Whether your summer looks like a leisurely afternoon in a lawn chair or a frantic buzz of activity with maybe a few minutes for a book while the kids take a nap, we hope you have at least some time to read during this beautiful time of year.

Here are a few tips to help you enjoy your summer reading:

Do: Read outside. Enjoy a little sunshine!

Don’t: Think that “reading by the pool” will make you look like a model on the cover of a magazine, with a perfect tan, no splashing children in sight, and mysterious color-coordination going on between the cover of the book, your swimsuit, and the beach towel.

Do: Take your kids to the library this summer.

Don’t: Take your kids to the library this summer after giving them double-dip ice cream cones to drip over the books.

You can also use fun tools like the American Library Association’s summer reading list for kids.

Do: Immerse yourself in a novel’s world and characters.

Don’t: Immerse yourself in a novel’s world and characters when you’re supposed to be the lifeguard on duty at the pool party.

Do: Judge a book by its cover. It can be fun to see a lineup of gorgeous covers and see which one catches your eye.

Don’t: Judge a book entirely based on its cover. Recommendations from others and a first chapter that draws you in are important too.

Do: Read something outside of the books you normally try. (Example: I don’t typically read contemporary romance, but this May, I decided to read Here to Stay, Meant to Be Mine, and Until I Found You in one big contemporary marathon…and loved them all!)

Don’t: Neglect your favorite genre either. There’s a reason it’s your go-to when choosing your next read!

Some of our June titles…I just love the pool image here. Makes me want to dive right in!

Do: Choose a book with a swoon-worthy hero.

Don’t: Actually swoon. People might think you’re suffering a heat stroke.

Do: Leave a review when you’ve really enjoyed a book. Authors love this, trust me!

Don’t: Give anything away in your review. No spoilers allowed!

Do: Take a cute date idea from your favorite romance and give it a try.

Don’t: Try to reenact a chase scene from your favorite romantic suspense novel. Particularly if it involves people shooting at you.

Your turn: what dos and don’ts would you give to your fellow readers?