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I'm Shay! I’m a cookbook author, lifestyle blogger, travel agency owner, wife and mama who loves making every day special for my family.

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Mix & Match Mama

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March Book Review


It’s my March Book Review!

If you’re a reader out there like me, then today, you’re all like…

…woohoo!!!  Time to talk books!  Unfortunately, if you’re not a reader, you’re all like…

…zzzzz…someone wake me up when she posts something else. 😉

Each month, I always look forward to this post so much because I love talking about books with you!!!  It’s like we have our own little book club and I LOVE it!

This month, I read seven books…and they were all a little bit different.

I read two chick lit books, one book that was super suspenseful and kept me nervous the whole time, a book written by a Brit about living in France, a book on cozy, one faith-based book on making moments in your family and another book about “unstuffing” your life.

  Here we go…

Per several of your recommendations, I read November 9 this month by Colleen Hoover.  Okay, here’s the problem: I think I accidentally read her best book first, so it’s very hard to love the others as much.  Last year, I read It Ends With Us and loved it so much that I named it the second best book of 2016 (out of 63 books!).  I LOVED that book.  The following month, I wanted to read another Hoover book and read Maybe Someday and didn’t enjoy that one…so, I would say November 9 fell some place in the middle.  The plot was okay (it’s a fictional tale about two people who meet up every year on November 9 and only then don’t see each other the rest of the year).  It was really easy to read and kept my attention…and the story was decent…just not nearly as gripping as It Ends With Us.  I would probably have enjoyed it more if I didn’t hold it against It Ends With Us.  Her books do tend to be a little rated R, so note that if that bothers you.  I don’t know???  It’s hard!  I hate to say I don’t enjoy a book…but this one was just okay.  It was easy to read, it did keep me entertained, but if I were recommending books to you, I would say skip this one and read It Ends With Us instead.

You know how much I love a good book about French stuff.  Well, this one was a really good one because the author is British.  In the past, I’ve read books from Americans who live in France, from French women who live there (or live in the US and they’re comparing it to life in France), but it was fun to read about a Brit’s experiences living in France and how it differs from English life.  All You Need to Be Impossibly French made me happy with every page.  I thought it was entertaining and informational.  Reading her tales about raising young kids in France was very interesting to me (especially as it compares to raising them in England).  If you are a Francophile like me and love a good book on the subject, get this one too.

I’m having a moment with Nancy Thayer books right now.  They’re light little fictional reads that would make perfect beach, pool or airplane companions.  This one, Summer Breeze, was very entertaining.  I loved all three main characters and had no idea how it was going to end.  And actually…at the end, after the final chapter, Thayer writes a chapter about how the ending could have gone another direction.  I was happy she included that because I needed to kind of sort it out myself. Ha!

 I read this one quickly just so I could see how it was all going to work out.  I think you’ll fall in love with the setting, the characters and the theme.

Another Thayer book for the win!

Grip-ping.

I mean…this one was a page turner (and often, you’re covering your eyes and wincing as you turn).  If you like novels like Gone Girl, The Woman in Cabin 10 and The Girl on the Train then you will love I Let You Go too.  This piece of fiction is filled with twists and turns that will keep you guessing all the way until the end.  I’m still recovering from it :).  I haven’t read any other Mackintosh books, so please let me know if she has others like this one.  Eeeks!  You’re going to love this!

Erika read this book and loved it so much that she bought me my very own copy.  Moment Maker is written by Carlos Whittaker who is a Christian music artist, and it’s about his life, his marriage and raising his kids…all with humor.  He is very funny as he writes and it was a breeze to read.  The message is about making sure you are purposeful about carving out intentional moments plus, you need to seize moments as they appear (even if you don’t have them planned).  I found it very inspiring and encouraging.  I don’t think you need to be a parent to read this one either.  I think people of all ages/walks of life would like it.

