Ready, set, read — kick off summer with these reading programs

Photo by LALtoday

If you’re anything like us, then summer is one of your favorite reading seasons of the year. No weekend is complete without a cheesy romance novel (Amelia’s fave) or chilling thriller (Connor’s go-to) read from the comfort of a pool float.

Get ready to dive into summer with these reading programs, clubs + recommendations:

• Lakeland Public Libraries , locations vary | This year’s summer reading program theme is “Adventure Begins at your Library,” and both the Main + Larry R. Jackson branches have calendars packed with activities. For the adults, check out the new Lit Flix book-to-movie club where participants can discuss movie adaptions of literary works.
• Pressed Books & Coffee , 213 E. Bay St. | Middle schoolers entering grades 6-8 can attend the inaugural club at Pressed to discuss books each month with their peers. The store + coffee shop will continue its signature book clubs for adults over the summer as well with selections spanning romance, thriller, and cooking — just to name a few.
• Inklings Book Shoppe , 243 N. Florida Ave. | Check out Inklings first-ever book club for young readers this summer, “Dream Big” — follow its Facebook page for meeting updates. Ladies can check out Bistro Book Babes throughout the summer, meeting every Tuesday + Sunday . Pro tip: Each day has a different book list.

Looking to build your own reading list? Check out these 38 books written by Lakeland authors.

Bonus: Don’t let your summer road trip stop you from hitting your reading goals. Peruse thousands of audio and eBooks on one of these free apps connected to the Polk County Library Cooperative.