Monthly Book Review: June 2026 AND Our European Vacation

June was a busy month. We went to Vegas to see my favorite modern band, No Doubt (The Beatles still rule as all time fave). The Sphere experience was epic. A week later we left for a two-week Europe trip: Amsterdam, Norwegian fjords cruise and Copenhagen. I ate, walked and gawked like a champ! Some thoughts:

• Europe knows how to do public transportation - efficient, safe, reliable and affordable
• Bread tastes so much better - likely due to fresh, simple ingredients and time-tested recipes
• Produce tastes infinitely better - best strawberries of my life
• We find a Thai massage place in every corner we've traveled. We even booked massages in Rome last year.
• Flowers grow in every nook and cranny - some small, single variety, some grand gardens
• Bikes!!!!
• Love cruising but land tour hits different - immersive, lingering
• Old architecture rocks my world
• Washcloths - why do Europeans eschew them? Bring your own as most places don't have them and they're hard to find.
• Sustainability is a way of life - TP is rough, tap water is delicious and refillable, they charge for plastic bags so bring your own, and public transport always cheaper and faster
• Universal issue - human spatial awareness. Why does a group walk at a glacial pace across an entire expanse?

Traveling with adult kids is a treat. They're old enough to enjoy rich experiences and fund their own way, but they also have their own opinions and agendas. You can tell them to go to their rooms or knock it off, but they won't listen.

You'd think with all that flying I would have ready more than two books, but alas I did not. A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna was my book club’s pick of the month and I was totally on board. This was already on my wish list after we read The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by the same author last year. Innkeeping is the story of 30-something witch Sera Swan. She is resigned to run an inn in rural Lancashire, England while mourning the loss of her powers due to casting a forbidden resurrection spell as young girl. She's surrounded by a quirky and charming cast of characters - eternally positive and optimistic aunt Jasmine, annoying witch trapped in a fox's body Clemmie, young cousin Theo, dashing knight Nicholas, witch guild historian Luke (and Scottish) and Luke's autistic sister Poppy. This is Sera's chosen family, the ones who support her no matter what her powers. A delightful story of resilience and selflessness.

The Midnight Train is a new book from Matt Haig, author of one of my favorite books, The Midnight Library. Train did not disappoint, It follows Wilbur Budd on the review of his life aboard a magical train. A reminder that we live so many versions of ourselves. Which would be uncomfortable to relive, and which would be magical? Would there be a point at which everything changes that you wish you could do differently?

Favorite quotes:

• … to realize that even your own past was new territory to explore; that memories were no more the real event than flags were their nations
• Love is a garden … you have to tend it
• Sometimes happiness has the least to teach us

Monthly Book Review: May 2026

The last day of May always feels like a turning point, the unofficial start of summer, but this year it hits different. I’ve been counting down to this stretch of time for what feels like forever. After months of long days, late nights, and both of us running on fumes, hubby and I are finally stepping out of the grind and into something brighter. Vacation is officially on the horizon—almost two weeks in Europe. But first, a little detour: 48 hours in Vegas to see No Doubt at the Sphere. It struck me recently that I haven’t taken a weekday off for a real vacation since October 1st. Not a single one. Never again will we skip a winter getaway. Lesson learned. Between my 10–12 hour workdays and my husband being out of town for months, we’ve been in survival mode far too long. Now it’s time to slow down. To breathe. To look up and remember there’s a whole world out there waiting to be experienced.

Here’s to beauty, rest, adventure—and the start of something good.

As I mentioned in last month’s far-too-short post, I’m completely hooked on The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower. I devoured eight books in just two and a half months. I want to be Emma (my favorite name of all time, by the way) – she’s deep, empathetic, defiant, curious, beguiling, and mischievous. I won’t give too much away because I’m selfish and believe it’s best experienced without bias, but I will share three things: the “alchemy” of the core four – Emma, Young Hawkes, St. Crispian’s poet vicar, Niall Pierce, the brooding American photographer/tenant, and the Duke of Islington – is pure magic; “Emma, I despair of you” is my favorite Lady Eugenia Spencer quote; and the handling of the sweet pea arc is sheer genius. I already miss them all and am anxiously awaiting volume nine.

Monthly Book Review: April 2026

I am completely addicted to The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion. I breezed through volumes 2 - 6 this month. It's gotten a bit juicy with a budding romance - beyond Emma's unintended intended. I've even fallen down the Emma M. Lion Wiki | Fandom. What will I do when I finish the last volume? Only two more to go.

