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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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July Book Review


July Book Review

It’s my July Book Review!

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

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…but if you’re not a reader, then I know you’re all…

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…zzzzzzzzz.

For all of you non-readers out there, might I suggest a show to binge watch?  I think my very favorite shows to binge on are…

Breaking Bad
Gilmore Girls
Downton Abbey
The Good Wife
Parenthood

If you are a reader, then today is a GOOD day!

Last month, I read a whole lot of books that I didn’t love.  I read them, I didn’t really like them, I reviewed them and then you ladies suggested some more for me to read.  That afternoon, I opened up Amazon on my computer and then went through your comments and added so many books to my cart!  So, this month, my review is much HAPPIER because I LOVED the books!!  Go ahead and get out paper and a pen…you’re going to need to jot several of these down to read as well!

20

Wow!  This one was nothing like I expected.  So many of you ladies recommended Winter Garden to me because you know that I liked her other book The Nightingale.  I ordered it, it arrived, and I immediately read the back cover before I started the book…but after about two chapters in, I wanted to call the publisher and re-write the back of the book because I really thought the book was so much better than the synopsis on the back.  I don’t know?  I was pleasantly surprised by this one, and the more I read, the more I really liked it.  The Nightingale was good and it was intense…but I remember having to go back and re-read some paragraphs because it was so heavy that it almost was a bit confusing/hard to read at times.  Would anyone else agree?  Winter Garden though, was much easier for me to read.  It had that same intense quality of a Hannah book…but in my opinion, it flowed a lot easier than The Nightingale.

This book is about a Russian mother and her two adult daughters.  Some tragic events occur which make the mother start sharing more about her past before she moved to the U.S., but at the same time, each of the daughters is going through her own issues at home.  I would not call this book “chick lit”.  I think men and women would equally enjoy this fictional tale!  It’s also for those of you who like a heavier book instead of the lighter, beach reads because there isn’t a lot of that romantic fluff (that I enjoy so much), just a deep, highly complex story about mothers and daughters/secrets and lies/life and death.  I really couldn’t put this one down.  I was very much wrapped up in this story and wanted to see how it was going to play out.  Random side note: the mother and daughters go on an Alaskan cruise at one point in the book and stop at all of the same ports we just did back in June 😉 .

21

So, after the intensity of Winter Garden, I needed to shake it off with something light and frivolous, therefore, I read Paris Street Style.

You know how much I love these little books on the French way of life, and this one did not disappoint.  It’s cute, it’s cheery, it’s fun, it made me rethink some of my closet organization and it was the perfect light read after a heavy one.  Amazon is always recommending these books to me, so that’s why I had this one.  If you love these books, order this one.  It’s just a bunch of happy.

22

Many of you ladies recommended Delicious to me and well, you had me at the book title.

This is a fictional tale about a girl who goes to work for a food magazine in NYC and the unexpected things that happen to her along the way.  My favorite parts of this book where her figuring out her new life in NYC and the relationships she had a long the way (with a family in a cheese shop and other people that worked for her magazine).  A big portion of the book are letters she finds from a young child written way back in the ’40s and to be honest, I didn’t love those pages of the book.  I much preferred when the author wrote about her life, her love of food and cooking, and her relationships.  I was kind of bored during the letters.  That being said, this book was fun to read!  The story telling is fantastic, the description of food (tastes, smells and textures) was superb!  I promise you…this book will make you hungry as you read the pages!  I thought this book was cute, easy to read and unexpected.

23

The Light We Lost was the number one recommended book by you guys last month.  I bought it, I read it quickly and…I’m not sure what I think about it.

Help.

I feel like everyone is reading this book.  My social media feeds are filled with pics of people reading it.  This is probably THE book of the summer…but do we like it?  I’m so conflicted!  As soon as I read the last page, I started texting friends to see what they thought.  I don’t want to give anything away about the plot or whatnot…but I really don’t know how I feel about this one?

This is a fictional story about a woman who is kind of caught between two loves…one of her youth and one present day.  This is an intense read (not a fluffy beach read), but I loved how quickly the story progressed.  That being said, I’m not sure how I feel about the main character, and I’m having a hard time reconciling my thoughts on how this story plays out.  People ask me all the time what they should read and out of all of the books this month, this is the one that I’ve recommended the most but always with the disclaimer of “I’m not sure if I liked it, but I think you should read it”.  However you feel about this book, here’s one thing that I know will happen, IT WILL STICK WITH YOU.  It’s one of those books that you think about long after you read the last page.

25

Annnnnnnd…here is your fluffy beach read for the month!

So many of you told me that I would like Dorothea Benton Frank because she is kind of the Elin Hilderbrand of Charleston, SC books.  I had several of you suggest Same Beach, Next Year  and you know what? I enjoyed it!  Based on this book, I will be reading more of her books in the future.  This one is about two couples who vacation together every summer and the things that transpire between their lives over a twenty year span.  It was light, easy to read, kept my attention, made me happy, surprised me a bit and was a nice change after several of these heavier books.  Loved it!

27

I have a new favorite author.

My friend Amanda is a big reader too, and she told me she had a major girl crush on Kristan Higgins.  She said she could not stop reading her books, so I ordered one.  And as soon as I finished, I ordered a second one.  Go ahead and predict a lot of Higgins books in the upcoming months.  I loved this one!  I started with If You Only Knew which was a total chick lit/beach read/sit by the pool book.  It’s a fictional story about two sisters.  One is a girl who moves from NYC to the suburbs to kind of start over after her divorce.  She is a wedding dress designer and even though she’s trying to move on, her ex and his new wife kind of keep pulling her back.  The other sister already lives in the ‘burbs and it’s about her navigating life with her triplet daughters and hubby.  I thought this novel was just cute as can be!  It was the perfect way for me to end my month.  If Amanda is right, then I’ll be reading many, many, many more Higgins books!

And one bonus book for the month…

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Last week, I shared a picture of me doing my quiet time with Sophie’s new devotional All in All.  If you are looking for a sweet devotional that will encourage you, uplift you, speak to you and make you laugh (yes, her devotional is funny!), then you should buy this one.  There are 100 days of devotionals inside each with a spot for journaling.  I have loved having it in my mornings!  It has blessed me, and I know it will bless you too!

So, that wraps up my July Book Review.

