Woohoo! I love, love, love when it’s book day around here! This is really and truly one of my very favorite posts because you friends give me the BEST book recommendations and feedback!
I think all five of these books were suggested to me by your comments over the last few months, so thank you very, very much! Here you go…
We can go and ahead and assume that I’ll be reading one Elin Hilderbrand book every month until I’ve read them all. So far, The Blue Bistro was my third and I loved it just as much as I did the other two. These books are just so easy to read and make me happy from page to page.
Okay…this one was really interesting to me. Everyone knows who Billy Joel is, right? Well back 10 years ago when he was 56, he married Katie Lee (the author) who was 23. He was a famous musician and she (at that time) was relatively unknown (she now writes cookbooks and has her own show on Food Network). They divorced a few years later.
Okay…so, in Groundswell, Katie writes about a young woman who marries a famous actor quite her senior and it talks about their relationship. I know this is fiction…but the plot parallels the author’s real life enough that you wonder if part of what she’s writing isn’t kind of true? It’s a glimpse into what it would be like to be married to someone really famous when you’re not…kind of like when she married Joel. I thought it was a great beach read regardless if it was pure fiction or a little biographical. It also made we want to learn how to surf :).
Several of you ladies recommended Balancing It All by Candace Cameron Bure to me, so when Erika asked if I wanted to borrow her copy, I was all over it! Listen, I have no shame in saying that I’m still a Full House fan and that I’m totally excited that Fuller House is coming to Netflix :). This book was really uplifting. Candace talks about her childhood, marriage and mothering. She’s a Christian, so the book relies heavily on her faith and she shares Bible passages that have helped her along the way. This is just a sweet little read and was very encouraging to me as a mama.
Um, so The Book Thief by Markus Zusak was most definitely not a light beach read. This book is heavy, intense, set back during World War II and narrated by the voice of death. Narci, Erika and I all three read it and I think we all enjoyed it. Erika and Narci seemed to really love it and I was glad I read it…but I needed to read something super cheery and happy right after. This book is kind of gritty and probably quite realistic regarding the lives of some people living in Europe during the height of the Nazi reign. And…the angel of death/voice of death…something like that is your narrator through the entire thing, so that’s a twist in itself. The writing is impeccable. It’s a very good book.
I loved Primates of Park Avenue by Wednesday Martin. This memoir is about a mom who moves to the Upper East Side of Manhattan and tries to navigate through motherhood in this unusual little space in New York City. This book is funny, witty and charming. Martin spills the beans about living life among the wealthy and perhaps spoiled Upper East Side mamas and how it ended up changing her too. As an anthropologist, Martin’s take on the complexities of living in the Upper East Side was fascinating to me. Loved it!
Okay ladies! Those are my reads for the month! What are you reading??? I would love to know!
Don’t forget, you can find all of the books I’ve read so far in 2015 here and keep up with me on Goodreads here.
And look at this…
…it’s Meal Planning Monday on my foodie blog!
Click here to see my week in suppers.
Happy Monday friends!
amiller says
Me before You
By Jojo Moyes– check it out. Will definitely pull on the heart strings
Susie Harrold says
I keep recommending this one, also! LOVED THIS BOOK!
Jenn Menniti says
I loved it too! I also read One Plus One and The Girl You Left Behind by her. TGYLB was amazing! Loved it!
Johannah says
I am so going to be download Balancing It All today! We love Full House around our house =)
Jen says
Just finished beautiful day per your recommendation — loved it!
I started "little beach street bakery" by Jenny colgan and thought you might enjoy the baking aspect of it. So far its a very cute, light read.
Erika Slaughter says
The Nightingale! You can read it before me! I've heard great things!!
Amy Heinl says
I just started reading the nightingale and couldnt out it down so I took a vacation day today to finish it. Live all if Kristin Hannahs books
Katie Bauer says
Good but another tough one- WWII, orphans, nazis, just a warning! I had to put it down a few times to calm myself!
Bianca Catalano says
The Nightingale was amazing!! Highly recommend:)
Deborah Lasko says
My mother in law just let me borrow the Nightingale, I love Kristin Hannah so I'm soo excited to read it!