Monthly Book Review: Feb/Mar 2026

If January was a slog (it was!), then February and March were bullet trains. How is it already April?! And par for the course in the frozen tundra, 1-3" of snow is predicted for tomorrow.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir was February's book club pick. I knew nothing going into it other than it was about "space" so I was very skeptical. I absolutely loved it! Then I learned it was being made into a movie starring Ryan Gosling (our book club saw it last night). Ryland Grace wakes up from a coma not knowing who or where he is. The book alternates chapters of Grace dealing with the trials of being on a ship careening through space lightyears from Earth while regaining his memory of how he got there. He must figure out how to stop an alien life from stealing the sun's energy. No biggie. There's lots of science and math, but the real magic is his meeting another alien and figuring out how to work together. Ultimately the story is about what kind of person Grace wants to be. Is he brave? Is he selfless? Or is he an ordinary person with skills and smarts that when faced with extraordinary circumstances figures out how to make it work and does the right thing?

I saw The Correspondent by Virginia Evans on a lot of recommendation lists so decided to follow the crowd. Again, I knew nothing about it. This chronicles rigid, no frills Sybil Van Antwerp's emails and letters over a 10-year period. There's no other narration outside of the correspondence. Sybil is a retired lawyer with a storied career of being the woman behind the man. She is difficult to love and formidable. Over the years, she is contacted by three people that change her life. And the mystery of an unknown recipient of some of her correspondence. I loved this as well - a slow burn that shows it's never too late to change.

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 1 is Bridgerton without the sex, in a good way. Emma is an orphan living in Victorian London. She is bright, witty, forthright and lives in her beloved Lapis Lazuli House with her "odious" cousin's widower, Archibald. She has a rich benefactor aunt that tries to make her a proper society lady and a collection of interesting friends and nemeses. Oh, to have the time to read Shakespeare all day, save for a mandatory tea or occasional ball. I'm addicted and have already started volume 2.

The Mad Wife by Meagan Church was my book club pick for the month. Lulu is a 1950's dutiful housewife. She makes a mean gelatin salad and has a seemingly perfect suburban wife. But she bottles all her true thoughts and feelings inside, not even her husband or best friend truly know her. A new baby and a new neighbor turn her world upside down. This is another slow burn, and I loved Lulu's detailed inner dialogue and the reminiscence of her childhood. How many women were "lost" inside themselves without a voice or opportunities before the 1970's? Makes me grateful to live in a time where I have agency, choices and freedom. For now, anyways.

Monthly Book Review: January 2026

Last day of the longest month - I felt ALL 31 days of January and I'm ready to move on. We have a busy February with birthdays, Valentine's Day, the beginning of Lent, and two dates with our besties. It's Sassy's birthday month and we have a cookie decorating class and other activities planned to celebrate, so I predict February will fly by. Also, I need to start cold weather seeds like sweet peas, poppies, lupine, feverfew and calendula. I'm going to attempt dahlias again after two years of epic failures - last time so if they don't succeed, I'm off dahlias for good.

Only one book this month and it was really good. A member of my book club selected Table for Two by Amor Towles and I gave a thumbs-up since I loved A Gentleman in Moscow, Rules of Civility and The Lincoln Highway. This is a collection of short stories plus a "novella" picking up Evelyn Ross' storyline from Rules of Civility. Note: no need to have read Rules in order to enjoy this. Towles' writing is languid and evocative, detailing the thoughts and actions of each character so the reader understands the choices at hand and related consequences. I especially loved The Ballad of Timothy Touchett, about an aspiring writer with no experience who begins working at a rare bookstore thanks to the attention of the bookstore's owner while he scribbles Ernest Hemmingway's name in a library. Another I loved was The Bootlegger about a rule following investment banker with an obsession for exposing an elderly man recording opera in Carnegie Hall. 

Another book club member selected The Hail Mary Project and I'm over halfway through that. Spoiler: I love it! It's being made into a movie starring Ryan Gosling which I did not know until after I began listening (highly recommend the audio version!). The movie comes out in March so perfect timing - here's the trailer.

