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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 2019 Book Review


It’s my favorite post of the month!  It’s my JULY BOOK REVIEW!!
Typically, I’m kind of sad when this post comes up because I know that the summer is winding down and all of the extra time I have to read is quickly going away…BUT, I already have such a good list of books from your suggestions last month going, that I know my August review is going to be amazing too.  (I’m just going to have to work a bit harder maybe to fit them in!)
Anyone else?
This month, I read and LOVED five books.  They’re all five fiction, and they’re all five perfect additions to your summer plans.  Whether you’re going to the beach, the mountains, the pool, going to be on an airplane or just need a good read on your cozy couch…here you go.
I kicked off the month with…
Guys, this book was CUTE!  So many of you recommended this one to me, and I’m so happy you did because it checked off every box I have for “light summer read”.  Due to some unfortunate circumstances, the sister and brother of the brand new bride and groom go on their honeymoon instead of their siblings.  The problem?  They hate each other.  Here’s what I really appreciated about this one…it wasn’t as predictable as you might think.  In fact, about halfway through the book, I was surprised at where it went and from there, the book surprised me at several turns.  This novel is light, easy to read, funny, and totally cute.  I would say that it’s probably rated R, so buyer beware.  Easy to read…and perfect for the beach bag.
Friends, I love, love, love Katherine Center books.  They just never disappoint!  This month, I read The Lost Husband and loved it too!  Here’s the thing about Center books…they’re not light, fluffy reads.  You know I love those, but these…they’re heartier.  They have more substance.  They’re not predictable, not repetitive…they’re more deep, more intense and totally delightful.  This fictional tale is about a young widow who moves to her eccentric aunt’s goat farm with her two elementary aged kiddos.  I loved the characters, I loved the setting, I loved the food references…I just wanted to be there too.  This is a feel good book.
I timed reading Nancy Thayer’s brand new novel perfectly!  I started it at the airport and had it finished by the time we landed in Nantucket (2 flights later).  Friends, Surfside Sisters is my favorite Thayer book to date!!  If you’ve never read one of her novels before, you must.  They’re almost all set in Nantucket (perfect), include great female leads (love it!) and beautiful imagery of both places and food.  (None of them are rated R either.)  They’re just great little reads!  I loved this one in particular because it was mostly about the relationship between two friends.  The book starts when they’re young and then continues on until adulthood.  I thought this book was “meatier’ than her other books, and I honest to goodness had no idea how this one would end.  Loved every page.
Okay girls, I read my first Catherine Benneto novel and LOVED it!  Make or Break was absolutely adorable!  This book also checked all of the boxes for great beach read!  It was easy to read, light-hearted, funny, charming and included a wonderful mix of characters that you just wanted to know.  This is a story about a British girl and her longtime boyfriend who head to South Africa for vacation.  While they’re there, he has sort of a midlife crisis and goes off to “find himself”.  While he’s out finding himself, she finds herself too.  This book reminded me a lot of The Unhoneymooners (above) because just when you think you know how the story is going to end, there is a big TWIST that leaves you perplexed and thoroughly engaged.  I didn’t know how this book would end either, and funny enough, it ended up taking a more serious, heartfelt finish than I ever would have predicted .  I tried to figure out what I would rate this one (for those of you who like a rating), and I kept going back and forth between PG-13 and R, so it’s somewhere in there.  I really liked it.  It surprised me.
Oh friends.
I pick up each Beatriz Williams book with trepidation.
I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again…I either love her books or I don’t like them at all.  When I say “love”, I mean LOVE.  Twice now, I have named her books in my TOP THREE FOR THE YEAR!  (A Hundred Summers and The Secret Life of Violet Grant)  I’ve also read a couple of her books and not enjoyed them at all (too slow, a little boring, not my cup of tea)…so, when her brand new one The Golden Hour came out, I was a wee bit nervous.  That being said, I liked it.  Now, I didn’t love it, but I liked it.  This novel toggles back and forth between the early 1900s and the early 1940s between three different situations.  I liked this book because it did include quite a bit of historical fiction as well.  You know how Queen Elizabeth’s uncle abdicated the throne and therefore her dad became king and subsequently she became queen?  Well, that little plot line is woven in this story as well as some other World War II pieces.  I liked the characters…I think I liked the woman in the early 1900s the most, and I liked the plot (it’s kind of a mystery…you’re trying to figure out what happened to one man and then you’ll back up and figure out how the other storylines are connected to him), but there were a few parts that were a little slow to me (which is why I liked it but maybe didn’t love it).  Williams’ books are complex.  These aren’t light, easy to read, beach books…they’re heavier, more substantial pieces of literature that will really make you think, make you question, make you wonder and keep you on your toes.  If you haven’t read one of her books, you must.  (Strike that, you must read one of the three mentioned here 😉 ).
That wraps up my JULY BOOK REVIEW!  So tell me, what are you reading this summer?  If you had to give me one book suggestion, what would it be?
Happy Book Day, friends! xo
Don’t forget!!  To see a running list of the books I’m reading this year, click HERE.
To see the complete list of books I read in 2015 (all 63 of them), click here.
To see the complete list of books I read in 2016 (all 62 of them), click here.
To see the complete list of books I read in 2017 (all 62 of them), click here.
To see the complete list of books I read in 2018 (all 61 of them), click here.
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Comments

