Hello and happy Wednesday…It’s our last day of school, so that makes this Wednesday even sweeter!
Well, I was afraid this might happen. The month has come where “my reading roll” slowed down. I did read one book and listened to one other, so I’m sharing those two with you today!
{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}
I’ll Have What She’s Having:
Summary:
There’s a woman I want to become, Chelsea Handler thought as a child. She’ll be strong and confident. She’ll light up a room and spread that light to make others feel better. She’ll make a living being herself. She’ll be a survivor.
At ten years old, Chelsea opened a lemonade stand and realized she’d make more money if the drinks were spiked. So she added vodka to her recipe and used her earnings to upgrade herself to first-class on a family vacation—leaving her parents and siblings in coach. She moved to Los Angeles and got fired from her temp job when she admitted she didn’t know how to transfer calls. She’s played pickleball with the scions of an American dynasty. She’s sexted a governor. She shared psychedelics with strangers in Spain. When she accidentally ended up at dinner with Woody Allen, she was not going to leave the table without asking him a very personal pointed question. She went on national television and talked about having threesomes. She’s never been one to hold back.
But this life of adventure and absurdity is only part of her story. Chelsea knows what it is to truly show up for her family—canine and human, biological and chosen. She’s discovered how to spend time with herself, how to meditate, how to be open to love, and how to end a relationship with dignity. She is a sister to the many women who rely on her.
Quick Thoughts:
Chelsea Handler was one of the first comedians I remember seeing on TV. I’d sometimes watch her Chelsea Lately show on E! and I read her 2008 book Are You There Vodka? It’s Me Chelsea.
Overall, I think she’s funny. She has a self-deprecating humor about herself, and listening to her read this book made it more enjoyable. Also, I think if you are interested in reading her book, listening to it is the way to go. If you know her humor, then of course, it was crass and inappropriate at times, but it was also funny and inspirational too. I didn’t realize she’d dated a man with three daughters and hearing about their relationship and how she’s continued to be there for the girls into their adult lives was a sweet spot in this memoir. She reads journal entries and reflects on her journey with therapy which also shows a softer side to her. She’s short and to the point and times and one of the best parts is when she shares the email she sent her family, her nieces and nephews, after one of the epic vacations she took the family on at some point. She’s very matter of fact with them about all they take for granted, how they should treat their mother (her sister), how they should treat others, and more. Again, Chelsea probably has a polarizing personality, but I thought this was a humorous read.
Rating:
Greenwich Park:
Summary:
Helen’s idyllic life—handsome architect husband, gorgeous Victorian house, and cherished baby on the way (after years of trying)—begins to change the day she attends her first prenatal class and meets Rachel, an unpredictable single mother-to-be. Rachel doesn’t seem very maternal: she smokes, drinks, and professes little interest in parenthood. Still, Helen is drawn to her. Maybe Rachel just needs a friend. And to be honest, Helen’s a bit lonely herself. At least Rachel is fun to be with. She makes Helen laugh, invites her confidences, and distracts her from her fears.
But her increasingly erratic behavior is unsettling. And Helen’s not the only one who’s noticed. Her friends and family begin to suspect that her strange new friend may be linked to their shared history in unexpected ways. When Rachel threatens to expose a past crime that could destroy all of their lives, it becomes clear that there are more than a few secrets laying beneath the broad-leaved trees and warm lamplight of Greenwich Park.
Quick Thoughts:
It’s been a bit since I’d read a mystery/thriller, and this one hit the spot! I always love a London setting and a creepy main character. From the start, you know something is “off” with Rachel but you’re just not sure what. There are twists and turns and pieces that I started to put together….but then of course, there’s always another final twist to round out the story. Some of the chapters are written in the point of view of the park which added an extra layer to the story. This was a good, quick read!
Rating:
Soon, I’ll share my summer reading list! I definitely hope to have more time to read in the next couple of months!
I know I typically say “happy” and the day of the week to start my posts, but sometimes on Mondays I’m not sure how happy I actually am. Monday mornings always seem to come quick! Well, this is the last Monday of the school year…with no school tomorrow, so I really truly mean, “Happy Monday!” haha
How was your weekend? Ours was good overall. We didn’t have much going on Friday night, Saturday we sat out in the sunshine at the regional track meet, and yesterday, I did my best to get ready for the week ahead.
I often share what I’m watching, listening to and reading throughout other posts, but today I thought I’d share all of those things…but just from the weekend! I had quite the mix!
Watching:
Had I realized this was going to be my post topic for today, I would have taken a picture, but I did watch the KC Royals baseball game for a bit because that night they were celebrating the 1985 team for the 40 year anniversary of them winning the World Series. I was only five-years-old back then, but I did recognize many of the players.
A couple of years ago, I started splitting the MLB app season package with my brother to stream games whenever I wanted to watch one. This is the second season that I’ve been able to use the app for free because of my cell phone company. I don’t watch every game, but it’s nice to have on in the background sometimes….kind of a nostalgic way that I grew up.
Anyway, the Royals didn’t play well, so I didn’t finish watching the game.
Instead…
Travis and I watched the second to last episode of….
We were “binge” watching up until Derby, and then remembered that we had a couple of episodes left. We watched the Preakness episode, so we have one more to go to wrap up this series.
Saturday was busy, and I didn’t really watch anything until that evening. I had a bit of time to read, so I did turn the Royals game on again for some background noise. They were recognizing the 2015 team with their World Series win. Again, it was fun to see some of our favorite players from the 2014 and 2015 teams be interviewed. Like Friday night, I didn’t watch the entire game, and instead turned on…
A Deadly American Marriage on Netflix. Why do I watch these shows? haha I watched about half of this one, and then Trav and the kids got home and it was time for bed.
