Giveaways and Reviews

Summer Reads {Chapters Indigo Gift Card Giveaway}

Every summer, I go back to my teenage self. No, not in the irresponsible carefree way (mind you, the wine…) but more so in that I go back to my favourite past time, reading on the deck, tanning my legs in the sun, with an icy drink by my side and maybe some sunflower seeds or garden peas to nibble on. Bliss, right? Here’s a list of my 5 summer reads so far, with the #1 at the top being the one I’m currently reading (I can’t wait to start the series on TV!)

Click on the images for Chapters Indigo links to the books.

Maybe it was because I went to a Catholic high school, where the girls were forced to wear skirts while the boys could wear pants (some even wore jeans and sweatpants) that this book didn’t seem to make it on the English class’s reading list. I’d have adored it then for sure, and I’m so glad that the buzz online inspired me to read it. I should finish it in the next day or two and highly recommend it!

Another book that then turned into a TV series – I actually watched Thirteen Reasons Why on Netflix first. I wish I had done it the other way around, as this is one of the rare times I found the series better. If you’re new to both, read the book first!

This was a good summer read, intriguing and mysterious but not too scary (despite Reese Witherspoon’s quote on the cover).

I really liked this book. The story is at times joyful, at times very sad. You pick sides, and may be surprised that your friend or family member after reading may pick another side. I heard the movie version of this book was a disaster, so I haven’t watched it yet – not sure if I want to ruin the memory of it since I loved the story so much! Anyone else?

This is a book I picked up and then wasn’t sure I wanted to read, based on the premise of a mother losing her child right in front of her eyes. The book has several surprising twists and everything isn’t all that it seems (of course it isn’t!)

To help inspire more summer reading, we’re giving away a $25 Chapters Indigo Gift Card! To enter to win, simply share your summer reading suggestion – this can be a great resource for others looking for ideas too! There’s lots of bonus entries available as well. Good luck everyone!

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  • Big little lies by Lianne Moriarty is my favourite book! I also just finished ‘what Alice forgot’by her and that’s a good read too

    • Big Little Lies is so good! I read it this spring and loved it! Thanks on the tip for What Alice Forgot, I’ll put it on my list!

  • The Handmaid’s Tale is a good pick. I read different genres that that though paranormal, romance and urban fantasy. My reading list this summer is catching up on series books I have fallen behind on, like Lynsay Sands’ Argeneau series and Laken Cane’s Rune Alexander series.

  • Just read City of Bones – very interesting YA paranormal novel – first in a series and excited to read the others!

  • I’m starting to have enough time to read again now that baby is a little older. I think I’ll search for a feel good book, easy to read.

  • Big Little Lies, still haven’t watched the show, but loved the book, felt so satisfied at the end.

  • I usually like something a little lighter – like a good “chick lit” fluff piece. Makes for an easy pool read between chasing the kids!

  • Sometimes I struggle to find the time to enjoy a good book, but summer is the perfect opportunity to do this! I’d like te read The Light between Oceans.

  • The Light betwen the Oceans sounds like a book I will try to get my hands on, I’m reading Trevor Noah’s biographical ‘Born a Crime’..it’s fascinating…

  • I’m currently reading book one of The Magicians Trilogy by Lev Grossman. Like grown up Harry Potter.

  • I have read the Light between the Oceans , Great read.
    I think I need to get hooked up with chapters reviewing summer reads:) I have made it through a lot!

  • I think The Dark Dark wood looks good. For the summer, I like to read something that isn’t too heavy, but still mysterious.

  • Just finished Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare, second book in her latest series. Highly recommend, even for a young adult genre!

  • I want to read In a Dark, Dark Wood. I read The Woman in Cabin 10 and liked it, even though it took me a while to get into it. I also have The Handmaid’s Tale on my pile of books to be read. I just finished Beartown and really liked it. I loved Big Little Lies and just started The Husband’s Secret. The Hypnotist’s Love Story was good as well. I want to read all of Lianne Moriarty’s books.

