As a media girl myself, I consider myself to be having a media girl summer. I swear I can never put a show down—or a book, if we are being literal—once I’ve become obsessed. I feel like having a list of shows to rewatch during the summer is essential, and the summer books keep rolling in. I have a specific spot on my shelf for summer romances, I’m serious.

The months of June–August are the prime time to put the assignments to rest, the stress away, and pull out a good book and have your life soundtracked by a good summer playlist. Whether you’re out by the beach (I’m jealous) or overseas (still jealous), this can be a simple but amazing guide to your memorable media girl summer—a summer soulmate, if you will.

I feel like a good show, centered around summer or not, is much needed. It has a type of energy that defines a media girl summer. A few of my favorite shows to watch during the summer—and a few favs in general—are The Summer I Turned Pretty, We Were Liars, Panic, and One Tree Hill. I feel like if you consume media, you’ve heard of those shows before, and rightfully so.

I feel like a good summer show puts all that uneasiness to rest and makes you truly feel like you’re living vicariously through summer. If you’re like me, I have no vacations this summer and I live in a state with no beaches—so these shows make me feel extra special.

The Summer I Turned Pretty is always a good one, and you already know it’s somewhat of a blueprint. Love triangles and beach towns—my kind of show. Speaking of beach towns, a new release We Were Liars has definitely been added to my list of summer shows to rewatch. It’s chaotic and yes, it makes you cry, but it’s got that twist that keeps you hooked.

A personal favorite of mine, Panic is a small-town show (which I love even more) and has a punch of secrets and games that makes the summer feel a little suspenseful.
A current favorite of mine—if you know, you know—One Tree Hill is an all-around year show to watch: summer, fall, winter, and spring. If it’s there, then so am I.

I feel like diving into a good book is essential, and summer is always for falling in love—whether it’s with a person or something that makes you blush and feel woozy. Enter: Abby Jimenez.
If you haven’t read a single one of Abby’s books, you’re doing summer entirely wrong. Her stories are the perfect balance of romance and real-life struggles, and they have such heart. It could be Yours Truly or Just for the Summer (personal fav)—it’s warm and addictive and it’s enough to make you shed a tear on a late summer night.

I feel like when the sun sets and a good craving for a summer movie kicks in, you have many options—but there are only two right choices:

• Aquamarine is a personal favorite of mine and hits my nostalgia heart in all the right ways. Me and a close friend of mine love this movie, and it just feels perfectly like summer.
• Monte Carlo will forever hold a special place in my heart, and it’s like every good moment packed into one. Being set in Europe, it makes me feel like I’m in Europe—which is a win in my book. Dreamy love stories? Count me all the way in.

And finally, just because I live and breathe through music, a summer playlist is just what everyone needs. Here’s my personal playlist to keep you in the perfectly unpopped bubble of media girl summer, all summer long:
Listen here

I, for one, cannot believe summer is almost over. It’s my first year without going back to school—but also my first year I feel like my life is just beginning. But for now, I’ll soak up the sun and lay in bed or a hammock with a good book and a good show.

Remember: you only get one summer a year—make the most of it.

Live. Laugh. Love, media girls.

Happy 4th, or should I say Happy 4th in a very Tsitp pretty way, if you know, you know.