2025 Year in Review

Two final reads to close out December. I’ll Be Home for Christmas by Jenny Bayliss came recommended by a blogger I follow as a cozy, Christmas‑y pick. Frederica "Fred" begrudgingly returns to her childhood home in the Scottish Highlands as she seeks to reset her life following the loss of her job and long-term relationship. Her quirky mother and elderly aunts run a Christmas cracker business, and her childhood best friend Ryan is a local legend. Fred is not returning home, rather she's "perching" while she figures things out. It was a bit long and somewhat predictable, but ultimately charming — exactly the kind of comforting story that feels just right for this time of year. I felt like I knew every corner of Pine Bluff and it sounded like the perfect little hamlet - complete with a town nice/naughty list - sadly it's fictional.

Awake by Jen Hatmaker was the book I wish I’d had during my own divorce nine years ago. Hatmaker, a well‑known evangelical pastor’s wife, faced a very public unraveling of her marriage after discovering her husband’s affair. In the aftermath, she examines the forces that shaped her—evangelical purity culture, patriarchal expectations, and the relentless pressure to be the “perfect” Christian woman—sorting through what still serves her and what she’s ready to release. The a-ha moment for me was when she identified as co-dependent (when you let others affect your feelings and actions). Awake is ultimately a story of returning to oneself, identifying your true beloveds, and to the possibility of a life imagined beyond the rules and roadblocks we’ve been taught to accept.

2025 didn’t go quite as planned, but it was full of moments I’ll never forget.

It was supposed to be my hot girl summer, but hip pain had other ideas. That unexpected total hip replacement became a defining plot twist—one that taught me patience, grit, and how to accept help even when I’d rather power through.

Still, there was so much good. We took the trip of a lifetime to Italy, spent quality time with friends and family, celebrated two beautiful weddings, attended my 40th high school reunion, remodeled our main bath, and squeezed in a quick, restorative getaway to Door County. We also welcomed Pipper, our new-to-us cat with a big personality, while our beloved Lulu is still with us—slowing down, but very much part of our world.

And through every high and low, I read. 25 in '25 kept me company, kept me curious, and kept me grounded. My top 4 reads:

Honorable mentions:

• The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna 
• The Briar Club by Kate Quinn 
• City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert
• The Woman on the Ledge by Ruth Mancini 
• Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy 

Here’s to 2026—may it bring more joy, more ease, and maybe, finally, that hot girl summer energy.

Monthly Book Review: November 2025

November was quite eventful—I underwent a full hip replacement on the 12th. Years of severe osteoarthritis had left the socket with no cartilage at all (bone on bone), compounded by a labral tear. Everyday movements like walking, bending, getting in and out of the car, or even rising from the commode had become excruciating.

The first ten days after surgery were tough, but now, three weeks later, I’m feeling strong and optimistic. I’m confident that by Valentine’s Day I’ll be pain-free and moving with ease once again. Hip, hip, hooray!

And I managed to fit two good reads/listens in this month!

Heartwood by Amity Gaige chronicles three women: Valerie, a missing Appalachian Trail hiker, Beverly, the Maine game warden leading her search, and Lena, an elderly. disabled forager playing armchair detective. The story explores mother-daughter dynamics and what it means to be lost. This is on the New York Times 100 most notable books list for the year and billed as a thriller. I don't know that I'd call it a thriller but there's definite suspense as each woman feels more desperate as time passes without locating Valerie. Lots of trail subculture references and Valerie's trail partner, Santos, is a hoot. 

The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles brings me back to my favorite WWII genre. Lily is a Montana teen writing a school report on France in the 1980s and decides to ask her elderly French neighbor, Odile, for help. Turns out Odile worked at the famed American Library in Paris. Odile takes Lily under her wing, teaching her French and sharing her love of books. Lily confides in Odile as she navigates coming of age in a small town with an absentee father, new stepmother and two new little brothers. Odile and Lily have parallel experiences as young women making sacrifices, finding their voice and learning how the choices we make can have grave consequences. This was so heartwarming and fresh.

Monthly Book Review: October 2025

Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan is Hallmark Movie Channel meets Nancy Meyers rom-com, sort of modern-day Gilmore Girls vibes. Nora is a sarcastic single mom and TV romance screenwriter whose heartbreak fuels a hit script. When a film crew—and a famous actor—descend on her home, her life takes a turn. Though pretty predictable, the journey is fun, and the writing is witty and sharp.