  • I’ve also read “I Let You Go” and “The Light Between Oceans” this past year. I have a goal of reading 50+ books this year and am well on my way.
    Some others that I’ve read recently:
    The Outlander Series
    I am Pilgrim
    Before We Were Yours
    This Is How It Always Is
    The Hate U Give
    The Sound of Gravel
    Alone: Orphaned on the Ocean
    The Book of Unknown Americans
    The Twilight Wife
    Where the Air is Sweet
    What Alice Forgot

    All of those have been pulled off the reading lists of others so I’m always looking for new recommendations 🙂

  • In a dark, dark wood seems like it would be an interesting read! I wouldn’t mind checking that one out. I am not much of a reader but I do try to pick up a big every once and a while. Right now I am in between two books. Carly’s Voice and Unsealed which the author is actually my brother in laws girl friend. So far a great and interesting read

  • I like your picks, especially “The Handmaid’s Tale”. I’m a huge reader! I don’t usually get into mystery/thriller type books, but, I just decided to give one a whirl, and started “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn. I like it a lot…the plot really pulls me in. I’m going to look up other books by Gillian Flynn after I finish this one. I think I’m hooked on mystery books now. 🙂

  • I’ve been enjoying the Lunar Chronicles this summer. An interesting YA Fantasy retelling of fairy tales that clips along nicely.

  • My summer reading recommendation is ‘The Couple Next Door’. A really good book that kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time!

  • I love all your picks – I’ve read the Handmaid’s Tale (ages ago) and I love it, and all the others look great too. I didn’t realize Thirteen Reasons Why was a book – would much rather read it than watch the series. I’m not sure I could handle I Let You Go (I picture myself ugly crying…), but the twists do sound interesting.

  • I’ve read all of your picks except Thirteen Reasons Why because I watched the Netflix series instead. The Handmaid’s Tale is one of my favorites and the TV series was actually really great too!

  • Thank you for the list I have been looking for a book to read and would like to read I let go and from the comments I would like to read a few of them like Big little lies

  • I am reading “Werewolves (Women of the otherworld)” by Kelley Armstrong right now, but I have Jennifer McMahon’s “Don’t Breathe a Word” on deck.

  • Kathy Griffin’s Celebrity Run ins – I love me some good celebrity stories. I also just finished Amy Schumer’s book which was cute and not too bad. I love reading and have read so many books I’m now into non fiction to try and expand my horizons.

  • My pick for a great summer read is an old one, but a great one! Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt. It broke and warmed my heart at the same time!

  • I’m in the process of trying new to me authors and expanding the subject matter of what I read. The Handmaid’s Tale is at the top of my to read list at the moment.

  • I will pretty much read anything. The handmaids tale by Margaret Atwood would be my choice to read oug of your picks. I usually read chicklit. Easy and entertaining

  • The Handmaid’s Tale was definitely one of the stand-out books of my teen years. Really blew me away. That’s why I was so excited when the series started.. they have done a phenomenal job portraying this amazing story!

  • I liked “The Handmaid’s Tale”. Read it when it first came out. I’m looking forward to reading “In a Dark, Dark Wood.”

  • I have been reading “The Virus Hunter”. Great for anyone who like true stories about epidemiology.

  • the first two books were already on my must-read list! Thanks for the recommendations – we’re always at the library but I’ve been drawing a blank on books to look out for!

  • I haven’t had a lot of time to read this summer but the light between the ocean sounds like it would be awesome to read.

  • I’ll try I Let You Go, looks good to me. I read A Handmaid’s Tail years ago and enjoyed it, should read it again.

  • the Light between oceans sounds like it would be good, I have to admit I have not read a book in a very long time

  • I find that the book version is always better than the movie so I get what you mean! I haven’t read or watched The Light Between Oceans yet but I’d like watch the movie first and then read the book.

