Category: Books and Shows

Posted in Books and Shows

What I’ve Been Reading: March 2026

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Monday!

How was your weekend? Ours was pretty good! The kids were busy with their various activities, we watched basketball (and baseball!), and the sun was shining all weekend.

Before I get to today’s post, did you see my post on Friday? Last week was kind of busy, and I apparently set the post to publish late!

Anyway, as the month of March is drawing to a close, I’m sharing the books I read this month.

…and what a month of reading I had! I don’t know that I’ve ever read seven books in a month…let alone a month that’s not June or July when I tend to have more time to read. That being said, I think I finished reading one book and listening to another right at the beginning of March. Anyway, I read and listened to quite a variety this month.

{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}

Atmosphere:

Summary:

Joan Goodwin has been obsessed with the stars for as long as she can remember. Thoughtful and reserved, Joan is content with her life as a professor of physics and astronomy at Rice University and as aunt to her precocious niece, Frances. That is, until she comes across an advertisement seeking the first women scientists to join NASA’s space shuttle program. Suddenly, Joan burns to be one of the few people to go to space.

Selected from a pool of thousands of applicants in the summer of 1980, Joan begins training at Houston’s Johnson Space Center, alongside an exceptional group of fellow candidates: Top Gun pilot Hank Redmond and scientist John Griffin, who are kind and easygoing even when the stakes are highest; mission specialist Lydia Danes, who has worked too hard to play nice; warmhearted Donna Fitzgerald, who is navigating her own secrets; and Vanessa Ford, the magnetic and mysterious aeronautical engineer, who can fix any engine and fly any plane.

As the new astronauts become unlikely friends and prepare for their first flights, Joan finds a passion and a love she never imagined. In this new light, Joan begins to question everything she thinks she knows about her place in the observable universe.

Then, in December of 1984, on mission STS-LR9, it all changes in an instant.

Quick Thoughts:

Like the tennis book, Carrie Soto is Back, that focused so much on tennis, I wondered if this one would mostly focus on space. Well, this plot included so much more. There was history, drama, romance, suspense, and more!

After I finished the book, I actually went back to the beginning and read the first few chapters again just because the book started with the end, and I wanted to re-read those details.

Fave Quotes:

  • “To look up at the nighttime sky is to become a part of a long line of people throughout human history who looked above at the same set of stars. It is to witness time unfolding.”
  • “Bravery is being unafraid of something other people are afraid of. Courage is being afraid, but strong enough to do it anyway.”
  • “Day in and day out, the Earth keeps spinning and revolving and sailing through the Milky Way. That is why time never stands still.”

Rating:

The Unexpected Spy:

Summary:

When Tracy Walder enrolled at the University of Southern California, she never thought that one day she would offer her pink beanbag chair in the Delta Gamma house to a CIA recruiter, or that she’d fly to the Middle East under an alias identity.

The Unexpected Spy is the riveting story of Walder’s tenure in the CIA and, later, the FBI. In high-security, steel-walled rooms in Virginia, Walder watched al-Qaeda members with drones as President Bush looked over her shoulder and CIA Director George Tenet brought her donuts. She tracked chemical terrorists and searched the world for weapons of mass destruction. She created a chemical terror chart that someone in the White House altered to convey information she did not have or believe, leading to the Iraq invasion. Driven to stop terrorism, Walder debriefed terrorists – men who swore they’d never speak to a woman – until they gave her leads. She followed trails through North Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, shutting down multiple chemical attacks.

Then Walder moved to the FBI, where she worked in counterintelligence. In a single year, she helped take down one of the most notorious foreign spies ever caught on American soil. Catching the bad guys wasn’t a problem in the FBI, but rampant sexism was. Walder left the FBI to teach young women, encouraging them to find a place in the FBI, CIA, State Department or the Senate – and thus change the world.

Quick Thoughts:

I’ve always been intrigued by the CIA and FBI, and I love a good memoir, so this was an interesting read for me. I started following Tracy on Instagram after Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance. Someone must have posted a reel of her sharing her thoughts about the case as a former CIA/FBI agent, so I followed her account. When I realized she had a book, I added it to my TBR list.

I enjoyed reading about her life, how applying for the CIA kind of fell into her lap, all about the days leading up to 9/11, her work in counterintelligence, her travels overseas, how she was treated as a female in the CIA/FBI and more.

Rating:

This Book Made Me Think of You:

Summary:

When Tilly Nightingale receives a call telling her there’s a birthday gift from her fiancé waiting for her at her local bookshop, it couldn’t come as more of a shock. Partly because she can’t remember the last time she read a book for pleasure. Mainly because Joe died five months ago…


The gift is simple – twelve carefully-chosen books from Joe, one for each month, to help her turn the page on her first year without him.


Tilly sets out on a series of reading-inspired adventures that take her around the world. But as she begins to vlog her journey, her story becomes more than her own. With help from Alfie, the bookshop owner, her budding new following and her friends and family, can Tilly’s year of books show her how to love again?

Quick Thoughts:

Admittedly, I don’t read a lot of romance fiction…it’s just not usually what I gravitate to. I’d heard a lot of hype about this book leading up to release, and wow did it live up to the hype!

While there are many moments of sadness with Tilly missing Joe, the idea of a year of books is romantic and endearing. What I loved about each book is that they were so different and “asked” something different of Tilly from month to month. I loved the various minor characters including the book store employees and a grief group that she meets in Paris. This book was sweetly charming with moments of tenderness and inspiration. I can’t imagine it won’t be in my top 5 books for 2026!

Fave Quotes:

  • “Tilly has always thought of bookshops as a gathering place: all those books lined up neatly on the shelves like potential friends she just hasn’t met yet.”
  • “Maybe this is what books do…They offer your own meaning among the words. They are for everyone and yet they are for you too.”
  • “But it’s OK to feel happy and sad at the same time. Very few moments involve just one emotion. That’s life, isn’t it? It’s messy.”
  • “I am the person I am because of the books I have read. My reading history is a map that shows the path of my life.”

Rating:

Here are the books I listened to this month…

Boat Baby:

Summary:

Starting in 1975, Vietnam’s “boat people”—desperate families seeking freedom—fled the Communist government and violence in their country any way they could, usually by boat across the South China Sea. Vicky Nguyen and her family were among them. Attacked at sea by pirates before reaching a refugee camp in Malaysia, Vicky’s family survived on rations and waited months until they were sponsored to America.

But deciding to leave and start a new life in a new country is half the story…figuring out how to be American is the other. Boat Baby is Vicky’s memoir of growing up in America with unconventional Vietnamese parents who didn’t always know how to bridge the cultural gaps. It’s a childhood filled with misadventures and misunderstandings, from almost stabbing the neighborhood racist with a butter knife to getting caught stealing Cosmo to read the answers to Do You Really Think You Know Everything About Sex?

