If you love reading as much as I do, or just like to sneak a peek at someone’s TBR list, check out this full compilation. If you are looking for a free printable with generic book club questions you can use with your favorite book, I got you covered!

One of my favorite traditions of summer is the summer reading list (like a bucket list, but for books).

It seems like most people have a plan to bring a book with them on vacation, to the beach, to the pool.  I have several I’m eyeing for the days ahead.

People talk about Hot Girl Summer, where they want to look their bikini best and party it up, but I want this to be the Glow Girl Summer, where I fully shine.  Where I get curious, ask questions, seek wisdom, take action, lean in and live my truth from a space of deep inner knowing. 

And the best way I know how is to combine two things I love, reading and self-exploration (aka personal growth)!

The possibly surprising part is that personal growth (through reading and reflecting) can actually feel like… fun! We learn best through stories, getting drawn into the lives of other people and the paths their lives take. So if you’re feeling a little stuck and not quite sure where to start on your own journey toward living a life that lights you up, grabbing a summer beach read just might be the place to start.

I’m picking 3 books that would be great on your summer reading list and creating a list of questions you can use with your book club or to reflect on yourself.  These aren’t your generic plot-based questions about the book for surface level discussion.  They are written to help you tease apart the character’s journey, see their imperfections, their insecurities and how they navigated through them.  And offer you a chance to find the red threads in your own life.

First up is One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle. I’ve now read all three of her books but I think this one is the best yet.  Her unique way of bending time really helps the characters in each book figure something out about themselves, their deepest unknowings and shining a light on them. 

And with a title that calls to a nostalgic summer past, it seemed like a good place to start as we dive into understanding and knowing ourselves better. Katy goes on a trip to the small Italian town where her mother spent a summer. She stumbles along in her mother’s footsteps, deeply needing to find more meaning and direction in her life. It’s a true personal growth experience, questioning what she thought to be true and finding her own path forward by releasing the stories she held onto so dearly.

Click here to read more about my thoughts about the book (no spoilers!) and a printable with some juicy bonus questions and journal prompts.

Next on the summer list is Love, Lists and Fancy Ships by Sarah Grunder Ruiz. I spotted this book at an airport bookstore on my last business trip and knew that if it called out making lists in the title, I just had to read it.

Jo has a bucket list for things she wants to do before she turns 30… in just a few months. When an unexpected summer visit from her nieces throws off her plans for a European vacation to finish up her list, they help her reframe her list into more meaningful twists on the items and teach her a more than just a little about herself and what’s really important in life.

Read more about how Jo navigates Love, Lists & Fancy Ships here.

For August I’ve picked Something Wilder by Christina Lauren. This pen name is actually two best friends that have written some of my favorite women’s fiction books, one of which I make part of my winter reading tradition now. I have read 9 of their books (just noticed that I’ve missed a couple… adding to my list…)

In this book, Lily is doing her best to find a way to live her dream life of buying back the ranch her father sold out from under her. Struggling to get ahead enough financially, she’s running a business with her best friend to make ends meet (barely) and keep her close to the land that she loves. Love how this book helps shine a light on the effects of how our parents want us to live our life is something we carry with us even after they are gone. Learning how to see how to embrace some of the riddles, codes and hidden clues (sometimes in plain sight) is a juicy part of this story.

Click here to dive into the adventurous read for the end of summer!

Let’s make sure this turns out to be a real Glow Girl Summer AND enjoy some time reading poolside, beach side or during a quiet moment of peace. Get on the list and get ready to glow!

If you are looking for a free printable with book club questions you can use with your favorite book, click here.

Leave a comment and let me know if any of these beach read books are on your summer reading list. And share what you think of the book club questions/journal prompts.

If you have suggestions for the fall reading list, please send them my way!  Wouldn’t want to worry that my To Be Read list would run dry. And I’d love to hear your ideas and experiences with your own Glow Girl Summer!

*post may contain affiliate links to help support my love of books and sharing the insights and takeaways with you!

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