Well, I have a new obsession.  #becauseidontalreadyhaveenough #yeahright

Do you know what “hygge” is?  (It’s pronounced: hoo-gah.)  I read about it in a magazine and then discovered that if you type it into Pinterest, a whole world of it will appear.  It’s the Danish concept of being cozy.  I know?!  Cozy is like my favorite word EVER, so to think there is a whole concept about that makes my heart so happy!  I’ve been pinning different ways to practice hygge at home, so I thought I’d read a book (or two) about it too.  I read The Cozy Life this month and thought it was good!  This book is written by a Danish author and she explains how her parents created a very cozy atmosphere growing up and she does it herself today.  Listen, if you’re a fan of the quaint little French books (cough, cough, like the one above), then you’ll like this too.  I found it very inspirational.  Why can’t my house be more cozy?  It totally can!  And seriously, you’re going to start seeing this word, hygge, everywhere now.  Once I heard it, I can’t stop finding it in print, on TV or on the web.

So, at one point, Smith told me to stop reading this book. Bahahahahahahaha!  The reason why is because as I read it, I started revolutionizing our little world (organizing, purging, clearing off our calendar, making them chip in and help more, blah, blah, blah)…and I kept saying “well, in my book___” and finally Smith was like “stop reading that book”.  This was my favorite book of the month.  I loved it so much that I might even do a whole post just about how I’m applying it to our life.  Unstuffed is a book about just that…unstuffing your house, your calendar and your relationships.  What I loved most about it was how darn practical it is!  Her ideas are not complicated…they’re simple.  I already bought another one of her books (watch out Smith!) because I really think this is the kind of author who gets me.  I need real life, simple techniques to make this crazy life I live a little less bumpy.  Read it and prepare to go to work on your life :).

That wraps up my March Book Review!  Okay, what did you read this month?  What should I be reading next????  Please comment and share!

Don’t forget, you can catch my 2016 Book Review HERE.  It includes the names and reviews of all 62 books I read last year.

You can also see the complete list of books I read in 2015 (all 63 of them),  here.
And lastly, if you want to view my Goodreads Account, click here.
I just love book day!
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Comments

  1. Erika Slaughter says

    EEEEK!!!!! I’m so torn after reading this post! Torn because I’m in the middle of Unstuffed -busy decluttering my entire house and now I’m fighting the urge to order some of these books you recommended!! Ruth (author of Unstuffed) is on one shoulder telling me I have plenty of books waiting to be read and YOU are on the other shoulder!

  2. emily @ a little bit of emily says

    Lots of good books this month! I have been seeing the word hygge all over the place – seems like a good idea to finally read about it! Unstuffed sounds super good, too. I’d love to hear how you are applying it to your everyday!

  3. Leslie Ann says

    Love your book reviews! I read November 9 and loved it! I’ve loved all CH books except Maybe Someday. I did like It Ends With Us, but it was heavy! I also read I Let You Go and loved it! It was hard to get into for the first 100 pages or so, but then it picked up and I could not put it down. If you like thrillers like that, have you read The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson? It’s one of my favorite thrillers of all time!
    I posted about what books I read in March on my blog if you want to check it out! 🙂
    http://www.lalalifeblog.com/2017/04/march-reading-recap.html

    • Beth says

      I’m going to have to give I Let You Go another try. I rarely abandon books but that books started out so slowly for me and I just couldn’t get in to it so I returned it to the library. It has really good reviews on Goodreads so I was surprised I didn’t love it and the plot sounded really interesting. I think I will try again since you said it picks up!

  4. Courtney says

    Unstuffed sounds like the perfect book for me. I’m putting it in my library cart right now! And you aren’t the first person i’ve heard hygge from – it’s popping up everywhere – and I LOVE it! I can’t wait to see how you are ‘hygge-ing’ (Is that even a word?)! 🙂
    XO
    Courtney
    http://www.greywoodmama.com

  5. Jennie says

    I’ve read many of you recommendations and my Amazon cart is full once again 🙂 Thanks-I love book day too!!

