After a run of disappointing books, I finally hit my stride and have read some incredible books on this summer reading list. Most of these are from authors that are totally new to me, and I can definitely say that some of these authors have earned a spot in my favorites list.Just as background on my reading preferences, I live for a good mystery book and science fiction is definitely my favorite genre. I was introduced to the Lord of the Rings trilogy in elementary school and immersing myself in a totally new world is one of my favorite pastimes. I read books to escape, so any author that can transport me to another place or time will have my loyalty forever.In no particular order, here are the books that were on my summer reading list.

The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin

I have to thank Walden Pond Books for putting me on to this book. Although Amazon is so cheap and convenient, there's nothing like getting lost in a good bookstore. At Walden Pond Books, there was a display featuring award-winning books. I saw that The Fifth Season had won a Hugo Award (which is for the best science fiction and fantasy literature) and it's also written by a black woman, so I was automatically interested. This is book 1 in a futuristic trilogy where the earth is constantly struck by devastating seismic events. The twist is that some people have the power to quell these earthquakes but, ironically, they're oppressed.The trilogy follows a mother on her quest to save the earth and find her lost daughter. As the trilogy unfolds, you discover the cause of the earthquakes. You also explore the power of a mother's love, grief, reconciliation and self-reflection. The best science fiction books use worlds and characters that appear so different from our own lives to shine a light on our society and expose its hypocrisies and injustices. The Fifth Season does just that, and keeps you wildly entertained as well.

All Shot Up by Chester Himes

Again, I discovered this book at Walden Pond Books. I was browsing through the used book section looking for something interesting (and cheap!). I told the sales guy that I loved Walter Mosley and asked him to recommend something similar. He pointed me to Chester Himes. Himes' books are basically like the blaxploitation movies from the 70s but in written form. All Shot Up is set in Harlem in the late 1950s. It has all the elements that you'd want from a book like this - corrupt politicians, shady police and some underworld dealings for good measure. All Shot Up is a fun, quick read, and the fact that it's set in Harlem made it so special. I got a kick out of reading about blocks that I've walked on and landmarks that are sadly disappearing. If you love mysteries or Harlem, this one is worth checking out.

Queen Sugar by Natalie Baszile

Disclaimer: the book is nothing like the show!Queen Sugar is about a widow returning to Louisiana to farm a plot of land left by her late father with her young daughter. I think we're all familiar with the "Sweet Home Alabama" plot where the big city woman moves to the country and discovers the joys of simple living. While Queen Sugar relies upon a familiar storyline, the characters are unique and incredibly engaging. I'm always drawn to stories about what it means to come home, so I really enjoyed this one.

Every Day is for the Thief by Teju Cole

My brother recommended this one, and it ticks all the boxes for making a summer reading list. It's quick, engaging and it even has pictures lol. Another book about returning home, Every Day is for the Thief follows a man returning to Nigeria over a decade after leaving everything behind and settling in America. We follow him along as he revisits family and friends and tries to reconcile his history with the man he's become. While I can't relate to immigrating to another country and balancing two different identities, I totally relate to coming back home and struggling to make a place for yourself. Coming home is so strange because it's simultaneously the exact same and wildly different and Cole captures that feeling beautifully.

Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Unpopular opinon: I didn't really like Americanah.I know everyone loved it, but I just didn't connect with the main character. However, I appreciated Adichie's writing style, so when I saw Purple Hibiscus in Barnes & Noble a couple of weeks ago, I decided to buy it to read on my Croatia trip (posts coming soon about that!). Purple Hibiscus is about a wealthy teenage girl growing up in an oppressively Catholic household. We follow her journey as she matures and gains more freedom and struggles to reconcile that with her strict upbringing. All of this is set amongst the background of modern Nigeria and its political instability. This is a great read that touches on religion and the poignancy of realizing that our parents are flawed humans, just like everyone else.I've also listed to some phenomenal audiobooks - What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty (author of Big Little Lies), Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman, Born a Crime by Trevor Noah, The Illuminae Trilogy by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff (incredible performance by a cast of narrators) and Artemis by Andy Weir.

Your turn: what's on your summer reading list?