  1. Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says

    Love your book reviews as usual! The Unhoneymooners sounds like a good read. Might pick it up myself! ?✨
    –
    Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
    http://charmainenyw.com

  3. Laura says

    I just finished The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier (author of Girl with a Pearl Earring!). I really liked it!

  4. Emily says

    If you are liking these Christina Lauren books you have got to read Love and Other Words. It’s been my favorite of hers so far and I’ve read them all. Just finished surfside sisters and liked it but I felt like it kinda ended quick…I kept expecting one more thing to happen. I can’t remember if you’ve read Waiting for Tom Hanks but it was cute and the main characters favorite screenwriter is of course Nora ephron.

    • Tracey says

      If you are enjoying the Christina Lauren books, you should read Love and Other Words! That one is my favorite of hers (theirs?) by far.

      • Jillian Pattison says

        I look forward to your book review posts every month! This is where I get all my book ideas! I just finished “What the Wind Knows” by Amy Harmon – it has history, romance, and time travel. SO good!

  5. Eileen McCullough says

    I loved Surfside Sisters too! This month I read 2 YA books and loved them both – just really cute, cute stories:
    To Night Owl From Dogfish
    Field Notes on Love

  6. Jennifer S says

    I look forward to this post each month SO much!!
    I read my first Katherine Center book earlier this year after seeing it on your 2018 book review (How To Walk Away) and it’s my favorite book if this year so far. I absolutely loved it and can’t wait to read more!

  7. Kristin says

    Jill Mansell!! I just finished her book Rumor Has It…Great! I’m reading Take Me To Beachcomber Bay…amazing too! She is a British author. The depth to the characters and the way she weaves the stories will have you not wanting to put it down.

  8. Taylor says

    Ok how is it already the end of July?! I feel like Christmas was last week. I read What Remains after your post on Facebook about the book and I’m so glad I did. You should post older books that you’ve read & enjoyed in the past on Facebook more often.

  9. Jillian says

    Have you read Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren?? I just finished that up a couple days ago, and I really liked it! It had a little bit of a plot twist… if that is what you would call it. But it is about a boy and a girl who grow up together, but something happens and they do not speak for 11 years, so it goes back and forth between when they first meet when they are young to when they reconnect after not seeing each other for 11 years. I would recommend it, if it is not already on your list!

  10. Laura E Fredlund says

    Cant wait to read some of these 🙂 I’ve got a great one for you. “Before She Knew Him” was a crazy good, couldnt put it down, totally didnt see that coming type of book. It’s a murder mystery book.. this lady knows her neighbor is a killer, and the book goes back and forth between their points of view. I hope you look into!