  6. Amy Heinl says

    I just finished breading Cancel the Wedding based on one of your reviews and loved it. Also finished Better Than New by Nicole Curtis (of HGTV Rehab Addict) and really enjoyed it. Now starting Family Tree by Susan Wiggs. She is one of my favorite authors..always has rich characters, wonderful story lines that our page turners and hard t9 put down. I haven’t tried any of Nancy Thayer’s books. Think I will add those to my list

  7. Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says

    Oh man, I got to try I Let You Go. I have such a thing for thrillers and am always on the lookout for one that doesn’t disappoint me.
    –
    Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
    http://charmainenyw.com

  8. Megan says

    I’mcurrently reading The Year of Living Danishly. I had also been hearing about hyyge everywhere so I decided to pick it up. It’s the memoir of a British couple that lives in Denmark for a year. It is SO interesting. Definitely recommend it.

    http://www.lettinginthelightblog.com

    • Susan says

      That’s on my list but I’ll have to get it through interlibrary loan. Always a slow process!

  9. Lindsay says

    I look forward to your book reviews each month! I literally sit here with my library account open on one tab (to reserve what you recommend). I started CH’s Maybe Someday but never got through it. It was sooooo boring to me. I will give November 9 a chance. I have read several others by her, that I loved, but this one turned me off on her writing for a while. I feel like “hygge” is 2017’s “Kon Marie!” haha it’s EVERYWHERE!! Thanks Shay!

  10. Diana Austin says

    Keep the “house” books coming, Shay! We are moving to a new home in July and I am looking forward to implementing a new regime 😉 (Currently reading the Marie Kondo book)

  11. Bailey Bryant says

    Have you ever read anything from Kristin Hannah? Firefly Lane is probably her most popular book & it’s one of my very favorites, ever. Between Sisters and Magic Hour are also very good. There’s usually a little love in her stories, but most of those focus on familial relationships. I think you would really like them!

    http://www.myboymom.blogspot.com

    • Meg says

      Firefly Lane is one of my favorite reads of all time. I rarely cry while reading and the ending of that book had me in tears. I have enjoyed all of her books, but that one holds a special place on my book shelf.

    • Susanne says

      My absolute favorite Kristin Hannah book, and one of my favorite books in general, is Winter Garden. I love it so much that I buy extra copies when I see them on sale to have to loan out! It’s a little different than her other books but it is SO good.

  12. Emma @ from my little pink couch says

    I am aaallllll about hygge!!!!! & Ruth Soukop’s “Living Well, Spending Less” is transformational, too!!!!

  13. Amanda @ Cupcake N Dreams says

    I’m reading a Nancy Thayer right now (The Island) and loving it so can’t wait to add summer breeze to the list! Unstuffed sounds interesting and Smith is too funny! When Breathe Becomes Air was a favorite of mine last month, it was heavy but inspiring!
    Xo
    Amanda @ Cupcake N Dreams

  17. Eileen says

    LOVE book review day!!!! Have you read An Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff? It’s a beautiful story about how a Manhattan exec befriended a homeless boy and the difference you can make in someone’s life. Also, I recently finished Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult. It was really, really good. Have you read her books? My favorites are My Sister’s Keeper and Nineteen Minutes.

    • Tracy Kistler says

      Small Great Things was my favorite of 2016 & my favorite Jodi Picoult book so far! I’ve read almost all of hers. I still find myself thinking about it months later.

  18. Kellee says

    I listened to you on Jamie Ivey’s Podcast The Happy Half Hour! What book were you talking about that the woman thought her husband was dead and remarried but come to find out that he is not dead? Thank you for a great book reviews!

      • Alexis says

        YESSSSS!!!! I have wanted you to read this author’s books for forever!!! I’ve loved all of them. One True Loves was amazing and I also loved After I Do. Forever, Interrupted was so good, too! All of hers are good!!

