10 Books For Your Summer Reading List

Disclosure: this is a sponsored post. All thoughts, opinions and possible 3 figure spend buying books are purely my own. I lied. I'm not going to tell you about reads. I'm going to tell you about summer listens. But first, this is my story (insert Law & Order thumps).

I used to hate audiobooks. With a passion. Back in those days (ugh, I can't even believe I just typed that), they were "books on tape". TAPE! But, I digress.

I was the category manager (read: book buyer) for adult fiction and non-fiction titles at a book fair company. And one of the things we took great pride in was that everything that was being put out got read. Everything! So, if my small selection included 30 books for the fall, it meant that I had to read at least 40-50 books. That's not counting the galleys and advance reader copies that hit my desk which also had to be culled through and read.

Currently, there's a battle in my head as to which was the FIRST book I ever listened to on tape. The battle is between Midnight In the Garden of Good and Evil and Memoirs of a Geisha. They were definitely the first 2 I listened to at the insistence of an co-worker.

    

It. Changed. My. Life.

No longer did I fret in making my way through the piles of books. I could cull catalogs (Lawd! How old am I?) and request books be sent to me on tape. Later on, it was on CD. This meant that I could read one book and listen to one book in a week's time. Yassss!

After having the kid, my reading slowed down substantially. In the last year, I have made concerted efforts to keep to the "at least 12 books a year" rule. And I couldn't do it without Audible.

It's the thing I listen to when I am home cleaning and getting the house together on those days when the Frog Princess is with her dad. It's my delight and treasure when I travel as I am reminded of the piles of books I used to get through month after month.

Yes, I still buy books. Sometimes, I buy the book AND the audio. Currently, the Frog Princess and I are making our way through Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. It's her very first time being exposed to the series and Jim Dale is the absolute BEST at narrating. Needless to say, she's asking to stay up late to listen to Harry Potter and what do you think I say?

There are 2 things I learned while I was a book buyer: 1. books are definitely judged by their covers and 2. audiobooks are judged by the narrator. If you've tried audiobooks before and they just didn't work, try it again! It's like a book. Sometimes you're not ready for that one in particular and at other times you just have to pick up something else.

Without further ado, here's a list of audiobooks that have either won my heart or are winning my attention this summer. 

1. The Opposite of Everyone by Joshilyn Jackson - I told y'all about her first book, Gods In Alabama. I believe the second time I read this it was a listen. I can't wait to get into this one. I love the title and I don't think Joshilyn will let me down.
2. Son by Lois Lowry - Don't sleep on YA titles, people! I cannot tell you how many amazing stories I've read that I see others pass by. If you've read Lois Lowry then this one is a must. I have had this in my audible account for a minute! Looking forward to getting into it this summer, though. 
3. Seriously...I'm Kidding by Ellen DeGeneres - I've had this for a few months but haven't gotten around to it (Big Magic & Eat, Pray, Love bumped it, I'm afraid). I'm always up for a little humor and I think Ellen will give me the giggles necessary to make it through hot summer days.
4. This Too Shall Pass by Milena Busquets - because Andrea said so. I mean, don't you just blindly go with another bookworm's recommendation? I sure do!
5. The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto by Mitch Albom - I still recall having to sign a non-disclosure agreement to read some of his books. It's serious in the book world, people. Mitch hasn't let me down yet and I cannot wait to get into this one.
6. Let's Pretend This Never Happened and Furiously Funny make this list because holy shit, Jenny Lawson is hilarious. I thought I might be carted off an airplane while listening to these books because I was laughing semi-hysterically with tears in my eyes. I mean you can read the book but, you HAVE to listen to Jenny reading it. Nothing else will do.
7. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates I'm excited and scared to read this one. I know it's going to be emotionally charged but it's one of those "must reads" in my mind.
8. The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson I was drawn to this title when I saw it on a list before knowing who wrote it or what it was about. Books get judged by titles too. But I have a feeling that this story, chronicling the racist bondage under which African-Americans lived, years after being legally emancipated will bring it home and deliver knowledge into this gray matter.
9. Concious Parent by Dr. Shefali Tsabary - does this need an explanation? Y'all, I'm trying to woosaah my way through parenting and I saw Dr. Tsabary on OWN and I think she can help me. Full disclosure: I bought this book because I figured I'd want to highlight some thangs. I haven't seen it since December. This is why audiobooks work for me these days.
10. Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes - I told you guys about this one a few months ago and if you haven't already read it, I guarantee that it will change your entire summer and probably the rest of the year. 
11. I said 10 but as with my saying read instead of listen, I LIED (have you been counting because the answer is not 11 either)! My very personal favorite and the book that I am officially taking the day off for? I'm Judging You by Luvvie Ajayi. If you read her blog you know the hilarity that can ensue. Anyone who has a glossary of terms on her site is not only after my very own heart (I started one of these as a book buyer) but the shenanigans that ensue on her Facebook page guarantee that this will not only be a best seller but will have you laughing, cackling and most likely...thinking. I placed my pre-order already, folks. Getchu some!

So...are you ready? If you're not hype after reading this, we cannot be friends! But if you are, you can head on over to Audible and get your very own 1-month FREE trial. Y'all. Seriously. Why would you NOT do that?!

Tell me, what will you listen to first?

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Audible. The opinions and text are all mine.