I was really happy with my lineup this month!  I thought it was a good combination of heavy and light.  I need you all to read these and let me know what you thought (especially about The Light We Lost!).

 What did you read this month???  Comment and share!

To see a complete list of all of the books I’ve read so far this year plus links to their reviews, click HERE.

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.
Happy Monday, friends!!
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Comments

  1. Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says

    Paris Street Style sounds like the perfect book for me right now – I’ve been reading too many murder mysteries and they’re getting heavy!
    –
    Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
    http://charmainenyw.com

  2. Lauren D says

    Best book I have read recently – Wonder. It was so touching. I can’t wait for the movie to come out this fall. It’s technically a Young Adult book but I got it after seeing the movie preview. I couldn’t put it down!

      • Carla says

        I saw the trailer for the movie this weekend – and had a hard time holding back tears at one scene! Can’t wait to see it!

  3. Natalie says

    I feel the exact same way as you after reading The Light We Lost. I still can’t decide how I feel about it, but I’m glad I read it. You need to read Overseas by Beatriz Williams- I think you will like it. Xo

  4. Alison says

    Great reviews! I recently read a good one; Magpie Murders. It was a fun book for anyone who loves reading British mysteries and watching English detective shows.

  5. Leslie Z. says

    I know how much you like Colleen Hoover, and I read another great one this month! You have to pick up November 9! So, so good!!!

  6. Holly says

    Hi,
    You should definitely read ‘The Royal We’ by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan – it’s a one off that I keep on going back to!!!
    Also, want a super TV series – try Offspring. It’s an Australian series that you will get hooked on!! Happy reading and watching 🙂

  7. Megan says

    I was at Target this week perusing the book section while Anderson looked at Hot Wheels. Same Beach, Next Year and If You Only Knew both made my list of possibilities to take for the long China flight in a couple of weeks. Delicious looks like a good one to add to the list as well. Love these book posts!
    http://www.lettinginthelightblog.com

  8. Alexis deZayas says

    I’ve been looking forward to this post all weekend! I read two Elin Hilderbrand books this month (Nantucket Nights and The Castaways) so I’ll have to check out some of those heavier reads you read!

  9. Bethany says

    Love this! I need some new books. I just finished Uninvited and I am alway done with Humble Roots. I am still trying to make it through Crazy Rich Asians (I am struggling)….

  10. Jennifer says

    I felt the same way about The Light We Lost … HOW did it become this summer’s “it” book? I read it and it left me feeling gross. To me, Lucy is wildly immature and if she was someone I was really friends with we would need to sit her down and have some real talk about life. I probably wouldn’t have felt so strongly if I didn’t go into it comparing it to “me before you” or reading it was “this generations new love story” per the reviews. Is that what this generation is supposed to think is real love? Pass.

    • Ashley J says

      Agreed! I just finished it a week ago and sat there with it like “meh”. I sort of felt completely jipped. I know that sounds weird but I felt dirty and needed a shower and wanted an answer to all of my questions like ok what happened after the letter!? Agh it was annoying. I didn’t think there was a lot of substance to the relationships either…at least the connection just seemed super surface but oh well don’t want to go on too much because this is a big spoiler book. I read One True Loves too and thought it would be more like that (with a legitimate strongly thought-out end) but alas it was not.

  11. Laura says

    Hooray! Love your reviews! I wrote down so many of the recommendations from the comments last month, and I can’t wait to read them! I haven’t read any of these yet, so another opinion on them is GOLD. Sounds like I have my work cut out for me in a great way!
    P.S. I posted my July book review today too!

  13. Karah Stracener says

    I always look forward to your book review! It might be my favorite post each month. You always have the best suggestions, I’ll be adding some of these to my amazon cart. Have a great Monday!!

  14. bella says

    I am reading The Two-Family House by Lynda Cohen Loigman. It is excellent and takes place in Brooklyn, New York in a two family brownstone. It is about two Jewish families where the men are brothers. One has all girls and the other all boys. What happens after will make it difficult to put the book down. It is the authors first novel.

  15. emily @ a little bit of emily says

    I am in the midst of my first Dorthea Benton Frank book and am absolutely loving it so far! Definitely going to have to check more of her books out. If you haven’t read them already, I would suggest anything by Mary Kay Andrews – I feel like their writing is similar and I love pretty much all her books.

  16. Alex says

    One of my most memorable reads recently is The Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood. It won a literary prize here in Australia last year and is like nothing I’ve read recently. Compelling and thought provoking, I read it in one sitting and just loved it. Also another one is Greythorne by LM Merrington. It’s a period mystery and perfect for a cosy night in.

  17. Carly M says

    Shay, these all seem great. I just finished The People We Hate at the Wedding. It was pretty good. Worth a quick read. Dorothea Benton Franks books are great,try Hurricane Sisters next!

  19. Sarah says

    Shay, read Dorothea Benton Frank’s The Last Original Wife. It’s the first book of hers I read and I thought it was great! I really think you’d enjoy it too!

  22. Laura Fredlund says

    Two books that I read this month and absolutely LOVED are: The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan Philipp Sendker, and Goodnight June by Sarah Jio. I really hope you read at least one of the two and do a review on them ?

    • Kelly says

      I read Goodnight June by Sarah Jio a few years ago and loved it! I also loved her books Morning Glory (set on a houseboat in Seattle) and Blackberry Winter.

  23. Elspeth Mizner says

    Hi Shay! I have been doing a ton of reading this summer. One of my favorite and most recent ones that I finished was Two by Two by Nicholas Sparks. I really enjoyed the touching story, there was a great plot and interesting characters. It was long but I managed to finish it in a week or so. Just a suggestionLoved this review! . Have a great week!

  24. Amlakar says

    The new book by B.A. Paris, Breakdown, is excellent! Also, if you love suspense all of Heather Gunderkauf’s books are great!

    • Erica says

      I just finished reading (in less than 18 hours) Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris. It was really good.

  25. Cooper says

    Wonder by RJ Palacio. It’s more a young adult book and it’s becoming a movie with Owen Wilson and Julia Roberts, but you will love it!! Maybe Kensington would like it too. It’s about a 5th grade boy with a facial deformity and everything he goes through as he starts public school. I loved it so much!

    • Jill says

      I’m currently reading Wonder with my kids. We’re about halfway through. Such a beautiful and important book! Perfectly timed for really great conversations before heading back to school soon.