  13. Rosa Dunn says

    An Unwanted Guest was my favorite that I read of the month! Love a good mystery!

  14. Sarah says

    Yes indeed! favorite post of the month…!!!
    Question – do you write your recap at the end of the month or do you write a paragraph at the end of each book for your monthly post?

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      I write notes on my phone after I finish each book and then go back and use that when I write my review at the end of the month.

  15. Emily O. says

    Have you seen that The Lost Husband is going to be made into a movie?
    Also, have you read her book Happiness for Beginners? I really enjoyed that one!

  16. Kelly S says

    I have “Surfside Sisters” next up on my bedside table to be read- so glad you loved it! Have you read “The Better Sister” by Alafair Burke? A really great read that is not rated R, yet lots of twists and turns!

  17. Randi jo says

    I love all your book posts 🙂 .

    Oh my goodness I loved loved golden hour!!! But I had all kinds of time to sit and savor it so I wasn’t worried about the slow parts or how long it was . It was such a great story !!!!

  18. Rachael says

    So many to add to my list! I was halfway through Slightly South of Simple last week when I realized I had to Prime the Secret to Southern Charm in order to not go through withdrawals. I love those books so much! Thanks for giving the best recommendations!

  19. Andee Hart says

    I just read The Simple Wild by KA Tucker, recommended from the comments from your book club post last month. Oh my, hands down my favorite book of the year so far!

  21. Amanda @ Cupcake N Dreams says

    Ah I just finished Surfside sisters this morning and I’m a little blah about it!!! I liked it because of the setting and it’s a good fast read but I don’t think it’s my favorite Nancy Thayer book. I do agree it’s about the strong female leads but I can’t put my finger on why I didn’t love it. Definitely checking out Golden Hour!!!

    Amanda @ Cupcake N Dreams

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      I really liked it because it wasn’t predictable like some of her others.

  22. Crystal says

    Have you read Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani? I didn’t know anyone could love fall as much as me until I started following your blog. I try to read this book every September. I love it so much. I’m usually a thriller type reader, but this book just gives me all the feels. Try it. I think you’ll love it (I hope).

  24. Kim says

    I added 4 of these to me TBR list I have going on Goodreads. I know at one time you used to keep up with listing the books you read on that website, and it looks like it has been a very long time since you have done so. Is there anyway you can get that list updated again for us to use as a quick reference? Am never disappointed with the book you recommend!!!

  25. Cheri says

    I can’t give you any recommendations because for the past few years I read books according to your reviews. I’ll have to give some of these books a try. Thanks.

  26. Katie says

    I love your book review posts!! I just finished “Evvie Drake Starts Over” and think you should read it. I also have “The Wedding Party” (another Jasmine Guillory book) sitting in my stack of books to read.

  27. Melody says

    Anyone out here a huge Linwood Barclay fan? Oh my gosh, if you have never read one of his book – you need too….They are mysteries and amazing …

  29. Robin says

    I think you would love The Road Back to You by Cron and Stabile – it’s on the enneagram, and I loved reading it last summer. We still talk about it all of the time! Also I think you would love Kate Morton – The Secret Keeper is my favorite of hers! It’s set in Britain and goes back and forth between present day and London during the blitz.

  31. Jill says

    Always love your book reviews and have enjoyed so many of the books you recommend. I am currently reading The East End by Jason Allen. It’s based in the Hamptons. it’s very good, so I wanted to recommend it to you!

  32. Erin says

    I read so many of your recommendations that I was surprised to find I read a book that you haven’t! (Or at least not that I have seen lol). The Queen of Hearts by Kimmery Martin. Loved it and very similar to a lot of your favorites!

  33. Carrie says

    I read the wedding party a week ago (after reading the wedding date and the proposal). I think it might have been my favorite of the 3!

