, August, learns that Jacob is a veterinarian, reassigning him to train the new elephant, Rosie. Meanwhile, Jacob meets August's wife and lead attraction Marlena, whom he immediately falls in love with. Jacob gets closer to Marlena through their mutual affection towards Rosie. Jacob and Marlena, as well as Rosie, must dodge the wrath of August to survive.

4. If I Stay by Gayle Forman

This novel is extremely thought provoking and heart felt. Mia is a very gifted cellist who was also blessed with a loving family, an adoring boyfriend, an amazing best friend, and a promising music career ahead of her. All of this is changed when her family has a terrible car accident and Mia is rushed to the ICU. Mia is caught between life and death, and watches as family and friends come to visit her at the hospital. From here, she realizes she must choose between waking up and living a life harder than she imagined, or dying.

5. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

This last novel reads as a modern "Romeo and Juliet," star-crossed lovers, story. Hazel Grace Lancaster is a 16-year-old cancer patient, who meets Gus Waters. They fall in love very quickly over being similarly afflicted teenagers, meeting in their cancer support group. They both share the same love of books, especially Grace’s favorite titled, “An Imperial Affliction” by Peter Van Houten. It takes a tremendous amount of effort, but Gus scores the two of them a chance to meet the author. While brief, the two of them have the adventure of a (short) lifetime.

Try not to read all of these books at once!