  27. Bailey says

    I just finished “All the Missing Girls,” and I devoured it! It was told backwards which was different, but I liked it! It was a good and suspenseful, but not too dark. My fave Kristin Hannah is “Firefly Lane,” you’ve probably already read it, because it’s older, but if you haven’t, you are missing out!!

  28. Cassidy says

    I just finished my first Elin Hilderbrand book- The Identicals– Loved it. What books of hers to you recommend to read next? I need to fill my amazon cart. ?

  29. Catie L says

    You should check out Lisa See. All of her books her great – especially since you love China! But her latest – the Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane is a beautiful mother-daughter story and a MUST read for China adoptive Mothers. I couldn’t put it down!!

  30. Barb says

    I am so glad you loved and recommended Winter Garden – it is one of my favorite books of all time!!

    • Susanne Nieman says

      I was just going to say the same thing. So glad you finally read Winter Garden. I recommend it to all my friends!
      Another author you might like is Sarah Jio. I love all of her books but my favorites are Goodnight June and The Bunglow…so , so good!

  31. Sonia Limon says

    Hi – I just ordered the devotional book and I am excited. I read Keeping Faith by Jodi Picoult this month and loved it!!

  32. Dana says

    I would love to see you do a post on all you have learned about ‘being French’! I recently ran across a YouTube channel by Justine Leconte, a French designer who speaks great English and lives in Germany. She has a few videos where she talks about French ‘secrets’ and they are fun to watch! You should check it out.

  33. Angelique says

    Winter Garden has been on my “to-read” list on Goodreads forever – you just encouraged me to push it to the top. We read The Handmaid’s Tale this month for book club and it is a crazy yet good book. I recommend it for sure!

    http://www.fourpointsmom.com

  34. Brooke says

    I love Sophie’s books and really want to read All in All, although I’m skeptical about it being written for younger girls. Does it seem too young? Your review of it makes it sound like I would enjoy it.

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      I enjoy it! I’m not finished with it, but so far, I think it’s fine for all women!

  35. Amy says

    Shay, I totally felt the same way about The Light We Lost. I could not put it down, but I am not sure I liked it! Kristin Hannah’s Night Road was one I read this month that I loved! Happy Book Review Day!!! My favorite day of the month!

  37. Melissa says

    Finally! Someone gets how I feel about the light we lost! I still can’t believe people love it.

  38. Emily Firko says

    You should read, “The couple next door”…I’m half way through it and can’t put it down!!?

  40. Eileen says

    I loved The Light We Lost. I’m not sure why because I agree with you about the feelings I had about the main character. Maybe as a New Yorker, it was the 9/11 connection that made me love it so much? I don’t know. I loved the style of writing and the way it was told. I think you are right – whether you like it or not, it sticks with you for a long time. Definitely read Wonder. It’s an amazing book. Have you read any Chris Cleave books? I loved Gold.

  41. Bethany says

    Have you ever ready anything by Meg Cabot? She’s the author of the Princess Diaries series and has written a ton of hilarious adult fiction as well! The first book of her Queen of Babble series takes place in France, which you would probably love! Her books are light and fun to read, and she writes in such a relatable way. Her “Boy” series is also very fun and good for summer reading!

  42. Julie says

    I just started ‘The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo’ by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and it is fantastic! This is another one where the jacket description doesn’t quite do the book justice. The book is about a famous Hollywood actress telling her lifetime story to a young journalist through the seven marriages she’s had. It’s gripping! I also am almost done with ‘The Little Book of Hygge’ by Meik Wiking. It is such a cute, fun, little read with adorable illustrations. It talks about the Danish concept of “coziness” and how you can make your home and your life a little more happy every day. Thanks for your book list, I enjoy it every month!

      • Kelly Brown says

        Definitely The Seven Husbands! I started it this morning and haven’t been able to put it down all day. It’s really good

  43. Narci Dreffs says

    So many great recommendations!! I can’t wait to check some of these out!!

  44. Maria says

    I too love Elin Hilderbrand and have read all her books. I’m now reading all of Nancy Thayers Nantucket books. I feel like I know Nantucket so well now! lol I did just finish Mary Alice Monroe’s Beach House for Rent and loved it!!! She is also a SC low country author. I’m eager to read more by her. I loved Same Beach, Next Year! For some reason, I tend to gravitate toward beach reads in the warm summer!!!! Love your monthly book reviews.

  45. Mandy M. says

    Kristan Higgins is my favorite! You’d love her Blue Heron series. It’s just 4 books and they are so wonderful. I couldn’t recommend them enough. They are a perfect way to wrap up your summer!

  46. Sarah Shaneyfelt says

    I just finished The Sinner because I kept seeing the previews for the TV miniseries staring Jessica Biel. It reminded me of a Gillian Flynn book because it’s sick and twisted like all of her books. Definitely a hard one to read but I was already to far into it to quit and I had to know how the mystery was solved!
    MeetTheShaneyfelts

  48. Ursula says

    If you haven’t read ‘The Hating Game’ by Sally Thorne, add it to your list! I follow your book recs and I think you’ll love it!

  49. Kelly Davis says

    I love your reviews- they are honest and tell me exactly what I need to know to decide yay or nay:-)

    I am curious… I have been using my kindle some, because delivery is immediate and I can have so many books in one small location, but I still prefer reading the actual book. Since you read so many books each month, what do you do with them after? Do you have a library of all the books you read (I tend to read fiction only once so I don’t like keeping the books unless they are special) or do you get rid of them each month?

    Just curious:-)

  50. Rebecca says

    Have you picked up The Turquoise Table by Kristin Schell? It’s about finding community and building friendships. Since you have read Uninvited and The Best Yes, you might like this too. ?

  51. Melissa MacGregor says

    I think you HAVE to read The Wonder by Emma Donoghue. It sticks with you for a long time. I did not like the description but I had it so I read it. So good.

  52. Melissa D. says

    I just finished Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman and it was so good. It is both deep and funny, but also pulls on your heartstrings. I would be shocked if you weren’t cheering for Eleanor by the end of the book. I would say it has been one of my favorites this summer…and I read a lot! Highly recommend!

  53. Megan Butler says

    I didn’t read anything this month bc I was sooo busy with baby Porter. But with all this time spent nursing I feel like I’ve read the internet in the last 3 weeks, Sooooo I am going to add some of these to my library list right now!!