Vicky’s parents approached life with the attitude, “Why not us?” In the face of prejudice, they taught her to be gritty and resilient, skills Vicky used as she combatted stereotyping throughout her career, fending off the question “Aren’t you Connie Chung?” to become a leading Asian American journalist on television. She delivers a uniquely transparent account of her life, revealing how she negotiated her salary in a competitive industry, the challenges of starting a family, and the struggle to be a dutiful daughter.

Quick Thoughts:

Again, another memoir! I’ve seen Vicky Nguyen many times on the Today Show, but I’d never heard her mention her book until recently. I think it came out last year. Anyway, I enjoyed listening to Vicky tell her story that highlights trials and tribulations of coming to America, but it’s also filled with humor and wonderful anecdotes. I also enjoyed following her journey of being a journalist, and her family dynamic is interesting as her parents have typically lived with her as is customary in her culture.

Rating:

Wreck:

Summary:

Rocky, still anxious, nostalgic, and funny, is living in Western Massachusetts with her husband Nick and their daughter Willa, who’s back home after college. Their son, Jamie, has taken a new job in New York, and Mort, Rocky’s widowed father, has moved in.

It all couldn’t be more ridiculously normal . . . until Rocky finds herself obsessed with a local accident that only tangentially affects them—and with a medical condition that, she hopes, won’t affect them at all.

Quick Thoughts:

Ok, I don’t really know where to start with this one. I can’t remember where I saw it recommended, but I always appreciate an audio book suggestion. Before I downloaded the book, I realized it’s by the same author as Sandwich which is a book I started and didn’t read much of a couple of years ago.

Anyway, Rocky’s family is quirky which I liked. She navigated her health journey while caring for her father and dealing with her adult children which provided many complicated layers and dialogue. The wreck seemed to be secondary but it was woven into the plot. There just wasn’t a lot going on, and I guess I was just kind of bored while listening to this one.

Rating:

3.5 stars

Sandwich:

Summary:

For the past two decades, Rocky has looked forward to her family’s yearly escape to Cape Cod. Their humble beach-town rental has been the site of sweet memories, sunny days, great meals, and messes of all kinds: emotional, marital, and—thanks to the cottage’s ancient plumbing—septic too.

This year’s vacation, with Rocky sandwiched between her half-grown kids and fully aging parents, promises to be just as delightful as summers past—except, perhaps, for Rocky’s hormonal bouts of rage and melancholy. (Hello, menopause!) Her body is changing—her life is, too. And then a chain of events sends Rocky into the past, reliving both the tenderness and sorrow of a handful of long-ago summers.

It’s one precious week: everything is in balance; everything is in flux. And when Rocky comes face to face with her family’s history and future, she is forced to accept that she can no longer hide her secrets from the people she loves.

Quick Thoughts:

Since I hadn’t read Sandwich and I thought Wreck was ok, I decided to give Sandwich a second try. Obviously it was written first, so I did want to see how the characters were before the second book. Just like when I tried to read it a couple of years ago, I almost quit listening to it, but a few hours in the car by myself got me to the finish line.

Had I read this one first, I don’t think I would have read Wreck, so I’m glad I read Wreck first. The setting of a week in the summer in Sandwich was interesting as it was Rocky, her husband, her kids, and both her parents. Again, the family is kind of quirky, making for serious and light-hearted moments. In both books, there were references to abortion and miscarriage, so those ideas could weigh heavily on some readers.

Rating:

3 stars because I feel bad giving it less!

Let me know if you’ve read either of those books. It’s pretty rare for me not to feel like I can connect to characters or a plot.

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek:

Summary:

In 1936, tucked deep into the woods of Troublesome Creek, KY, lives blue-skinned 19-year-old Cussy Carter, the last living female of the rare Blue People ancestry.

The lonely young Appalachian woman joins the historical Pack Horse Library Project of Kentucky and becomes a librarian, riding across slippery creek beds and up treacherous mountains on her faithful mule to deliver books and other reading material to the impoverished hill people of Eastern Kentucky.

Along her dangerous route, Cussy, known to the mountain folk as Bluet, confronts those suspicious of her damselfly-blue skin and the government’s new book program. She befriends hardscrabble and complex fellow Kentuckians, and is fiercely determined to bring comfort and joy, instill literacy, and give to those who have nothing, a bookly respite, a fleeting retreat to faraway lands.

Quick Thoughts:

I’ve had this list on my TBR list for quite a while. When Tanya shared her “Spring Books” post, she mentioned that the third book in the series comes out soon…So I decided to bump the first one to the top of my list.

I don’t think I’d heard of the “blue people” of Appalachia..but then I as I continued with the book, I realized maybe that I had?!

Anyway, I was immediately intrigued by Cussy, and I loved the Lexington, Frankfort, Louisville references. Cussy is strong, smart, caring, interesting, and inspiring.

This book reminded me of a mix of The Frozen River and The Giver of Stars, both books I loved so much.

This was the only historical fiction book I read this month, and as you probably know, that’s my favorite genre!

Rating:

I’ve already downloaded The Book Woman’s Daughter to listen to next!

Happy reading,

Posted in Books and Shows

What I’ve Been Reading: February 2026

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Wednesday!

Another month of reading under my belt for 2026 and it was a good one. Today, I’m sharing the books I read this month.

This month I read two books and listened to two books.

{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}

The Correspondent:

Summary:

Sybil Van Antwerp has throughout her life used letters to make sense of the world and her place in it. Most mornings, around half past ten, Sybil sits down to write letters—to her brother, to her best friend, to the president of the university who will not allow her to audit a class she desperately wants to take, to Joan Didion and Larry McMurtry to tell them what she thinks of their latest books, and to one person to whom she writes often yet never sends the letter.

Sybil expects her world to go on as it always has—a mother, grandmother, wife, divorcee, distinguished lawyer, she has lived a very full life. But when letters from someone in her past force her to examine one of the most painful periods of her life, she realizes that the letter she has been writing over the years needs to be read and that she cannot move forward until she finds it in her heart to offer forgiveness.

Quick Thoughts:

I’ve never read a book like this one…and I mean it in the best possible way.

This book is beautifully written, and letters Sybil writes moves the plot forward. Sybil is such an interesting character…her letters and emails are beautiful, funny, witty, serious, grumpy, straightforward and more.

Through her letters, we learn about love, heartbreak, loss, relationships, and mistakes she’s made in her life. As I was reading, I wondered how it would end…how the plot, driven through letter writing, would wrap up. This book was a memorable one, and one that will tug at your heartstrings.

I would have loved to listen to this one, but my library had the Kindle version available sooner.