Sunday morning, I watched an episode of Rookie. I’m not sure why, but catching up on this season seems to be my Sunday morning routine.
Then, I almost always watch a couple of episodes of whatever is on the Food Network.
Sunday afternoon, I watched a bit of the Royals game while I ate my lunch.
I was busy the rest of the afternoon and evening, but I did tune in for the American Idol finale! Fun fact…Trav loves American Idol. I didn’t watch as much of the auditions early on like I typically do, but once the top 24 were narrowed down, I started to watch a bit more consistently this season.
I love these judges. The addition of Carrie Underwood has been so fun as this season she’s looked back on when she won twenty years ago!
Reading:
I had a little bit of time to read this weekend, and I’m still reading Greenwich Park. It’s really good, and I hope to finish it up soon!
Listening:
I was able to go for a walk on Saturday and Sunday, and during both walks, I listened to an episode of The Coop with Kit. Melissa Stark was the guest, and it was a good episode to listen to while getting my steps in.
I need to find a new book to listen to, so that’s on my agenda this week!
Well, this post is a bit late as it’s already May 6th, but I can’t let a month pass by without sharing the books I read. I always get so many great book recommendations from other blogs I read, so I hope it’s the same for you when I write this monthly post.
I had another great month of reading:
{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}
A Happier Life:
Summary:
Present Day: Keaton Smith is desperate for a fresh start. So when her mother needs someone to put her childhood home in Beaufort, North Carolina, on the market—the home that Keaton didn’t know existed until now—she jumps at the chance to head south. But the moment she steps foot inside the abandoned house, she’s confronted with secrets about grandparents who died before she was born. And as she gets to know her charming next-door neighbor, his precocious ten-year-old son, and a flock of endearingly feisty town busybodies, she soon finds she has more questions than answers.
1976: Rebecca “Becks” Saint James has made a name for herself as the best hostess North Carolina has ever seen. Her annual summer suppers have become the stuff of legend, and locals and out-of-towners alike clamor for an invitation to her stunning historic home. But she’s struggling behind the façade. Becks strives to make the lives of those around her as easy as possible, but this summer she is facing a dilemma that even she can’t solve. And as the end of the season looms, she is brought to a decision she never wanted to make.
As both Keaton and Becks face new challenges and chapters, they are connected through time by the house on Sunset Lane, which has protected the secrets, hopes, and dreams of the women in their family for generations.
Quick Thoughts:
I read this one while sitting at the beach! Of course, that makes it even better.
This was a perfect fictional romance read. I loved the mix of characters in this one from Keaton’s family to the ladies in town to her love interest and more. The flashbacks with Becks provide another wonderful perspective. There are definitely some heavy moments and topics as the story progresses, but I truly enjoyed this book.
Woodson Harvey is one of my favorite authors. This is the 8th book of hers that I’ve read. The Summer of Songbirds is my favorite book of hers, and this one is a close second. I’m excited for the new book she has coming out soon! Just in time for summer.
I had a favorite quote that I highlighted in my Kindle:
Being the person who cares for others is an undervalued role in our society. But it is, I’ve found, perhaps the very most important role one can play.
No wonder us moms (and dads!) are so tired.
Rating:
The Sicilian Inheritance:
Summary:
Sara Marsala barely knows who she is anymore after the failure of her business and marriage. On top of that, her beloved great-aunt Rosie passes away, leaving Sara bereft with grief. But Aunt Rosie’s death also opens an escape from her life and a window into the past by way of a plane ticket to Sicily, a deed to a possibly valuable plot of land, and a bombshell family secret. Rosie believes Sara’s great-grandmother Serafina, the family matriarch who was left behind while her husband worked in America, didn’t die of illness as family lore has it . . . she was murdered.
Thus begins a twist-filled adventure that takes Sara all over the picturesque Italian countryside as she races to solve a mystery and prove her birthright. Flashing back to the past, we meet Serafina, a feisty and headstrong young woman in the early 1900s thrust into motherhood in her teens, who fought for a better life not just for herself but for all the women of her small village. Unsurprisingly it isn’t long before a woman challenging the status quo finds herself in danger.
As Sara discovers more about Serafina she also realizes she is coming head-to-head with the same menacing forces that took down her great-grandmother.
Quick Thoughts:
I think Amy recommended this one, and it was a page turner for me. This was a great mystery fiction book set in Italy. From page one of the book, you know that Sara gets in some kind of predicament while learning more about Serafina. The chapters from Serafina’s point of view were really interesting. This book had drama, love, suspense, and more!
Rating:
Audio books have continued to be a way that I get at least one more book read a month, and this month I listened to two books.
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder:
Summary:
Everyone in Fairview knows the story.
Pretty and popular high school senior Andie Bell was murdered by her boyfriend, Sal Singh, who then killed himself. It was all anyone could talk about. And five years later, Pip sees how the tragedy still haunts her town.
But she can’t shake the feeling that there was more to what happened that day. She knew Sal when she was a child, and he was always so kind to her. How could he possibly have been a killer?
Now a senior herself, Pip decides to reexamine the closed case for her final project, at first just to cast doubt on the original investigation. But soon she discovers a trail of dark secrets that might actually prove Sal innocent . . . and the line between past and present begins to blur. Someone in Fairview doesn’t want Pip digging around for answers, and now her own life might be in danger.
Quick Thoughts:
I’ve seen this book in my school’s library as it’s a young adult book. As I’m still learning, the narrator makes a world of difference, and this book had a great one.
