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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

Books ·

July 2021 Book Review


It’s BOOK REVIEW DAY!

Friends, I have SEVEN books to review this month!!!

As you can see from the titles, they’re all deep, dark and depressing 😉 .

(Seriously, if your book has the word “beach” in it, I am reading it this summer.  Bahahaha!)

I have so much to say about these books, so let’s dive in starting with…

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid.

In 2017, I read 62 books and Taylor Jenkins Reid book One True Loves was my FAVORITE FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR.  In 2019, her novel Daisy Jones & The Six was my THIRD favorite book of the entire year.

I clearly love Taylor Jenkins Reid.

I didn’t love Malibu Rising.

I know so many of you recommended it to me and so many of you told me it’s your favorite book of the year, but when I was done, I was kind of like “eh”.  I didn’t hate it.  I didn’t love it.  I thought it was okay.  The premise was super original.  The way the book was laid out was unique.  The characters were very different.  I just thought no one was really likable, several people were incredibly selfish, and the whole thing was depressing.  I didn’t finish it and think “that was hard but so worth it”…I finished it and thought “that was just exhausting”.

Sooooo…I’m starting off the month by irritating most of you.  Ha!  I’m sorry!  I so wanted to love it!!

This is a fictional story about four adult siblings, but also about their parents (the book toggles back to the past).  Dad is a famous musician, mom gives up everything to stand by his side even though he’s a hot mess behind the music.  They have four kids (sort of)…there are addiction issues, lying, terrible and horrible problems…and then, you fast forward about 20ish years and you have their four kids.  I was hoping for something a little more from the kids, but I just felt sad at the end.  I applaud this author for another super original story.  It’s unique, it’s captivating, I could not put it down because I had to know what would happen…but it left me disappointed at the end.  I will say, it’s rated R as well.

I’m sure you’ll all disagree.  Sorry!!!!

Next up, I read…

The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren.

Eh, this one was okay too.

Eeeeeeeeks! I hate when I don’t like books by authors (or in this case, an author duo) that I typically love.

This one was fine…it’s the chick lit that I love (but rated R), but it just didn’t hit the mark for me.  It was okay, but I wasn’t blown away and probably won’t recall it later to ever recommend it to someone.  This is the story about a girl looking for love who meets a guy that just started a dating website (the makings of a perfect novel, no?).  In my opinion, this one was super predicable and yet, the story was just a little flat.  I didn’t love either of the main characters, I thought a lot of their relationship was just a little too easy/simplified…I don’t know?  This one was just unremarkable for me.  I just could never really sink my teeth into the story or the characters and was just kind of ready for it to be over.  Ugh.  I do love their books, so this one was a disappointing for me too.

What wasn’t disappointing for me?

The Sixth Wedding by Elin Hilderbrand.

I LOVED IT!  So, this novel is unique.  Last year, she wrote 28 Summers which is such a fantastic book (you must read it!), and this year, she came out with a little sequel (it’s only about a fourth of the size of the original book) only on Kindle.  You know how I read her latest novel Golden Girl last month and didn’t love it?  Well, in my opinion, she should have skipped Golden Girl and just made this story longer.  This novel brought back so many great characters from the original story and then continued on after that 28th summer.  The only thing I didn’t love?  It was too short.  I thought the book ended too abruptly.  Instead of being a “mini” book, I wish they would have released this one as a standard novel.  I was so sad when this was over.  You should all read both 28 Summers and The Sixth Wedding.  (Side note: this was a great story with a bad title.  I think she could have named it anything else besides The Sixth Wedding.  It just didn’t do the story justice…but be that as it may, I loved it 😉 ).

The fourth book I read this month was another beachy, summery, lovely little chick lit novel…

…Our Italian Summer by Jennifer Probst.

Ohhhhhh this one is good, friends!!

This novel checked all of my boxes for a delicious summer read.  It’s the fictional story of three generations of women who take a once in a lifetime vacation to Italy to find themselves and inevitably, each other.  I did think this one was a bit slow to start, but once it picked up, I couldn’t put it down.  I was thoroughly invested in all three women and their stories (each one woven in and out of the novel).  I couldn’t get enough of the food references (hello, Italy!), the tours and traveling, the site-seeing, the people…this will probably be my favorite beach read of the summer.  If you can’t get to Italy this summer (and really, who can?!), this book will take you there.  It’s a really good one.

The Bookstore on the Beach by Brenda Novak.

I was so excited to dive into this one!  Just look at the title!

Hello?????

THAT’S SO ME!

But friends, I was sooooooo disappointed.

Agh!  Please tell me some of you have read it and thought the same thing too??  First of all, it’s really not AT ALL about either a bookstore or a beach.  It’s really about a mom and her two teens who head to her mother’s house for the summer.  Sounds pretty good…except it takes some twists and turns that are so unrealistic and unbelievable that I was convinced an alien might appear at any moment due to the way things were going.  This was just really let me down.  The title was wrong, the plot was too unbelievable and far-fetched, there were too many crazy storylines that didn’t really add up, a whole lot of characters I didn’t care much about and it was rated R.

Boo.

I sure hope someone else out there agrees with me.  I was really disappointed in this one! I felt very duped by the title of the book too.

The Nantucket Inn by Pamela Kelley was my sixth book of the month and well, it was so cute and easy to read!