  34. Kristyn Wilhelm says

    Book recommendation- Party Girl by Rachel Hollis. It’s Book 1 in a 3 book series. Unlike Girl Wash Your Face, this/these are fictional stories-although book 1 is loosely based on her time in the party planning world. I just finished it last night and will be starting book 2 (Sweet Girl) today!

  35. Brandi Cravens says

    I have read so many good books because of your book review posts each month–so thank you!!! If you like WW2 books, I just finished an excellent book called Resistance Women by Jennifer Chiaverini. It’s inspired by true events and it is phenomenal!!

  36. Erin says

    I always love this post!! This summer I read Where the Crawdads Sing (my favorite book, ever) , More than Words (skip it), Becoming by Michelle Obama (loved it!) and The Mother in Law (so good). Right now I am reading The Favorite Daughter and I don’t know . . . . it is so far not really good. I keep going back and reading reviews to see if I am crazy, and they are all decent reviews, so I am going to stick with a a few more chapters. But I am already noticing errors and the writing is crappy.

  37. Julie Bradford says

    I am on the last book of the Peachtree Bluff series.. I DO NOT WANT it to END so I am reading it very slowly.. I have absolutely loved this series and I love when there are several books to read. I love easy light reads.

  38. Kristen Hardison says

    Best post of the month! There are some good ones out now (or soon) by authors we like! 1. I just finished “The Wedding Party” by Jasmine Guillory (author of The Wedding Date and The Proposal). Good but a little racy! 2. Katherine Center’s new one comes out soon! I think it’s like mid-August and is called something like “Things You Save in a Fire.” 3. The new Laurie Gelman is out! It’s called “You’ve Been Volunteered.” Remember her – “Class Mom” author? 4. “Tattooist of Auschwitz” has a sequel coming out this October!!! So many good things to read! I may need to call in sick! ?

  39. Tanya says

    I’m so glad you loved The Lost Husband. It is one of my favorites for this year. The Unhoneymooners sounds like a winner…thanks for the recommendation. The best book I read last month was Summer of 69, which I’m sure you’ve already read! Here’s a link to the post about my July reads: Tanya – The Other Side of the Road

  40. Carol says

    Please put Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren on your to-be-read list. You won’t be sorry!

  41. Chelsea says

    Read City of Girls (Liz Gilbert) – that’s been my favorite summer read by far this year!

    • Kelli says

      Hi Shay. I look forward to your book review every month!! Thank you! Have you ever read a Nora Roberts book? I picked up her latest, Under Currents, and loved it! Solid storytelling and she does a great job at developing her characters. You really get to know them and hate to see the book end and immediately look to see if there’s a sequel. I ended up reading another of hers, Shelter in Place, and found the same thing.

  42. Lauren says

    I love your book review posts! I just finished the unhoneymooners and loved it! Have read Ghosted? I just finished that one too! It was interesting and had a plot twist that I did not see coming!

  43. Rachael says

    You’re book review posts are my absolute favorite! I look forward to them every month and always take your recommendations! If you haven’t already read The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein, I highly recommend it. I read it a few months ago and still think about it. It is a beautiful story told from a dog’s perspective, so it’s great for dog lovers. Also, it is being made into a movie!

  44. Jessica Shrock says

    I love your book reviews! I have found so many new authors and books to read from you and reading all the comments. Last month I read the first two books in the Peachtree Bluff series, Summer of 69′, City of Girls, Surfside Sisters, and When We left Cuba. Currently reading, Looking for Tom Hanks.

  45. Rachael says

    I just left a comment, and it should say ‘Your’ book review posts are the best not ‘you’re.’ ?‍♀️ Sorry that is one of my pet peeves, and I can’t believe I didn’t catch that before I posted ?

  46. Abby says

    Totally agree on The Golden Hour. I was far more invested in Elfriede’s story, and until the second half of the book, I wasn’t really sure what the point was. But the end had me sucked in! I will always read Beatriz Williams because some of my favorite books ever are hers, but this one was definitely a slow start.