  54. Katie W. says

    I’m reading Eleanor Oplihant is Completely Fine per the recommendation of Reese Witherspoon’s book club – check them out on Instagram! And I just finished reading Island Girls by Nancy Thayer, it’s a cute, light read.

  55. heidi says

    There are a few ones I’m going to try in there.
    I only get to read one or so a month. I just finished I let you go (loved it but heart breaking)
    And what she knew. . Again a little heavy so I’m ready for light snd fun!

  56. Darcy says

    I know you loved It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover so much but struggled to find another book of hers that you loved. I just finished Confess and I highly recommend it. I loved it just as much as It Ends With Us! Love reading your book reviews.

  57. Kelsey says

    I recommended this last month to you, but in case it got lost in the shuffle of all the comments – you HAVE to read this one – “The Kind Worth Killing” by Peter Swanson. I love how your book reviews contain a good mix of chick lit/memoirs/heavier stuff , but you’re missing a thriller type book 😉

    This one is it! You will not be able to put it down!

  58. Brooke says

    I am reading “Nothing to Prove” by Jennie Allen right now. It really is speaking to the ideas of not being enough and that’s why we need God and all of the things we turn to instead of taking the time to be with Jesus (Netflix, social media, our phones, etc). It gives good, functional ways to change those habits.

  59. Taylor says

    I recently read Paula Hawkins new book “Into the Water.” It definitely wasn’t as good as “Girl on the Train” but still worth the read. There were a few good plot twists throughout the book the kept it interesting.

  60. Andrea says

    Okay so I just finished “Cancel the Wedding” and LOVED it! Based on that, I think you would really like Julie Garwood’s contemporary books. They have a love story, suspense, and the characters are very likeable! Start with “Heartbreaker” and go from there. There are about 8 or 9 books in her contemporary series that all revolve around one family, so in the later books you get a quick glimpse back at some of your favorite characters.

  62. I Shal C says

    Oh my! Got me so curious about Light We Lost. Can’t wait to get it from the library wait list!

    I published my first blog post today and it’s inspired by you! Thank you for the idea. Yours is my favorite post each month. It’s my own July Book Review at ishalc611.blogspot.com

  63. Jamie says

    Have you read Kevin Kwan’s series yet? Crazy Rich Asians, China Rich Girlfriend, and Rich People Problems. These were my summer beach reads – I loved them!

  64. Whitney says

    If you want a really cute easy read (we’re talking like a day by the pool), I highly recommend The Bridge by Jill Cox. It’s a story about a girl who goes to Paris for a year, only to find herself torn between on old love and a new one!

  66. Cheryl says

    I am reading and loving Everything You Want Me To Be by Mindy Mejia. I also enjoyed It’s Always the Husband by Michelle Campbell and Her Every Fear by Peter Swanson. I quit Into the Water after about 100 pages. I know this was one of the top books of the summer, but… I didn’t have any feeling for the characters and didn’t enjoy the many switches between character stories.

    I enjoy your book recaps and add many suggestions to my Overdrive account every month. 😉

  67. Meghan says

    I just finished two – The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (Taylor Jenkins Reid) and Since We Fell (Dennis Lehane). I couldn’t put both down for wildly different reasons. Highly recommend!

  68. Ramona says

    I love book review days. I feel like a kid in a candy store. I’m so excited to pick up a Kristin Higgins book. That is, right after I finish reading The Weekenders by Mary Kay Andrews. You need to read this book. I think it’s totally you. Actually, I love all of Mary Kay Andrews’ books. You should check her out if you haven’t yet.

  69. Becky says

    Hi, Shay. I enjoyed Winter Garden too and many other books you have reviewed through the years…thank you! I have some suggestions that I think you would enjoy if you haven’t already read them: French Women Don’t Get Fat, The Guernsey Potato Peel and Literary Society, Savannah Breeze and anything written by Mary Kay Andrews; Lucia, Lucia written by Adriana Trigiani and really most of her books. I work in a library, hence the wordy list. Thanks again for your reviews.

  71. Julie says

    I always look forward to your book reviews because much like your style and your recipes, you and I jive on books! Since I always get great book recs from you, I thought I would leave you with one. I just finished “The Breakdown” by B.A. Paris. Her first novel was “Behind Closed Doors” and I devoured it. This one is just as suspenseful and keeps you guessing. Happy reading!

  72. Catherine says

    You need to read Fearless by Eric Blehm. It’s a true story about Seal Team 6 member, Adam Brown. He is a true American hero and his story is incredible. I love all the chic-lit books too, but this really is a great book!

  73. Krista says

    I have a major girl crush on Kristan Higgins! I L-O-V-E her books — and that one was my “least” favorite of all of them! I hope you read more, I think you’ll adore her style of writing! They’re just fun, fluffy, romantic, heart-warming books!

  74. Amy R says

    My July reads have included. Final girls by Riley Sager, Beautiful ruins by Jess Walter, Pretty Girls by Karen Slaughter, Since we Fell by Dennis Lehane. All were very good in their own way. Cannot wait to add these to my list.

  75. Amber Grubbs says

    If you haven’t read “The Good Girl” by Mary Kubica, it’s definitely one of my favorites! Couldn’t put it down!

  76. Jaren says

    Many of those look great! I’m so excited that I have read 6 books over my summer vacation. It proves I was really able to relax this summer and it makes heading back to school a bit easier! Thanks for all the recommendations! Don’t forget to check out A Table by the Window in your future reads! It was light and quick to read and got me so motivated to get in my kitchen!

  77. Kim says

    I highly recommend anything by Tamera Alexander. She is is an amazing writer with beautifully written stories and well developed characters.

  78. Natalie Juns says

    I really want to read If You Only Knew from your list and the French one too! I need a lighthearted read. Do you ever read books on your phone or just the hard copy? I like both at different times. I love having the book on my phone for when my husband likes to go to sleep before me, and I still want to be up reading. Other times, I just love having a book in my hands. Thanks for the great list!

  79. Amanda @ Cupcake N Dreams says

    I really liked Kristin Hannah’s book, so I’m going to have to pick up Winter Garden! If you haven’t read The Guest Cottage by Nancy Thayer, that would be my recommendation this month, perfect summer read!
    xo
    Amanda @ Cupcake N Dreams

  80. Andrea says

    I just finished “the Good Girl” by Mary Kubica, so good. Currently reading “The Hypnotist’s Love Story” by Liane Moriarity…so far so good. My book club read “The Kitchen House” this month and it was an all around win for all.