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy is a romantic thriller (is that a thing? if not, it should be) about survival and resilience. A woman washes up on the shore of Shearwater Island - the remote home between Australia and Antarctica of the world's largest seed bank. A small family comprised of a widowed father, and his three children are the only ones there, but that wasn't always the case. I loved the slow unraveling of secrets told from multiple perspectives. Though significant creative license was taken with some of the events (a beach reclaimed by the sea in less than six weeks), the references to climate change  are powerful. 

“But here is the nature of life. That we must love things with our whole selves, knowing they will die.”

“Maybe we will drown or burn or starve one day, but until then we get to choose if we’ll add to that destruction or if we will care for each other.” 

This one really stuck with me - one of the rare books I may re-read. Would definitely make a good Netflix show - it's a Reese's Book Club Pick so you never know. 

Monthly Book Review: September 2025

Three great books this month plus a forgotten one.

Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy is delightful and hopeful. Eighty-something Helen Cartwright is ready to die. She's lost everyone closest to her and feels that she's outlived her usefulness. But an unexpected visitor changes everything; through an unlikely relationship, Helen finds purpose and connection. The relationship brings unexpected challenges and as a result, she forms other relationships and an amazing revelation of Helen's life. Short, simple and sweet. I read somewhere that if A Man Called Ove and Ratatouille had a book baby this would be it. 

Everyone is Lying to You by Jo Piazza is juicy as it pulls back the covers on our current influencer culture. Lizzie and Bex are former college roommates and best friends who haven't spoken in years. Lizzie is now a journalist and Bex, now known as Rebecca, is a popular "tradwife" influencer. Out of the blue Rebecca invites Lizzie to a conference and offers her a big scoop. Things take a turn however when Bex's husband ends up murdered on the first night of the conference. Probably not the scoop Lizzie was expecting. The book alternates storylines between Lizzie and Rebecca and delves into the backstory of why these friends lost touch after college. A very fun read.

The audio version of Tom Lake by Ann Patchett is read by Meryl Streep and I can't imagine that I would have loved it as much as I did if I'd read the hard copy. I would pay to listen to her read my grocery list. I thought Tom Lake was a person - turns out it's a fictional place in Michigan. Meryl narrates the story of Lara, now in midlife and sheltering in place at the onset of COVID, of her path to acting and summer stock at Tom Lake, 15 minutes of fame and of settling on a cherry farm with a loving husband and three lively, dramatic daughters. Patchett expertly peels back layers of life's twists and turns - like "Sliding Doors" where life would be so different if you'd arrived for the train 15 minutes later. Lara (formerly Laura) spent a glorious, free, pre-adult life one summer. As well as lives before and after. We all have. There are reveals, deeply tender moments and satisfying closures. I especially loved piecing together who each of Lara's girls were named after.

I listened to another in August that I forgot about - The Answer is No by Fredrik Backman. Lucas lives a solitary life in an apartment building until a crime is committed. The apartment board is going to get to the bottom of it and Lucas becomes central to the case. Lucas is likely on the spectrum or at least an extreme introvert and his processing lend to some of the funniest moments (looking at you Pad Thai). I love how honest and quirky Backman's characters are. I hated the narration, but the characters and story kept me listening.

Finally, I am hosting a book club gathering this week. A friend started the club at the beginning of the year, and I wasn't able to make a single one until last month. Unfortunately, I hadn't read the book, but she was gracious enough to let me come anyway. I ended up recommending the next book, Margo's Got Money Troubles, and offering to host. In a nod to Margo's penchant for orange food and Arby's, I'm serving roast beef and cheddar sliders and Harvest Cheddar Sun Chips. IYKYK about the orange meal.

Monthly Book Review: August 2025

Only one book this month. Not really sure where the month of August went. I'm hanging on to one more month of summer though, it's not over 'til September 22nd.

I didn't realize Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies by Tara Schuster was a self-help book. It's sort of an autobiography wrapped in a self-help book. Tara is a successful producer (Comedy Central) but had a challenging childhood to put it very politely. She lacked consistent boundaries and nurturing so after a rock bottom moment at 25 she decided she needed to re-parent herself. Funny, irreverent and at times preachy, I think this would have been more relatable for me about 30 years ago. She examines every inch of her life - and she thinks you should too - to find that she needs to exercise, eat right, treat your body like a temple, practice gratitude and tape inspirational quotes all over your walls. It has practical advice packaged for hipsters. And way too f*cking long.

