☀️ Poolside Reads You’ll Devour: A Summer Escape with Jenna Evans Welch
If your summer vibe is sun, a cold drink, and a book you cannot put down, let me introduce you to one of my absolute favorite authors for that mood: Jenna Evans Welch.
Her books are the definition of effortless, romantic, European escape energy—perfect for high school readers and honestly just as enjoyable as an adult.
And yes…
my personal favorite? Love & Gelato 💛
🍦 Why These Books Are Perfect Summer Reads
These books feel like:
a European vacation
a soft romance
a coming-of-age story you actually enjoy reading
They’re:
✔ Sweet
✔ Light
✔ Pretty innocent
✔ Easy to devour in a day or two
👉 Basically: the kind of book you finish before your sunscreen wears off
✈️ The European Escape Series
💛 Love & Gelato (Italy)
Set in Florence
Gelato, art, hidden stories
A mix of romance + family mystery
💋 My fave for a reason—it’s just chef’s kiss
🍀 Love & Luck (Ireland)
Road trip vibes
Irish countryside
Friendship + self-discovery
🏝️ Love & Olives (Greece)
Sun-soaked island setting
Family secrets + romance
Major Mamma Mia energy
✨ What Makes Them So Fun
One of the coolest things about Jenna’s writing is:
👉 She uses real places as her settings
Which means:
You can literally look up the cafés, streets, and landmarks
It feels like you’re traveling with the characters
You get little historical or cultural tidbits woven in
It’s subtle, but for a history girl… it hits 👀
💋 Final Take (History It Girl Style)
These books aren’t meant to be heavy.
They’re meant to be:
joyful
escapist
just a little romantic
The kind of stories that remind you summer is supposed to feel easy.
So if you need a break from serious reading—or just want something you’ll actually finish…
Pick one up.
Start with Love & Gelato. (also a Netflix film {I thought it was okay as an adaption})
Trust me.