Fave Quote:

  • “But I think of life rather like a long road we walk in one direction. By and large a lonesome walk out in the wildness of hills and wind. Mountains. Snow. And sometimes there is someone to come along and walk with you for a stretch, and sometimes you see in the distance some lights and it heartens you, the lone house or maybe a village and you come into the warmth and stopover and go inside.“

Rating:

The First Time I Saw Him:

Summary:

Five years after her husband Owen disappeared, Hannah and her stepdaughter Bailey have settled into a new life in Southern California. Together they’ve forged a relationship with Bailey’s grandfather Nicholas, and are putting the past behind them.

But when Owen shows up at Hannah’s new exhibition, Hannah knows that she and Bailey are in danger.

Hannah and Bailey are forced to go on the run in a relentless race to keep their past from catching up with them. As a thrilling drama unfolds, Hannah risks everything to get Bailey to safety—and finds there just might be a way back to Owen.

Quick Thoughts:

This was one of the books I listened to this month. This is the sequel to The Last Thing He Told Me. With the second season of the series coming out, I wanted to read this book. I guess this book was a “slow burn” with not a lot of action until the last 20% of the book. It did a good job of filling in the blanks since it had been a while since I read the first one. I feel like the ending left with the opportunity for a third book in the series?

Rating:

The Irish Goodbye:

Summary:

It’s been years since the three Ryan sisters were all home together at their family’s beloved house on the eastern shore of Long Island. Two decades ago, their lives were upended by an accident on their brother Topher’s boat, a friend’s brother was killed, the lawsuit nearly bankrupted their parents, and Topher spiraled into a depression, eventually taking his life. Now the Ryan women are back for Thanksgiving, eager to reconnect, but each carrying a heavy secret. The eldest, Cait, still holding guilt for the role no one knows she played in the boat accident, rekindles a flame with her high school crush, Topher’s best friend and the brother of the boy who died. Middle sister Alice’s been thrown a curveball threatening the career she’s restarting and faces a difficult decision that may doom her marriage. And the youngest, Maggie, is finally taking the risk to bring the woman she loves home to her devoutly Catholic mother. Infusing everything is the grief for Topher that none of the Ryans have figured out how to carry together.

When Cait invites a guest to Thanksgiving dinner, old tensions boil over and new truths surface, nearly overpowering the flickering light of their family bond. Far more than a family holiday will be ruined unless the sisters can find a way to forgive themselves—and one another.

Quick Thoughts:

I added this book to my TBR list since it was one of Jenna’s pics, and I really enjoyed this book. The three sisters are so different, and so much of the plot is over only a few days which I thought was interesting. The plot starts with the accident and goes from there, including a few flashbacks. The accident affected every family member differently, and those layers were peeled off through the years. I know what an “Irish Goodbye” is, but the reference to it in the story was subtle and kind of gave me pause to think about the connection. There are some heavy topics like miscarriage and abortion.

Rating:

4.5 stars!

Yes Please:

Summary:

In Amy Poehler’s highly anticipated first book, Yes Please, she offers up a big juicy stew of personal stories, funny bits on sex and love and friendship and parenthood and real life advice (some useful, some not so much), like when to be funny and when to be serious. Powered by Amy’s charming and hilarious, biting yet wise voice, Yes Please is a book full of words to live by.

Quick Thoughts:

I chose this book because it was a quick audiobook and I needed something to listen to. It is from 2014, so sometimes I had to remind myself of that with some of her reference points. I always love hearing about other people’s lives, and this one didn’t disappoint. Amy’s Boston accent is so fun, and the stories of her childhood and making her way through the ranks for TV and comedy were interesting. I loved listening to it because she’s funny, but she also had guest readers like Carol Burnett, Seth Myers, and even her parents!

Rating:

3.5 stars

I’m almost finished with one more book, so I guess I will have ended up reading five books in February. I’ll share that one next month though.

Happy reading!

Posted in Books and Shows

Olympic Movies

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello!

The Winter Olympics have been so fun to watch so far. Over the weekend, I watched Glitter & Gold on Netflix which got me thinking about other movies and documentaries that focus on the Winter Olympics.

Ice Skating:

I loved Glitter & Gold and wish there were more episodes. Ice dancing is so amazing, and of course the different partnerships and drama are also interesting.

Chock and Bates are my fave duo, and I was able to watch some of their performances live thanks to the weekend and snow days. I inadvertently saw the results of the ice dancing, but I still watched it in Prime Time last night.

Who doesn’t love the movie The Cutting Edge? This movie was one of my all time faves in the 90’s, and I loved watching it with the kids a few years ago.

My brother will randomly say “Toe Pick!” #iykyk haha

Admittedly, I’ve not seen I, Tonya, but wow…I remember the Kerrigan/Harding rivalry in the 90’s and being fascinated with all the details of Kerrigan’s injury after being assaulted and if she’d be able to perform.

Bobsledding:

Cool Runnings was another fave from my childhood, but again, the kids loved watching it too. I wanted to re-watch it before the Olympics started but never had time. I will definitely try to watch it again soon.

Hockey:

I was born right before the big Miracle on Ice game. My mom tells the story of her hoping I’d stay asleep so they could finish watching the big game. It’s been years, but I did see the movie Miracle, and I’m pretty sure I’ve watched it with Hayden as well.

The latest documentary on Netflix, Miracle: The Boys of ’80, was another one I’d hoped to watch before the Olympic games started. I will definitely watch it soon as well.

The Mighty Ducks is an absolute classic, and it’s another fave I loved re-watching with my kids a few years ago.

Snow boarding:

I’ve not seen this Netflix documentary, but it’s about Scotty James, an Australian Olympic snowboarder.

I’m thankful my kids were interested in watching great 90’s movies with me…and I enjoy watching documentaries as well.

What did I miss? I’m sure there are other Olympic themed movies and docs that I’ve forgotten.

Posted in Books and Shows, Not Just a Mom

Share Our Lives: February 2026

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Monday!

Would you all even believe me if I told you we still aren’t going back to school today? Our roads have definitely improved, but there are still too many side streets on bus routes that are iced over. The temps will be on the rise this week, and we’re ready for it.

I had two fun posts this weekend. Saturday, I shared a few of my fave Super Bowl apps, and yesterday, I shared a few Olympic view food ideas (thanks to being inspired by others!)

Anyway, it’s already the second Monday of the month, so I’m co-hosting Share Our Lives with some of my favorite bloggers.

In January, we discussed…

  • Ways to stay warm in the winter

This month’s topic is…binge worthy shows.

Well, truth be told, I’m not good at binge watching shows. Do I watch TV? Absolutely! I just don’t seem to have the attention span (or the time?) to “binge” a show in one or two sittings.

That being said, recently, Trav and I watched His & Hers in a matter of a few days, and we definitely wanted to see how it ended.

I do have “pockets” of time, like over break, when I kind of made it a goal to finish up a few shows I love and had started. I really like Nobody Wants This and a few weekends ago, I watched the last few episodes of season 2.