Jenn Menniti says
Loved it! I've read all her books. True Colors was one of my favorites as was Winter Garden.
Lauren says
I read the Nightingale earlier this year and have not stopped talking about it!! GREAT book!! I recommend this one as well 🙂
Sheaffer {Pinterest Told Me To} says
Laughing so hard recalling you opening The Book Thief on the plan to start it! What was the first line? "We're all going to die…" or something super cheerful like that?
Narci says
Love your book posts!! Such great reads!!
Ramona says
I look forward to your book posts so much!! My list of books I want to read on GoodReads is out of control but that's a good thing, right? I picked up my first Elin Hilderbrand novel to read because of you! Can't wait!
Meg Hodges says
You would love Mary Kay Andrews!! She's writes the bests books! I'd start with Hissy Fit; simply the best!
Beautifully Seaside // Formerly Chic Coastal Living says
Thank you so much for the book review! and could you please send me one of those burgers? YUMM!!!
Robyn Marrie says
Thanks for the reviews! I'm with you- I would have needed something light after hearing from Death himself 😉
Mallory says
One book that I can't recommend enough is Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. It's a big book, yes, but I'm not a big reader, and I couldn't put it down. It's based on the story of Hosea and Gomer in the Bible and is just so, so powerful.
Brianna says
Oh my goodness, I absolutely LOVED Redeeming Love! My boss actually lent me her copy last year and it still sticks with me to this day. So great.
Meredith says
Yes I love Francine rivers!!! The atonement child is really good too and the Mark of the Lion series are AMAZING! 🙂
bella says
I finished Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll (her first novel) and enjoyed it. I hear it will be made into a movie. Also loved reading Killing Jesus by Bill O'Reilly, and now reading Dear Carolina, a book about adoption by Kristy Woodson Harvey. I have three daughters, one who is adopted, so I am especially enjoying this book. I also bought the first book in a series about a woman private detective in England. It is called Maisie Dobbs, and there are quite a few books in this series. Thank you for your book suggestions this month, I had only read one of your reviews, The Book Thief. I will be anxious to read the others.
kelsey @ so much life to live says
I always appreciate the book posts! I read an Elin Hilderbrand book last month while I was travelling…."The Matchmaker." I agree – it was so easy to read and hard to put down! The entire basis of the book, that it was ok for her to cheat on her husband, though…I don't know! I know it's just fiction, but the whole time I was reading, it, I was thinking, "Yeah, of course it's ok for her to cheat! She's not in love with her husband!" And then at the end I had to sort of step back to reevaulate what it means to love: is it a choice, or a feeling?
Haha…WAY too deep of thoughts for a simple book read, I know 🙂 It was a fun one, regardless!
Rayne says
I actually totally agree–the whole premise was just not right!!
Mimi says
Have you read Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline? I read it last week and I could not put it down until I was finished! It's not a lighthearted beach read but it's certainly not intense like The Book Thief. Kline masterfully weaves the stories of an elderly woman who rode on the Orphan Train in the early 1900's and a high school girl in the present day foster care system. It's a work of fiction, but I think it makes a powerful statement.
I think it is so terrific that your children see you reading every day and that you greatly enjoy it. They are sure to catch the reading fever! Can you tell I'm a teacher? Ha! Possible future post: Books your kids enjoy (?)
Thanks for your daily inspiration! 🙂
Lauren says
I recently read Orphan Train and loved it too! My husband kept saying "it's a book about orphans, it HAS to be depressing" but it really want. There were upsetting parts of course but many uplifting parts as well. You should check this one out!
Melissa says
To Kill a Mockingbird! A classic I never read, but just finished, and it is beyond amazing. I'm so glad I finally read it. There is a buzz around Harper Lee anyway now because of her new release…….
And, weren't you just drooling over the descriptions of the staff meals in Blue Bistro?! I wanted to take notes on those for future menu ideas!
Molly Middleton says
I've been waiting for you to post your review so I can recommend the book I just read. While I was reading it I was like "Oh, Shay would like this one!" It's called "One Light Still Shines" by Marie Monville. It's written by the wife of the man who committed the Amish Schoolhouse Shooting in Nickel Mines and is basically her side of the story through that whole thing. I got it at Mardel so it's a faith-based book. It made me teary-eyed at one point and I don't cry haha! Anyways, just thought you might want to try it! Happy Monday!