You are worth seven-dollar lilies. You are worth the thing that instantly makes your life better. I've heard people talk about their favorite exercise class this way. I've heard people talk about an order of guacamole with their tacos this way. I've heard people talk about the ten-dollar, ten-minute massage at the nail salon this way. That small, pleasurable thing that makes you feel like you are treating yourself – do not deprive yourself of this. Buy the f*cking lilies, take the class, order the guac, get the massage.

Monthly Book Review: July 2025

Three books!!!

The Switch by Beth O'Leary is utterly delightful. Leena and her grandmother Eileen "switch" when each finds they need a break from their current lives (a bit like the movie Holiday). Leena heads to rural Yorkshire and finds that her grandmother is an integral part of her small community ... she has some big shoes to fill. Eileen heads to London to tackle online dating and finding a community in Leena's building. There's also unresolved grief, a strained mother-daughter relationship, eccentric neighbors and the English countryside. This is sweet, smart, funny and sexy. 

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna gives Harry Potter plus Twilight vibes in a very good way. Love!! Mika Moon is a witch but has to hide it and live a solitary life until she answers a request to teach three young girls how to manage their own witchcraft. The girls' benefactor, Lillian, is absent but her presence looms large. In addition to the girls, Nowhere House is home to a charming couple, a contrarian librarian and a housekeeper who have indulged the girls and have a secret reason for needing Mika. For the first time in her life, Mika has a sense of family. What could possibly go wrong? One of the girls isn't happy about Mika's presence and Jamie the librarian questions her every move. I didn't want this one to end. 

One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune wasn't as good as the first two but a nice summer read. Alice is a photographer figuring out who she wants to be when she agrees to help her grandmother recover from hip surgery at the lake house they stayed at during her childhood. As a kid, Alice was an introverted outsider observing others having all the fun. She even has a picture of the golden summer at the lake that she turned 17 of three neighbor kids and a yellow boat. Alice needs to lighten up and now she's ready to try all the things she missed out on - she even makes a list. Enter Charlie, the cute, cocky guy from the summer picture and we know where this is going. It's light, fun and sexy. The narration was “off” for me but I worked through it. 

Monthly Book Review: June 2025

Two excellent books this month, both recommended by Modern Mrs. Darcy as favorite audiobooks of 2024. I wholeheartedly concur!

The Briar Club by Kate Quinn is girl power at its best. Mix six women living in a Washington, D.C. boardinghouse in the early 1950's with politics (McCarthyism), cultural changes in gender roles, and murder and you get a fascinating story of secrets and loyalty. The house is also an important character. There are at least two chapters per boarder for in-depth character development and intriguing backstories. There are a few twists along the way (no spoilers), but one of my favorites is a recipe, complete with accompanying music and activity, from the group's weekly supper club - sun tea, Swedish meatballs, corned beef hash, Irish colcannon, candle salad (hysterical!), halusiki (cabbage and noodles), gumbo, strawberry fool, fried chicken, Italian ragu, fried bananas in rum, potato pancakes, eight-layer honey cloud cake and rassolnik (pickle soup). 

I devoured The Woman on the Ledge by Ruth Mancini in six days. A woman has fallen from a 25-story London roof. Was it suicide or murder? A woman is arrested and with so many inconsistencies the reader is left wondering what's real and what's bullsh!t. And who the heck is Helen? The story unfolds like layers of an onion as the key suspect speaks with her solicitor. Intriguing, sad and a great example of revenge being a dish best served ice cold.

Monthly Book Review: May 2025

3 great books in one month - trying to get my reading mojo back! 

Beach Read by Emily Henry. Henry is one of the hottest chick lit writers along with Taylor Jenkins Reid. This was my second Henry read and I have four others in my wish list. Beach Read is about two authors who have a shared history and end up living next to each other in a small vacation town. Their friendship unfolds as they are dealing with writer's block and challenge each other to write a book in the other's genre - happily ever after for her and dark fiction for him. Witty, cute and fun. 

I devoured City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert. Excellent! The fictional story of Vivian Morris, an independent, free-thinking rebel, from 1940 to early 2000's. It's told from Vivian's point of view as she writes a letter to "Angela" though we don't know who Angela is until near the end. Vivian experiences many exploits in New York City thanks to her Aunt Peg and the cast of characters at Peg's Lily Playhouse. She learns tough lessons and finds her place in the world with a chosen family. Great history of NYC and the liberation of women after WWII. Reader beware - Vivian takes full advantage of the changing times to explore her sexuality.