For years, so many of you have suggested this author to me, but for some reason, I just never got around to her.  This time though, I was in Nantucket and wanting to read a Nantucket-y book, so I dug in and couldn’t put it down.  This is apparently the first book in the series, and I will totally be reading them all.

This cute little novel is about a women living in Nantucket who turns her home into a bed and breakfast.  She has four grown kids that weave in and out of the story too…plus…a man…it’s all very Hallmark-y, happy and exactly what we all need this summer.  I loved the lightness of the book, the sweetness of the book…it was exactly what I needed.  If you were unhappy with Golden Girl earlier this summer, read this one.  You’ll get your Nantucket fix for sure!  I can’t wait to read more Pamela Kelley novels now!

The Beach House by Jenny Hale was the seventh and final book for me this month and…it was okay.

Um, I think this month was weird for me.  I loved a few and then didn’t care for others…and this one kind of fell in the middle.

This is a novel about a woman who inherits her grandmother’s money along with a wish from her to buy a specific house on the beach and turn it into a bed and breakfast.  (I know, sort of similar to the book above…)  I liked this woman and several of the other characters, but one minute there’s a hurricane and the next, she’s obsessing over some old letters and really…it’s like the same day, and I just kept thinking it was too unrealistic and a bit corny.  It just wasn’t my cup of tea.  I didn’t hate it, I didn’t love it…it’s just fine.  (Honestly, I’ll remember Malibu Rising more fondly…)

Everyone brace yourselves.

You might need to sit down.

I think I’ve reached my limit on beach books for the season and that might be part of my problem.

(You’re all stunned and shocked right now.  I am too.)

Soooo…if you have any fresh and new suggestions for my August, please let me know!  I pretty much exclusively read beach books in May, June and July, but now, I need something else.  A biography?  A thriller?  A meatier work of fiction?  Come on…what do you have?  I’m all ears 🙂 .

That’s it for this month’s BOOK REVIEW!

Don’t forget, I keep a running list of every book I’ve read in 2021 right 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.
To see the complete list of books I read in 2019 (all 54 of them), click here.
To see the complete list of books I read in 2020 (all 54 of them), click here.

Happy Thursday, friends!!!  I can’t wait to read your recs!!

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Comments

  1. Lauren says

    I already had Our Italian Summer on hold at the library and you just made me even more excited for when it’s ready!

  2. Mal says

    I’m currently reading Malibu Rising and loving it – really thought you’d love it too! I also felt
    the same way about The Sixth Wedding – so good, but I needed more!

    Try The Last Thing He Told Me. Thriller-ish and really good!

  3. Eileen says

    I love Book Review day! Some great books I’ve read in the past few months:
    The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni
    Have You Seen Luis Velez? by Catherine Ryan Hyde
    Life’s Too Short by Abby Jimenez
    The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

    • Natalie Alvarado says

      The Girl in the Green Sweater It’s a true story. You won’t be able to put it down. Have a great rest of your summer!

  4. Allison Thacker says

    I would highly recommend What She Left Behind by Ellen Marie Wiseman. It was the best book I’ve read in a long time!!

    • Liz says

      I felt the same way. The grandmother’s story was a book in itself. Too many plots and wrapped up in an unbelievable way.
      I enjoyed The Newcomer by Mary Kay Andrews

  7. Kristen Thompson says

    Tough month for books! I am looking forward to trying Nantucket Inn next! I just bought Float Plan per your recommendation! Did you read Laurie Hellman’s new book, Yoga Pant Nation yet? It was as hilarious and adorable as the first two in the Class Mom series, I think you’ll like it! If you are looking for something summery but a bit meatier than the normal chic-lit I highly recommend Sarah Jio! Always, The Bungalow, The Violets of March, and All the Flowers in Paris are a few of my favorites but they are all good!! They have fun locations, a little romance, a little mystery, and always keep me wanting more at the end of each chapter!

  8. Jen says

    I’m an avid reader as well and have found this whole summer disappointing for books and good new releases. Hopefully fall will be better! ?

  9. Mia says

    Highly rec How Lucky by Will Leitch. It is engaging and educational about living with disability; super light, quirky but suspenseful. A fav this summer.

    Midnight Library by Matt Haig is a keeper too — really leaves you thinking about life and regrets long after the last chapter (in a positive way).

    And shifting gears to a very different rec — nonfiction but the most insightful book I have read on race — Isabel Wilkerson’s Caste. Very detailed yet not academic. One of those books you can’t unlearn what you have just learned.

    • Heather says

      Also recommend How Lucky!

      I’m in the middle of The Midnight Library- so far so good.

    • Olivia says

      I agree with you on Malibu Rising! The end introduced so many characters that really served no purpose to the main storyline. I think it could have been great but missed the mark!

      I’m currently reading What’s Mine and Yours and it’s off to a good start.

    • sara mcgrath says

      the sequel to the henna artist is out. It is called the Secret Keeper of Jaipur and I thought it was just as good as the Henna Artist.

    • Kristen says

      Currently reading Code Name Hélène by Ariel Lawhon… loving it so far! WW2 fiction

  12. Dana says

    Aww…I feel bad that you had so many duds this summer! I read Girls of Summer in a day last week on a road trip and really liked it! I would suggest anything by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth or her husband, Robert. The Most Important Place on earth is one of my favorite books!

