Hello and happy Wednesday!
Needless to say, one of the best things about summer break is having more time to read. This month, I read seven books, and I enjoyed them all…
Here are the books I read in July…
{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}
People We Meet on Vacation:
Summary:
Two best friends. Ten summer trips. One last chance to fall in love.
Poppy and Alex. Alex and Poppy. They have nothing in common. She’s a wild child; he wears khakis. She has insatiable wanderlust; he prefers to stay home with a book. And somehow, ever since a fateful car share home from college many years ago, they are the very best of friends. For most of the year they live far apart — she’s in New York City, and he’s in their small hometown — but every summer, for a decade, they have taken one glorious week of vacation together.
Until two years ago, when they ruined everything. They haven’t spoken since.
Poppy has everything she should want, but she’s stuck in a rut. When someone asks when she was last truly happy, she knows, without a doubt, it was on that ill-fated, final trip with Alex. And so, she decides to convince her best friend to take one more vacation together — lay everything on the table, make it all right. Miraculously, he agrees.
Now she has a week to fix everything. If only she can get around the one big truth that has always stood quietly in the middle of their seemingly perfect relationship. What could possibly go wrong?
Quick Thoughts:
I started this one in June while we were in Florida because I figured it would be a good vacation read. I finished it right at the end of the month, and I really enjoyed it.
I don’t read a ton of romance/fiction, but this one was so cute. Poppy and Alex have their ups and downs, the yearly vacations provide a lot of insight into their relationship, and of course there’s some drama too.
I also watched the movie recently, and thought it paired nicely with the book. It’s a movie I’d watch again!
Rating:
The book is probably 4.5 stars, I think because I also loved the movie so much I will give it five stars. It’s a great summer read.
The Sandy Page Bookshop:
Summary:
After her publishing career and engagement fell apart in Boston, Leah Powell has no choice but to return to her sleepy coastal hometown on Cape Cod. Feeling lost and discouraged, she stumbles upon a once prominent historic sea captain’s home that now looks as dilapidated as she feels. Suddenly inspired, Leah decides to transform it into a bookstore and café she will call The Sandy Page.
Luke Nicholson, a life-long local and contractor, remembers Leah even if she doesn’t remember him. Intrigued by her return and her project, he agrees to help her bring the old captain’s house back to life. As they work together, The Sandy Page slowly becomes the town’s go-to gathering spot for locals, tourists, and anyone who is feeling adrift during this long, sweet summer. It’s a home for second chances. But will it be enough for Leah and Luke?
Quick Thoughts:
I read this book in a few days. It was such a good read. The plot has a sweet premise with the book shop, but heavier topics are covered too – relationships, anxiety, impaired driving, loss of loved ones, financial trouble and more.
It’s more “complex” than your average summer beach read which I think is why I liked it so much.
Rating:
Until Next Summer:
Summary:
Growing up, Jessie and Hillary lived for summer, when they’d be reunited at Camp Chickawah. The best friends vowed to become counselors together someday, but they drifted apart after Hillary broke her promise and only Jessie stuck to their plan, working her way up to become the camp director.
When Jessie learns that the camp will be sold, she decides to plan one last hurrah, inviting past campers—including Hillary—to a nostalgic “adult summer camp” before closing for good. Jessie and Hillary rebuild their friendship as they relive the best time of their lives—only now there are adult beverages, skinny dipping, and romantic entanglements. Straitlaced Hillary agrees to a “no strings attached” summer fling with the camp chef, while outgoing Jessie is drawn to a moody, reclusive writer who’s rented a cabin to work on his novel.
The friends soon realize this doesn’t have to be the last summer. They’ll team up and work together, just like the old days. But if they can’t save their beloved camp, will they be able to take the happiness of this summer away with them?
Quick Thoughts:
I’ve read two other Ali Brady books (by the way – “Ali Brady” is actually the pen name for two BFF authors) through the years – The Beach Trap and The Comeback Summer. I like The Beach Trap better than the other, and I like this book more than The Beach Trap.
First of all, I love a book about summer camp (My fave is Summer of Songbirds) and this one fit the bill. I think I like books centered around summer camp because the (original) Parent Trap is my fave movie.
Anyway, this book had romance, nostalgia , and drama. I liked that the characters, both major and minor, grew and developed along the way.
Like in the other Ali Brady books, there are some R rated scenes….so reader beware…or just skim through those parts.
Rating:
Judge Stone:
Summary:
The most respected citizen in Union Springs, Alabama (population 3,314), is Judge Mary Stone. She holds two responsibilities running her family farm and presiding over her courtroom. It’s there she draws the most controversial case in the history of the South.
Criminally, it’s open-and-shut.
Ethically, there is no middle ground.
Essentially, it’s a choice between life and death.
No judge can satisfy everyone. It would be dangerous to try. But Judge Stone is willing to fight to bring justice to the people and place she loves.
Quick Thoughts:
A friend gave me this book to read, and I told her I’d read it this summer.
So this book wasn’t on my radar, but I really enjoyed reading it. It was an interesting legal thriller with some mystery.