One excerpt was striking to me because it could be written word-for-word about my husband -

He became the most trusted confidante of my life. There was a clarity about [sic] .., a deep and unshakable integrity. It was soothing to be with a man who never boasted about himself ... and who did not impose himself on the world in anyway. If he ever had a fault or made a mistake, he would tell you before you could find out for yourself. And there was nothing I could ever tell him about myself that he would judge or criticize... Most of all though, he listened.

Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall is beautifully tragic. The story bounces between three timelines: 1968, "before" and "the trial". You don't know who is on trial and the buildup is exquisite. Longing, loss, and regret - how one choice can change everything. I wish I could read it for the first time again (and I never say that!). Beautifully written with complex characters (plus fantastic narration by Blair Brown for audio version) - definitely a top pick for 2025. I hear Reese Witherspoon's company has picked it up for TV.

Monthly Book Review: April 2025

It's hard to summarize Challenger by Adam Higginbotham (Sharon Says So book club). It was intense, informative and thought provoking. Lots of engineering detail and history, but so necessary for context. I didn't find it dry or boring. Excellent narration. I know hindsight is 20/20, but over and over again, NASA had cautionary tales of what not to do, opportunities to maintain fail safes with too many acts of hubris and concern for optics. The only reason we know the full truth is because a couple of engineers at rocket contractor Morton Thiokol admitted that they advised NASA not to launch the fateful morning of January 28, 1986 because of poor performance of the O-ring seals in low temps. The temperature that morning was 36 degrees - 15 degrees cooler than any previous launch - and they told NASA they couldn't advise if below 50-something degrees. But NASA pushed them to prove it wasn't safe to launch for the first time - they had always focused on proving that it was safe to launch. Then the contractors reversed their advice - they caved to pressure and it cost lives. No one was ever the same - certainly not the families of the 7 lost astronauts. Unfortunately, in 2003 there was another disaster, owing much to the same flaws in management and politics. History always has a way of repeating itself.

Book Review: Q1 2025

Note post title 🤷‍♀️ IYKYK

I started the year with a memoir by one of my favorite celebrity chefs, Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten. I watched Ina’s show for years and love her recipes for being reliable and delicious. It was interesting to hear how she became The Barefoot Contessa and that she seems to have been in the right place at the right time throughout her adult life. She did have many advantages so not completely rags to riches. I love her authenticity, work ethic (trying recipes over and over to ensure consistency) and general happiness. She doesn’t take herself too seriously and is grounded enough to determine the difference between what is and isn’t important. This was on everyone’s reading list as soon as it came out, but I finally decided to read it as part of Sharon McMahon’s book club (of Sharon Says So IG fame).

Next was Banyan Moon by Thao Thai. This is about three generations of women: Minh, her daughter Huong and her granddaughter Ann Tran. Minh immigrated to the U.S. after the Vietnam War, seeking a better life for her two young children. But she harbors a secret. Huong worked hard to give her daughter a good life, but her mother Minh and daughter Ann have a close relationship that she resents. Ann is at a crossroads in her life. Minh's sudden death brings them all together in a home that has its own secrets. 

The Honey-Don't List by Christina Lauren was predictable but cute. What if popular "it" designers (think Chip & Joanna Gaines) were not happily married and one of their assistants was actually doing all the work?

Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufus Thorpe is my favorite so far this year. Margo is a very bright young woman with sketchy parents, three roommates and a new baby. She has to find a way to make ends meet since her baby daddy, her English professor, has ghosted her and she’s been fired from her waitress job for lack of childcare. Enter ingenuity, Only Fans, and wrestling. Funny, smart and thought proving, this really challenged me to stretch my ideas of how someone else's unconventional choices aren't bad even if they don't fit with what my idea of good choices looks like.

Here Be Dragons by Melanie Shankle. I read Melanie’s blog back in the day as well as one of her first books on friendship. In Dragons, she shares that her mother was her first bully. Oof. Very insightful regarding generational trauma and the journey to healing through boundaries. Loved all the references to growing up in the 70s and 80s and friends that fill our voids 💗

I just started Challenger by Adam Higginbotham (Sharon Says So book club) about the space shuttle disaster. 

Book Review: December 2024 and Year in Review

I've been MIA so in good conscience could not call this a "monthly" review. We spent a week in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico just after Thanksgiving and with the holiday season already so short due to how close Thanksgiving and Christmas were it just flew by.