  13. Tanya says

    I felt the same way about Malibu Rising…ugh! Two recent reads I think you would like are: The Invisible Husband of Frick Island and Last Summer at the Golden Hotel. Also, Falling is a good thriller that is getting lots of buzz. As always, thank you for the recommendations! I can’t wait to come back and read the comments. My latest book review ~
    Tanya – The Other Side of the Road

  14. Arlene says

    Kate Quinn’s books are historical fiction and are excellent! The Rose Code is her newest book.

  15. Hayley says

    I’ve just finished The Last Letter from Your Lover and I’ll Give You the Sun and loved both! I am currently reading Agatha Christie’s novel Murder at the Vicarage and liking it! It’s very classic suspense that feels a little bit like Clue or an old Alfred Hitchcock film, so if you don’t like too scary you might enjoy!

  17. Kelly Strylowski says

    Reading “The Fight to Flourish” by Jennie Lusko with my small group now and am really enjoying it. It’s definitely a heavier read, but very poignant and relatable.

  18. Kelley Bauer says

    I am in the middle of The Last Flight by Julie Clark. It’s a little suspense and excitement. But a book I think you would enjoy is We Are All Adults Here by Emma Straub. It is funny, heartbreaking, and so original.

  19. Aileen says

    I’m almost finished with Last Summer at the Golden Hotel and it’s super cute. Summery, but about a resort in the Catskills and several generations of funny family dynamics.

  20. Jenny says

    Yay, book day! I need to add some of these to my list! I really enjoyed Take What You Can Carry by Gian Sardar recently.

  21. Lisa Moore says

    Have you read The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn? Its a psychological thriller with a movie out. I highly recommend just the book.

  22. Allison Ferrell says

    Read The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner. It’s a memoir and it’s SO SO good.

  23. Carly says

    Shay I don’t know what it is but my entire reading year has been like this just “ehh”. Our Italian Summer was good for me but still I was like “ehh” (except for all the Italy references) I’m SO GLAD you loved the Nantucket Inn series. I know you’re done with beach books but read the 2nd so you can read the 3rd which is Christmasy in a few more months

  24. Heather says

    I recommend The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah. Fictional story about a brave mom and her willingness to protect and provide for her kids no matter the cost during the Dust Bowl.

  27. Becky Przy says

    I lean toward beach reads as well, but books I have read lately that I enjoyed are: The Midnight Library, The Chicken Sisters and The Promise Girls.

  28. Ellen MacDonald says

    If you want a thriller, Falling by TJ Newman! Also really enjoyed Hostage by Clare Macintosh, both along the same lines though. Blush by Jamie Brenner, good easy read. Happy Reading!

  29. Jodie Kingsbury says

    HI, I just bought all the Nantucket books. I’ve been looking for another good series of books.
    Cant wait to get home and start them.

  30. Kelly Marie Sites says

    I LOVE TJR books, so I was super excited and even pre-ordered Malibu Rising. HATED HATED it. So much. Like you, I agree, NO ONE was likeable. And it was all sex, drugs, and rock and roll, and felt stupid and shallow. I barely finished. So bummed. But you can’t win them all 🙂

  31. Rachel Yates says

    Your recent Hawaii recaps made me think about the book Moloka’i! It’s a historical fiction book that takes place in Hawaii in the late 1800s, and it’s based on true historical events.

    Also I recently read Mary Jane, and The Final Revival of Opal & Nev and both had some Daisy Jones-esque vibes. You should check them out!

    Hope August is a better reading month for you 🙂

  32. Holly says

    Shay, have you read The Midnight Library by Matt Haig? It’s about a woman who, through a series of events in her own life, gets to explore what life would have been like had she made different choices (ex. marriage, work, travel, etc). I thought the book was very original and I have found myself thinking about it many times even after I finished. I read it for a book club and it’s a nice, quick read. I would also recommend The Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly. It will most likely be in my top three for the year. It is WWII fiction that interweaves the story of several women and their experiences related to the war. It is fantastic and so well written. The author just released another book and I can’t wait to read that one too! My third suggestion would be One To Watch by Kate Stayman-London. I read it over the winter and it is a funny, but girl powered, fictional tale about a woman who (reluctantly) participates in the filming of a reality show. It’s a quick read and very enjoyable.

    Has Smith read Dragon Hoops by Gene Yang? My son is (re)reading it right now and LOVES it 🙂

    Has Kensington read The Fault in Our Stars by John Green? It is a favorite of my 13 year old…

  33. Tasha says

    Hi Shay! A book I recently read that I think you would enjoy is “Crying in H mart” it is a memoir by a Korean-American woman and explores the relationship with her mother and her culture. Why I think you would like it is first, the AMAZING Korean food references. Also, I am a half-Asian woman and the book touched a lot on not being able to full relate to either cultures (Asian and American) and how that affected the mother/daughter relationship as well as her experience throughout adolescence and young adulthood. Since you are raising two Asian daughters I thought it might be relatable to you as your daughters grow and may start to experience similar feelings as well.

  34. Alexis Murrell says

    I just finished B A Paris’ new book The Therapist and loved it! I also loved The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena!

