Who has time to read these days? Probably no one but you really should try. If you haven’t picked up a good book in some time, I encourage you to do so. Studies show that people who read more, have a better memory. This summer, I got a chance to finish a couple of books I had started and to start new ones. How? I took a book with me on car rides, on vacation, and tried to read at least ten minutes before bed. Tiny bits here and there- better than nothing, right?

Related: Milk+Bookies at Baby Gap

summer reading

What I Read

I’m pretty eclectic when it comes to reading (just like music). I appreciate a good story. It could be about history, romance, transformation- anything. But the storytelling has to be good to keep me hooked. Here are some books I enjoyed during my summer reading time.

  • #GirlBoss– Ok, this is one that I often pick up and love and can’t seem to finish. Badass entrepreneur, Sophia Amoruso shares her story of how she went from a broke college drop out to building a million-dollar empire on her own. Her story is not only fun to read because of her wit and humor but it’s inspiring. She shares real raw business experiences that she faced as a young woman and how she overcame them. If you haven’t read it and have an ounce of entrepreneurial spirit, go get this book. You’ll love it.
  • Influencer: Building Your Personal Brand in the Age of Social Media- Brittany Hennessy tells it like it is in this book. This girl boss is the Senior Director of Influencer Strategy & Talent Partnerships for Hearst Magazines Digital Media. I found this to be a great read (though I went from reading to audible once I got hooked and just had to finish!) for me personally since it talks about the influencer industry. Everything she says in her book is true and she gives good advice to those in the industry. If you are new to the blogger/influencer world, this is a must-have.
  • Hippie Chick: Coming of Age in the ’60s – This is a great book about one woman’s self-discovery. Author, Ilene English tells about her painful childhood memories growing up in a traditional Jewish home in Irvington, New Jersey. She was a rebellious teen when she found her mother dead on the bathroom floor (due to heart disease). Luckily, her sister saves her the grief of having to live with her strict, ill-tempered father by sending for her to live in San Francisco. But Ilene’s story has many dark moments where she turns to drugs, sex, and even a vagabond lifestyle (at a young age). Despite everything, Ilene gets a pretty happily ever after (I won’t spoil it). If you’re curious what life was like for a young hippie chick in the 60s, this is a good read. The fact that it’s someone’s true story gives the reader a deeper, more emotional connection to the book.
  • Letter to My Daughter – This is one of my favorite all-time reads. I never get tired of picking this little book up. It’s by Maya Angelou who writes to the daughter she never had but sees everywhere. She shares memories, advice, difficult situations and more. She tells of some of her most painful situations and some of her happiest. It’s a quick read and perfect for anyone who can only dedicate ten minutes here and there. I highly recommend this book to any woman and have gifted it to loved ones. It’s truly a treasure.
  • You Are a Badass Making Money – This is the second book I’ve read by Jen Sincero (You Are a Badass) and I have to say, I really like her style. This is one of those motivational self-help books, yes. But I think it the type of thing every girl boss needs to read. Sincero talks about mindset, manifesting money into your life, and how you treat and think about money. Some of her stories seem a little crazy but for the most part, I got what she meant. It’s a pretty badass read.

Happy Reading!

I hope you get inspired to go out and grab a book- remember, it can do wonders for your memory and health! I really enjoyed these titles during my summer reading and I’m sure you will, too 🙂

*I was gifted a couple of these books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are true.