It’s a longer book that I started in March and finished in April, so I did speed up the listening speed from time to time.
This thriller/crime book did hook me from the first page. I like the premise of a high school student doing a project and of course I knew Pip would solve the case!
Now, I want to watch the Netflix series. I’ve added it to my summer viewing list.
Rating:
Let’s Call Her Barbie:
Summary:
When Ruth Handler walks into the boardroom of the toy company she co-founded and pitches her idea for a doll unlike any other, she knows what she’s setting in motion. It might just take the world a moment to catch up.
In 1956, the only dolls on the market for little girls let them pretend to be mothers. Ruth’s vision for a doll shaped like a grown woman and outfitted in an enviable wardrobe will let them dream they can be anything.
As Ruth assembles her team of creative rebels—head engineer Jack Ryan who hides his deepest secrets behind his genius and designers Charlotte Johnson and Stevie Klein, whose hopes and dreams rest on the success of Barbie’s fashion—she knows they’re working against a ticking clock to get this wild idea off the ground.
In the decades to come—through soaring heights and devastating personal lows, public scandals and private tensions— each of them will have to decide how tightly to hold on to their creation. Because Barbie has never been just a doll—she’s a legacy.
Quick Thoughts:
Well, I listened to most of this book while in South Carolina, and one day, I was out for my walk and listening to it, and saw this house…
I feel like Barbie would live there!
I truly enjoyed this book. The narrator was great, and I just thought it was so interesting. The mix of historical fiction, romance, the ups and downs of owning such a powerful company and in Ruth’s life kept me wanting to read more.
This was a book that wasn’t on my radar until Sarah shared it, and now it’s probably one of my favorite reads of the year.
Also, the editor notes at the end was very interesting to hear how all the characters ended up once the story was complete.
Rating:
Next month, I will share some of the books I hope to read this summer!
It’s book day where I am sharing the books I read this month. It’s been really nice to have a solid start to reading this year!
This month, I read/listened to three books. And, as you’ll see, it was an interesting month with a 3, a 4, and a 5 star book (In my opinion, of course!)
{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}
Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Age:
Summary:
Brooke Shields has spent a lifetime in the public eye. Growing up as a child actor and model, her every feature was scrutinised, her every decision judged. Today Brooke faces a different kind of that of being a ‘woman of a certain age’.
And yet, for Brooke, the passage of time has brought freedom. At fifty-nine, she feels more comfortable in her skin, more empowered and confident than she did decades ago in those famous Calvin Kleins. Now, in Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old, she’s changing the narrative about women and ageing.
This is an era, insists Brooke, when women are reclaiming agency and power, not receding into the shadows. These are the years when we get to decide how we want to live – when we get to write our own stories.
With remarkable candour, Brooke bares all, painting a vibrant and optimistic picture of being a woman in the prime of her life, while dismantling the myths that have, for too long, dimmed that perception. Sharing her own life experiences with humour and humility, and weaving together research and reporting, Brooke takes aim at the systemic factors that contribute to age-related bias.
Quick Thoughts:
Ok, so I shared in last month’s What’s Up Wednesday post that I’d started listening to Brook Shields’ new book, and I wasn’t sure if I would finish it. Well, once I looked, I’d realized that I’d already read 25% of the book…so why not finish the rest?!
That being said, in order to finish the nine hour book, I picked up the pace and started listening at 1.75x speed in order to get through it. I did enjoy hearing her read and share her story…and it did make me, as a listener, be able to hear the tone in her voice or the sarcasm with responses because it was I do think reading some of what she said could be taken the wrong way.
She has an ego, but you can tell her girls and her husband have softened her and she’s raising them in a far different way than she grew up. There were parts like when she said that she there were times that she had trouble getting ensemble cast jobs because of spotlight being on her that kind of shocked me with how bold and egotistical that sounded…but if it’s true, and she just sharing it.
There was a lot of “research shows” and “so and so says,” but I guess you can’t take Princeton out of the girl 🤣
She’s honest though and obviously been in the spotlight her whole life. She’s a strong, educated woman who’s lived a lot of life. It was interesting hearing about motherhood, acting and Broadway and other endeavors.
Rating:
3.5 stars.
The Underground Library:
Summary:
When the Blitz imperils the heart of a London neighborhood, three young women must use their fighting spirit to save the community’s beloved library in this heartwarming novel from the author of The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir.
When new deputy librarian, Juliet Lansdown, finds that Bethnal Green Library isn’t the bustling hub she’s expecting, she becomes determined to breathe life back into it. But can she show the men in charge that a woman is up to the task of running it, especially when a confrontation with her past threatens to derail her?
Katie Upwood is thrilled to be working at the library, although she’s only there until she heads off to university in the fall. But after the death of her beau on the front line and amid tumultuous family strife, she finds herself harboring a life-changing secret with no one to turn to for help.
Sofie Baumann, a young Jewish refugee, came to London on a domestic service visa only to find herself working as a maid for a man who treats her abominably. She escapes to the library every chance she can, finding friendship in the literary community and aid in finding her sister, who is still trying to flee occupied Europe.
When a slew of bombs destroy the library, Juliet relocates the stacks to the local Underground station where the city’s residents shelter nightly, determined to lend out stories that will keep spirits up. But tragedy after tragedy threatens to unmoor the women and sever the ties of their community. Will Juliet, Kate, and Sofie be able to overcome their own troubles to save the library? Or will the beating heart of their neighborhood be lost forever?
Quick Thoughts:
You won’t be shocked that I loved this book.
It was based on true story, and I typically enjoy books written from the point of view of multiple characters. These three women were so different and their narrative each drove the plot of their own stories, but the common thread for them was the underground library.