  81. Amy says

    Just a thought! First thanks for the books reviews. We live in McKinney. I don’t read as many books as you but I have found the majority of your book recommendations at the library. Once I read a book, I’m done with it and will usually pass it onto someone else but this way I reserve the book and take it back saving a bit of change. Your books this month sound great! Adding some to my list!
    Thanks!

  82. Leah B. says

    Yay!! I always look forward to your book review posts – they are my absolute favorite!!! I just finished reading Secrets of a Charmed Life by Susan Meissner. I think you would enjoy this book – it is about two sisters in London during the Blitz in 1940. It was a very good book!!

  83. Alice H says

    so I love Reese Witherspoon and she has an instagram account for her book club… rwbookclub … and I have been working my way through some books she suggested. I have read First Comes Love by Emily Griffin, Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty (sp?), and The Dry by Jane Harper. I have liked all of these books.

    Oh and off subject, my daughter is getting ready to leave me for college (we are in OK, and she is going to a campus in OK) and her roommate is from McKinney, Texas. Just thought it was a small world with how much you talk about your love for that place.

  84. Amy Shirola says

    I read The Rumor by Elin Hildebrand and My Reality by Melissa Rycroft and Turning the Tables by Teresa Guidice. Thanks for all those recommendations! I love your book reviews! I pull them up on my phone when I’m in the library and just start looking! Thanks!!

  85. Stephanie says

    Excellent books I have read the summer are “The Dry”, “The Stars are Fire” and on audiobook “An Invisible Thread” which is a true story that was AMAZING!! Happy Reading!!!

  86. Beth Glidden says

    I just received Sophie Hudson’s new devotional and am really liking it. Thanks for the recommendation!

  87. Alexis says

    I LOVED The Light We Lost. Their story sucked me in and the love they had for each other, I couldn’t get enough of. It seemed like a mix of Me Before You, One Day (my favorite book of all time), and One True Loves…and those books are three of my faves! Loved this book and the storyline.
    Kristin Hannah’s book “Night Road” was one of my favorites. Such a good story!!! It’s my favorite of hers other than The Nightingale.”
    I read “Hello Sunshine” this month and loved it. The author is Laura Dave who also wrote “Eight Hundred Grapes.” Really good story with more depth to it than typical chick lit. One of my favorite summer reads.
    If you haven’t read Wonder, read it before the movie!!! Precious story. Many teachers use it as a novel study in either fourth or fifth grade because it’s that good. You would love it. There is also a picture book version for younger kids!

  88. Deanna says

    Have you read America’s First Daughter? If you like American history and a little bit of romance, you will LOVE it. It’s the life story of Thomas Jefferson’s daughter and the quiet impact she had on American history. Doesn’t sound amazing, but the story was so well written. I couldn’t put it down.

  89. Linda Henderson says

    Are there any Independent Bookstores in your area? I understand the ease of Amazon but Independent Bookstores sponsor author talks which are fantastic. I have listened to some great writers over the years and been introduced to books that I might otherwise have missed. Plus, I love browsing in an actual bookstore. I did see where Amazon built a store in La Jolla so maybe there are more coming.

  90. Kristen says

    I just finished The Light We Lost. I thought it was a great book, couldn’t put it down! I wasn’t a fan of Lucy or the ending of the story and usually if I don’t like the ending, I don’t like the book, but in this case, the book itself was so good, I could deal with it. I think the book just makes you think and I had to keep reading to see how it all played out.

  91. Amanda says

    If you liked Kristin Hannah then definitely pick up Firefly Lane and The Night Road. Firefly Lane will always be in my top four books of all time. Small Great Things is another I highly recommend!

  92. Brie says

    I look forward to your review every month! I read One True Loves per your recommendation and loved it, so thank you! I also picked up The Someday Jar while I was on vacation. It was an easy read, and I enjoyed it. I’m trying to get into Crazy Rich Asians right now, but it hasn’t hooked me yet and I keep passing it up to read something else. I also picked up the My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella – I’ve always enjoyed her books for a light read.

  93. Cathy says

    If you like mysteries “Not a Sound” by Heather Gudenkauf is very good. Now I am reading “Those I Loved” by Siri Hustvedt who writes beautifully. A long time ago I read her book “Celeste Ascending”.

  94. Louise says

    Have you ever read any of Anne Rivers Siddons books? They’re usually set in the low-country and have some magnificent twist! Colony and Fox’s Earth are my favorites of her early works. Sadly the last two she’s written almost seemed to be written by someone else, which is possible since she’s getting up there in age.

  95. Amanda @ That Inspired Chick says

    I meant to talk to you about The Light We Lost at the game last week and totally forgot! I totally agree with you. I loved her writing style and it was a great book…I just am not sure I’m on board with the actual characters themselves. The best way to describe it for me was that it left me unsettled. So glad you liked my girl crush though!! haha! You may like the next one even better!

    That Inspired Chick

  96. Maggie says

    Lily and the Octopus by Steven Ridley… about a man and his beloved dog.
    Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver… a non fiction account of a family undertaking eating only locally grown food for an entire year.

  97. Monica says

    This month I read Cooking for Picasso and I feel like you would absolutely love it! It’s about three generations of French women and most of the book is based in Juan-Les-Pins in the French Riviera. It’s such a great summer read – the descriptions of Juan-Les-Pins, the food, and the French culture are amazing… then toward the middle of the book the plot just keeps unfolding and getting better and better. I can’t recommend it enough and feel like you would LOVE it!

  98. Lindsey says

    Definitely going to have to read The Light We Lost! I love your book reviews and I often read all the comments too to get more book suggestions. A lot of people have commented about The Bronze Horseman. I just finished reading it and I LOVED it. It too is set during WWII in Russia. While parts of it are heavy there is a fantastic love story intertwined. I could not put it down and I cannot stop thinking about the characters. Luckily it is a trilogy and I just started the second book.

    • Rebecca Rooney says

      The Bronze Horseman is my absolute favorite book!!!!! It is so incredible! The sequel is great too.

