Five Books I Read This Spring

Once upon a time, I decided to do an ABC Book Challenge for 2015. I completed the challenge in 2013 and really enjoyed it, so I thought it would be fun to do it again. Then, I joined NetGalley and requested a bunch of books that looked interesting, thinking I wouldn’t be picked for many since I was new.

Long story short, I have read 16 NetGalley books over the last few months and have 16 more books left to read. Let’s just say that ABC Book Challenge might not be finished this year. Since I don’t want to bore y’all with all 18 books I read this spring, I picked out five of my favorites that I think would make good summer reads:

The Lake Season by Hannah McKinnon
c/o NetGalley 
Iris is having a hard time, so when she receives a message from her sister asking her to come back home, she is eager to go back to Hampstead Lake. This book is about relationships: mother/daughter, sisters, and romantic. I thought it was beautifully written, though there were a few spots that dragged for me. Even so, I really liked the ending and thought it was overall a good read.

Letters to the Lost by Iona Grey
c/o GoodReads First Reads 
I can’t get enough of World War II historical fiction written in a past-present format, so I knew I would love Letters to the Lost. I loved the writing, and the mystery, focused on an old man looking for his lost love, was interesting. The only downfall was that even though I tried, I couldn't get myself invested in Jess and Will's present portion of the story. That being said, I loved Dan and Stella, especially Dan's beautiful letters.

Blueprints by Barbara Delinksy 
c/o NetGalley 
I was instantly interested in this book because of the premise-a mother and daughter who work together on a show called "Gut It," which sounds like something you would find on HGTV. The producers think the mother is too old to host and want to replace her with her daughter. As mother and daughter are both faced with this possibility, the "blueprints" of their lives also change dramatically with the death of Jamie's father. Jamie becomes the guardian of her half brother and begins to question everything else in her life. I thought the characters were very developed and likable. This book makes for a great summer read!

Diamond Head by Cecily Wong 
c/o GoodReads First Reads 
I was honestly surprised by how much I liked this book. It was a fascinating story of three generations of women and how their mistakes affected their family. I liked the Hawaiian backdrop, and it was interesting to learn more about Chinese culture. It is one of the best books I have read so far this year.

The Sound of Glass by Karen White 
c/o NetGalley 
I love Karen White, and this book was another great read. I was instantly intrigued by the story of the plane crash and how it intertwined two families. I loved how Merritt's character evolved throughout the novel. The Sound of Glass is truly a beautiful novel filled with secrets and how to let go of the past.

Have you read anything good recently? I love book suggestions!