Here are some of my favorite quotes:
“To me, books are like old friends, telling us great truths, holding our hands through the difficulties, showing us light and joy at the end of every tunnel.”
“Life isn’t always straightforward, though, “Irene said, her pale blue eyes glistening. “Sometimes we have to find the courage to try something new, not worry about how it might turn out.”
“A book isn’t just a physical object; once you’ve read it, it becomes a thought, a story, a memory that is alive inside you forever.”
I definitely recommend this book!
Rating:
Another historical fiction book earning five stars from me!
The Night We Lost Him:
Summary:
Nora Noone’s father, Liam, was many things to many people. To the public he was a self-made hotel magnate, whose luxury boutique hotels were among the most coveted destinations in the world. To his three ex-wives, he was a loving yet distant family man who managed to keep his finances—and his families—separate. But to Nora, her father was always a mystery—especially after his suspicious death at his cliffside home.
Though the authorities rule Liam’s death accidental, Nora and her estranged brother, Sam, believe otherwise. As they form an uneasy alliance to unpack the mystery, they start putting together the pieces of their father’s past and uncover a family secret that changes everything.
Quick Thoughts:
Who am I listening to audio books now? This is officially the first audio book I’ve listened to with a plot! When I started listening to books last summer, I only focused on memoirs. I tried listening to one fictional book, the narrator threw me off, and I quit listening before I really even started.
I stumbled upon this book while scrolling the Libby app because I wanted to find a book to listen to, and thought I’d try another fiction book. I’d read Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave, so I gave it a try.
Obviously, the narrator didn’t annoy me, and I saw this book through to the end.
This book felt very similar but different to Last Thing He Told Me. I typically enjoy mystery books, and Nora’s estrangement with her brother who she then depends on to try to figure out if her father’s death was more than an accident was one layer or the story. Someone of the chapters were from Liam’s point of view sharing about his relationship with someone fifty years prior, forty, thirty, etc., and that element added to my interest in the plot.
Rating:
I’m hoping to keep up with my 3-4 book reading average, and so far so good. Right now I’m listening to a book while reading another book on my Kindle.
Please let me know if you have any recommendations for audio books…both fiction and non-fiction!
Well, I’m a bit late sharing the books I read in February, but it was another great month of reading (or listening…as you’ll see in a minute!)
…and hi, my name is Jen…and I apparently love a memoir!
{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}
Sutton Foster’s Hooked:
Summary:
From the 2-time Tony Award-winner and the star of TV’s Younger , funny and intimate stories and reflections about how crafting has kept her sane while navigating the highs and lows of family, love, and show business (and how it can help you, too).
Whether she’s playing an “age-defying” book editor on television or dazzling audiences on the Broadway stage, Sutton Foster manages to make it all look easy. How? Crafting . From the moment she picked up a cross stitch needle to escape the bullying chorus girls in her early performing days, she was hooked. Cross stitching led to crocheting, crocheting led to collages, which led to drawing, and so much more. Channeling her emotions into her creations centered Sutton as she navigated the significant moments in her life and gave her tangible reminders of her experiences. Now, in this charming and poignant collection, Sutton shares those moments, including her fraught relationship with her agoraphobic mother; a painful divorce splashed on the pages of the tabloids; her struggles with fertility; the thrills she found on the stage during hit plays like Thoroughly Modern Millie, Anything Goes , and Violet ; her breakout TV role in Younger ; and the joy of adopting her daughter, Emily. Accompanying the stories, Sutton has included crochet patterns, recipes, and so much more!
Quick Thoughts:
I actually finished this book at the end of January but not in time to include it in my book post last month.
I’d had Sutton Foster’s book saved on my Goodreads list, and after I started watching binging Younger on Netflix, I decided to listen to her memoir. I really enjoy listening to this book. Her childhood was interesting moving around, her parents’ relationship and her mom’s struggles. I felt sad for her at some points as she recounts all the times throughout the years that all of those things impacted her even as an adult. I loved hearing about her time on Broadway, winning Tony awards, and making Younger.
Rating:
From Here to the Great Unknown:
Summary:
In 2022, Lisa Marie Presley asked her daughter to help finally finish her long-gestating memoir.
A month later, Lisa Marie was dead, and the world would never know her story in her own words, never know the passionate, joyful, caring, and complicated woman that Riley loved and grieved.
Riley got the tapes that her mother had recorded for the book, laid in her bed, and listened as Lisa Marie told story after story about smashing golf carts together in the yards of Graceland, about the unconditional love she felt from her father, about being upstairs, just the two of them. About getting dragged screaming out of the bathroom as she ran towards his body on the floor. About living in Los Angeles with her mother, getting sent to school after school, always kicked out, always in trouble. About her singular, lifelong relationship with Danny Keough, about being married to Michael Jackson, what they shared in common. About motherhood. About deep addiction. About ever-present grief. Riley knew she had to fulfill her mother’s wish to reveal these memories, incandescent and painful, to the world.
To make her mother known.
This extraordinary book is written in both Lisa Marie’s and Riley’s voices, a mother and daughter communicating—from this world to the one beyond—as they try to heal each other. Profoundly moving and deeply revealing, From Here to the Great Unknown is a book like no other—the last words of the only child of an American icon.
Quick Thoughts:
This was such a great book to read, but even better to listen to. I believe this book was a recommendation thanks to Sarah.
Of course, it was interesting reading about Lisa Marie’s childhood, but her story is also so heart-breaking. Hearing her daughter read the parts that she included to finish the book made the memoir that much more impactful. Julia Roberts read the parts Lisa Marie had written, and hearing her voice in contrast to Riley Keough’s was perfect.