  20. Sarah says

    I Let You Go is right up my alley! I love a good thriller. We’re currently binge watching Criminal Minds every night!! And I’ve recently been reading on “hygge” and definitely fit right in with the Danish culture!! Life is short, you absolutely should make time for the little things and splurge a bit more 🙂

    Thanks for the review!! Love these!

    -Sarah http://www.thefrugalmillionaireblog.com

  22. Sharon says

    I just finished “Lilac Girls” and absolutely loved it. It was up there with “nightingale” for me.
    I have read ” I see you’ by Claire Macintosh…. it was good but not as good as some of the other books in that genre. I do have “I let you go” on my list to read.
    I too have been reading about simplifying and I have to say that over declutteting what you already have, one of the best ways to help is to stop bringing so much into the house.

  23. Emily says

    You should read ‘The Secret Life of Violet Grant’ by Beatriz Williams. She uses characters from her other books in it (A Hundred Summers and the book you read with Pepper in it!)

  24. Jenn says

    I read It Ends With Us after reading your year end book review and LOVED it. This month I read Hopless and Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover, the books tell the same story from different perspectives. I liked Losing Hope better but I would recommend reading them in order (Hopless first).

    I would also love to know if you have read the Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up and how it compares to Unstuffed.

    Jenn

  26. Stacy says

    I just downloaded the cozy life! I also pintrested hygge and that is something I can get behind !!! Loved these reviews add The House on Tradd street to your list beach read mystery romance all good things in a book !

  27. Traci says

    Hopeless was just as good as It Ends With Us! I didn’t see it coming! Read it next!

  29. Jennifer says

    I listen to Jamie Ivey’s Happy Hour – you talked about a book on it about a husband that goes missing, kind of like Castaway but you couldn’t remember the name off the top. What was it? I was hoping to see it in this post. Thanks

  30. Anna says

    I just finished reading A Murder in Time by Julie McElwain and absolutely loved it! I highly recommend!

  31. Kelly S says

    Yes, please please do a post about unstuffing our lives. I LOVE books. I read so many good books this month, after several months of duds. I highly suggest: The Orphan’s Tale (not to be confused with The Orphan Train, which is also good). Loved it. And I loved I Let you Go, too.

  32. Narci Dreffs says

    Oh, gosh! I want to read every single one of these this month!!! They all look so good! Heading off to Amazon now!! XO

  33. Amy in PA says

    You would enjoy the novel The Art of Baking Blind by Sarah Vaughan. IIt’s a British novel with the premise of a baking competition but the stories of the various characters are interesting.

  34. Ilena Varner says

    I read “It Ends With Us” thanks to your recommendation and agree it was so so good! I just finished her book “Confess”
    and I think you would love it! It was just as much of a page turner and it’s set in Dallas!

  36. Meagan Ruse says

    I could talk books with you all day!!!! I’m so excited about this new list! I’ve never read any French books, but I think you’ve convinced me!

  37. Kristen says

    Shay – what is your favorite French book? What would you recommend for someone just starting out on that genre?? Love your recommendations! I reference your book reviews often when I’m planning books for vacation!

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      I love them all! Eeeeks! Okay, I would probably say Forever Chic and Bonjour Happiness…but I haven’t read one I do not like. They’re fun :).

  38. Jordan Kuban says

    I look so forward to these posts so I can make a list and head to the library 🙂 I, too, am a lover of all things French. Do you have a compilation list anywhere of your favorite French books?! Or are they more scattered throughout all of your book review posts?

  39. Goodbye Bread and Cheese says

    I just finishes In A Dark, Dark Wood and liked it even more than Woman In Cabin 10. So good!

  40. Chelsa Knepp says

    In March I read White Oleander, In Twenty Years, Are you there God? it’s me Margaret, Falling Free, Secret Lives, All the Breaking Waves, and Escape.