  35. Katie Compton says

    I just finished Yoga Pant Nation by Laurie Gelman, the 3rd book in the Class Mom series. It was hilarious like all the other books! A quick and fun read.

  36. Michelle Miller says

    Our book club just read Killers of the Flower Moon: the Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann. It’s definitely meaty- based on the authors research of true events that occurred during the 1920s in Oklahoma.
    A favorite of mine is also Outlander by Diana Gabaldon.

  37. Erin Smith says

    The best book I’ve read all year, yes all year, was Good Company. Family drama with great characters!

  38. Colleen C. says

    I felt the EXACT same way you did about Malibu Rising. I was so excited to read it based off of recommendations but then finished the book and you summed it up perfectly. And thank you for putting The Sixth Wedding up, I had no idea she wrote a follow-up book.

    If you haven’t read Code Name Helene by Ariel Lawhon, you will LOVE it. It is set in WWII but a different perspective (a woman who was a socialite) and it is just absolutely great. And based on a true story. Must read. It is very pro-female and I want my daughters especially to read it when they are older.

    The Rosie Project is a fun read. After liking the character Fern in The Good Sister, I found that book and really enjoyed it.

    • Patty Anderson says

      Excellent Charles Martin book…the one which got me hooked on his writing.

  41. CurlyRDWisco says

    Recently read the first two books written by Abby Jimenez. Not only is she a cupcake genius but also a great writer. Light fun n enjoyable books. Thank you for the monthly book review Shay. Fav post of yours. Look forward to it each month.

  42. Kelly says

    I just started 28 Summers in preparation for our road trip to New England next week:).

  44. Ashley says

    Okay Shay! I have two recommendations for you. For a good thriller I read Goodnight, Beautiful by Aimee Molloy in a day and a half on the beach in Mexico. Could not put it down! Also Olympus, Texas by Stacy Swann. Great character driven novel about a dysfunctional family. It’s her debut novel and I can’t wait to read more.

  45. Mikalee says

    I was also disappointed with The Soulmate Equation! I always pre-order their books because they are my favorite author duo and I had to force myself to keep reading this one.

  47. Julie says

    Martha’s Vineyard Isle of Dreams by Susan Branch. Not a beach theme but a true story by the artist about her time after her divorce when she left California and moved across the country to Martha’s Vineyard to experience four seasons. Charming book that also includes many of her watercolor sketches.

  48. Amanda Hessler says

    I just started Sparks like Stars by Nadia Hashimi and already cannot put it down. It’s a gripping story about a young girl in Afghanistan whose family is assassinated during a coup, how she escapes and how her past comes back into her life thirty years later as a surgeon in New York. It’s a much different story than the typical chick lit/beach read, but it is beautifully written and really draws you in!

  49. Kelsey says

    Highly recommend “The Last Thing He Told Me” by Laura Dave. It’s a thriller that was so hard to put down! Nothing too crazy or deep but a great read

  50. CampDallas says

    I love Book Review Day! I highly recommend Maid by Stephanie Land. It was very powerful for me and I have a greater understanding of the struggles so many face after reading.

  51. Maria says

    I felt the same way about Malibu Rising! It was just ok. I didn’t hate it.

    I just finished The Guncle and it’s laugh out loud funny! Really enjoyed it.

    I’m about to start Yoga Pant Nation by Laurie Gellman. Then The Sixth Wedding. Glad to hear it’s a winner. Golden girl was a dud.

    I recommend The Push, Eliza Starts a Rumor, Life’s Too Short, Where the grass is green and the girls are pretty and Blush.

    If you enjoyed Jennifer Probts then I highly recommend her Cape May series about three sisters who are wedding planners Love on Beach Avenue, Temptation on Ocean Drive and Forever in Cape May. Each book follows one of the sisters. The first one is set in the summer the second is set in the winter so not too beachy. Sorta hallmark-y but enjoyable. I haven’t read the Italy book yet but it’s loaded on my kindle.

  52. NiCole says

    I love books by Nicholas Sparks. They are predictable at times and follow the same pattern much like a Hallmark movie, but I can’t put them away once I start.

  53. Taylor says

    I just finished “When Crickets Cry.” It is one of the best books I have read in AWHILE! It’s a must read!

    • Jennifer Goodwin says

      Depending on how fast you read, yes! I read pretty fast and my husband (a non-reader) even commented on how worth the money it would be to use it after my free trial ends. But, if you aren’t a fast reader, maybe not. Another option would be a library app for your local library, like Hoopla or Libby. I use Libby, because they support Kindles. It’s all linked through my library card at my town library!

  56. Julie Hicks says

    I have a “don’t read” recommendation – The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller. I’ve never, ever done this because I love books too much but I just finished this last night and ha trouble sleeping because I was SO furious! I guess it would be a good book if you enjoy ambiguous, “this or that” endings. I. Do. Not.

  57. Andrea says

    The Maidens by Alex Michaelides was good. The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave was a good thriller!

  58. Kristen Hardison says

    This summer I decided to re-read some of your old favorites and it was so fun – like a visit with an old friend! I re-read “It Ends With Us,” “One True Loves,” and “The Last Mrs. Parrish.” ❤️

  59. Kiely says

    Totally agree about Malibu Rising! It didn’t do anything for me. Try “Four Winds” by Kristin Hannah. It’s my fav book (so far) this year and one I’ll never forget. It’s special, I promise.