The chapters were really short, I liked the southern setting and the strong female character in Judge Stone. The trial seems “cut and dry” but it’s more complex than that.
This book was written by James Patterson and Viola Davis which I thought was really neat.
Rating:
Our Perfect Storm:
Summary:
Frankie and George have been best friends since they were eight years old. Both passionate, impulsive, and headstrong—they’ve always clashed . . . and come back together. Until now. It’s the eve of Frankie’s wedding weekend, and she doesn’t know where they stand or even if George will show up as her best man.
Then, at the start of the festivities, in walks George. For one glorious evening, surrounded by her loved ones, Frankie’s life is finally perfect. But it all comes crashing down when her fiancé dumps her the next morning, leaving only a note as an explanation.
Crushed and confused, Frankie returns to her family’s home to wallow. But George has a different idea and a plan for healing Frankie’s broken heart. He wants her to go on her honeymoon. With him. For one week, to the lush rainforests and misty beaches of Tofino.
Frankie agrees, seeing the trip for what it really is: one last chance to repair their friendship. Even if it means unearthing secrets and long buried feelings neither knows how to handle. Even if it means falling apart for good.
Quick Thoughts:
Is it even summer if Carly Fortune isn’t putting out a book for us to read? I’ve read a Fortune book every summer since 2022…and this was my favorite book of hers yet.
Per usual, the Canadian setting was amazing. Besides romance, the story includes so much about nature that it’s just so beautifully written. This one really seemed to be more idyllic when describing the landscape. The connection between Frankie’s name and her mother’s work with whales was beautiful and complicated.
So much of the plot was just Frankie and George but the secondary characters were just so meaningful to Frankie as well.
I enjoyed reading the author’s note at the end that provided some background and information about Canada and whale research.
Per usual with Fortune books, there’s a some R rated scenes.
I listed to the Open Book podcast where Jenna Bush Hager interviewed Carley Fortune, and it was fun to get her perspective on her writing process. Also from listening to that, I learned that her first book Every Summer After was adapted for TV …Every Year After is on Amazon Prime…I haven’t gotten to watch it yet, but maybe I can squeeze it in before summer ends.
Rating:
Dolly All the Time:
Summary:
Dolly Brick has never met a problem she couldn’t solve. Not when her mom left when she was twelve, and not at thirty-nine when she moves with her son back to Whitfield, Rhode Island, for the summer to keep her dad and brother from losing the family home.
So when she comes across Stewart Whitfield—annoyingly handsome scion of the Whitfield family—with a flat tire and at the wrong end of a very public, very humiliating breakup, it’s in her nature to help. But Stewart’s proposed arrangement ends up being more than either of them bargained for, because as public dinners and high-society benefits turn into sunset boat rides and kisses that hit her bloodstream like a ghost pepper, Dolly starts to feel something more than helpful. She’s never relied on anyone besides herself—can she really start now?
Quick Thoughts:
So many people shared this book, so I added it to my TBR list. I couldn’t put this book down…and read it in 24 hours…I don’t know the last time I’ve done that.
Dolly and Stewart are so opposite which is why I think I liked them as characters. Of course, with a romance book, you think you know how the book will end, but every relationship is complicated!
Besides being opposites, I appreciated that they both have a strong work ethic and Dolly’s strong family values in regards to her brother, dad, and son made her such a likable character. Dolly is pretty unfazed by Stewart’s wealthy family which made her so endearing.
I thought the plot was somewhat unique, I liked the New England setting and that there was some drama and character growth as well.
Rating:
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Volume 1
Summary:
The Year is 1883 and Emma M. Lion has returned to her London neighborhood of St. Crispian’s. But Emma’s plans for a charmed and studious life are sabotaged by her eccentric Cousin Archibald, her formidable Aunt Eugenia, and the slightly odd denizens of St. Crispian’s. Emma M. Lion offers up her Unselected Journals, however self-incriminating they may be. Armed with wit and a sideways amusement, Emma documents the curious realities of her life at Lapis Lazuli House
Quick Thoughts:
Well, you know I love historical fiction and I got my fix with this one. I’d never heard of this series, but when Andrea shared the recent books she read, I thought I’d check it out.
I’ve only listened to one other book this this summer, so imagine my surprise when I found volume one audiobook on Libby…and it wasn’t even two hours in length. I almost felt guilty counting this as a book read, but I did see that the other volumes are longer (and longer!), so it counts.
Emma is a hoot…there are some humorous one liners, I love the historical context, the neighborhood of St. Crispian’s and the varying characters…who are characters. haha
I wasn’t looking for a series, but this series found me. I look forward to chipping away at it. I’m already reading volume 2.
Rating:
Summer Reading Update:
Usually I’m heading into August with a couple of books left on my TBR summer list…I can’t say that this summer. I only have one book left to read on my summer reading list…
- Read: Our Last Vineyard Summer, Our Italian Summer, Summer State of Mind, The Sandy Page Bookshop, People We Meet on Vacation, Our Perfect Storm, Until Next Summer
- On my Kindle: Down with the Shipmans
What’s the best book you’ve read this summer?
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