Since Catherine O’Hara’s passing, I started to re-watch Schitt’s Creek. It was a fave a few summers ago. My dad had suggested it, I watched all six seasons throughout that summer…maybe 2022?

During Covid, I “binged” The Crown. I was late to that game as well, and I watched the first three or four seasons, and then I finished that series as it wrapped up over the next few years.

I’m looking forward to the new season of Night Agent coming out soon. Trav and I watch that together.

Thanks to Hulu, I can watch some of my favorite shows from my childhood like Who’s the Boss?, 227, Designing Women, Mad About You, and According to Jim.

You know I can always watch my fave ladies…The Golden Girls.

A few shows I have on my TV/Netflix list to watch at some point:

  • Lincoln Lawyer (my brother suggested, and I’ve watched the first few episodes of season 1, and I like it)
  • The Diplomat (I need to finish season 3)
  • The Pitt (my mom suggested, and I’ve watched the first few episodes of season 1, and it’s intense…but I love Noah Wylie.)
  • The Four Seasons
  • Shrinking

I just don’t have a ton of time right now to go all in on a show with multiple seasons, but I like having some ideas of what to watch). I also think I have TV “commitment issues.” haha!

Of course, right now, I will want to watch the Olympics in the evening.

Next month, we’re looking at grocery list frequent buys…

Have a great Monday!

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Posted in Books and Shows

What I’ve Been Reading: January 2026

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Tuesday!

I can’t believe I already have a month of reading under my belt in the new year. Today, I’m sharing the three books I read this month.

This month, I read two books and listened to one.

{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}

The Wedding People:

Summary:

It’s a beautiful day in Newport, Rhode Island, when Phoebe Stone arrives at the grand Cornwall Inn wearing a green dress and gold heels, not a bag in sight, alone. She’s immediately mistaken by everyone in the lobby for one of the wedding people, but she’s actually the only guest at the Cornwall who isn’t here for the big event. Phoebe is here because she’s dreamed of coming for years—she hoped to shuck oysters and take sunset sails with her husband, only now she’s here without him, at rock bottom, and determined to have one last decadent splurge on herself. Meanwhile, the bride has accounted for every detail and every possible disaster the weekend might yield except for, well, Phoebe and Phoebe’s plan—which makes it that much more surprising when the two women can’t stop confiding in each other.

Quick Thoughts:

My mom gave me this book as one of my Christmas gifts. She said how much she enjoyed it, and my sister-in-law said it was one of her favorite books too.

This is a pretty popular book, and I’d heard about it…but that one of the main topics was about suicide…so I just never put it high on my list. This book also references infertility, so there are two sensitive topics. That being said, I really loved this book. Phoebe was a great main character, but the “wedding people” really were an ensemble cast. I was rooting for Phoebe, and I loved how the wedding people were all so different and provided various layers to the plot development. The ending was wonderful and while I guess maybe I knew how it would end, there were some special moments leading up to the final page.

Rating:

I’d say it’s 4.5 stars!

Before Dorothy:

Summary:

The greatest journey is the one you least expect…Kansas 1932

When news reaches Kansas that her beloved sister has tragically died, Emily Gale must become a mother overnight. Her sister’s orphaned child, Dorothy, desperately needs a home.

But Emily doubts her ability to fill her sister’s shoes; her life on the barren Kansas prairies is no place for a child.

On the unforgiving plains, Emily’s courage is endlessly tested. The prolonged drought and relentless dust storms threaten to destroy everything – including her home and her marriage.

Can Emily overcome her grief and let Dorothy heal her heart?

Quick Thoughts:

This is the third book I read by Hazel Gaynor (The Last Life Boat and last month I read Christmas with the Queen) I can’t remember if Tanya orSarah mentioned this book which is why I added it to my TBR list, but they both always have wonderful reading recommendations.

I absolutely loved this book. I felt so nostalgic while reading it, and the subtle references to The Wizard of Oz were perfect. My heart ached for Dorothy and Emily for different reasons. This book also had a reference to miscarriage and then of course, they were living through the Great Depression.

I’m a Missouri girl, but Kansas is right next door, and just reading about the Kansas prairie and that time period kept my interest.

The characters had a connection to the original story, and the historical note was so interesting providing background but also where Gaynor found inspiration for characters. Authors note was lovely too as she shared why she wrote the book and came up with the idea for the story.

I’m sure this book will be in my top five reads for 2026!

Fave quotes: (so many wonderful and meaningful quotes!)

  • “I’m quite sure if you tapped his chest there would be an echo where his heart should be.”
  • “We make room, don’t we. Find space for the things we treasure.”
  • “We must never forget our first home. Even when we leave to go in search of another, we must never forget the places that shaped us.”
  • “We wouldn’t have the wonderful if we’d never had the wicked. It’s all part of the same story…all connected.”
  • “She said there are some things you can’t take with you on life’s journey. No matter how much they mean, or how precious they are, or how painful the parting…and she said that she was never a day without him, that a heart is the very best home of all.”
  • “I had to let go, start again, with nothing but hope in my heart and a single grain of wheat in my pocket. That was when I began to understand who I really was.”
  • “Home is, quite simply, wherever there is love.”

Rating:

The Windsor Knot:

Summary:

The morning after a dinner party at Windsor Castle, eighty-nine-year-old Queen Elizabeth is shocked to discover that one of her guests has been found murdered in his room, with a rope around his neck.

When the police begin to suspect her loyal servants, Her Majesty knows they’re looking in the wrong place.

For the Queen has been living an extraordinary double life since her coronation. Away from the public eye, she has a brilliant knack for solving crimes.

With her household’s happiness on the line, her secret must not get out. Can the Queen and her trusted secretary Rozie catch the killer, without getting caught themselves?

Quick Thoughts:

My aunt knows how much I love the British Royal Family, so she told me about this series. Since the first one was available on audiobook, I decided to list to it. I hadn’t read a mystery in a while, and this one was so fun. I loved that the narrator was British, but it did take me a bit to get used to listening. How fun that the Queen plays a part in solving the mysteries?! I certainly hope to listen to book #2 soon.

Rating:

I’m actually listening to a book and have a book I’m reading on my Kindle. Odds are that I will finish at least one of them this week, but I’ll share them next month.

We have another NTI day tomorrow, so this week is off to an odd start!

Posted in Books and Shows

December Books & Top 5 books for 2025

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Tuesday.

I’m already starting to panic…this week needs to slow down.

That being said, today, I’m sharing one of my favorite posts that I write every year…

I had a pretty good year of reading and my love for audiobooks grew, giving me a few more opportunities to complete books.

December Books:

December reading is always festive and fun..

This month I read:

{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}

Blue Christmas:

Summary:

The popular Mary Kay Andrews delivers a tasty holiday treat as she brings back the winning characters from Savannah Blues and Savannah Breeze for a little Southern cheer.

