I often make lists of books I plan or hope to read in a particular season or month but rarely stick to that list and this summer was no exception. Back in May, I made a list of 15 books that I planned to read by September. Today I’ll share what books I said I wanted to read and what books I actually read this summer.

I have gotten comments from blog readers who say they don’t make lists of what books they want to read. They simply read whatever they want to, whenever they want to. I actually do that as well. The man reason I make the lists are so I won’t forget about a book I heard about and wanted to read but couldn’t read yet because I was reading another one.

Plus, I find making lists very relaxing. I know at least one friend who feels the same way about lists.

Anyhow, on to my list of what I “planned” to read this summer:

• Lord Edgeware Dies by Agatha Christie
• Little Men by Louisa Mae Alcott
• Trouble Shooter by Louis L’Amour
• Ever Faithful by Karen Barnett
• The Clue of the Whistling Bagpipes by Carolyn Keene
• Dandelion Cottage by Carol Watson Rankin
• The Cross Country Quilters by Jennifer Chiaverini
• The Bobbsey Twins on Blueberry Island
• An Assassination on the Agenda by T.E. Kinsey
• The Real James Herriot by James Wight
• A Sentence to Death by Anthony Horowitz
• Summer by the Tides by Denise Hunter
• Return to Gone Away by Elizabeth Enright
• The Secret of Red Gate Farm by Carolyn Keene
• Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

Here are the books I actually read or started or am still reading and not all of them were on my list:

• Tracking Tilly by Janice Thompson
• Renee by Sandra Ardoin
• The Secret of Shadow Ranch by Carolyn Keene
• The Case of the Whistling Bagpipes by Carolyn Keene (on list)
• Live and Let Chai by Bree Baker
• The Fast Lane by Sharon Peterson
• The Women of Wynton’s by Donna Mumma
• The Sentence of Death by Anthony Horowitz (on list)
• Lord Edgware Dies by Agatha Christie (on list)
• A Death At A Scottish Christmas by Lucy O’Connelly
• Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne
• Clueless at the Coffee Station by Bee Littlefield
• The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery
• Return to Gone Away by Elizabeth Enright (on list)
• The Key Collector’s Promise by Donna Stone
• Trouble Shooter by Louis L’Amour (on list and in the middle of)
• The Cross Country Quilters by Jennifer Chiaverini (listening to on Audible)

Which books were my favorites?

The Blue Castle was my favorite overall, followed by Clueless at the Coffee Station, The Clue of the Whistling Bagpipes, Return to Gone Away, and The Sentence of Death.

Have I written a list for autumn? Of course, I have!

As I said, lists are fun and help remind me what books I wanted to read. They are not, however, written in stone so I often change them based on my mood.

 I’ll be back another day with my autumn list of “planned” reads.

What books did you read this summer? Any that stand out specifically?