  99. Caroline Burke says

    I love Kristin Hannah!! Every. Single. Book. I read Winter Garden a while ago and then reread it last year for a book club and loved it all over again. I’m a huge Russian history lover and it’s my 2nd favorite type of historical fiction to read. I can’t wait for her new book next year. I’m currently reading Pam Jenoffs The Diplomats Wife which is the sequel to The Kommandants Girl which I loved!!

  100. Clancy says

    I’ve been on a Kristan Higgins binge! I absolutely loved On Second Thought and am now on book three on the Blue Heron series. I love them all!!

  101. Anne says

    The Alice Network by Kate Quinn is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time! Not even finished with it yet, but LOVE it!

  102. Jill says

    My new favorite author is Taylor Jenkins Reid…I’m so happy to have discovered her this summer!! I’ve read two of her books and am waiting on the 3rd to come in for me at the library! Can’t wait to start it!

  103. KMN says

    I love your reviews! I just finished Small Admissions about the NYC private school admissions process. It was a light, easy read with just enough drama and fun to keep me interested.

  104. Kerri says

    Just finished the Young Wives Club, cute beach read and The Couple Next Door, quite heavy, but good. Current ReadL Our Little Rackett and it’s good so far!

    • Kelly says

      I finished The Couple Next Door on vacation and its a super quick read and you will be like “what just happened” when it’s over! So good and CRAZY!!

  106. Amy Heinl says

    Hi Shay…another great book review with some I just now added to my cart based on your recommendations. I am a huge Kristin Hannah fan and some of her earlier books were more traditional summer beach reads (and excellent)..you might want to check them out (Firefly Lane, True Colors, Distant Shores, & Summer Island). Also I don’t know if you read any of Susan Wiggs books but hers are excellent and the characters are so rich. I just finished Family Tree by her and loved it. Two of my favorite are a two book series she did a couple of years ago called The Apple Orchard & The Beekeepers Ball….I thought of you…..main character does alot of cooking (I don’t want to to say more but is a key backdrop of this series) and each chapter has a receipe in it (which are wonderful).

  107. Lindsey says

    I would definitely recommend Lisa See. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan was really good and I’ve heard a lot about Shanghai Girls.

    Additionally I’d second the recommendation on Kristin Hannah’s Firefly Lane.

    A nice light read is There’s Cake in My Future by Kim Gruenenfelder.

    Happy reading!

  108. Misty says

    Kristin Hannah is one of my favorite authors. I have read Firefly Lane(LOVED), Fly Away(LOVED), Between Sisters, True Colors, Night Road(a MUST READ!!), Winter Garden, and several others. Winter Garden shook me to the core. It took me months to get “over” that one. I am not sure why. It was so good!!

  109. Kristen says

    Firefly Lane & Night Road are my two favorites by Kristin Hannah! I think you would enjoy both!

  110. Susan says

    I’m reading The Weight of Heaven by Thrity Umrigar, and I can’t put it down! It’s about an American couple who lose their 7-year-old son to a sudden illness and decide to take the husband’s job transfer to India. The husband falls in love with the bright, curious son of their cook/maid and helps him with his homework/takes him on day trips and dreams of the endless possibilities this boy could have with his and his wife’s financial and emotional support. The book also looks at the damage big corporations do in countries like India, knowingly and unknowingly. I got to know a few families and the little boy in the book. It’s wonderful – highly recommended!

  111. Susie says

    Thanks for the review-I’m headed to the library later today! Shay, I have recommended this book before – Cage of Stars, by Jacquelyn Mitchard. When you said the back cover synopsis of Winter Garden didn’t fit the book, I thought that also applies to this book with ref. to the cover and the Amazon blurb. i don’t love ALL of Mitchard’s books, but this one is in the top 5 of all books I’ve ever read. I’m an AVID reader and an English teacher, so that is a high ranking for me! It comes across as incredibly dark, but it is so much more than that. The basic tragedy is inexplicably sad, but Ronnie’s life thereafter, and how she moves on, is riveting. I love romances with humor and mysteries I cannot easily unravel, but I also love books that cause me to feel so very much for a fictional character. This book, in that sense, is magical. Just try the Kindle sample and see what you think!

  112. Leslie says

    I absolutely love Kristin Hannah’s style. I’ve read several of her books and just finished “The Things We Do For Love”. It was one of her best. Highly recommend it! I am just wrung out by the time I finish one of her books.

  113. Julie Clark says

    I read two books based off of last months readers comments. I read The Secret Life of Violet Grant first and really loved it. Then I read Tiny Little Thing, and liked it too, but not as much as Secret Life. I’m not sure if I’m going to read the next book or not. I also read The Hate U Give based off Instagram suggestions, and really liked it. I read Everything We Keep and ended up enjoying it too. Not sure if that was one of your recommendations. One I didn’t like, and tried to stick with, but ended up giving up on towards the end even, was Sisters One, Two, Three. Hesitant to get The Light We Lost. I remember another book that was so popular a couple of years ago that everyone seemed to like, The Nest, which I read and didn’t like at all. Right now I’m reading Talking as Fast as I Can, which I know you read, and it’s definitely a fun read. Thanks for all of your suggestions!

  114. Lindsay @ Lindsay's Sweet World says

    It’s crazy because I haven’t ever even heard of The Light We Lost… maybe I’ve been hiding under a rock? Now I want to check it out! And just to let you know, I’m finally trying my first Elin Hilderbrand book and I LOVE IT. So thank you for recommending her 18,000 times! Haha.

  115. Stephanie says

    Kristin Hannah’s Night Road is amazing as well as Firefly Lane and Fly Away.. Beatriz Williams Along the Infinite Sea was so good, I’m now reading her other books about the Schuyler sisters.

  116. Marti says

    I’m reading The Night She Won Miss America. (I hope this isn’t one you’ve already recommended–ha!) It’s a fiction story based on a true-life story about a girl who participates in the 1950 Miss America pageant. I highly recommend it! I’m having a hard time putting it down once I start reading.