  60. Kristin says

    I read Our Italian Summer, and it turned out to be so much more than I expected it to be. Very good! My daughter read The Art of Losing by Alice Zeniter, and brought it right over for me to read. It’s about a family from Algeria who move to France because of the French Algerian War, and focuses on the father, his son, and then that son’s daughter. It wasn’t necessarily an easy read, but I loved it and I learned so much about things I had no idea about. If you want non-fiction, I loved Think Again by Adam Grant. It talks about why we believe what we believe, how we can challenge our own assumptions, and be open minded. It’s a deep subject written in a very accessible way.

  61. Valerie says

    The Personal Librarian and The Rose Code- both are based off of real life events and people. I gave them both 5 stars!

  62. Julie says

    So sorry it was a mixed bag! But I am excited to read ‘The Sixth Wedding’ so thanks for the review!

    -I LOVED ‘The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell’ which I got from your reader suggestions. Probably my favorite book of the year

    -‘Yoga Pant Nation’ (third Class Mom series) would be so great for you now as you have kids back to school pretty soon! I believe you read her other two? This wasn’t my favorite of the three but it was still lighthearted, funny, adorable, entertaining and I so enjoyed reading it!

    -‘The Guncle’ is probably going to be my second favorite book of the year! About an uncle (former celebrity) who steps in to take care of of his niece and nephew after their mom passes away. Sounds sad but it is SO lighthearted, inspiring, well written and touching. And funny! Highly recommend.

    Love book day!

    PS I absolutely love the ‘Thirty Chic Days’ you recommended and same as you, I don’t want to finish it! If you ever find something else like this to read in the early AM, I would love to hear about it!

  63. Anonymous says

    The chicken sisters!! It was a Reese’s book club pick, I really hope she turns it into a movie. Fun story that kept me guessing how it would end.

  64. Susanne says

    The best two books I’ve read lately are The Nature of Fragile things by Susan Messneir ( I read this in just a few hours, could not put it down!) and The Last Thing He Told Me (I was glued to my couch until I knew how this ended!) I can’t imagine that you’d be disappointed in either of these.

  65. Sheila says

    I’m reading 28 Summers right now….love me some Elin Hilderbrand!! Now I want to go to Nantucket!! ? I want to read The Nantucket Inn next!! Thanks for all the recommendations…going on a beach trip in a couple weeks and will need a book to take along!! ???

  66. Dawn Engle says

    HI Shay!!! I felt the same exact way about the Sixth Wedding. I really wanted more as 28 Summers was JUST SO GOOD! I love your book reviews!!! Every book I read is off your lists. Because I don’t read that much, I want to be sure I’m going into a good book so I don’t waste my time. Thank you for guiding me/us!!

  67. Susanne says

    I can’t wait to read Our Italian Summer. We went to Italy 2 years ago and I stood in that exact spot that is depicted on the cover of the book! Most beautiful place I’ve ever been!

  68. Aubrey says

    Have you read The Last Flight? I’m not usually one for “thrillers” but I LOVED this one! Next Year in Havana is another good historical fiction option as well!

  70. Shelbie Fitch says

    Have you read Tehse Tangled Vines by Julianne Maclean? It’s very italian too. I loved it

  71. Sarah says

    “The Gown” by Jennifer Robson – right after WWII, about the group of women that were commissioned to sew Queen (then Princess) Elizabeth’s gown – fiction but a great story!

  72. Kim Salmans says

    I just finished Bookshop on the Beach and felt the same as you! I felt it was kind of an abrupt ending. Thank you so much for your book day! I look forward to it each month!

  74. Erin says

    Karen White’s, The Last Night in London… a bit of historical fiction, a little romance, a little mystery. The story switches back and forth between the life of a young woman in London during WW2, and a present day American young woman doing research for an article while in London. I learned a lot about the experiences of those living during that time all through the lens of a young women in love.

  75. Kelli says

    Book Day is the best day!!
    This month I enjoyed The Last Thing He Told Me also…a good mystery. Thanks for recommending Float Plan, because I loved it. I just finished one of Katherine Center’s older books called Happiness for Beginners, and it was so good! I love all of her books.

    • Sara says

      I really enjoyed Float Plan too! Good recommendation Shay! And I thought The Last Thing He Told Me was a good one too.

  76. Mary says

    If you haven’t read any Diane Chamberlain- you are missing out!! My fav book of 2020 was Big Lies In a Small Town- story told from 2 characters POV- one in 1939 and the other in 2018. Lots of twists and turns and fun to try and figure out how it’s all connected! So good! I also LOVED The Silent Sister, The Dream Daughter, and Breaking the Silence. All so different, but so awesome!!

  77. Katie says

    I’m so bummed that you didn’t love Malibu Rising but I do agree that it ended abruptly. Next month you should read Live Your Life by Amanda Kloots. I wasn’t sure I would like it because it’s such a tough and sad story but it is very inspirational and has given me so much respect for her. Plus she writes a lot about her relationship her big family and it makes you feel happy.

  78. Kelly Anthony says

    I’m finishing “Summer on the Bluffs” right now by Sunny Hostin, and it has a great storyline. It is rated R.