  • I would like to read The Light Between Oceans. It sounds like a good book to discuss with friends after reading it for some interesting discussions.

  • For the summer I like to read short stories. I find Chicken Soup for the Soul books perfect. I love the heart warming stories.

  • Thanks for listing your picks. I’m always looking for new books to read. I’m interested in The Handmaid’s Tale.

  • I have Margaret Atwood’s books on my reading list. I probably will get to them only in the fall though…

  • Every one of your picks sounds amazing except for The Handmaids Tale – Margaret Atwood, I always feel like a bad Canadian when I say it but I really do not like her writing!

  • You’ve intigued me with your description of The Light Between Oceans. Ihave been reading lots of biographies lately but will be picking this book up soon.

  • I have read a couple of your picks – The light between the oceans and The handmaids tail. Both wonderful books. Right now I’m really enjoying “The Neighbours Next Door”

  • I have been doing a lot of reading this summer – I just finished a book called A Man Called Ove that was truly amazing!

  • I looooved The Light Between Oceans. I actually enjoyed the movie and thought they did a good job adapting it, i’m surprised that you heard otherwise! Other great summer reads are Gone Girl, and The Husband’s Secret (written by the author of Big Little Lies, which was turned into a popular TV show). I love books with twists and will have to check out some of your other suggestions! Thanks for the chance to win 🙂

  • I love The No 1 ladies Dectective Agency series for a fun read. And it’s a super long series so your reading can go into the winter too.

  • i haven’t read a real book in ages. The light between oceans was on my movie list…but i’d like to read the book too. i have no idea what is out there for books.

  • Thirteen Reasons Why was not in my radar until my tween ask me if she can read it. I read it before I allowed her to and I think parents should read it first and weigh in if their child is mature enough to understand the contents of the story.

  • My addiction is reading. I read all the time. My goal for this year was to read 100 books and I passed that before June 30th. Mostly I read mysteries and love to read series. Following a character for a number of books is a favourite of mine. That said, for standalones I would highly recommend The Nightingale and All the Light I Cannot See. Now got to go…there is a book unfinished!

  • Love books and The Handmaid’s Tale was so good when I read it many moons ago, however, I quit watching the show as I didn’t like it. Love reading Shilpi Somaya Gowda’s books too.

  • I am currently reading Samantha Irby’s We are never meeting in real life. It’s a collection of essays. It’s awesome! I really enjoy her writing on her blog, and am enjoying the book as well.

  • You made some great choices. I have loved Margaret Atwood and Handmaids Tale for a very very long time.

  • I love your reading list so much I would have a hard time picking which one to read first. “I Let You Go” sounds so intriguing that I might choose to read it first. 🙂

  • Summer doesn’t have a lot of time to read for me, only at bed time and then i’m so tired i fall right asleep

  • As much as I bet these books are amazing, I only ever read romance because it’s the only way I get romance. The series I’m doing right now is by Lenora Bell, it’s The Disgraced Dukes serie and I’m really liking it..

  • I am reading a few books that I would recommend. My daughter and I read a few stories each evening from The Dog Did What? It’s humorous and so endearing.
    I am also enjoying Don’t Let Anything Dull Your Sparkle by Doreen Virtue. I am a fan of many of her books and this one is no exception.
    Finally I am not very far into The Hunger Games but so far so good. I’ve never seen the show so it’s all new to me. I usually enjoy books more than the movies.

  • I haven’t read any of those books mentioned above. I really love reading autobiographies or real life stories. I’m looking forward to reading Finding Gobi – A Little Dog with a Very Big Heart by Dion Leonard. It’s about a man, Dion, who was running an ultra marathon in the Gobi Desert and was joined by a stray dog half way through his run. 🙂

  • These are great selections. Haven’t read them yet. The “in a dark, dark wood” sounds like a book I’d like to read.

