5 SUMMER READS

I like to make reading a priority in the summertime. It doesn't always happen, but I try to make myself get off of the computer and read a real book out on the porch or before bed.

I'm not really into fiction books, though I have been known to binge-read a teen romance series or three (don't judge!). In general, I prefer reading non-fiction like biographies and advice books. 

This summer, I thought I would make it a goal to read these five books, written by women and for women to help inspire and reach goals...in other words, books for girls with gumption! :)

1. Thrive 

by Arianna Huffington

Summary Excerpt: As more and more people are coming to realize, there is far more to living a truly successful life than just earning a bigger salary and capturing a corner office. Our relentless pursuit of the two traditional metrics of success -- money and power -- has led to an epidemic of burnout and stress-related illnesses, and an erosion in the quality of our relationships, family life, and, ironically, our careers. In being connected to the world 24/7, we're losing our connection to what truly matters. Our current definition of success is, as Thrive shows, literally killing us. We need a new way forward.

My First Impression: This book seems to be about the importance of achieving a balanced life of health, career, and relationships. I love that a woman as successful as she is (co-founder and editor-in-chief at the Huffington Post) is able to keep life in perspective and learn from her past mistakes of focusing too much on career and letting stress control her life. I'm in!

2. The Skinny Confidential 

by Lauryn Evarts 

Summary Excerpt: Not sure how to keep it all together? Well, babes, you’re in luck. With my lifestyle tips and tricks you’ll be able to keep your bod, your love life, your personal style and everything else hot & sexy. Whether you’re trying to tone those bat wings, wanting to develop healthier eating habits, wondering about juice cleanses or curious about how to attain that Victoria’s Secret curl—I got ya covered. It’s all about learning to balance your life. 

My Opinion: I read this one first and finished it pretty quickly. I'm a big fan of the Skinny Confidential Blog (and the fact that Lauryn, who writes the blog, has one of my Hustle prints in her office!), so I couldn't wait to get my hands on this as well. It is a visual book, full of pretty photos, recipes, and lifestyle tips. I absolutely love the style of it, Lauryn's funny, down-to-earth tone, and the practical healthy-living tips that focus on balance rather than extremism. 

3. Do Cool Sh*t

by Miki Agrawal

Summary Excerpt: In Do Cool Sh*t, serial social entrepreneur, angel investor, and all-around cool sh*t–doer Miki Agrawal shows how to start a successful company—from brainstorming to raising money to getting press without any connections—all while having a meaningful life!

My First Impression: I just read the first chapter of this one last night and I can already tell that Miki is a girl after my own heart. I love her gutsiness and her attitude on life. I can tell that this book is going to be super motivational.

4. #GIRLBOSS

by Sophia Amoruso

Summary Excerpt: #GIRLBOSS includes Sophia’s story, yet is infinitely bigger than Sophia. It’s deeply personal yet universal. Filled with brazen wake-up calls (“You are not a special snowflake”), cunning and frank observations (“Failure is your invention”), and behind-the-scenes stories from Nasty Gal’s meteoric rise, #GIRLBOSS covers a lot of ground. It proves that being successful isn’t about how popular you were in high school or where you went to college (if you went to college). Rather, success is about trusting your instincts and following your gut, knowing which rules to follow and which to break.

My First Impression: Wow, Sophia's story is so inspiring! She founded Nasty Gal at the age of 22 for crying out loud! She seems to be all about going against the grain (in a good way) and paving your own path. I can't wait to read this one.

5. Lean In

by Sheryl Sandberg

Summary Excerpt: Sandberg is the chief operating officer of Facebook and is ranked on Fortune’s list of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business and as one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People in the World. In 2010, she gave an electrifying TEDTalk in which she described how women unintentionally hold themselves back in their careers. Her talk, which became a phenomenon and has been viewed more than two million times, encouraged women to “sit at the table,” seek challenges, take risks, and pursue their goals with gusto.

My First Impression: This isn't a new book, but it's one of those books that is referenced frequently (not to mention it was a #1 bestseller!), so I felt like I needed to see what it was all about. It seems to be all about girl power and female leadership in the workplace, which is a topic that I think we all need to hear more about, so I'm excited to see what she has to say.

Do you like to read more in the summertime? Let me know what you're planning on reading this summer in the comments below! xo