    Also, the Unhoneymooners was one I really enjoyed!

  47. Edey says

    I am about three-fourths of the way through a memoir called American Radical. The Muslim American author uses a pseudonym to write his account of becoming a cop, working undercover in narcotics, experiencing 9/11, and eventually infiltrating a terror cell in North America. Unbelievable, courageous story; I’m really enjoying it.

  48. Jenna says

    You should create a separate Facebook group for your book friends so we can have a place to recommend books and maybe even do a joint book reading each month and compare thoughts about it like a book club! I always love this monthly post and look forward to seeing what books you loved and get ideas for additional books to read.

  49. Kim S. says

    I just finished After the End by Clare Mackintosh. It was such a great book – I really think you would love it!

  50. Brandi says

    I just started Class Mom to get in the mood for school starting. So far its pretty funny and anyone who has ever been a part of the PTA will chuckle.

  51. Samantha @ Live.Plan.Wed. says

    I just finished reading The Unhoneymooners, too! I loved it! I would suggest All We Ever Wanted by Emily Griffin or The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand (if you haven’t already read it!!)

  54. Shawna @ Lunchbox Babies says

    If you are in the mood for some fun suspenseful reads, I HIGHLY recommend The Last Time I Saw You by Liv Constantine and The First Mistake by Sandie Jones! LOVED THEM! Fun, easy reads! I reviewed them both on my blog! http://www.lunchboxbabies.com
    XO

  55. Nikki says

    The Mountain Between Us by Charles Martin – or anything he has wrote….They are all great books!
    When Crickets Cry, Send Down the Rain, Water from my Heart…

  56. Taylor R says

    Recently I finished “An Echo in the Darkness” by Francine Rivers, the second book in her Mark of the Lion series. It was very good and held up to how much I loved the first book in the series. I read “Daisy Jones & The Six” by Taylor Jenkins Reid from your May book review and enjoyed the uniqueness of it. Also read “The Tattooist of Auschwitz” by Heather Morris per your February review. Last, I read “Tell Me Three Things” by Julie Buxbaum which I think was a recommendation by Anne Bogel from The Modern Mrs. Darcy but maybe you recommended it too? This one was very cute and a simple read. It is a young adult novel but I loved reading it 🙂

  57. Katie M Stuen says

    I just finished ” Ugly Love” by Colleen Hoover and it was the book you just can’t put down from start to finish. I was so sad when it ended. Also, a tip for non Kindle readers. Thriftbooks.com is a website where you can order most books for around $4.00. It depends on how new the book is. I usually scroll Shay’s Book reviews from prior years and always find them between $3.50-$7.00. You also rack up points and get to choose a book for free!

  58. Patty Anderson says

    I just finished A Curve in the Road and Long Way Gone and can’t stop thinking about them both. Very thought-provoking.

  59. Kathy says

    I’ve read two Kelly Rimmer books recently that I really liked. The first was Me Without You, which is about an unlikely couple and how their interesting relationship/love story unfolds. If you are a JoJo Moyes fan, I think you will like this book. The second book, A Mother’s Confession, was very intense in parts and also surprised me a couple of times. The chapters are titled with either the mother’s name (Ivy) and are written from her perspective of her son and his life/relationships from birth to present day, or the wife (Olivia) and her perspective of her husband, their relationship, how she’s coping with a certain event, etc….The relationships are complicated and not healthy at all. This book really affected me!

  61. tracy says

    Are most of the books you read newer releases? I have trouble finding any of them in my local library.

    • Sandi says

      I have trouble finding the books at the library also, especially newer reads. Crazy Rich Asians was on hold for about 5 months before I finally got my hands on it. The other issue is unproven authors… well-known authors get lots of shelf space and several copies of their books are available. Lesser-known authors may only have one copy of a book so we just have to wait… ugh! I’ve had luck with asking for a book to be ordered and they will usually comply. Good Luck!