It’s the week before Christmas, and antiques dealer Weezie Foley is in a frenzy to do up her shop for the Savannah historical district window decorating contest–which she intends to win. She throws herself into putting up a Graceland/Blue Christmas motif, with lots of tinsel, an aluminum tree, and all kinds of tacky retro stuff. The project takes up so much time that Weezie is ready to shoot herself with her glue gun by the time she’s done, but the results are stunning. She’s sure she’s one–upped the owners of the trendy shop around the corner. But suddenly, things go missing from Weezie’s display, and there seems to be a mysterious midnight visitor to her shop. Still, Weezie has high hopes for the holiday–maybe in the form of an engagement ring from her chef boyfriend. But Daniel, always moody at the holidays, seems more distant than usual. Throw in Weezie’s decidedly odd family, a 1950s Christmas tree pin, and even a little help from the King himself, and maybe there will be a pocketful of miracles for Weezie this Christmas Eve.

Quick Thoughts:

I listened to this one, and I really liked the narrator. I didn’t realize this was a series until after I finished listening. Anyway, this was a quick read with lots of festivity and a bit of mystery. Now, I want to read the other books in the series.

Rating:

Christmas with the Queen:

Summary:

December 1952. While the young Queen Elizabeth II finds her feet as the new monarch, she must also find the right words to continue in the tradition of her late father and grandfather’s beloved Christmas Day radio broadcast. But even traditions must move with the times, and the Queen faces a postwar Britain hungry for change. 

As preparations begin for the royal Christmas at Sandringham House in Norfolk, two old friends—Jack Devereux and Olive Carter—find themselves reunited for the festivities. A single mother, typist at the BBC, and aspiring reporter, Olive leaps at the opportunity to cover the holiday celebration, despite self-doubts. When a chance encounter with the Queen presents an exciting opportunity, Olive begins to believe her luck might change. 

Jack, a grief-stricken widowed chef originally from New Orleans, accepts a last-minute chance to cook in the royal kitchens at Sandringham. When he bumps into a long-lost friend, an old spark is reignited.

Despite personal and professional heartache, Jack and Olive’s paths continue to cross over the following five Christmas seasons and they find themselves growing ever closer. Yet Olive carries the burden of a heavy secret. 

Christmas Day, December 1957. As the nation eagerly awaits the Queen’s first televised Christmas speech, Olive decides to reveal the shocking truth of her secret, which threatens to tear her and Jack apart forever. Unless Christmas has one last gift to deliver…

Quick Thoughts:

As you know, I love reading historical fiction, and that genre including the Queen and Christmastime, well, I’m hooked!

I loved every page of this book. Goodreads says, “Tis the season! The Crown meets When Harry Met Sally and Bridget Jones’s Diary, in the latest heartwarming historical novel from Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb…”

…and that’s a perfect little description. While, I love the royalty piece, the Queen actually wasn’t a main character at all, but she was still a key element to the story.

Fave Quote:

  • “We can’t bring the things we’ve cherished with us as we go, but we can leave them in the care of others who have loved us and will remember us. What a blessing.”

Rating:

A Seagrove Christmas:

Summary:

It’s time for Christmas in Seagrove!

Are you ready to catch up with your favorite characters on the tiny lowcountry island of Seagrove, SC?

When we last left off, there was a big wedding and an addition to the family. But, what happens when a new resident moves to town and shakes things up?

And what will everyone do when a familiar face shows up and creates chaos during the holidays?

Quick Thoughts:

This book was just ok…I found it because I was searching for audiobooks in the Libby app. I didn’t love the narrator, but since it was a quick read, I stuck with it.

There was a little twist at the end and that was about the only saving grace!

Rating:

Secret Christmas Library:

Summary:

Mirren Sutherland stumbled into a career as an antiquarian book hunter after finding a priceless antique book in her great aunt’s attic. Now, as Christmas approaches, she’s been hired by Jamie McPherson, the surprisingly young and handsome laird of a Highland clan whose ancestral holdings include a vast crumbling castle. Family lore suggests that the McPherson family’s collection includes a rare book so valuable that it could save the entire estate—if they only knew where it was. Jamie needs Mirren to help him track down this treasure, which he believes is hidden in his own home.

But on the train to the Highlands, Mirren runs into rival book hunter Theo Palliser, and instantly knows that it’s not a chance meeting. She’s all too familiar with Theo’s good looks and smooth talk, and his uncanny ability to appear whenever there’s a treasure that needs locating.

Almost as soon as Mirren and Theo arrive at the castle, a deep snow blankets the Highlands, cutting off the outside world. Stuck inside, the three of them plot their search as the wind whistles outside. Mirren knows that Jamie’s grandfather, the castle’s most recent laird, had been a book collector, a hoarder, and a great lover of treasure hunts. Now they must unpuzzle his clues, discovering the secrets of the house—forming and breaking alliances in a race against time.

Quick Thoughts:

I enjoyed this book! It was not very Christmasy, but I liked all the characters, and thought they were a fun crew. There was mystery and romance. At times, I felt like I was reading the Scottish version of The Goonies. That being said, I don’t really think the title applies to the plot…and even at the end, I went back and re-read the first few chapters thinking I missed something.

If you’ve read this book, let me know your thoughts! I must have been reading too quickly.

Rating:

Recap of 2025 books:

As with past years, I had a goal of reading 40 books, and I guess I fell one short of that goal…although Goodreads thinks otherwise.

Goodreads has me all kinds of confused. After I read my 40th book, I got the congratulations message…

But then some stats on the app, said I read 38 books. Maybe everything wasn’t synced up after I read my last books…that being said, when I counted my books on this post, there are 39… and the photos in the app, it appears I read 38 books. I do think I read one in January that I started last December. This is making my “type A” self crazy…haha …but no matter what, I was able to read more books than last year (35), and it was a better year of reading, for sure.

I did check the app and it seems a couple of books were counted twice, which I’m just now realizing. Anyway…

Here are the 39 that I books I read in 2025…

When looking at this list, there were a few books I didn’t even remember that I read this year! Also, as you probably know, historical fiction is my fave, so I have quite a few books in that genre. I also really like suspense/mystery, but apparently I didn’t read as many of those this year. I’d love some book recommendations for that genre…maybe I can branch out in 2026.

I love seeing the Goodreads stats on the app…

  • 39 books read
  • 12,837 pages read
  • The shortest book I read was Blue Christmas with 194 pages
  • The longest book I read was Lilac Girls with 497 pages
  • Average book length in 2025 was 337 pages.

…then I also received an email with a few more facts…including this graphic which isn’t really accurate because, for example, I read four books in January and December…not three!