  117. Nancy says

    Dorothea Benton Frank is one of my favorite authors. She is such a good writer, and I have enjoyed her books for years. With your love of travel and good food, take a trip to Charleston, SC and drive out to Sullivan’s Island where many of her books are set. It was so much fun to see the place that she has written about – kind of a “book come to life” moment! Then treat yourself to a wonderful meal at Sullivan’s there on the island. My husband and I happened to see it as we drove through the little downtown area and decided to eat there for dinner. My hubby ordered the shrimp and grits, and they were hands down the BEST shrimp and grits either of us have ever had (we are from the south, so we have eaten a lot of shrimp and grits!). As we were leaving, we commented to the hostess how good the food was, especially the shrimp and grits. She smiled real big, thanked us, and said many of the dishes were her grandmother’s recipes including the shrimp and grits! As we thanked her again for such a lovely and delicious dinner, she replied that she just knew her grandmother was smiling down from heaven❤️

  118. Shay says

    I LOVE LOVE Kristan Higgins books! I’ve read all of them and am waiting anxiously for her new book to be released! I’m so glad to hear you loved it too!

  119. Emily W says

    Thank you for your reviews, I always look forward to what you recommend!!

    May I recommend a book for you? The Perfume Collector is one of my favorite books I’ve read this year, and I think you would love it too. Much of the book takes place in Paris (which I know you love) and it’s just a beautifully written book with a fantastic plot line throughout.

  120. Rebecca says

    Try anything by Lauren Layne ! She is a fun, chick-lit rom com author that has written several series where all the characters are connected /stories intertwined! The Oxford series, stilleto series, unexpected series, and mistake series have all been really really great — they are just easy feel-good reads with entertaining plots and super likeable characters….and of course the feel-good happy endings! Can’t recommend this author enough.

  122. Kiely says

    I just finished “The Alice Network” and loved! Highly, highly recommend. It’s one of my top books for sure.

  123. Ashley says

    Definitely need to read Behind Closed Doors – found it intriguing the same way as The Woman in Cabin 10.

  124. Anna says

    Shay, I love reading your monthly book reviews. My friends and I recently started a book club and reference your posts on new books to read. I highly suggest our last month’s ready of A Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena, it was a hit with our group. I’d love to see your thoughts on it!

  125. Courtney says

    I read “The Forgotten Garden” by Kate Morton. I loved it. Really good historical fiction mystery. Her other book “The Lakehouse” is so good too! Always an unexpected twist!

  126. Lilly Gorman says

    I’m about to read The Light We Lost, too! I’ve heard mixed reviews. I’m currently reading The Fire by Night and it’s fantastic! Great historical fiction about two nurses caught in different parts of WWII. It’s an easy read, but still filled with beauty + poignant parts of the war. Thank you for sharing your list!

  127. Heather says

    I love reading your book reviews and always like to get new read ideas.
    I also just read Same Beach, Next Year this month. I was so not crazy about it. I am not sure what it was that bothered me, but I hated it, yet had to finish it. ?

    I definitely need to check out some Kristan Higgins books!

  128. Kristen Hardison says

    One of my favorite posts of the month! I think you need to add “Sisters First” by Jenna and Barbara Bush to your list! Comes out October 24th. They’re doing a book tour with it and I hope to go hear them live since they’re coming to Birmingham! ??

  129. Kasey Holloway says

    I’m definitely going to have to check out Winter Garden! I loved The Nightingale!

  130. CATHY TRACY says

    I agree…read Anne Rivers Siddon and yes, read Barbara Kingsolver (The Poisonwood Bible and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle are both amazing). And if you simply check out the cover of Tender At The Bone, you’ll want to read another Ruth Reichl book.

  131. Irene says

    Just wanted to jump on my soapbox for a sec and say that in the digital age of books, and of course libraries in every town, Im just a little surprised at the amount of women buying paperbacks on amazon. Hopefully you can donate them or switch to a more eco friendly option. Hey, it’s our kids future planet we are leaving behind!

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      Ah! Well since Amazon is kind enough to sell my books, I’m a big fan of theirs :).

  132. Sarah @ Back to Carolina says

    I always love Kristin Hannah! I kept seeing The Light We Lost all over the place, but it isn’t very high on my reading list.
    I just finished The Almost Sisters and can’t recommend it enough! As soon as I get over this weird middle of the summer virus, and can quit binging on TV, I really want to finish Beartown. The beginning is very strong!

  133. Corbie says

    I recently read and loved the book Beneath the Scarlet Sky. Amazing. My husband read the book in one night. It’s based on a true story and is fantastic!!

  134. Hannah Boss says

    I just finished reading The Glass House by Jeannette Walls. Definitely one of the best books I’ve read this summer!! Also agree with the other comments- Wonder is a must read!!!

  135. Maura says

    I would just like to say that your books posts are ALWAYS my go-to when I need a new book to read! I stumbled upon One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid and decided to read one of her others — Maybe In Another Life. Have you read that one? I suddenly feel myself wanting to read all of hers now!!! Thank you so much for great suggestions as always 🙂

  136. Maria D. says

    I’ve been in a reading slump for a while and it is really bumming me out – though on the other hand I was able to binge watch Broadchurch, seasons 1 and 2, and The Fall, all three seasons, and now I’ve moved on to Call the Midwife so I’m at least keeping busy

  137. Christina Tramp says

    The Seven Loves of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid is a MUST READ. I loved One True Loves and picked this one up after and could not put it down!

  138. Danielle says

    A fantastic summer read that I, my mom, and several friends have loved is “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Definitely recommend this as a fun, intriguing, perfect beach day book!

  139. KayVonne says

    My 5-star summer reads:
    “Eleanor Oplihant is Completely Fine”
    “The Dry”
    I love getting book recommendations from you & the Comments.

  140. janet says

    Dorothea Benton Frank is one of my go to author’s. I like books about the Low Country as much as you like the books about Nantucket. I can’t bring myself to read those, they make me feel cold. I know, crazy. Give me the hot south. Some of my favorite authors to read beside Dorothea are, Mary Alice Monroe, Mary Kay Andrews, Wendy Wax, Anne Rivers Siddons and a group of miscellaneous authors thrown in.

  141. Gina says

    I ordered All in All and can’t wait to start it. I love to journal in my devotionals. Beth Moore also has a great one. Thanks for recommending this one!!

  142. Valerie Heeke says

    I just finished The Glass House by Jeannette Walls. Absolutely loved it!! Found out it was a true story and about to become a movie so I’m excited to see it!! Always love your book posts! ❤️

  143. Jessica says

    Love these posts! Any recommendations for a book to start with for a book club that is forming within my MOPS (moms of preschoolers) group this fall?

  144. Mary says

    How do you have Amazon sell your books? I have so many books in great condition that I would love to sell.