  • Sophie Kinsella – My Not-So-Perfect Life
    Anything by Kim Gruenenfelder (great chick lit)
    JP Delaney – The Girl Before
    Susannah Cahalan – Brain on fire: My Month of Madness
    Paula Hawkins – Into the Water

  • I’ve been reading my older books and the last one I got through was ” The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side” by Agatha Christie.

  • I really want to re-read a handmaid’s tale AND I want to see thirteen reasons why. I didn’t know it was a book!

  • I believe that the light between oceans is the book my one friend wont shut up about. Our third friend in our trio is more intriguing, though.. because we’ve all been trying to get a sort of book club between us going.. and friend #3 simply never has the time or patience or whatever to stick with or “like” a book.. yet that one she adored. so of course im extremely curious. thank you for reinforcing it.

  • The Handmaid’s Tale is incredibly timely and well written. Nice pick! I also love reading books about places I want to go, or am going in the near future.

  • I’ve seen the handmaid’s tale on TV and it interested me enough to read the cliff notes in Wikipedia. I think I would like to read the actual book too. Quite unique.

  • Interesting choices! Of these choices, I’ve only read The Handmaid’s Tale, but I have yet to watch the series. On the other hand, I have seen 13 Reasons Why, but I haven’t read the book yet.

  • I’m mainly a YA reader and my indigo list is LONGGGGGGGGGGGGG….I tend to order from them instead of the other big guys as the min to buy for free shipping is only $25 …. I have quite a few boxed sets I want to get when I have money again..right now I’m just re-reading stuff that I have series of (I love a good read lol)

    I remember reading the handmaids tale when I was a kid (16) in school

  • I do not read in the summer, I spend the time outdoors doing lots of summer activities, come fall, and when little one is back in school I will start to read again, love reading and I love to read lots of different kinds of books.

  • I haven’t read any of the books on your list though several are also on my hope to read soon list!

  • I really like Ruth Ware.. I read her Woman in Cabin 10 book and it was really good. I will have to read In a Dark, Dark Wood.

  • I read “13 Reasons Why” years ago when it was first written. I quite enjoyed it. I think I’ll pick up a few of your suggestions, particularly “I Let You Go”.

  • I love your picks, I think Dark dark wood looks really interesting and definitely something i would enjoy

  • Summertime on the patio relaxing and reading a great book is how I love to spend my free time. Right now I am reading “City of Friends” by Joanna Trollope. Its so good and I highly recommend it. 🙂

  • Finished reading a great book called The Couple Next Door. Love to read…wish I had more time to do it though. The Handmaid’s Tale sounds good.

  • Ghostly: A Collection of Ghost Stories edited, introduced, and illustrated by Audrey Niffenegger. It’s a good mix of classics from the likes of Edgar Allan Poe and M.R. James, and newer works from contemporary writers like Neil Gaiman and Niffenegger.

  • The Handmaid’s Tale has been a long time favourite of mine, I’ve read it 4 times now and something new stands out to me each time I’ve read it. I also heard that the movie for The Light Between Oceans bombed but I still want to read the book. If I win, maybe I’ll do that!

  • Nice picks. I actually watched the Light Between Oceans movie with my wife. It started out ok but then halfway through it started to lose my interest. I am sure the book is better.

  • I LIKE TO READ THE CLASSICS TO MY SON LIKE CHARLOTTE WEB AND THE HARDY BOYS AND MODERN STUFF LIKE CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS HARRY POTTER. I LIKE TO READ ANYTHING NON FICTION AND TRUE CRIME

  • My preferred genre of books is YA Dystopian. My son has been reading The 100 series and he says its really good and I will be reading that soon too.

  • I just finished reading Ready Player One and it was awesome! I’m now reading Pretty Little Lies and I’m enjoying it so far!

  • Your look fine-I don’t read so no recommendations I would love to win this for my son who LOVES to read and is turning 11 tomorrow Aug.22