  • Over 12,000 pages read — which means I read enough pages to go up, down, and all around the Eiffel Tower, with pages to spare.
  • My top genres for 2025 were: romance, memoir & biography, and historical fiction
  • I finished five of the most read books on Goodreads this year: The Academy, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, One Golden Summer, From Here to the Great Unknown, and The Night We Lost Him.
  • I (supposedly) completed my 40 book reading goal.

I read in lots of places this year:

Book trackers:

I also continued making book trackers this year which were fun to share on Instagram. (They are saved in monthly highlights on my Insta)

The books I read this year:

January

  • Lilac Girls
  • The Stories We Tell
  • One Big Happy Family
  • The Match

February

  • Far Beyond Gold
  • The House Party
  • From Here to the Great Unknown
  • Hooked

March

  • Brooke Shields is not Allowed to Get Old
  • The Underground Library
  • The Night We Lost Him

April

  • A Happier Life
  • The Sicilian Inheritance
  • A Good Girl’s Guide
  • Let’s Call Her Barbie

May

  • I’ll Have What She’s Having
  • Greenwich Park

June

  • Bad Summer People
  • All the Summers in Between
  • One Golden Summer

July

  • Maine Characters
  • The Comeback Summer
  • Beach House Rules

August

  • Seven Summers
  • Dolly Parton: Behind the Seams
  • Parents Weekend

September

  • Big Dumb Eyes
  • The Stranger in the Life Boat

October

  • Paris is Always a Good Idea
  • Confessions of a Grammar Queen
  • The Academy

November

  • My Life with the Walter Boys
  • Mean Moms
  • Horse
  • The Christmas Cookie Wars

December

  • Blue Christmas
  • Christmas with the Queen
  • A Seagrove Christmas
  • The Secret Christmas Library

Honorable Mention:

Before I share my five fave books from 2025, these deserve honorable mention:

In the order that I read them:

  • Lilac Girls
  • From here to the Great Unknown
  • A Happier Life
  • All the Summers in Between

Top Five Books in 2025:

Here are my top 5 reads in 2025:

The Underground Library:

I loved that the story was told from the perspective of three different women…and I had some fave quotes that stuck with me too.

Confessions of a Grammar Queen:

I read this book thanks to Sarah’s recommendation…and it was great!

Let’s Call Her Barbie:

I can thank Sarah for this one as well…and it was another audiobook that I listened to this year. I think I would have loved it anyway, but I really enjoyed the narrator as well as the mix of historical fiction, romance, and girl power.

Christmas with the Queen:

Typically when I read holiday books in December, I’m not expecting one of the books to be a top contender, but this one was such a favorite of mine.

Horse:

Why did I wait so long to read this book? My Gma recommended it a couple of years ago, and I finally got to reading it in November. It has a little bit of everything, and I loved it so much. Gma knows best!

Previous Top 5 Books:

2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019

Happy reading, y’all!

Posted in Books and Shows

What I’ve Been Reading: November 2025

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Wednesday!

I’m a bit late doing so, but today I’m sharing the books I read in November. Yesterday, I was able to find a few minutes to read during my SNOW DAY! Can you believe it?! In all my years teaching, I don’t think I’ve ever had a snow day in December. We only got a couple of inches, and the roads were fine by 9am or so, but I guess it was one of those days where it was snowing at just the right time for them to call off school.

Anyway, November was a decent month of reading for me.

This month, I read two books and listened to two books. Discovering audio books really has upped my reading opportunities lately.

{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}

Starting with the two audio books…

My Life with the Walter Boys:

Summary:

Jackie does not like surprises. Chaos is the enemy! The best way to get her successful, busy parents to notice her is to be perfect. The perfect look, the perfect grades-the perfect daughter. And then…

Surprise #1: Jackie’s family dies in a freak car accident.

Surprise #2: Jackie has to move cross-country to live with the Walters-her new guardians.

Surprise #3: The Walters have twelve sons. (Well, eleven, but Parker acts like a boy anyway)

Now Jackie must trade in her Type A personality and New York City apartment for a Colorado ranch and all the wild Walter boys who come with it. Jackie is surrounded by the enemy-loud, dirty, annoying boys who have no concept of personal space. Okay, several of the oldest guys are flat-out gorgeous. But still annoying. She’s not stuck-up or boring-no matter what they say. But proving it is another matter. How can she fit in and move on when she needs to keep her parents’ memory alive by living up to the promise of perfect?

Quick Thoughts:

I stumbled upon this book while searching the Libby app for books that were currently available and had high ratings. I guess this is book one of two, and it’s a young adult book…and it certainly read that way.

The premise of the book was sad, but it obviously set the foundation for the plot. That being said, I thought it was odd that Jackie would go live out of state with people she didn’t know. Also, she was in boarding school, so I kept wondering why she didn’t just stay in boarding school? Honestly, I didn’t like how the boys treated her when she arrived…honestly, some comments from them were sexual harassment. As Jackie settled in with the family, some of the boys weren’t nice at all. Obviously, there was more to the plot, but I just had a few sticking points while reading.

Rating:

For a YA reader, this would probably be scored higher, but for me, it’s three stars.

Mean Moms:

Summary:

Meet Frost, Morgan, and Nell—a wealthy, gorgeous group of New York City moms, the queen bees of downtown Manhattan. Their children attend Atherton Seminary, the top private school in the city, and their social lives revolve around elaborate themed parties.

On the first day of school, the arrival of a new mom and mysterious beauty from Miami named Sofia shakes up their world. When Sofia quickly integrates herself into their clique, inexplicably bad things start to happen to the women. Frost is the victim of a hit-and-run electric scooter incident. Nell’s dream of launching a fashion line is thwarted when the clothing samples cause people to break out in a rash. Morgan’s new sound bath spa is robbed at gunpoint by a moped-driving thief. Morgan declares it all a “negative event cluster,” but the other women aren’t so sure.

Is someone at school out to get them? Another mom with a vendetta? Let’s not forget to mention the handsome headmaster, Dr. Broker, who every mom has a crush on (and one of them might be sleeping with).

Quick Thoughts:

Mean Moms seems to be a popular book, and I was on the library wait list for a bit before it was my turn to listen to it. Overall, it reminded me a little bit of Real Housewives of New York! The main characters weren’t super likable, and there were quite a few minor characters to keep up with. I liked the drama of it all and there were some suspenseful moments. I enjoyed the last half of the book far more than the first half as there seemed to be more action and a few twists and turns.

Rating:

This is mostly three stars for me, but the last 25% of the book was four stars.

Horse:

Summary:

A discarded painting in a junk pile, a skeleton in an attic, and the greatest racehorse in American history: from these strands, a Pulitzer Prize winner braids a sweeping story of spirit, obsession, and injustice across American history

Kentucky, 1850. An enslaved groom named Jarret and a bay foal forge a bond of understanding that will carry the horse to record-setting victories across the South. When the nation erupts in civil war, an itinerant young artist who has made his name on paintings of the racehorse takes up arms for the Union. On a perilous night, he reunites with the stallion and his groom, very far from the glamour of any racetrack.