  79. Arika says

    I read a Pamela Kelley book a couple months ago and thought of you. Also set in Nantucket. 3 sisters inherit a restraunt from their beloved grandmother upon her death. Stipulation is that they must all run it together for a year before they can sell. All three struggling with some aspect of their life, and it is definitely a Hallmark-style easy read. You would love all the food references. If you need a cute, easy read sometime after a heavy one, put this one on your list. I don’t believe it’s part of the series you referenced in your review by the same author.

  80. Christina says

    God Spare the Girls by Kelsey McKinney, The Fortunate Ones by Ed Tarkington, and In An Instant by Suzanne Redfearn are 3 of my very favorite books that I’ve read this year. They’re all just fiction books, but so so good!!

  81. Peggy says

    Always look forward to your monthly book reviews!
    Love the Nantucket Inn series by Pamela Kelley!

    Here are a few suggestions for you Shay –

    The Things We Leave Unfinished by Rebecca Yarros

    Where The Grass is Green and the Girls are Pretty by Lauren Weisberger

    Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

    Enjoy!

  82. Janique Smythe says

    I look forward to your book reviews each month. A few of my favourites so far this year are The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett by Annie Lyons, Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis, The Book of Lost Names by Kristen Harmel and The Home for Unwanted Girls by Joanna Goodman. I read many of your suggestions every month and have yet to be disappointed. Thank you for sharing your love of reading with us.

  83. Josie says

    Have you read “That Summer” by Jennifer Weiner? Yes, it has summer in the title and is about a summer and takes place in Cape Cod but it is also about SO SO SO much more and only a small part of the book takes place in the summer.

  84. sara mcgrath says

    I felt the exact same way about Malibu Rising. I was shocked that so many people recommended it! If i dont like the characters, it is hard for me to like the book and I think this was the case for this book!

  85. Ani says

    Just finished The Paper Palace and really enjoyed it. The story is messy and complicated, and the ending is not tied up with a bow, but it was satisfying. Ask Again, Yes is also a very good read.
    Hopefully August picks will be better 🙂

  86. Abby says

    I felt the same way about Malibu Rising! Everyone kept recommending it to me, and I thought this is the book you all love?

    I read The Venice Sketchbook by Rhys Bowen earlier this year and really liked it. It’s set in Venice during World War II. Or The Mother in Law by Sally Hepworth was really good too.

  87. Ashley says

    If you have not read Live Your Life by Amanda Kloots yet…get it today. It changed me. I feel like everyone should read it,

  88. Jane Augspurger says

    Anything by Heather Gudenkauf! She’s a mom of three, former elementary school teacher, and all of her heroines are strong, but very relatable women! You won’t be disappointed!

    • Katie Compton says

      I second this comment! I have loved all her books. Suspense with great character development!

  89. Andrea Boggs says

    100% agree with Malibu Rising. I don’t get the hype at all. It just wasn’t that good. I didn’t like all the extra characters that were at the party. I was like who cares, just get back to the main characters.

    I actually preordered 28 summers, but haven’t started it yet. Gonna start it today after reading your review. Hopefully my girl Elin will knock her next novels out of the park!

  90. Katie says

    Underground Railroad was phenomenal. Decolonizing Wealth changed my understanding of philanthropy – so interesting. Broken Horses, The Guest List, and We Are All the Same in the Dark were also recent fave reads. And, if you’re finally going to start with Audible, listen to Green Lights – hilarious AND I could listen to Matthew McConaughey talk alllll day 🙂

  91. Crystal D says

    Chanel Cleeton’s books, starting with Next Year in Havana! (I read your book reviews faithfully, and pretty confident you haven’t read this one?)

    • Jacquelyn Jenkins says

      Oh my gosh!! I just finished this one and When We Left Cuba last week at the beach … they were SO good! I can’t wait to read her new one, The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba!

  92. Giulianna says

    Verity by Colleen Hoover! I would say it is rated R like It Ends With Us, but a really good romance thriller type book. I read it in like two days!

  93. erin rich says

    I just finished two books I could not put down. The Silent Patient and Swear on this life. Both of these books were so good.

  94. Leah says

    Yoga pant nation (3rd book in the Class Mom series), The Wife Upstairs, Eliza Starts a Rumor

  95. Angela Pino says

    I read Happy & You Know It by Laura Hankin and at one point in the book my jaw dropped! I couldn’t read it fast enough!

  96. Kristine G. says

    Our book club just read The Midnight Library and The Lost Apothecary…I’d love to hear your thoughts on those. Other non-beach read recommendations are How Dare the Sun Rise, Reasons to Stay Alive, and The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell.

  97. Jill Carr says

    Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstances by Ruth Emmie Lang. Such a special story!

  98. Emily says

    The Midnight Library and This Tender Land, the layer is different than the typical chick lit, but still so good.

  99. Katie McDonough says

    Our Woman In Moscow written by Beatriz Williams who also wrote The Summer Wives. So good! Our Book Club read it and we all loved it.

  100. Rachel says

    I just saw there is a memoir about the founder of Trader Joe’s (Joe Coulombe) called “Becoming Trader Joe”. May interest you ?

  101. Kelly Kellendonk says

    I just finished The Last Flight by Julie Clark and couldn’t put it down!