  41. Stephanie says

    I just finished Forever is the Worst Long time and it was sneaky good. It’s my new must read recommendation! Re: Colleen Hoover. I think It Ends With Us is her strongest book, but it’s also quite a bit different than her other books so I’m not surprised if you really, really loved that one that you’re not finding her other books to be as good. I think you’re right that you did read her best first and now you’re stuck comparing all the others! I think It Ends With Us can be enjoyed by a wider audience than her other books.

  42. Debbie Lasko says

    Big little lies!! I just finished reading it last night and I absolutely loved it. I feel in love with the characters and it was a real page turner. Plus I think it’s an hbo show now too!

    • Kim says

      I’m reading Big Little Lies too!!!! Oh my goodness. I love it!!! I was readying at a red light this week. -and every day in the bathtub!

  43. Leslie Z. says

    I started my month of April with I Let You Go. Excited to get further into it!

  44. Laura says

    Wow! So many great books! Moment maker, The Cozy Life, and Unstuffed are on my list now!

  45. Tonya Gray says

    I’m almost finished with Cancel the Wedding. I have loved every minute of that book, thanks for all your recommendations!!

  46. Jenn says

    I just read Nightingale by Kristin Hannah and highly recommend! I always enjoy the books you recommend so I think we have the same book taste :). Also Night Road is also by Hannah and made me cry and I finished in one night.

  47. Carly says

    I can’t remember if you like Young Adult Fiction (although Hoover is mature teen so maybe??), but Sea of Tranquility, Tell Me Three Things and Holding Up The Universe are great! Other favorites this year include Small Admissions, Secrets of the Charmed Life, and Victoria. And I say it every time, but you MUST read Wonder! Having a child with a physical medical condition and reading about it from Augie’s perspective– whoa! All the tears!

  49. Staci says

    Summer Breeze was the first Nancy Thayer book I read and loved it but I loved Summer House even more. I’m currently reading The Lake House by Kate Morton. Usually all the books I read are from recommendation but I saw this one and it just looked good. I’m loving it. Wondering if anyone has read any of her other books?

    • Susanne says

      I have read every Kate Morton book and I love them! If you haven’t read The Secret Keeper, I think that is her best one…I’m listening to it again on audio right now.

  50. Lindsey Peddicord says

    I must read ALL of these books!! I too, suffer from Francophilia (didn’t know there was a word for it until I read your post!!) I’m currently reading my first Liane Moriarty, What Alice Forgot, and I can’t put it down! Also just wrapped up the HBO Mini Series Big Little Lies so that just may be next on my book list. So good!!

  51. Brianne says

    I have been decluttering our family calendar after reading the Best Yes. I found myself so overwhelmed with life that the book spoke to me! I am going to check out Unstuffed next! Anything to simplify life with my littles ☺️ Love the book reviews each month!

  52. Madi says

    Have you read anything by Jodi Picoult? You and an like a lot of the same books and she’s one of my favorite authors. Very thought provoking, meaningful stories

  53. Evan Luton says

    Read “My heart, every beat surrendered” by Julie Manning. It is life changing. She’s a sweet Austin mama living with heart failure and she talks about how we can live closer to Jesus in our suffering. Such an inspirational book, that has truly changed my outlook on life. Live for eternity! 🙂

  54. Kelly says

    I as enamored with British lifestyle and you are with the French! Any good book recommendations for me?

  55. Megan Butler says

    My favorite monthly posts!!! And I am loving Thayer too!! Her books are just so light and fun!!

  56. Abbie says

    Excited to read I Let You Go! Sounds good! I read It Ends With Us several months ago which i absolutely loved!! and then I read Confess by Colleen Hoover too and I loved that also! So I would try reading Confess and I think you will love it just as much as It Ends With Us. Both very good!

  57. Melanie S says

    Ok, so I’ve added these to my TRL (to-read list)! How will I ever get through all of these?