New York City, 1954. Martha Jackson, a gallery owner celebrated for taking risks on edgy contemporary painters, becomes obsessed with a nineteenth-century equestrian oil painting of mysterious provenance.

Washington, DC, 2019. Jess, a Smithsonian scientist from Australia, and Theo, a Nigerian-American art historian, find themselves unexpectedly connected through their shared interest in the horse–one studying the stallion’s bones for clues to his power and endurance, the other uncovering the lost history of the unsung Black horsemen who were critical to his racing success.

Based on the remarkable true story of the record-breaking thoroughbred Lexington, Horse is a novel of art and science, love and obsession, and our unfinished reckoning with racism.

Quick Thoughts:

My Gma suggested Horse to me a couple of years ago, and I finally got around to reading it. This book was amazing…and maybe the best book I read all year…for sure in the top five!

You know I love historical fiction, and the connection to the horse industry and Lexington, KY obviously caught my attention. That being said, there was so much more to the plot as three different time periods were woven together. This was beautifully written and very informative. The ending had a twist that I wasn’t expecting, and I really didn’t want the book to end.

The afterword with historical context info was so insightful too. As I read the book, I shared so many excerpts with Trav. Overall, this book is a fave for sure!

Rating:

The Christmas Cookie Wars:

Summary:

Melody Monroe will do anything to help her nine-year-old twin boys muster up the holiday spirit. Especially since they lost their father, the boys have started questioning the point of Christmas at all. 

So, when Melody learns the school’s Yuletide Cookie Club has disbanded due to dissension in the top ranks, she knows she must take over the cookie club herself, even if it means dealing with the infuriating school principal, Jonathan Braxton.

But when a small argument turns into a town-wide bake-off between her and Jonathan, Melody finds that her competitive spirits have turned romantic. Love can’t be in the cards. Her focus is on her boys, and saving Christmas. This year, will Melody be willing to let go of the past and embrace the magic of the holidays for herself?

Quick Thoughts:

I always like to read a holiday book in November to kick off the holiday season, and have one book to share with you going into December.

My TBR Christmas list on Goodreads is full of so many great titles. The Christmas Cookie Wars was available on Kindle, so I snagged it. It was the perfect read to start the holiday season. I loved that Melody’s boys were rambunctious, and of course she’d had heartbreak only to find love in an unexpected place. The cookie war wasn’t without a little drama too.

This was definitely a cute, seasonal read.

Rating:

Did you catch my Friday Favorites post last week? I shared quite a few holiday books that I’ve read through the years.

My Goodreads reading goal was 40 books again this year, and I’m up to 36 read. I don’t know if I can get four books read/listened to this month, but I sure look forward to trying. I have a couple of good holiday options downloaded on my Kindle. I’m not ready for another snow day just yet, but the weather is making it easy for me to want to sit inside and read by the glow of my Christmas tree…I just need my “to do” list to chill a bit!

Happy reading!

Posted in Books and Shows, Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites: Holiday Books

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Friday!

How was your Thanksgiving? It’s truly my favorite holiday…food, family, football and a break from school.

If they’re hosting, I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika for this week’s Friday Favorites...

…to share…some of my favorite holiday books. Now that Thanksgiving is over, I’m ready to read some Christmas/holiday themed books which has been my December tradition the past few years.

Currently I’m reading…

I always try to read one holiday book in November, so I have a new idea to share with you all for December. The Christmas Cookie Wars was the perfect way to kick start my holiday reading. I will share my November books next week.

On my list for December is this book I picked up from Barnes and Noble. Like I shared previously, I learned via Tik Tok (thanks to my sister-in-law) that every two months Barnes and Noble has a book in their cafe that is $5 with a cafe purchase.

Murder at Holly House is the November/December book. I can’t wait to read it.

I’ve shared/read these books in the past…

…and I recommend them all.

Mr. Dickens and his Carol, Christmas in Paris,

and Bright Lights, Big Christmas are all faves…

…and I loved Elin Hilderbrand’s Winter Street series…10/10 recommend!

Besides Christmas Cookie War and Murder at Holly House, I hope to read…

  • Christmas with the Queen and The Merry Matchmaker, both of which I have downloaded on my Kindle.
  • I have a few others on hold at the library. I don’t know that I can actually read them all, but on my list are: A Ferry Merry Christmas, Secret Christmas Library, and Christmas at the Ranch

What holiday books do you recommend?

Weekly Recap:

I had a couple of posts this week:

Monday memes
Sweet 16

On Sunday, I hope to share my Monthly Moments for November. Have a great weekend!

Posted in Books and Shows, Not Just a Mom

Share Our Lives: November 2025

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Monday!

Well,, we went from fall to winter around here with temps now in the 30’s and a chance of snowflakes. Thankfully, it won’t last long.

It’s already the second Monday of the month, so I’m co-hosting Share Our Lives with some of my favorite bloggers.

This year, we’ve discussed…

  • Saving time on chores in January
  • Tips for falling asleep in February
  • Day in the life, an average day in March
  • Creative outlets/free time in April
  • How do you spend your birthday in May
  • Unique things about where you live in June
  • Best vacation memory in July
  • How do you take a break in August
  • 5 things we do each season in September
  • Go to snacks in October

This month’s topic is…habits to make time for reading.

Well, whether you’ve read my blog once or one hundred times, you probably know that one of my favorite things to do is read a good book…

I grew up with parents who read and trips to the library often, and, to me, reading is such a gift!

Some of my favorite memories as a parent are the times I took my kids to the library for story time and to check out books in the summer, on a Saturday or a snow day from school.

My kids aren’t big readers now, but I hope one day they circle back and find the joy in books again.

Anyway, on to our topic for today…here are a few tips I have for making time for reading.

1. Routine

Making reading a part of your routine. There is hardly a day that goes by that I don’t read for even a few minutes. Most of the time, it’s at bedtime, so I end up drifting off, but just having a book or my Kindle on my bedside table or coffee table makes it easy for me to read for a few minutes.

2. Lists

I love when others share what they’ve been reading, and then I add book titles to my TBR (to be read) list. For years, I had a note on my phone with a running list of what I wanted to read and what I read, but three or four years ago, I started using the Goodreads app to track my lists and my reading. It’s fun to follow friends and see what they’re reading and how they rate books.

I also think it helps to read a variety. For years, I love chick lit, but now my favorite genre is historical fiction. That being said, I still love a good mystery as well as a memoir/bio/autobio. I think reading a mix of genres keeps reading interesting.

3. Reading Goals

I’m a pretty goal oriented person, and I’m somewhat motivated to see how many books I can read in a year. So, I’ve done the Goodreads challenge the past few years. There are a variety of challenges, but I just set a goal for the number of books I hope to read, and track that way. My goal is typically 40 books, and I come close to achieving the goal most years.