  102. Shavon says

    I can’t recall if you’re a Laurie Gelman fan, but I love her. I have big plans to read her newest book, Yoga Pants Nation this weekend, in between binge watching all things Olympics of course!

  103. Alison says

    The Woman I was Before by Kerry Fisher. It has a unique tie-in with social media. The story itself is very good and I found myself really invested in the 3 main characters. But considering you and Erika recently did a podcast on social media, you might find this book to be even better! 🙂

  104. Taylor says

    Since you are a One Tree Hill & Jeffrey Dean Morgan fan, try The Rural Diaries by Hilarie Burton. Loved hearing about their simple life in the charming town of Rhinebeck, NY. It was so good!

  105. Emma says

    I just finished ‘Dear Edward’ by Anne Napolitano and couldn’t put it down! Reading ‘Head Over Heels’ by Hannah Orenstein about a former Olympic gymnast finding love and enjoying it so far!

  106. Pam Saltmarsh says

    I am loving Summer Seekers by Sarah Morgan and loving it. Also reading The Paper Palace. The jury is out for me so far…

  107. Brittany says

    It ends with us by Colleen Hoover – pulls all the heart straights and feelings.

  108. Johannah Mosel says

    I just enjoyed Mexican Gothic by Silva Moreno-Garcia and it was definitely a change of pace in genre for me. It has a Wuthering Heights/Jane Eyre vibe, which isn’t normally my jam, but I adored the strong female lead.

  109. Jessica Tribbett says

    So I have not read these yet but they are on my list, highly recommended by someone I respect a lot. They aren’t light reads either – Empire of Pain, Lincoln in the Bardo, Say Nothing.

  110. Nearawayfaraway says

    Can’t suggest enough you venture more into nonfiction beyond biographies.
    Books about travel to places you’ve been and places you want to go.
    These books are my joy and fuel and inform my passion to travel!

  111. Colloni says

    I am so excited to see your July Book Review!!! I just finished Legacy by Nora Roberts, and I loved it. I also am reading White Ivy by Susie Yang, very interesting about the Chinese culture. Please keep your reviews coming!

  112. Tara says

    Yoga Pant Nation, the third Class Mom novel by Laurie Gelman was really cute and a quick read. I had it done in 2 days! Just as fun as the first two books in the series.

  113. Shelley says

    Karen Kingsbury’s new book Distant Shore.
    It’s about a real problem in the world today-sex trafficking. It’s really good and worth the read.

    • Patricia Anderson says

      Nice to know Karen is writing stand alone novels again. I enjoyed the Baxters but their story seemed to go on forever! I just finished both The Water Keeper and the sequel, The Letter Keeper by Charles Martin…also about sex trafficking. Difficult subject matter but excellently written.

  114. Tracy says

    The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer is fantastic!! On a completely different vibe, The Silent Patient or The Wife Upstairs are like suspense/thriller type books!

  116. Cassidy says

    Can’t wait to read The Sixth Wedding- can only imagine it is my favorite – Mal’s Brother ?!? Eek can’t wait!
    I recently read Life’s Too Short by Abby Jimenez & Party of Two by Jasmine Guillroy & loved both! Both easy quick reads & neither are on the beach!

  117. Susan Stout says

    I haven’t read a book for several years , but I wanted to read The Book of Lost Names. It was a little slow but I really liked it! I also read Hidden Valley Road, set here in Colorado Springs. Hard to read but I could not put it down.

  118. Kaycee says

    A Life Once Dreamed and A Lady in Attendance by Rachel Fordham are really fun & fast reads. I also recommend Below Them The Horizon by Laura Allnutt.

  120. Ashley E says

    Riley Thorne and the Dead Guy Next Door by Lucy Score. I loved this book when it came out last year. The sequel Riley Thorne and the Corpse in the Closet just came out and is equally great. Chick lit, mystery, comedy, romance all rolled into one.

  122. Shelby Denison says

    The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth, and The Flight Girls by Nicole Salazar! I’m about to start The Last Flight by Julie Clark and I’ve heard so many good reviews about that one too!

  123. Michael McAllister says

    I agree with you about Malibu Rising. It was not that good at all. I did read a good one this summer entitled Social Graces about the feud between Mrs. Astor and Mrs. Vanderbilt on Newport, R.I. I actually found it hard to put down and I loved reading about all of the summer parties in Newport and their NYC life as well.

  124. Emily says

    This cute little small shop released their fall line of mugs this week and obviously I thought of you!! Coffee mugs and pumpkins have Shay written all over them. They’re great quality, dishwasher safe and she has the cutest designs so I wanted to share! https://sweetminthandmadegoods.com/
    I’m ready for the pumpkin season!

  125. Joanne says

    I’ve heard lots of meh reviews about Malibu rising so I skipped that one this summer. I am so bummed that Bookstore on the beach isn’t about a bookstore; that title sounds like it had such promise. I really like the Nantucket Inn series though.

  127. Erin says

    Hey Shay! Here are my recommendations that may get you out of the slump with the beach reads. Mary Jane-about a teen that babysits for a neighbor for the summer, The Guest List a quick, suspenseful mystery. The Bookish Life of Nina Hill. One of my favorites reads this year.

  128. Jean says

    Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys. Historical fiction but I could not put it down!

    In another Time by Jillian Cantour. Historical fiction again but with some mysticism.