  58. heidi says

    Ooh I let you go made me gasp so many times. I loved it because it mentioned Leeds the city I was born& raised in lol.. #homesick
    It was a great book.

  59. Danielle says

    I love your book reviews! I wanted to recommend that you read any book by author Sarah Jio. She’s amazing and I think you would love her! The Bungalow is a terrific one to start with, but all of hers are great. I wrote down some of your recommendations for this month and hopefully will enjoy them as much as you did.

  60. Paige E says

    Oooo, I need that Unstuffed book. I have been feeling very stuffed lately in all aspects of life and I need some simplicity.

  61. Angela Ellingson says

    So many good reviews and recommendations! I would LOVE if you did a whole post on Unstuffed! I am feeling such a strong desire for that in my life and have started implementing. I’ll have to read that book soon!

  63. Amanda says

    I love your book reviews so much! I always go and add a few to my Amazon wishlist! Also, I really appreciate the heads up about what you consider to be “R rated”. I find that I just can’t read books like that. No judgement but they are not for me. It saves me the time and money to know beforehand!
    Again, thanks for these suggestions!!

  65. Linda Henderson says

    I am reading Joyce Maynard’s “After Her.” She nails it. Before that I read my first Liane Moriarty, “Truly, Madly, Guilty” because I was intrigued with the HBO series, “Big Little Lies.”

  66. Jennifer says

    Mackintosh just released a new book. It is not as gripping as I Let You Go, but it is still good.

  67. Karah Stracener says

    I always look forward to your book post every month. You always have the best recommendations. Yes, please do a post on unstuffed. I’m intrigued to hear about it.

  68. Amy says

    You have GOT to read The Silent Sister by Diane Chamberlain! Fabulous book!!! Our book club read it and it has been my favorite book so far!!!!

  69. Courtney says

    I only managed to get in two books in march. I read “what she knew” by gilly Macmillan. So good! I also read “one true loves” by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Also really good! Just started “present over perfect” and don’t know if I want to finish. I want to support Christian authors, but I don’t know what it is about that book! Just not feeling it. I loved “November 9”. So far I haven’t been disappointed in Colleen Hoover books yet! Try reading “confess”, another great one!

  70. Kerri says

    I read Along the Infinite Sea in three days over spring break last week and loved it! I was in the mood for another World War II-themed book, so at the airport yesterday I picked up A Bridge Acrossthe Ocean and was so hooked I read it on the plane, the car ride home, and finished it in the bathtub at 11:30 pm! It begins with a “ghost” element that I wasn’t sure about at first, but I just didn’t want to put it down! Highly recommend it!

  72. Caroline says

    Love Ruth’s books! I haven’t read Unstuffed yet, but I love her book Living Well Spending Less. I’ve followed many of her spending freezes; not really to save money but more of a reset on the WHY behind buying.

    Also The Year Without a Purchase is written differently, but so good to step outside the american idea of spending and challenge this thinking of buy buy buy. This family also didn’t do their year for the money savings, but more for the experiences instead.

  73. Dee says

    Thanks for the book reviews Shay – they are always so helpful. I am going to have to read I Let You Go – I just finished Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris – if you like a psychological fiction/thriller – it is a good one. A very easy read. Smith is a hoot!

  74. Becky Dern says

    I love Book Review day!! I seriously have my request page open for my local library and add on ones that sounds interesting to me. Thank you! 🙂

  76. Margie L says

    Love your blog! Love how you’re encouraging a love of reading to all your readers. Edenbrooke and Outlander – both SO good!!

  78. Kathleen Dean says

    I just starting pinning your books on French culture as my 8-yr-old daughter has recently declared she’s into all things French and really wants to go to Paris. I’m not sure where it came from, but wouldn’t mind fostering the idea. Have you run across any fun French books geared to younger kids – or are there any books Kensington likes that deal with France you could recommend?