Amidst vacationing, losing my beloved kitty, Mina, baking and a crazy work schedule, I snuck three books in November and December.

In the Shadow Garden by Liz Parker gave me Practical Magic meets Hope Floats vibes. The Haywood women of Yarrow, Kentucky are known for reading tea leaves and their shadow garden, and Yarrow is known for bourbon. When you blend the two you get magic and mystery. 

The Small and the Mighty by Sharon McMahon (America's government teacher whose followers are known as the Governerds) chronicles 12 lesser-known Americans who made a significant impact on history. I was moved by Gouverneur Morris who wrote the preamble to the Constitution, Septima Clark who is responsible for the literacy of countless black Americans, Clara Brown who helped establish Colorado's prominence during the Gold Rush, and the nine other inspiring people who helped shaped this great nation. 

The Christmas Orphans Club by Becca Freeman was a cute read about four friends who spend every Christmas together. It was way too long but had a very satisfying end and delightful characters. 

21 books total for 2024 and my top 5:

Monthly Book Review: Oct 2024

My BFF and I saw comedian Leeann Morgan mid-September and I just had to continue the fun by reading her autobiography What in the World. I find her relatable, funny, and authentic. Looking forward to her Netflix show next year.

I love Lucy Foley books, and The Midnight Feast is my fourth. Like the others, Midnight is a proper whodunnit ala Agatha Christie. It's summer 2025 and guests have gathered at the new "it" vacation spot on opening weekend in Dorset, England called The Manor. The manor is actually owner Francesca's ancestral home where she spent summers neighboring the beautiful cliffs and a caravan park (Americans would say "RV" park). Some of the guests are there for a luxury vacation and others have ulterior motives. The tension creates a satisfying suspense.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare was the perfect listen just before Halloween. Kit Tyler leaves Barbados for America in 1687. During the journey she shocks other passengers with her independence and progressive thinking. In Connecticut she finds her family, aunt, uncle and two cousins, Mercy and Judith, along with the stiffness and formality of a Puritan town. There is a certain way of doing things and Kit just can't fall in line. The only solace she discovers is with the Quaker "witch" Hannah Tupper who lives on Blackbird Pond. When children start falling sick, assumptions are made, and fear takes over commonsense.

TBR List:

• Shadow Garden by Liz Parker
• Banyan Moon by Thao Thai 
• Beach Ready by Emily Henry
• The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn
• Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
• The Small and the Mighty by Sharon McMahon
• Mistress of Rome by Kate Quinn
• The Switch by Beth O'Leary
• Buy Yourself the F*cking Lillies by Tara Schuster
• Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad
• Honey and Spice by Bolu Babalola
• The Honey-Don't List by Christina Lauren
• The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
• Life Worth Living by Miroslav Volf, Matthew. Croasmun, Ryan McAnnally-Lins
• City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert
• Outlive by Peter Attia, Bill Gifford

Monthly Book Review: Aug/Sep 2024

I took a month off from the blog to enjoy the end of summer to it's fullest, including an epic two-week road trip to Utah (three national parks!), Phoenix, AZ and Telluride, CO. I found time to read three good books.

Can you spot the Corgi?!

Homecoming by Kate Morton - I love Morton's books for their rich character development, interwoven stories, and ability to engross you in the story. A fog machine, lush greenery and songbirds are her vibe. Homecoming starts with a shocking discovery then fast forwards 60 years later to begin unfolding the mystery. Jess rushes home to Australia when her beloved grandmother who essentially raised her falls ill. Like "Rosebud" in Citizen Kane, an utterance leads Jess to uncover her family's connection to an infamous unsolved crime. Deeply held secrets, a sense of duty and devotion, and mother-daughter dynamics make for a captivating, layered tale. I was so sure I had it all figured out but was completely surprised for a satisfying end. I was also sincerely disappointed to learn that the idyllic Tambilla is a fictional town. 

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore was another mystery with a surprising end. A thirteen-year-old camper goes missing one morning in 1975. Creepily her brother also went missing and has never found fourteen years prior. It meandered at times and there's a strong haves/have-not's perspective - camp owners and their wealthy guests on the hill vs. camp workers and investigators - that I found distracting, but it was all part of Moore's foil to keep you guessing. Once again, I thought I had it all figured out only to find I was completely wrong. My favorite character was investigator Judyta - smart, dedicated and intuitive - if only the men around her would stop discounting and patronizing her.