Paula says
I love biographies. I am also a huge Duck Dynasty fan! Southern, family hunts, values…
So, The Good, The Bad, and the Grace of God by Joe & Jessica Robertson.
A New Season by AL & Lisa Robertson
Currently reading and like: The Women of Duck Commander by Jay, Korie, Missy, Jessica & Lisa Robertson. So far so good.
Light & easy. Best part, I love God's goodness & grace all throughout and a close knit family!
Amy Heinl says
I just came off a cruise vacation this month and read The BeeKeepers Ball by Susan Wiggs…love loce this book and the lead character cooks so there are great little receipes. I then read a three book Triliogy by Mary Alice Monroe..The Summer girls, The Summer Wind and The Summers End. The last one I read was Blueprints by Barbara Delinsky. All if these were excellent
Amy Madill says
I just reviewed two of my July favourites over on my blog too! I LOVE to read in the summer. The Book Thief is next for me! 🙂
http://amymadill.blogspot.ca/2015/07/summer-reads-july-favourites-edition.html
Dollie says
I pick up so many good books from you, I love to read too. I was recently given a book at our ladies retreat from church called "she did what she could" by Elisa Morgan. It's a very quick read, yet has a powerful message of the girl who poured oil over Jesus in Mark chapter 14. Understanding these words has change my life as a mom.
Leslie says
So I started reading Elin Hilderbrand thanks to you. Haha. I read Beautiful Day. So great! Now I'm reading Silver Girl. It's just as wonderful! Safe to say I'll be reading all of her books 😉
Queen In Between says
I'm reading Rumor by Erin Hildebrand right now…you may have gotten me hooked on her books! I'm loving it.
Courtney says
All the light we cannot see.
It's amazing. Not sure if you've read it yet but it follows two people during ww2, One is a blind French girl and the other an orphaned German boy
Danielle Kleiner says
You must read Candace Cameron Bure's new book Dancing through Life! It is about her journey on Dancing with the Stars! I'm sure that it would interesting to hear her point of view compared to Sean's experience- I read Sean's book and found them to be similar! Two awesome reads!! ?
Ashley Hall says
Love these posts! I definitely recommend Nora Roberts "Whiskey Beach". This was the first book that I read of hers and I'm hooked. Also, I recommend "Beautiful Ruins" by Jess Walters. It's a great beach/summer read but it's also so romantic.
Emily Scott says
I second "Me Before You" & "The Nightingale"….both fantastic!
Sasha Posey says
Although I'm a big fan of fiction books, I want to recommend a great new parenting book that I'm reading right now… Talk Now and Later by Brian Dollar. Trust me, you'll be glad you read it! Btw, I love your blog Shay! 🙂
Kary D says
My favorite posts of the month! I just finished Bread and Wine per your suggestion and I loved it! I'm going to buy a copy for my best girlfriends. 🙂 Adding a few of these to my list.
Brett and Melissa says
I've been reading Kristin Hannah lately, and would definitely recommend her! I'm reading "Magic Hour" right now, and both "Firefly Lane" and "Fly Away" are great reads!!
Karah says
I love all your book posts. You have gotten me back into reading. I just finished From
Scratch by Rachel Goodman. It's a first novel and she was one of the first blogs I read. It's only available for download but it's such a good read. It's about love, second chances, and cooking.
{Hi Sugarplum!} says
Did I read that you're a 'real book' reader and not an e-book? If so, we need to book swap…I love a real paper book, and if we're swapping, it will keep me accountable to read more. Warning: my books are likely to be tattered since I'm an in-pool reader! 🙂
Whitney Woolley says
I LOVED The Nightengale by Kristin Hannah, Calling me home by Julie Kibler, and The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery. Those are my top three for this summer!!!
Aren says
I'm currently reading Wonder by RJ Palacio. It's actually a children's novel, but it has a great message. I teach 1st-6th grade advanced reading and plan on encouraging my 4th, 5th, and 6th graders to read it (if I don't read it to them myself!). Wonder is about a boy in 5th grade who was born with a face deformity and is going to school for the first time (he's been homeschooled all along). As you can expect, the other kids are very curious and can't help but look. Sometimes they aren't always the friendliest either. I've already cried a handful of times, but I know it's nothing compared to what kids who fight through uncomfortable peer interactions go through daily. It's an easy and quick read and I think you'll enjoy it. 🙂
Aren
Monica says
Wonderful book for adults and kids! Great recommendation!