  79. Kim says

    Thank you Shay for the great suggestions! I too have been seeing the word hygge everywhere but I’ve been saying “higgie” lol!!! Thank you for the pronunciation info. Also, I cannot wait to read Jen Hatmaker’s new book Of Mess and Moxie when it comes out. She makes me laugh out loud on a regular basis!

  80. Lauren @ Oh Hey! I Like That! says

    Thank you for the great ideas! I know have some new books on my To-Read list!

  81. Michele Herr says

    I have read all of Colleen Hoovers books and didn’t like November 9th either. Confess and Hopeless were phenomenal! Better than It Ends With Us my opinion. Confess has been made into a short 7 part TV series that releases tomorrow. So so good.

  82. Natalie Clark says

    I definitely getting on Amazon and ordering Unstuffed for myself and possibly my best friend too! She watched the Netflix movie, Minimalism, and raved and raved about to me. I have that on my list of things to watch as well!

  85. Laura @ Laura Likes Design says

    Unstuffed and that thriller are definitely being added to my next Amazon order! You always have the BEST book suggestions!

  86. Jenna says

    The Aviator’s Wife is a great little read if you haven’t read it already! I was curious…. do you purchase all of the books you read or use a library? Do you sell your books after you read them or donate? I love reading too but have been trying to find the best and most economical approach haha!

  87. Alexis says

    Night Road by Kristin Hannah and Small Great a Things by Jodi Picoult are both phenomenal!
    And EVERYTHING by Taylor Jenkins Reid is good!!! One True Loves and After I Do are my faves but I’ve loved all of her books. They’re such easy reads and addicting stories!
    Love your book club posts!!

  89. Deanna Zehr says

    We have very similar taste in books! I just listened to a podcast on Hygge from the Simple Sophisticate. I can’t wait to check out this book as well. We are purging and organizing as a part of our Lent this year and donating and letting go of things that have served us and would now serve others. It’s been such a great experince leading up to Easter!

  90. carmen says

    I really want to read the Danish and French books as well as the book by Ruth Soukup. I am sure you have heard these words before but the dutch have the word: Gezellig and Germans have: gemütlich which they both say can’t be translated because they are more than just cozy. It’s so interesting that we don’t have an American word for it. We need one!

  91. Riley Smith says

    You have got to read Night Road, and Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah, my 2 favs of all time!! Also Jodi Picoult is up there as my favorite author, Nineteen Minutes, Leaving Time, and The Pact are also ones to remember!

  92. Kellie says

    What She Knew and The Good Goodbye. If you liked I Let You Go you will like both of those!

  93. Kathy says

    “I Let You Go” was a fantastic, gripping read!!! One thing I have to say is that you need, need, need to just plod through Part One because then Part Two comes along and WOWZA!!! After that you will not be able to put it down. The twists are incredible, and the last five words…well they will stay with you a very.long.time. I have just started to read her second book entitled “I See You”.

  94. Bethany says

    I am currently reading The Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie Omartian after finishing her book The Power of a Praying Wife. Both amazing books! On a ‘fun’ note I just opened up Wired to Eat =) Okay so maybe not everyone’s fun.

  95. hannah says

    You HAVE to read ‘The Year of Living Danishly’ by Helen Russell. Also a British person’s perspective of living in another country. It’s hilarious, adorable and very interesting.

  96. Holly Hopkins says

    Okay there are 3 books here I am adding to my goodreads. Great review! I think you would like Susan Mallory’s The Girls at Mischief Bay. I bought it because it said if you Elin Hilderbrand you will like her. Her books are always based on 3 main characters. Great beach read!

  97. Lauren says

    I am reading “It’s What I Do” right now and have been anticipating it popping up on one of your book reviews – it’s a memoir and completely fascinating! Definitely recommend to add to your list!