Rating:
Far Beyond Gold:
Summary:
What fears are standing in your way or holding you back? How do you want to become stronger? Olympic and World champion hurdler Sydney McLaughlin wants to help you answer these questions as she shares her personal story of struggles and victories, of faith and transformation. Sydney McLaughlin knows about facing down obstacles. She has mastered not only racing over hurdles on the track but also tackling challenges in her personal life—from lifelong battles with perfectionism and anxiety to persistent questions about her identity and whether she was “enough.” Her pursuit of perfection and people-pleasing continued for years until God broke into her story with his overwhelming grace, transforming love, and empowering truth. In Far Beyond Gold , Sydney will share aspects of her life story and personhood she has never shared publicly before, offering a more complex picture of who she is. She will inspire you Experience the story of a woman who shifted from anxiety to boldness, from limits to freedom, and from perfectionism to purpose—and now shows the world that often what we think is impossible is possible with God.
Quick Thoughts:
When searching memoirs auto/bio that my library had available on audio, Sydney McLaughlin’s book was available.
You know my kids love to follow runners, and we’ve followed Sydney’s career since the one year she was at the University of Kentucky. We’d hoped to see her run at the Olympic track trials when we were in Eugene last summer, but she changed up the races she was going to run. Anyway, her athletic career and her faith were both inspiring to read (listen) about in her book.
Rating:
The House Party:
Summary:
Maja Jensen is smart, stylish, and careful, the type of woman who considers every detail when building her dream home in the suburbs of Philadelphia. The perfect house that would compensate for her failure to have a child, the house that was going to save her marriage. But when a group of reckless teenagers trash the newly built home just weeks before she moves in, her plans are shattered.
Those teenagers are the “good kids”–the ones on track to go to college and move on to the next stage of their privileged lives. They have grown up in a protected bubble and are accustomed to getting by with just a slap on the wrist. Did they think they could just destroy property without facing punishment? Or was there something deeper, darker, at play that night? As the police close in on a list of suspects, the tight-knit community begins to fray as families attempt to protect themselves.
What should have been the party of the year will have repercussions that will put Maja’s marriage to the ultimate test, jeopardize the futures of those “good kids,” and divide the town over questions of privilege and responsibility.
Quick Thoughts:
This book was just ok. I kept waiting for more of the story line to develop but…There was a party at a house. The kids caused damage. The end.
Well, as January wraps up, I’m sharing my first reading recap of 2025. I started the year off reading four books!
It was a strong start to the year reading a little bit of everything… historical fiction, memoir, fiction: romance and holiday.
{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}
Lilac Girls:
Summary:
Inspired by the life of a real World War II heroine, this powerful debut novel reveals an incredible story of love, redemption, and terrible secrets that were hidden for decades.
On the eve of a fateful war, New York socialite Caroline Ferriday has her hands full with her post at the French consulate and a new love on the horizon. But Caroline’s world is forever changed when Hitler’s army invades Poland in September 1939—and then sets its sights on France.
An ocean away from Caroline, Kasia Kuzmerick, a Polish teenager, senses her carefree youth disappearing as she sinks deeper into her role as courier for the underground resistance movement. In a tense atmosphere of watchful eyes and suspect neighbors, one false move can have dire consequences.
For ambitious young German doctor, Herta Oberheuser, an ad for a government medical position seems her ticket out of a desolate life. But, once hired, she finds herself trapped in a male-dominated realm of Nazi secrets and power.
The lives of these three women are set on a collision course when the unthinkable happens and Kasia is sent to Ravensbrück, the notorious female-only Nazi concentration camp. The tragedy and triumph of their stories cross continents—from New York to Paris, and Germany to Poland—capturing the indomitable pull of compassion to bring justice to those whom history has forgotten.
Quick Thoughts:
This book popped up on Facebook as a book to buy, but I borrowed it from the library. This book was long with some parts that were difficult to read. There were three parts of the book, and the meaning behind the title was fitting for the girls. This is based on a true story, and I thought the author’s note was insightful and interesting.
Rating:
The Stories We Tell:
Summary:
We all have a story to tell. This happens to be mine—every chapter a window into who I am, the journey I’m on, and the season I’m in right now. But this book is an invitation to capture the full picture of your own life with renewed clarity. To see your story as greater than any past or future thing, but for all the beauty and joy it holds today. It’s an invitation to a kind of life where you know how to hold what you believe—about yourself and the quiet worlds behind the people you pass—with gracious and open hands. To slow your feet and steady your life-in-motion so you can see where you stand today from a new point of view. No longer through weary or uncertain eyes, but a lens brimming with hope.
Because this is my story, maybe you won’t always relate, or maybe it will feel like you’re looking in a mirror. Whatever we have in common and whatever differences lie between us, I only hope my story can help shine a light on the beauty of yours. That my own soul work will stir something of your own. And that by the time you get to the end of my story, you’re also holding the beautiful beginnings of your own.
A story only you can tell. And I hope that you will.
Quick Thoughts:
I still love listening to memoirs, and this one was a good one. I did feel like it was more of life lessons than stories. I just mean Joanna would share a brief story and then follow up with lots of thoughts and lessons learned or how that experience shaped her. Her life is interesting, and I just felt like I didn’t walk away from the book knowing her as much as when others write memoirs.
Rating:
The Match:
Summary:
Sometimes, love finds you when you least expect it…
Having worked for Southern Service Paws for a few years now, I like to think I’m prepared for just about any client meeting under the sun. I am dead wrong.