Holly says
Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll. Best book of the summer!
Kelsey Mann Peacock says
I'm reading The Royal We right now and I think you would love it! It's a fiction story that kind of mirrors William & Kate!
Kelsey
http://www.thepeacockroost.com
Unknown says
My sister and I just read Marisa de los Santos' (usually a poet) first book, Love Walked In. Really good! There are lots of old movie references (Cary Grant, anyone?) and it's a feel – good, despite several hard issues the book does tackle. I think you'd like it 🙂
Dani Lee says
You MUST read The Rosie Project – I read it in one sitting. Funny and romantic, and the main character will remind you of Sheldon on the Big Bang Theory. Such a wonderful beach read!
HungryCatCreator says
I loved this book! I second this recommendation. I think another thing that makes it unique is that it's from a male perspective.
@dani, did you read the Rosie Effect? Thoughts?
MorganizewithMe says
Adding some more to my list 🙂 – I agree that Me Before You, Redeeming Love and Nightengale are all fab!!!
Dawn says
Eeekkk! Book day- yay! Will have to add these to my list. I just finished JoJo Moyes' Me Before You and am currently reading Counting by 7s. Counting by 7s is a young adult book but it is so good!! It is about a young girl (who is a genius) who loses both her parents. You will fall in love with her character- great great book!
The Nelson Happenings says
Thanks for sharing ! I'm getting back into reading books and this list is so helpful 🙂
Lora G says
Jojo Moyes, Me Before You, definitely! Elin Hilderbrand, The Island (I'm sure it's just a matter of time), and you have to read Lauren Graham's debut novel Someday, Someday, Maybe. Saw it in your comments on another book post and super cute and light, you'd like it 🙂 Have a great day!
Sara says
I'm not sure if you like mysteries/lawyer books, I love them for a change of pace in between Elin Hilderbrand type books! John Lescroat is one of my favorite authors of these types of books. I just read his newest one, The Fall, and I couldn't put it down.
Lindsay at Lindsay'sSweetWorld says
More great recommendations! Guess I need to check out Elin Hilderbrand's stuff!
MommyLu says
I loved The Book Thief. I haven't seen the movie because I don't think I can handle it! I just finished Big, Little Lies and am trying to pick my next read. I'll be re-reading the Hunger Games trilogy soon in anticipation of the last movie in November. If you haven't read those, I highly recommend them. I love reading them again each year.
Mary says
Love your book posts! Too funny…I thought Katie Lee was Billy Joel's daughter! I did not realize it was an ex-wife!
Kathi Mackintosh says
Glad to see you are enjoying Elin Hilderbrand! I knew you would when I saw you liked so many of the other authors we seem to both enjoy. (Love Emily Giffin!) I am now enjoying Liane Moriarty thanks to you. I thought I would insert a new recommendation for you. I went to the library Friday night to find a new read. I was intrigued to see a book by Judy Blume on the express read shelf. Who knew one of my favorite children's authors (who doesn't love Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing?) also wrote adult fiction? Anyway, I picked up "In The Unlikely Event", and I really enjoyed it! I got it on Friday and finished it last night, so, yes, it was a good read. I intend to go back and look for another one this week.
Leigh Clark says
I need to read Balancing It All – thanks for the review, must go make a purchase!
Mama Of Boys says
I just finished The Good Girl by Fiona Neill which was kind of intense and scary (because it deals with teenagers and sexting etc… which scares me!!) but it was gripping and really thought-provoking.
Might try an Elin Hilderbrand in the hopes that they're a bit more easy-going??!!
HungryCatCreator says
@mamaofboys, Highly recommended Liane Moriarty or Emily Giffin if you haven't already 🙂
Amanda says
We have the same boon taste! I've enjoyed all of liane moriarty's books, Emily giffin, Jojo moyes, etc. Recently ready Maddie Dawson 'the stuff that never happened' and really enjoyed it!
