8 Summer Reads to Turn to For Your Mental Health in 2023

Have you been looking for books about mental health to add to your summer reading list?

We’ve got you covered! In this blog, we’re sharing our 8 favorite Summer reads in 2023… but before we get started, we want to talk a little bit about why reading is such a superpower. For your mental health and beyond, books are for anyone and everyone!

Before you begin, remember that our professionals are always here to help

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The healing power of reading

Reading is more than just a way to pass the time—it can be a powerful tool for healing and self-discovery. Through emotional resonance, books provide validation and understanding of your own experiences. They foster empathy, broadening your perspective and cultivating self-compassion. Reading serves as an escape, reducing stress and promoting relaxation.

Reading equips you with knowledge, tools, and lifetimes of experience between the pages of each one you open. You can fine-tune mindfulness, focusing your attention on the present moment. Most importantly though, books offer you the opportunity to see yourself, others, and the world, in entirely new ways. They can teach lessons, inspire emotion, and offer a space to sort yourself out. There’s even an entire sub-type of therapy focused on reading and its incredible power.

With that in mind, we’d like to share something we made for you!

Luna Joy’s reccs for books about mental health to add to your summer reading list

Braving the Wilderness by Brené Brown

For when you’re feeling lost or like you don’t belong

As we grow, life changes. But with change, we often find ourselves grappling with what once was and having no idea of what’s next. Feeling lost or unmoored is a normal human experience—but it can feel really isolating. Through vulnerability and courage, Brown walks with you on a journey of self-discovery, reminding you that true belonging starts with belonging to yourself.

The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk

For when you're working through trauma

Healing from trauma requires understanding its effects on our bodies and minds. "The Body Keeps the Score" by Bessel van der Kolk sheds light on the impact of trauma and offers practical insights for finding your way forward. This book is a powerful tool in helping you navigate your healing journey.

Professional Troublemaker: The Fear-Fighter Manual by Luvvie Ajayi Jones

For when you’re afraid but need to do it anyway

Fear can hold us back from reaching our full potential but Luvvie is ready to challenge you with love, honesty and hilarity to step out of your comfort zone and into your incredible possibilities. In Professional Troublemaker, she leans into her rich experiences growing into her own troublemaking in America as a Nigerian woman. Let this powerhouse read inspire, empower and change your expectations of yourself.

Happy Place by Emily Henry

For when you simply want to escape

Sometimes, all you need is a captivating story to temporarily escape the pressures of everyday life. This utterly binge-able BookTok find really delivers for anyone who is looking for an escape that might still also inspire some gentleness when you return to reality. Emily Henry’s Happy Place is a trope-lovers dream in this summer love, fake dating, friendships as a central plot rom-com that really leans into the power of love, friendship and self-authenticity while still delivering fluffy, laugh-out-loud escapism.

The Science of Trust: Emotional Attunement for Couples by John Gottman

For reconnecting with your love

Strong, healthy relationships contribute to our overall well-being. If you want to deepen your connection with your partner, Dr John Gottman is more or less the love guru with more than 2 decades of research that has changed the landscape of relationships, couples therapy and love altogether. Learn practical strategies to build emotional attunement, strengthen trust, and nurture your relationship from one of his core teachings with this read.

Body Positive Power: How to Stop Dieting, Make Peace with Your Body and Live by Megan Jayne Crabbe

For learning to love your body

Loving and accepting our bodies is a crucial part of mental well-being. Megan Jayne Crabbe is a living icon for doing so, and in her book, she explores the dynamic realm of our relationships with our bodies, the world and ourselves in some beautiful (and difficult, honestly) ways that go beyond body positivity to reach into the core of the way we show up in our lives.

The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read: (And Your Children Will Be Glad That You Did) by Philippa Perry

For growth as a parent

Parenting is a journey filled with joy, challenges, and personal growth. It can also be complicated, overwhelming and rife with triggering and confusing circumstances that have no guidebook to help you get through them. Philippa Perry provides valuable tips, tools and validation for you, helping to navigate the complexities of raising children. Discover effective communication techniques and build stronger connections with your little ones.

Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? by Dr. Julie Smith

For a mental health mindset boost

In a world rife with quick fixes, a drive for the grind and constant urging to do more, be more and be utterly fine all the time, it can be hard to just be. Packed with practical strategies and valuable insights, this book covers a wide range of topics, helping you cultivate better mental well-being in all aspects of your life. And most importantly, it does it without a rush to the finish line or absolute solutions to the complexities of being human.

But remember, books are just one piece of the puzzle. If you're seeking personalized support and guidance on your mental health journey, it's time to turn the page and write a new chapter of healing with Luna Joy. Our team of compassionate professionals is here to provide the care and support you deserve.

Don't wait for the plot twist—take action today! Book an appointment with Luna Joy and let us be your partners in finding joy, growth, and peace. Together, we'll create a storyline filled with hope, resilience, and love.

So, grab your favorite bookmark and mark this moment as the beginning of your healing journey. Visit our website or give us a call to book your appointment. Let's write your story of well-being, one chapter at a time.

Your mental health is a tale worth investing in, and Luna Joy is here to help you turn the pages towards a brighter future.