The day I meet with single dad, Jacob Broaden, about potentially matching his daughter with one of our service dogs, I learn a few valuable lessons.
1) Always set my alarm clock. 2) Single dads are way hotter than I previously thought. 3) It is possible to go from fantasizing about kissing someone to wishing they would be run over by a truck in a matter of two minutes.
Unfortunately, I don’t hold that opinion of him for very long. Not when he shows me a different side of himself—one that’s sweet as maple syrup and hot as apple pie fresh out of the oven. And after a few days of working closely with him and his daughter, he starts looking at me with fire in his eyes, making me dream of something I probably shouldn’t… A family.
Quick Thoughts:
This was a nice pretty light read. The plot centering around service dogs was sweet, but obviously seizures are a more serious component to the plot. I liked that the main character met a single dad, and his daughter was a sweet part of the story.
Rating:
One Big Happy Family:
Summary:
Please don’t come home for Christmas…
Julie Parker’s kids are her greatest gift. Still, she’s not exactly heartbroken when they ask to skip a big Christmas. Her son, Nick, is taking a belated honeymoon with his bride, Blair, while her daughter, Dana, will purge every reminder of the guy who dumped her. Again. Julie feels practically giddy for one-on-one holiday time with Heath, the (much) younger man she’s secretly dating.
But her plans go from cozy to chaotic when Nick and Dana plead for Christmas at the family cabin in memory of their late father, Julie’s ex. She can’t refuse, even though she dreads their reactions to her new man when they realize she’s been hiding him for months.
As the guest list grows in surprising ways, from Blair’s estranged mom to Heath’s precocious children, Julie’s secret is one of many to be unwrapped. Over this delightfully complicated and very funny Christmas, she’ll discover that more really is merrier, and that a big, happy family can become bigger and happier, if they let go of old hurts and open their hearts to love.
Quick Thoughts:
So, I usually don’t read Christmas/holiday themed books after December, but I’d looked this one up on Goodreads, and by accident I marked it as “currently reading.” Well, I couldn’t figure out how to undo that, and I didn’t want to mess up my book count, so when the book became available, I read it. I’ve read other books by Mallery, but this one wasn’t my favorite. It was long, and I just felt like there were some details that didn’t need to be included…or repeated. For example, I don’t think I need to read about “IBS” more than once!
I did love the premise of the extended family plus friends at the family cabin for Christmas. Of course, with lots of personalities and family history, there’s bound to be lots going on!
Rating:
I’m happy to have started the year off with some solid reads.
I’m cutting it close with it being the last day of the year, but one of my favorite posts to write is this one…
I had a pretty good year of reading. I think some of the best books that I read were at the start of the year. Unfortunately, there were some months where I only got one book read, but I always look forward to the next book after finishing one.
December Books:
This month was a little different December reading month for me. I usually try to read only Christmas books, but when the month started off with a couple of books becoming available, I decided to start the month off with those before transitioning to holiday reads.
This month I read:
{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}
Ina Garten, Be Ready When Luck Happens:
Summary:
Here, for the first time, Ina Garten presents an intimate, entertaining, and inspiring account of her remarkable journey. Ina’s gift is to make everything look easy, yet all her accomplishments have been the result of hard work, audacious choices, and exquisite attention to detail. In her unmistakable voice (no one tells a story like Ina), she brings her past and her process to life in a high-spirited and no-holds-barred memoir that chronicles decades of personal challenges, adventures (and misadventures) and unexpected career twists, all delivered with her signature combination of playfulness and purpose.
From a difficult childhood to meeting the love of her life, Jeffrey, and marrying him while still in college, from a boring bureaucratic job in Washington, D.C., to answering an ad for a specialty food store in the Hamptons, from the owner of one Barefoot Contessa shop to author of bestselling cookbooks and celebrated television host, Ina has blazed her own trail and, in the meantime, taught millions of people how to cook and entertain. Now, she invites them to come closer to experience her story in vivid detail and to share the important life lessons she learned along the way: do what you love because if you love it you’ll be really good at it, swing for the fences, and always Be Ready When the Luck Happens.
Quick Thoughts:
I could not have loved this book more. It was so interesting to read about Ina’s life –her difficult childhood, her time at the White House, how she is a self-made businesswoman and more! I loved reading the Jeffery stories too. They only thing that would have made this book “better” is if I had listened to the audio book, but that wasn’t available at my library.
Rating:
Leanne Morgan, What in the World?!:
Summary:
From dealing with your mean teenage daughter to rebelling against the latest diet trend, America’s newest standup sensation packs a hilarious punch with her real talk about what it’s like to be a regular woman today. For a long time, no one pulling the strings in the comedy world thought that an over-fifty woman from rural Tennessee could make it in the industry. But Leanne Morgan has defied the odds, reaching millions with her musings on menopause, Weight Watchers, and her opposites-attract relationship with her husband, Chuck. In her charming, Southern-accented voice, Morgan brings readers inside her quest to find her calling after so many years trying to figure out what that meant. Along the way, she discusses everything from growing up as a butcher’s daughter, to her strategy for landing a husband with health insurance, to the glories of aging and the comfort of wearing big old grannie panties. Equal parts warm and hilarious, this book is a must-read by one of comedy’s rising stars—reminding you that every time life leaves you asking, “What in the world?”, something good is going to come out of it someday.
Quick Thoughts:
I love Leanne Morgan. She’s sooo funny. I love following her on Instagram, and I would love to see one of her comedy shows one day. She was actually in Lexington this fall, but we were about of town. Like Ina’s book, I loved hearing Leanne’s story — her ups and downs in life, starting her family, and her journey to becoming a comedian who finally “made it” in her 50’s. She’s so funny…and listening to the book made it even better!