4. Maximize time

I used to exclusively read books, but now I’ve owned a Kindle for probably seven years. Now, I mostly read on my Kindle, but I still love to hold a book in my hands. The Kindle is just more convenient for me. I keep it in my purse to read when I’m waiting on my kids to finish a practice, and it’s easier to download a few books before a vacation than to lug books in my carry on.

Also, I’m still somewhat new to audio books, but they are another way that I maximize my time. Now, I can listen to a book when I workout, go for a walk, or while I’m in the car. I’m really starting to like listening to books, but I do find it hard to finish one in the two week library check out window…sometimes I have to listen to them on 1.75x speed! (Of course, some books can be renewed if they aren’t on a wait list, giving me more time)

5. Reduce distractions

It’s easy to get distracted, but when I’m reading, I do put my phone away or turn the television off. It’s just good for me to have a few moments of quiet to read for a bit to unwind. Reading is definitely a stress reliever for me and something I truly enjoy doing.

What good reading habits do you have?

Next month, we’ll have our last topic of 2025…staying connected with kids/spouse/significant other. As always, we hope you’ll join us.

I hope you have a great start to your week.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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Posted in Books and Shows

What I’ve Been Reading: October 2025

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Wednesday!

It’s hard to believe that October is almost over…which is probably something I will say for every post this week. October tends to be one of my favorite months, so I’m actually typically sad when it’s over! October started with me reading on the beach and is ending with me cozy and reading at home while it rains outside.

This month I read three books…

{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}

The Academy:

Summary:

It’s move-in day at Tiffin Academy and amidst the happy chaos of friends reuniting, selfies uploading, and cars unloading, shocking news: America Today just ranked Tiffin the number two boarding school in the country. It’s a seventeen-spot jump – was there a typo? The dorms need to be renovated, their sports teams always come in last place, and let’s just say Tiffin students are known for being more social than academic. On the other hand, the campus is exquisite, class sizes are small, and the dining hall is run by an acclaimed New York chef. And they do have fun—lots of parties and school dances, and a piano man plays in the student lounge every Monday night.

But just as the rarefied air of Tiffin is suffused with self-congratulation, the wheels begin to turn – and then they fall off the bus. One by one, scandalous blind items begin to appear on phones across Tiffin’s campus, thanks to a new app called ZipZap, and nobody is safe. From Davi Banerjee, international influencer and resident queen bee, to Simone Bergeron, the new and surprisingly young history teacher, to Charley Hicks, a transfer student who seems determined not to fit in, to Cordelia Spooner, Admissions Director with a somewhat idiosyncratic methodology – everyone has something to hide.

Quick Thoughts:

This was my fall break book! I rarely purchase books, but I saw it at Target when I was picking up a few things, so I bought it too. I was so excited to read it while soaking in the sunshine.

Quick Thoughts:

This was a highly anticipated book for me, and I love Hilderbrand’s books; this one she co-wrote with her daughter. How fun!

The plot moves through the school year with each chapter a month September to May.

This book was easy to read, and I loved the boarding school drama…although there were definitely some things that surprised me from high school students. Tiffin’s campus is just what I would expect for a boarding school, and I loved that there was a map in the front of the book where all the buildings were located. There’s romance, drama, friendship and more in this book. They leave us hanging because we know there’s a letter to be opened when they graduate, which for some of the students is the next year. I can’t wait to read the next one!

Rating:

4.5 stars

Confessions of a Grammar Queen:

Summary:

There are no female publishing CEOs in 1960’s New York. And that is exactly what savvy, ambitious Bernadette Swift plans to change.

Bernadette Swift, a young copyeditor at Lenox & Park Publishing, is determined to become the first female CEO in the publishing industry. But first she needs to take the next step up that ladder with a promotion that her boorish and sexist boss wants to thwart. Seeking a base of support, Bernadette joins a feminist women’s book club at the New York Public Library, and soon, she’s inspiring her fellow members to challenge the male gatekeepers and decades of ingrained sexism in their workplaces and pursue their personal and professional dreams.

And that is precisely what Bernedette does on a daily keeps her eye on the prize—equality for women in the workplace, and a promotion—while fending off the ire of her boss and the sabotaging efforts of a jealous coworker. With the support of her book club buddies and a certain charismatic editor at Lenox & Park who has completely fallen for her, maybe, just maybe, Bernadette will prove able to claim victory for herself and the young women coming after her.

Quick Thoughts:

I read this book thanks to Sarah’s suggestion, and I couldn’t have loved it more. First of all, who doesn’t love grammar? Just kidding.

Bernadette is such a unique character as she is strong-willed and independent but she’s also vulnerable. I loved the history, the women’s book club, the characters, the love story, the message and more!

Another aspect I enjoyed was that every few chapters were written from the point of view of Bernadette’s dog Frank. So sweet and fun.

I think this book is a contender for the best book I’ve read this year.

You know I love a book if I have a couple of favorite quotes:

  • Though women were outranked on every floor, in every department, they were also the backbone of the workforce, the glue that stuck the pages to the spines. Without them, everything fell apart.
  • Good mentors never tear you down. They hold your hand and tug you through the portal of dreams.

Rating:

Paris is Always a Good Idea:

Summary:

It’s been seven years since Chelsea Martin embarked on her yearlong post-college European adventure. Since then, she’s lost her mother to cancer and watched her sister marry twice, while Chelsea’s thrown herself into work, becoming one of the most talented fundraisers for the American Cancer Coalition, and with the exception of one annoyingly competent coworker, Jason Knightley, her status as most talented fundraiser is unquestioned.

When her introverted mathematician father announces he’s getting remarried, Chelsea is forced to acknowledge that her life stopped after her mother died, and that the last time she can remember being happy, in love, or enjoying her life was on her gap year. Inspired to retrace her steps–to find Colin in Ireland, Jean Claude in France, and Marcelino in Italy–Chelsea hopes that one of these three men who stole her heart so many years ago, can help her find it again.

From the start of her journey nothing goes as planned, but as Chelsea reconnects with her old self, she also finds love in the very last place she expected.

Quick Thoughts:

I listened to this book. I enjoyed it, but it felt very long.

The premise of reconnecting with three previous loves set the timeline from the start. I thought that was a fun aspect in that Chelsea traveled to three different countries, and reconnecting with the men each provided a different encounter.

Of course, there’s some twists and turns along the way, along with a couple of R rated scenes. As the story progressed, I knew how it would end, but I was happy with the ending!

Rating:

3. 5 stars

While I’ve been a consistent reader, I’m afraid I’m going to fall short of my 40 book goal this year. I’ve read 31/40…but I feel like I’ve read more this year! Oh well, the goal is just a fun thing to do year to year. I’m doing the best I can, and I still enjoy reading, and listening to a good book!