  63. Amy says

    I just finished City of Girls. It was a little long and definitely R-rated but I really liked it. Side note- I liked when you shared the books you planned to read the following month so we could read along with you.

  64. Sandi says

    I read Surfside Sisters this past week while at my parent’s lake house, loved it. My current read stack includes Maid, The Things We Cannot Say, and Vertical Marriage. Years (and years) ago, I only read Christian Fiction because it is what my friends passed around to one another when we were nursing moms (now our kids are teens and beyond). While I still love to read Francine Rivers, Liz Curtis Higgs, Terry Blackstock etc. it’s been fun to branch out and read some meatier stuff (Educated and The Girl with Seven Names were excellent). I read the comments and will sometimes get things from the library based on suggestions of others. Have you ever read anything by Dee Henderson? She has a series with a prequel, The O’Malley Series, that is pretty awesome. There is a group of youngsters who grew up in an orphanage, “adopted” one another and legally changed their last names to O’Malley when they aged out of the system. One is now a hostage negotiator, a forensic pathologist, firefighter, US Marshall and other interesting professions. Each one has an issue with why they cannot believe in God. For example, the forensic pathologist knows what happens to a body the moment death occurs and she cannot believe that Jesus came back after three days of being buried. Well, this is long enough 🙂 but if you get a chance you might like them!

  65. Jen Huegel says

    I read a really amazing book called The Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain. My son was born with a congenital heart defect so I was intrigued when I read the description was a fictional story about a baby who was going to be born with a CHD in the early 1900s. The mother finds a way to have a life saving surgery in the future. I thought it was going to be too far fetched and I tend not to like books like that, but I kept reading and it was gut wrenching, and I just could not put it down. Awesome awesome book. Another one on my list is Where the Forest Meets the Stars- it was on my amazon recommendations and it looks amazing!

  66. Amanda Wilson says

    I am a WAY slower reader then you but love the book reviews. I JUST read Where the Crawdads Sing and it was one of my favourite books I have ever read!!!!!!!!!!

    Have you read North if Normal?? If you haven’t you HAVE to!!!!!!!!!!

  67. Heather O. says

    Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not-Dating has been mine, and my BFF’s, favorite Christina Lauren book so far, I think you’d enjoy it! I’d rate it somewhere between PG-13 and R (like all the others by them).

  68. Belinda says

    I’m definitely going to check out Surfside Sisters. I’ve just finished reading The Wedding Date and The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory. Loved them. Have the 3rd book – The Wedding Party – on my nightstand ready to start.

  70. Amanda says

    Can’t wait to read these books. I just finished The Chemist by Stephenie Meyer and really liked it.

  73. Kelsee says

    Yay! I love your book review days. The Unhoneymooners and Surfside Sisters are on my TBR list, I’m glad you liked them. This month I read:

    1. The Girl with Seven Names per your recommendation. Wow! This was incredible and I learned so much.
    2. Lock Every Door by Riley Sager- I really loved this thriller.
    3. The Rumor by Lesley Kara- This was so so for me.
    4. Becoming by Michelle Obama- finally picked this one up and it was interesting to learn more about her life!

  74. Keisha Dawson says

    Can’t wait to dig into these! I just want to sit by the pool with a book in my hand instead of sitting in my office behind my computer!

  75. Sandy Crayton says

    The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton – very good story about a woman trying to unravel her mother’s past.

  76. Christie says

    I could not stop with Alice’s Island by Daniel Sanchez Arevalo. The ending was shocking – I was totally blindsided! Definitely a page turner. Thanks for reading and recommending great books!

  77. Kristy DelGrosso says

    I can’t wait to read the Nancy Thayer book. Have you read class mom by Laurie Gelman?? Her sequel just came out you’ve been volunteered and it is the best!

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      I loved Class Mom and You’ve Been Volunteered is on my list coming up!!!

  78. DG says

    You must read “The Gown” by Jennifer Robson. Wonderful novel! Also, if you have not read, “Have you seen Louis Velez?” add it to your list!
    Love getting your book reviews!