  146. Becky Carl says

    I think y’all will like Joshilyn Jackson books. Gods in Alabama is one of my favorites! Also, Dorothea Benton Frank’s older books are great, Plantation, Sullivan’s Island, she is one of my favorites. I also like Ted Dekker books for suspense. Happy Reading!

  147. Brittani Hall says

    I love this day of the month- I really enjoy reading your reviews and adding to my list to read. I recommend The Language of flowers! It was a book about an orphan and her life through becoming an adult- goes through lots of emotions but so beautiful!

  149. Suzyh says

    LOVE Kristin Higgins! You may also like Shannon Stacey, Jill Shalvis and Susan Mallery. Very much Chick lits…..easy, entertaining and just cute reads!!!

  150. Ashley says

    You should check out “The Sleepwalker” by Chris Bohjalian. It’s a little dark in some spots, but has a twist at the end that I didn’t see coming. It’s a very interesting topic that I didn’t know anything about before reading as well.

  151. Kim says

    The Glass Castle! The Glass Castle! The Glass Castle! Enough said……can’t wait to see the movie in a few weeks. Seriously I read it three years ago and can NOT stop thinking about it. I have referred tons of people to read it. I went on youtube and watched everything on it. The author was on Oprah. I was obsessed with knowing every single detail. Please read this. I have to know what you thought about it.

  152. Michele Alexander says

    I read a few this month that I loved! Different by Sally Clarkson and her son is an incredible book about her son who is “different” and how she learned to nourish and help him be who God wants him to be and her son tells his side of growing up “different.” I really loved “7 women and the Secret of Their Greatness” by Eric Metaxas. He wrote Bonhoeffer and this books includes that stories of women like Joan of Arc, Corrie Ten Boom, Rosa Parks, Mother Teresa,etc and the way God used them for heroic acts for His Kingdom. I also have really enjoyed Jill Briscoe’s “8 Choices that Will Change a Woman’s Life” along with “Messy, Beautiful Friendship” written by my college pastor’s wife, Christine Hoover. It’s phenomenal.

  154. Amy Rae DeVito says

    I read a lot of books this month. Three books by Sarah Dunn: The Arrangement, The Big Love, and Secrets to Happiness. I also read Always & Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han, The Sunshine Sisters by Jane Green, Down A Dark Road by Linda Castillo (the 9th book in an Amish mystery series), and Mystic Summer by Hannah McKinnon. I enjoyed all of the books I read this month but Mystic Summer by Hannah McKinnon was definitely my favorite.

    Amy @ http://befilledwithj0y.blogspot.com/

  155. Sharon says

    I’m a little late to the party, but I just finished “The Secret Wife” by Gill Paul last night. SO GOOD. Similar style as ‘The Nightengale’ in that has past and present story lines interwoven throughout. It is based on the Romanov family and the Russian revolution.

    Thank you everyone for all of the wonderful suggestions. Good Reads is probably tired of me adding things to my “want to read” shelf for the day! 🙂

  157. Marta says

    I read and you might like “The Temporary Bride” by Jennifer Klinec. Give it a try, I think it might surprise you.

  158. Kelly Brown says

    If you haven’t read Hissy Fit by Mary Kay Andrews then this would be a great book for you. It’s so funny and entertaining. (One of my favorite) I think you would like it. Also, Little Bitty Lies and Deep Dish by Mary Kay Andrews are good too.

  160. Laura says

    Best post of the month for me! I get my next book ideas from this post and the comments. This month I read Underground Railroad – definitely not a beach read, good writing but HEAVY topic. I also read Small Great Things and The Storyteller by Jodi Piccoult. Both were great, Small Great Things was slightly easier to read but The Storyteller was my favorite of the two, just a difficult subject matter to read about. Then I read The Couple Next Door, sort of a thriller, easy read. My beach reads this month were Same Beach Next Year and This is Us. Based off the comments from last month I read the Secret Life of Violet Grant and Tiny Little Thing by Beatriz Williams. I would recommend Secret Life – jumps between two time periods, sometimes difficult subject matter but an overall good story. Tiny Little Things moved a little slower for me but I like the continuation of the Schuyler sister story. I’ll read the next one because I have trouble not finishing something I’ve started 🙂 Off to read Winter Garden – thanks for the recommendation!

  161. Brooke says

    I am in love with all things Kristin Hannah. Based on your review, I immediately ordered Winter Garden and was up til midnight, crying, not able to put it down! I immediately had to jump to If You Only Knew to lighten my spirits. Super cute read, thank you! And now I just finished Night Road by Kristin Hannah, another great! Now onto, Same Beach, Next Year… l can’t tell you how excited I get for your monthly reads recap every month!! 🙂

  163. Lindsey Stromberg says

    I just finished this book and I swear I feel like you are one of my girlfriends as I wanted to text you and say YOU MUST READ THIS! Against the Tide by Elizabeth Camden. I think you will absolutely love it. It’s just as good as A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams.

  164. Kelli says

    I just finished Land of Silence by Tesha Afshar which was very Francine Rivers (Redeeming Love and Mark of the Lion series)! I loved it! It’s a historical fiction novel based on the Biblical story of the woman who bled for 12 years and had the faith to touch Jesus’ robe in the crowd of people and he healed her. So good!

  165. Kristin says

    Francine Rivers “Her Mothers Hope” is SO good! And I am on the launch team for a book called “Dance Stand Run” by Jessi Connelly and it’s all about how so many in our Christian culture today have grown up hearing about grace that we’ve forgotten the sin that got us to grace and we just take it for granted. How to live with a balance of grace and holiness. I’m doing a bad job explaining it but I’m so far on chapter 3 with the launch team and giving so many “amens”! She references
    So much scripture and has a great, easy to understand writing style! Totally recommend pre-ordering. You could check out her dancestandrun IG or website!

  166. Ruthe says

    Have you read : Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain?

    I like that you understand that not all of your kids will be equally outgoing and this book celebrates that! Especially important that extroverted people read it so they can understand.

  167. Taylor says

    I just finished Lilac Girls, and it was the most hauntingly beautiful story I’ve read in quite some time. It had me thinking about the characters even when I wasn’t reading (a sign of a great read, for sure)! WWII setting, 3 women whose lives intersect from America, Poland, and Germany (with France thrown in there too)!

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