  98. Karla Seyb-Stockton says

    My most recent favorite books were all, in different ways, about making the most of the life that you have:
    The Power of Meaning: Crafting a Life That Matters by Emily Esfahan Smith (an examination of what goes into a life of significance for all of us, not written for the “important” or “famous” person, but for regular people like me.)
    Thunder Dog by Michael Hingston and Susy Flory (about Michael and his life as a blind person centered around his and his service dog Roselle’s escape from the World Trade Center on 9/11)
    and
    The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron & Suzanne Stabile (about the enneagram)

  99. Christie says

    Have you read Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty? The novel AND show are absolutely fantastic!

  100. Eryn says

    I see where you’re coming from with Colleen Hoover. I definitely agree It Ends with Us is her best. I must like her because I’ve enjoyed all her books so far….some more than others. I read Confess but I think Losing Hope and Hopeless were better. I’ve read a bunch of Nancy Thayer books too. I just finished The Island House. I can’t seem to get away from Nantucket books!

  101. Audrey says

    We Were Liars by E. Lockhart was excellent! Suspenseful, quick, and beautifully written. I read it in one sitting, and I’m sure you would too.

  102. Jessica says

    The most thrilling/suspenseful/leave me with uncomfortable chills book I have ever read is Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough. It’s a little bit out there in its ultimate concept, but the last twist was shocking and didn’t see it coming from a mile away. If you are at all into reading thrillers, I recommend this one. But fair warning: the end gave me nightmares and it was slightly disturbing.

  103. Erin McGuire says

    I read Confess by Colleen Hoover last month. I liked it. You might as well read one more CH book, ha ha! 🙂

  104. Heather says

    Awesome! Love, love, love your book reviews! Can’t wait to read the suspense one, and I will have to read November 9th also, since that’s my bday! ❤️❤️

  105. Liz says

    Love your book posts! Have you read How to make a French family? It popped up on my computer the other day and the cookie cutter on the front made me think of you!

  106. Kayla B says

    I think I might need to read that last book! My friends always say there’s nothing else I can possibly get rid of, but I always prove them wrong 🙂 A friend has been recommending the book Grace, Not Perfection: Embracing Simplicity, Celebrating Joy by Emily Ley that sounds like it would be right up your alley!

  107. Beth says

    You have to read A hundred summers! I thought nothing could top it ends with us and then read this one based off of comments on one of your book reviews. AMAZING

  108. Shelly says

    I may be in the same boat…I loved It Ends with Us soooo much! Totally adding the Unstuffed book to my list. Smith is hilarious and I can imagine my youngest responding this way.

  109. Emily says

    I just finished The Orphan’s Tale, it is such a beautifully written story that I absolutely recommend! Shay, you need to read this one you will love it!!!!!!

  110. Kayla Bryant says

    Okay, I just finished It Ends with Us and I’m a mess. I’ve been wanting to read more lately so I purchased a few books that you have recommended. I started with this one and I’m jus floored by how good it was. Thank you for all your recommendations and just the sweet person you are!

  111. Mary W. says

    I love French books too! I’m reading My Paris Dream by Kate Betts and it’s really good! I think I just like books about Europe in general, especially France and Italy.

  112. Jodi Guntle says

    You need to read “The Lucky Few” by Heather Avis. It’s a BEAUTIFUL story of adoption after infertility. It will bless your socks off!

  113. Cori says

    I just finished listening to Colleen Hoover’s Ugly Love… really really good! Reminded me of It Ends With Us in that it went back and forth between present and past. It definitely grabbed my attention right away!

  114. Brittany LaFleur says

    Just finished reading A Summer Breeze and loved it!!! However I’m wondering how you read it because I bought it on iBooks and it did not come with the alternate ending. I’m always skeptical about reading books recommended to me because I’m a specific reader and this is the first I’ve read from your book reviews and absolutely loved it! Thank you!

  115. Annaliza R says

    Read The Red Tent!!! It is a biblical/historical fiction about Dinah who is briefly mentioned in the book of Genesis.

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