If you’re like me reading is a great escape, especially during the summer break. Even if reading isn’t particularly your cup of tea I encourage you to give a few of these a chance! Not only is reading a great book completely relaxing, but you can also learn so much from others’ words. The summer reaps so many opportunities to grab a great book and relax. You can read by the pool while you tan. You can read in the car while you’re not on driving duty on the way to your vacation. You can read while you hammock and enjoy the day at a nearby park. You can keep it simple and read in bed before you go to sleep or, one of my favorites, read on the beach. The books below are ones I feel you certainly won’t regret picking up, but will also encourage you no matter what your grade was at the end of the semester you are still great and can make such a wonderful difference each day.

1. "I Don't Wait Anymore by Grace Thorton"

Not only is this book super awesome because it is written by someone in my hometown of Birmingham, AL, but it tells of a journey we all face to some extent or another. We are all guilty of planning our life out and making sure all the " t’s" are crossed and "i’s" are dotted, but we also know life doesn’t go as we planned. In her book, Grace, explains how she kept faith even when life didn’t go her way and the struggles that came along with it. She also reassures us our Creator’s plan is far greater than we could fathom.

2. "Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers"

So this one may be for the little more dedicated reader’s with 480 pages, but I promise you it is so worth it! This book relives the biblical story of Hosea and Gomer in the 1850’s. Don’t let the time setting scare you away, this book is so eloquently written and filled with constant reminders of God’s love, but it also keeps the hopeless romantic alive inside of you.

3. "Scary Close by Donald Miller"

We all want to be liked. We all want to impress. Don dares to share his story about taking off his mask of “I’m impressive” and letting those around him actually know him. He shares how if you’re truly brave enough to let those around you know who you truly are, the good and the bad, you will be surprised how those around you will react positively and, in result, you will build much stronger relationships. I read this book in a time I, myself, was struggling and learning how to embrace being me and I can’t explain how encouraging this book was and still is to me.

4. "Captivating: Unveiling The Mystery of a Woman’s Soul by John and Statsi Eldridge"

From the title one might think,”Man what is this, a fancy instruction manual for men on how to deal with women?” It is far from that I promise. It is written by a married couple who ponder what being a woman of God exemplifies. No, for the record, it does not say a woman should be in the kitchen cooking and cleaning. They dive much deeper into the specific and special purpose women have in this crazy but beautiful world.

5. "Crazy Love by Francis Chan"

Not only does Francis constantly remind us that the God of the universe cares for us unimaginably so, but the Lord of all creation longs to be close to us and that He has a purpose for each of us. This great book is a breath of fresh air when retaining to calling us to a greater purpose, but all along the way relating it back to God’s love for us.

These next two I haven’t personally had the chance to read, but have heard amazing things about them and they are certainly on my book list for the summer.

6. "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller"

Once again, Donald Miller, gets so honest with us about a time in his life that wasn’t crystal clear, but lead him to be stronger. I’m sure there will be moments that will make me laugh as well as moments that I can specifically relate to and learn from in this book and I can’t wait to dig deeper into this book.

7. "Wild and Free by Jess Connolly and Hayley Morgan"

Just the quote on the front already has me sucked into the great words that will be within the pages. It reads, “A hope filled anthem for the woman who feels she is both too much yet never enough”. Wow oh wow, how I have felt this way more times than I can count as I’m sure we all have, man and woman, sometime or another. If you couldn’t tell some of my favorite kinds of books are ones where people are brave enough to share their stories and that inspire me as a writer. I’m sure this one will do just that!

So even though you might be ready to kill over with mandatory reading list you have to do during the semester I hope you will take joy in reading these books that awaken your heart yet urge you towards a more restful spirit. So take a plop down, grab a great book, and ENJOY!