I don't want to give too much away about The Wedding People by Alison Espach - it's quirky, tender and delves into the heart of depression with honesty and humor. My favorite of the three.

TBR List:

• Banyan Moon by Thao Thai 
• Beach Ready by Emily Henry
• The Honey-Don't List by Christina Lauren
• The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
• City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert
• Blue Love: Blue Valley High by MJ Fields 
• Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
• The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
• The Switch by Beth O'Leary
• Buy Yourself the F*cking Lillies by Tara Schuster
• Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad
• Honey and Spice by Bolu Babalola
• Life Worth Living by Miroslav Volf, Matthew. Croasmun, Ryan McAnnally-Lins
• Outlive by Peter Attia, Bill Gifford

Monthly Book Review: July 2024

The Paris Summer Olympics are in full swing so not sure there will be much reading in August. Good thing I got two books in for August, and one was definitely a top 5 of the year.

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride read like an Amor Towles novel. You know Amor from A Gentleman in Moscow and The Lincoln Highway (both top reads in past years). The characters are rich with painstaking back story for each, and everything is revealed like layers of an onion, releasing a tension you didn't know you were holding on to until the last word. In Heaven, the eponymous grocery store is located in the Chicken Hill neighborhood of Pottstown, Pennsylvania, an area where Blacks and Jews live in tenuous harmony, chafing against the surrounding white majority who does little to mask their disdain. Through their shared experiences and Chona Ludlow's belief that everyone deserves to be loved, they band together to see justice done ... for themselves, their community and a young deaf boy. LOVE! 

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid is my seventh Reid book. This story follows the Riva family over the course of 24 hours in August1983. The four Riva siblings are tied by blood and history. Their famous crooner father abandoned them and their loving, wronged mother never realized her own dreams as she was either the wronged wife of Mick Riva or the owner of her parent's coastal seafood restaurant. Each of the siblings is in the midst of their own personal struggles and it all comes to a head at the annual party of the season. Nina, the surfing supermodel, is the caretaker and glue of the family (oh and her husband is sleeping with tennis star Carrie Soto), Jay is a professional surfer who struggles to find love, Hud (short for Hudson) is a photographer with a secret, and Kit, the youngest, is starting to find her own identity in a family of big personalities. I liked the hour-by-hour cadence and deep back stories, but I wasn't as vested in the characters as those in Carrie Soto is Back or Daisy Jones & The Six. Still a solid summer read.

TBR List:

• Homecoming by Kate Morton
• Beach Ready by Emily Henry
• The Honey-Don't List by Christina Lauren
• The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
• City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert
• The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
• Blue Love: Blue Valley High by MJ Fields 
• Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
• The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
• The Switch by Beth O'Leary
• Buy Yourself the F*cking Lillies by Tara Schuster
• Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad
• Banyan Moon by Thao Thai 
• Honey and Spice by Bolu Babalola
• Life Worth Living by Miroslav Volf, Matthew. Croasmun, Ryan McAnnally-Lins
• Outlive by Peter Attia, Bill Gifford

Monthly Book Review: June 2024

I needed light-hearted palette cleansers after the last couple of months. These two definitely fit the bill.

Last Summer at the Golden Hotel by Elyssa Friedland is billed as Dirty Dancing meets The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Two Jewish families started a resort in the Catskills sixty years ago and now after the death of one of the founders, the remaining owners as well as kids and grandkids reunite to determine whether to save the hotel open or sell. Family secrets are spilled, generations clash (grandma at goat yoga?) and love sparks. It's a great summer read.

Flying Solo by Linda Holmes is another good summer read. Laurie's beloved 93-year-old never married Aunt Dot has died, her home a refuge while growing up in a house full of four brothers, and she travels to her hometown in Maine to close out her estate. She reunites with her best friend and first love to go through all the photos and other memorabilia of Dot's life. In the process she finds a wood carved duck that she feels has a deeper story and hires an antique dealer to help move some of the more valuable items. What follows is a con, a reckoning, a lovely surprise and the considerations involved in defining a life on your own terms. Great characters and a delightful ending.

TBR List:

• The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
• The Honey-Don't List by Christina Lauren
• The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
• City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert
• Blue Love: Blue Valley High by MJ Fields 
• Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
• The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
• Homecoming by Kate Morton
• Life Worth Living by Miroslav Volf, Matthew. Croasmun, Ryan McAnnally-Lins
• Outlive by Peter Attia, Bill Gifford