Shelley says
The Book Thief is one of my favorite books ever! Now go watch the movie! It actually follows the book pretty well. I just read The Royal We (took place in Britain) and is a fictional story around Will and Kate. Sort of. It was pretty good. You would probably love it since you enjoy all things British!
Amanda says
Ps if you haven't read Jojo Moyes 'the last letter from your lover' you should!
Lindsay Otis says
I always love your book recs and I am particular excited to read the Katie Lee book!
not a mom
Olivia B says
I have LOVED the Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella (as well as all of her other books), Mindy Kaling's book, and The Selection series. They're all amazing!
Missy says
Shay- Have you read any of the Confessions of a Shopaholic line? (Sophie Kinsella)
Jen says
Hi! She mentioned here that she has read all of Sophie kinsella's books 🙂 along with some of her other fav authors!
http://www.shullfamily.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-post-on-books.html?m=1
Deanna says
I look forward to your book reviews every month because we have such similar tastes in reading material! I have read three of the five books you have listed above and I'm adding the other two to my list 🙂
Have a great day!
Jayvee says
Thought I would share some I love as well.
Eight Hundred Grapes- Laura Dave
The Knockoff- Lucy Sykes
Party Girl- Rachel Hollis
Sweet Girl- Rachel Hollis- follow up story to Party Girl. Fun, easy read about a girl pursuing her dreams of working in a bakery.
Kathryn Story says
I LOVE your book reviews and am seriously so impressed you can read so many books in a month. 🙂 I'm reading "The Secret Keeper" by Kate Morton and would definitely recommend it so far!
Taylor and Robin says
I second this recommendation! The Secret Keeper might just be my favorite book. It's mostly set during the Blitz in London. The first part is hard, but it gets good fast – I couldn't put it down. I also really enjoyed Code Name Verity, a YA fiction book about women pilots in WWII.
Angela Pino says
I know you don't like to hear about dreams, but in mine last night you had a party at your house with all your friends and I got to come and meet everyone! 😉
A local bookstore had all of their library books on sale for $1 and that had two Elin Hilderbrand books. I didn't even read the flap to see what the books are about, I just bought them. I'm waiting to read them at the beach. Also, I had no idea Katie Lee wrote a book, I'll have to check it out — she's from my hometown! Have you read any of Joanne Fluke's books? They're murder mysteries set in a small town and the main character is a baker! Every book includes recipes!
Tiffany Bagalini says
I definitely cannot keep up with you but you are inspiring me to read more and my list is growing! Thanks 🙂
Megan Martinez says
I think you would love Sparkly Green Earrings by Melanie Shankle. It's funny truth about motherhood with the importance of faith weaved throughout. It'll make you laugh so hard at times.
Leslie says
I commented several posts ago, but definitely read "Orphan Train." Such a great book! Also, "Me Before You," although I think you've read that one already. :)))
E says
Since you love all books that involve France, you should try "Lunch in Paris" by Elizabeth Bard. Light, fun and will whisk you away to Paris! Bonus that it also has recipes to try at the end of each chapter. It was great reading for the beach 🙂 I'd also highly recommend "One-Love Starts Here" by Suzanne Mayernick and Gwen Oatsvall. What happens when we say yes to that one thing that God places on our hearts? Lives change. It has a big focus on adoption but also on just following God's will and being open to his calling. Can't say enough about this one! Happy reading.
Jaren says
I'm so excited to tell you this month that I started reading again!! And just like always, I don't want to put my book down. I love reading a book before watching the movie version, so I read The Longest Ride and am now reading Gone Girl.
soozq97 says
Just finished "In the Unlikely Event" by Judy Blume. I don't know about you, but I was a HUGE Judy Blume fan as a young teen and she doesn't disappoint in her adult fiction either. It is fiction but based on real events in 1951/1952 surrounding plane crashes in New Jersey. I really enjoyed it!
Kelly says
I am about half way through The Truth about the Harry Quebert Affair by Joel Dicker. It is really good and hard to put down!
Heather Jacobson says
You should read "The Royal We." If you love all things William and Kate you will love this book. Easy beach read and it is a fictional version of how Kate and William met in college with a few twists 😉