Rating:
Home Sweet Christmas:
Summary:
Until Camryn Neff can return to her “real” life in Chicago, she’s in Wishing Tree to care for her twin sisters. She’s not looking for forever love, not here. But handsome hotelier Jake Crane is a temptation she can’t resist, so she suggests they pair up for the season. No golden rings, no broken hearts. At his side, she sees her hometown through Christmas-colored eyes. The cheer is cheerier, the joy more joyful. She thought she had put her future on hold…but maybe her real life was here all along, waiting for her to come home.
New in town, River Best is charmed by Wishing Tree’s homespun traditions and warmhearted people. When she’s crowned Snow Queen, she’s honored but wary. Dylan Tucker, her king, seems like the stuff of sugarplum dreams, but she can’t shake the feeling that he’s hiding something big. As they perform their “royal” duties—tasting cookies, lighting trees—Dylan’s good humor and melty kisses draw her to the brink of love. But she can’t let herself fall until she uncovers his secret, even if her lack of faith means losing him forever.
Quick Thoughts:
This is book 2 in the Wishing Tree series. I believe I read the first book, The Christmas Wedding Guest, last December. The town of Wishing Tree is the perfect setting for these books. The four main characters were fun to follow along, and all the Wishing Tree/Christmas touches made for a great book to read in December.
Rating:
Bright Lights, Big Christmas:
Summary:
When fall rolls around, it’s time for Kerry Tolliver to leave her family’s Christmas tree farm in the mountains of North Carolina for the wilds of New York City to help her gruff older brother & his dog, Queenie, sell the trees at the family stand on a corner in Greenwich Village. Sharing a tiny vintage camper and experiencing Manhattan for the first time, Kerry’s ready to try to carve out a new corner for herself.
In the weeks leading into Christmas, Kerry quickly becomes close with the charming neighbors who live near their stand. When an elderly neighbor goes missing, Kerry will need to combine her country know-how with her newly acquired New York knowledge to protect the new friends she’s come to think of as family.
And complicating everything is Patrick, a single dad raising his adorable, dragon-loving son Austin on this quirky block. Kerry and Patrick’s chemistry is undeniable, but what chance does this holiday romance really have?
Quick Thoughts:
I’m not trying to be dramatic, but this is one of the best Christmas books I’ve read in a long time. Sometimes with “lighter” reads, I read quickly, but with this one, I read every word and was hooked from the first page. I liked the setting being in New York as most of these kinds of books are set in a small town. The other thing I liked about this book was that there were so many characters…but not too many. Again, in many fiction books, there are just a couple of characters. This is a great Christmas read!
Rating:
It’s rare that I think a holiday romance book is five stars, but that’s what I rate this one.
Recap of 2024 Books:
This year my goal was to read 40 books which has been my goal the past few years. I started the year off strong reading some of my favorite books of the year. The summer is always a great time to read, but then once school started, I had less time to read…and some of the books I read weren’t my favorites. No matter how many books I read in a year, reading is still one of my favorite hobbies, and I always have a book on my Kindle to read whenever I have time to do so.
I read 35 books in 2024:
Here are my Goodreads stats:
35 books read
11,923 pages read
The shortest book I read was What in the World?! with 240 pages
The longest book I read was All the Light We Cannot See with 544 pages
Average book length in 2024 …340 pages
My 2024 Reads:
Another year of reading in some of my favorite places:
I enjoyed making the book trackers and share what I’d read on Instagram.
With the books I loved, it’s pretty obvious my two favorite genres are “history fiction” and “memoirs.”
Before I share my Top 5 reads of 2024, these books deserve honorablemention recognition.
Here are they are in the order that I read them:
Berry Pickers
Killers of the Flower Moon
The Many Lives of Mama Love
The Summer of Songbirds
The Boys in the Boat
What in the World?
Here are my top 5 reads of 2024…
Frozen River:
I read this book thanks to Shay’s book club.
The Last Lifeboat:
I’d had this library book on my shelf for quite some time. I’d forgotten about it, so I returned it, but then found the book to download to my Kindle. I wish I hadn’t waited so long to read it.
Ina Garten’s Be Ready When Luck Happens:
I love Ina. I need that on a bumper sticker.
The Women:
The library wait list was long for this one, and I know why! I couldn’t put this book down.
All the Light We Cannot See:
This is the #1 book I read this year. Again, I love historical fiction, and this was a gripping, serious, and inspiring novel. I started 2024 off right reading this book in January.
I highly recommend it as well as the series on Netflix. It was SO good as well.
I forgot to finish up this post last night, so it’s coming to you a bit late!
Well, unfortunately, another month with minimal reading.
{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}
The House in the Pines:
Summary:
Maya was a high school senior when her best friend, Aubrey, mysteriously dropped dead in front of the enigmatic man named Frank whom they’d been spending time with all summer.
Seven years later, Maya lives in Boston with a loving boyfriend and is kicking the secret addiction that has allowed her to cope with what happened years ago, the gaps in her memories, and the lost time that she can’t account for. But her past comes rushing back when she comes across a recent YouTube video in which a young woman suddenly keels over and dies in a diner while sitting across from none other than Frank. Plunged into the trauma that has defined her life, Maya heads to her Berkshires hometown to relive that fateful summer–the influence Frank once had on her and the obsessive jealousy that nearly destroyed her friendship with Aubrey.