  79. Meg says

    Favorites from this month for me were The Gown and Next Year in Havana. Both, excellent!

  80. Kim says

    On a Coleen Hoover kick at the moment, just read November 9 and Maybe, Someday. They were both so good!! Probably for a younger audience but I thoroughly enjoyed them. Also loved City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert.

  81. LisaD says

    Really liked The Mother-in-Law. Read The Silent Patient and did not really like it but it grew on me as I stuck with it. And then the plot twist at the end…. on my goodness I didn’t see that coming! There are so many great books to read!

  82. Sarah Shaneyfelt says

    I read The Unhoneymooners a while back after a friend recommended it and loved it! I hope they turn it into a movie because it would be so cute! You need to read The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead!!! It’s heavier because of the topic, but written in the POV from different people involved with the UR. So So good!!!!
    MeetTheShaneyfelts

  83. Chris says

    Anything by Adriana Trigian; I would recommend the “Valentine” trilogy starting with “Very Valentine” or one of her standalone novels such as “The Shoemaker’s Wife”

    Her books are meaty, well written and full of fantastic historical detail. Plus, all of her books include fantastic recipes interspersed throughout the novel.

  84. Mother of 3 says

    I love Nancy Thayer books so much! Her and Elin are a huge part of why I wanted to visit Nantucket so much.

  85. Maria says

    Have you read The Islanders by Meg Mitchell Moore? I heard of it from Elin Hilderbrand’s Instagram. They were on a book tour together and Elin recommends her book for beach readers as it’s set on Block Island, RI. I was surprised how much I enjoyed it! I highly recommend it.

  86. Jenn R. says

    Waiting for Tom Hanks is such a fun rom com book!
    And Evvie Drake Starts Over is soooo good too!!!

  87. Marc O'Brien says

    You should review “The Final Fence: Sophomores In The Saddle” or “Peter The Peteeatrick Panda’s Playground” by Marc O’Brien, To obtain more information from Marc O’Brien email marcobrien30@aol.com

    Marc O’Brien, Author

  88. Brady says

    Francine Rivers Mark of the Lion series–I held off on reading these for so long because they didn’t seem to be my taste….but I LOVED them! So good! And anything Jodie Piccoult. I can’t think of any books of hers that I didn’t like. They always have a bit of a twist to them and usually cover some heavy topics–definitely NOT light reading! But still so good!

  89. Lindsay D says

    I loved Beyond the Point, one of my favorites of the year so far. About women friendships in the Army. It’s so good and the character development was great. I think you would love it! Also loved Ask Again, Yes.
    The unhoneymooners was good, I found the Accidental Beauty Queen to also be similarly really good chick lit. Really liked The River and Daisy Jones and the Six and The River. Thanks for posting these!

  90. Kim says

    Thanks for sharing – I always read this post with my Goodreads app open and add your suggestions to my “Want to Read” list 😉 Have you read Chanel Cleeton’s Next Year in Havana and When We Left Cuba? They were both EXCELLENT!

  92. Laura says

    This month I reccomend The Gown by Jennifer Robson and Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane. I’m half way through More than Words and so far it is good too. Next up for me to read is The Lost Girls of Paris. My daughter recommends The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl for Kensington. She loved it so much she made me read it so we could discuss it 🙂

  93. Caryn says

    I loved the Lost Husband and would not have read it if you had not listed it on your book review. Thanks for posting! Her web site says it is going to become a movie, starring Josh Duhamel. Can’t wait to see him as O’Connor.

  94. Kelsey says

    I just discovered the Hearts in Hendricks series on Kindle unlimited: Love Like Water, Love Like Fire, and Love Like Air by D.E. Malone. Each book is like a Hallmark movie with a sweet romance, beautiful scenery and rated G! Super quick, easy reads too!