At her mother’s house, she excavates fragments of her past and notices hidden messages in her deceased Guatemalan father’s book that didn’t stand out to her earlier. To save herself, she must understand a story written before she was born, but time keeps running out, and soon, all roads are leading back to Frank’s cabin….
Quick Thoughts:
I haven’t read a book by this author, and I thought the book was ok. I liked the sense of mystery, but I had a hard time making connections with Maya’s past and how the story ended. I liked the flashback elements, but that took me a bit to get in a rhythm of reading. So, while I wasn’t disappointed, I was kind of surprised that this was a Reese’s book club book.
Rating:
‘Tis the Season for Holiday Reading:
I hope December is a better reading month for me. I shared this photo last year, and I just love it:
I love reading in December and the past few years I’ve read winter/Christmas themed books. I hope to do the same this year and can’t wait for some downtime over Christmas break to read hopefully more than one book! I’ve already added a couple Christmas books to my Kindle.
My favorite series is the Elin Hilderbrand’s Winter Street series…
How was your Monday? I hope your week is off to a great start.
Well, like I usually say at the end of the month…how is it already time to share what I read…but here we are!
I read two books this month, and they were both mystery/thriller books, which I really enjoyed for the month of October. #spookyseason
{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}
The Girls in the Garden:
Summary:
You live on a picturesque communal garden square, an oasis in urban London where your children run free, in and out of other people’s houses.
You’ve known your neighbours for years and you trust them. Implicitly.
You think your children are safe.
But are they really?
Midsummer night: a thirteen-year-old girl is found unconscious in a dark corner of the garden square. What really happened to her? And who is responsible?
Quick Thoughts:
I’ve read a few Lisa Jewell books, and I always enjoy them. London with a garden behind the house was the perfect setting for a bit of mystery. As I read this book, I could really visualize the setting. I like the characters and the sense of mystery in the plot. The ending was just as you would expect a mystery to end…with the plot was wrapped up but there was still a bit of creepiness.
Rating:
I rate this one 3.5 stars.
She’s Not Sorry:
Summary:
An ICU nurse accidentally uncovers a patient’s frightening past in this chilling thriller.
Meghan Michaels is trying to find balance between being a single mom to a teenage daughter and working as a full time nurse. While on duty at the hospital one day, a patient named Caitlin arrives in a coma with a traumatic brain injury, having jumped from a bridge and plunging over twenty feet to the train tracks below.
But when a witness comes forward with shocking details about the fall, it calls everything they know into question. Was Caitlin pushed and if so, by whom and why?
Meghan has always tried to stay emotionally detached from her patients, but this time, she mistakenly lets herself get too close until she’s deeply entangled in Caitlin’s and her family’s lives. Only when it’s too late, does she realize that she and her daughter could be the next victims.
Quick Thoughts:
Like with Jewell, I’ve read quite a few books by Mary Kubica too. This book caught my attention from the first page. I’d almost forgotten how it started until part two of the book started and it was full circle. This book definitely kept my interest and kept me on my toes with a few twists and turns. I really enjoyed it.
Rating:
Both Jewell and Kubica are your “go to” girls for mysteries and thrillers.
Unfortunately, I’m thinking two books a month is my average, but who knows…hopefully I will have a bit more time to read now.
How is your week going? We are having a great fall break; I will share more about that later in the week.
Since September is over, I’m sharing what I read last month.
Well, unfortunately, just like in August, I only read one book in September.
{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}
The Secret Book of Flora Lea:
Summary:
When a woman discovers a rare book that has connections to her past, long-held secrets about her missing sister and their childhood spent in the English countryside during World War II are revealed.
In the war-torn London of 1939, fourteen-year-old Hazel and five-year-old Flora are evacuated to a rural village to escape the horrors of the Second World War. Living with the kind Bridie Aberdeen and her teenage son, Harry, in a charming stone cottage along the River Thames, Hazel fills their days with walks and games to distract her young sister, including one that she creates for her sister and her sister alone—a fairy tale about a magical land, a secret place they can escape to that is all their own.
But the unthinkable happens when young Flora suddenly vanishes while playing near the banks of the river. Shattered, Hazel blames herself for her sister’s disappearance, and she carries that guilt into adulthood as a private burden she feels she deserves.
Twenty years later, Hazel is in London, ready to move on from her job at a cozy rare bookstore to a career at Sotheby’s. With a charming boyfriend and her elegantly timeworn Bloomsbury flat, Hazel’s future seems determined. But her tidy life is turned upside down when she unwraps a package containing an illustrated book called Whisperwood and the River of Stars . Hazel never told a soul about the imaginary world she created just for Flora. Could this book hold the secrets to Flora’s disappearance? Could it be a sign that her beloved sister is still alive after all these years?
As Hazel embarks on a feverish quest, revisiting long-dormant relationships and bravely opening wounds from her past, her career and future hang in the balance. An astonishing twist ultimately reveals the truth in this transporting and refreshingly original novel about the bond between sisters, the complications of conflicted love, and the enduring magic of storytelling.
Quick Thoughts:
My mom suggested this book because she’d read it…I think for a book club…and my grandma had read it as well.
This book was a great read. I loved that it was historical fiction, it was whimsical, but there was also a sense of mystery.
Fave Quote:
“Telling stories is one of the greatest powers we possess. It’s like a dream you can fill with what you want. And the knight doesn’t always have to save the princess; sometimes she saves herself.”
Rating:
I added some reading trackers for October on Instagram. Feel free to use them to share what you are reading…and don’t forget to tag me, so I can share.
Thanks to a lot of reading and audio books in June and July, I’m only one book behind on my Goodreads reading goal for the year. Hopefully, October will be the month that I get at least two, maybe three books read!
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