  95. Ryan C. says

    Hi Friend!!! I visited you town last week while I was in Texas! I also stopped by The Pantry! Chocolate cake and coconut cream pie….YUM! I was hoping to run into you and say “hi”, but no such luck, lol!!!
    As far as reviews go…you have to read The Friend Zone, it’s wonderful! In addition, Katherine Center has a new one coming out that I pre-ordered…The Things You Save in a Fire! (Aug 13) Both books have main characters that are firefighters, as a first responder myself, I love the reality of the settings! Hope you enjoy those recommendations! Oh yea, I have to give a shout out to my uncle, UB…he’s the only guy we allow in our family book club, because he’s so awesome ❤

  96. Tricia says

    Hi Shay,
    I am a LONG time follower/reader of your blog. I’m the quiet type so I usually don’t comment, but I LOVE EVERYTHING you blog about! You’re such an inspiration! Keep shining and being that light in so many of our lives! As already mentioned, I love reading all of your blog content, but my FAVOURITE (Canadian spelling 😉 LOL!) are your book reviews!! My husband downloads all of your recommendations onto my iPad for me as that’s where I like to read. These (43 year) old eyes of mine (ha ha) like the ability to enlarge the print – Ha! Anyways, getting to my question… You seem to post a handful of pics of you reading on your Kindle outside. Do you find/notice that your Kindle gets very hot when you do this and that the battery seems to drain much quicker? When I read on my iPad outside it gets extremely hot and the battery drains crazy fast… Just wondering if Kindles do the same? Thanks, Shay! God bless! 🙂

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      Awe! You’re so sweet, Tricia!! Okay, I have never thought about it/noticed it before outside. Now, I’m going to pay attention. I don’t think it drains faster, but I’ll for sure be paying better attention!

  97. Amanda Carrow says

    So I’ve read a lot of books based on your reviews (in fact rarely pick a book if you haven’t given it the thumbs up), but usually skip past the comments. For some reason, I read the June and July comments and saw Love and Other Words so many times I lost count. I decided it must be good if THAT many people mention it. It is. It is THAT good. It’s my favorite of my 32 books so far this year. I don’t have time to sit down with a book so I listen and I “read” through this 8:30 hour book in less that 12 hours. I listened while I painted our foyer, ignored my family, cried in bed with my husband asleep at 2:15am. I really hope to see this book in your August or September review. I’d love to hear your thoughts on a book I surprisingly read first!

  99. Jennibell says

    Impact Player – I picked it up but haven’t started reading….with your Yankee-loving boys and Christian faith it might be one for the family?
    I think I put as many books on my list from the comment section as from your post!

  100. Breanna says

    You’ve been Volunteered (It’s a Class Mom novel) by Laurie Gelman. Perfect read since school is about to start!

  101. Taylor says

    Have you done a recap and/or maybe a suggested reading order of just Elin Hilderbrand’s books? I just recently started trying to read more, and the second book I picked was her Summer of 69. I loved it and I’m ready to start the next, but don’t know where to go, there are so many options! I’d love to hear what you think on this!

  102. Rachel says

    I have just discovered Pam Jenoff. The Lost Girls of Paris is a wonderful book! I love WW2 period novels and this one is amazing! Thanks for all the good suggestions!

  103. Lisa Sipe says

    THANK YOU to the lady that suggested CHARLES MARTIN Novels!!! I’ve read 3 now and he is my new FAVORITE. I love everyone’s suggestions. Shay, if you have read Charles Martin, please do!!!!

  104. Michele Jaeger says

    If you haven’t read The Girl He Used to Know or On the Island, I highly recommend both! They are two of my absolute favorites I’ve read this year!

  105. Sara says

    Hi! I just finished The Islanders by Meg Mitchell Moore and loved it. Very Elin Hilderbrand in style. I’m not sure if you’ve read Meg Mitchell Moore before, but now I want to go back and get her other books! The Islanders is the newest one.

  106. Sara says

    One more recommendation: Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes. It’s the author’s first book, and I adored it. I am feeling a bit like I am also “starting over” and this was well written and a breath of fresh air to read!

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