    The Last Garden in England by Julia Kelly. 3 different women own the same English garden. Made me want to travel to the UK to see these gardens!

    Happy reading!

  129. Cecily says

    Loved The Indigo Girl by Natasha Boyd

    Currently reading and loving The Rose Code by Kate Quinn.

    Both Historical fiction. Rose Code has a bit of English Royalty in the story which I think you would like.

  130. Reagan Josephison says

    You should read A House in the Sky! Definitely heavier but it reminds me of American Dirt, The Glass Castle, etc.

  131. Tiffany says

    I didn’t love Malibu Rising either (and everyone else I talked to loved it).

    Some of my favorites from this summer are Warsaw Orphan (The Things We Cannot Say author), Nine Perfect Strangers, How Lucky, and Confess.

    Currently reading (and so far enjoying) Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus. It’s children’s lit told from the view of a girl born without any arms. I also just read (and loved) the graphic novel White Bird (written by author of Wonder). Look forward to seeing what you read next. Happy reading!

  132. Allison says

    Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann – unbelievable true story and also the movie Leo is working on now!

  133. LindaP says

    I haven’t read it yet but a trusted source tells me the Mariah Carey autobiography is outstanding. I’m not necessarily a fan but I’m excited to read it.

  135. Jennifer G says

    So… it amazes me how many books you can read! I only have two kids, ages 9 and 7, and fitting in time to read is challenging!
    Not sure if you read mostly fiction or will pick up some non-fiction once in awhile. I just started Wintering The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Katherine May. Really good so far! I also have really enjoyed The Theft of America’s Soul by Phil Robertson… this one took a surprising turn I wasn’t expecting. I also have been enjoying The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer. Challenging and insightful especially regarding technology. “Have been enjoying” means started listening via Audible, but haven’t finished yet. ? Really liked your podcast on technology, social media and cell phones for kids. Thanks for sharing your choices for what’s best for you guys. It helps give renewed strength and stance to the decisions we have made that tend to waiver with continued negotiation from our kids. ☺️

  138. Ashley P says

    I just finished The Girls Are All So Nice Here by Laurie Flynn and really liked it! Def needs an R rating for sexual topics and drug use.

  140. Cathryn Brown says

    I enjoyed Malibu Rising, but not the ending. I will say though, I grew up in Malibu canyon (but Washington State has been my home for 24 years now), and the Malibu references were dead on! I knew exactly where she lived, where she grew up, where the restaurants and beaches were that she referenced. That was fun for me and took me home again.

  141. Kelsee says

    I loved the Sixth Wedding too. I also liked Malibu Rising, but it definitely didn’t compare to her other novels so I was left disappointed as well. I also liked Soulmate Equation, but would agree everything seemed too easy. A couple suggestions for you if you haven’t read them:

    The Rose Code
    Where the Grass is Green and the Girls are Pretty
    The Push

  142. Andee Hart says

    Have you read “On the Island” by Tracey Garvis Graves? Whoa! It’s a book I read in 2016 and still think about. I just reread it and recommended it to my SIL(who is not a reader) and she stayed up until 4am to finish it. (Oops!) 🙂

  143. Temi says

    I totally agree with you on Malibu Rising! I read it after seeing everyone suggest it here last month. Part one was good. It was different, and I found the story interesting, but part two was the party that never ended. It wore me out! I did not enjoy the crazy party details that seemed pointless to the plot. It left me feeling yuck and tired by the time it finally wrapped everything up. I’ve been waiting for your review on it and figured you felt the same way.
    I liked The Sixth Wedding too! I’m ready to move on to some cozier books and prepare for fall ?

  144. Megan says

    I’d recommend After I Do or Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid (earlier books of hers, and not beach reads!).

  145. Emily says

    I’d recommend This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger. I too love a beach read and a thriller, but sometimes need something a little different and this hit the mark for me!

  146. Bella A A says

    Don’t kill me, but I read both of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books and didn’t really like them. They are an easy read, but I never really got anything from them. It is like chewing gum–after five minutes I am done.

  147. K says

    You simply must read White Rose Black Forest. It is the opposite of a beach read…but in a good way. WW 2 time period, similar feel to The Nightingale. The subject matter is serious but really makes you think. I just read it for the third time!

  148. Claire says

    Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi is my very favorite book! Definitely very heavy but so well written – it follows two family lines through the generations.

  150. Christina says

    Have you read any of Colleen Hoover books? I just finished Regretting You, and it was so good!

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      YES! Her book It Ends with Us was my SECOND FAVORITE BOOK OF 2016! Love her!

      • Leslie says

        I read her book Verity, in one day. Could not put it down. Definitely a departure from her norm, but so good! There’s even a Facebook discussion group that was created.

        • Mix and Match Mama says

          Oh goodness…so many people love Verity! It holds a special spot here in my blog world too. Out of the over 400 books I’ve reviewed, it’s the only one I’ve ever called “stupid”. Bahahaha! I think of that every time! So many people love it though!!!!

  151. Megan says

    I loved the sixth wedding too! I just finished The Paper Palace (Reese Witherspoon book club)which was really good! And a couple more good ones from this month were The Good sister and The Last Thing He Told Me, both really good suspenseful books.

  153. Debbie K. says

    I read all of the Nantucket Inn books this month…Loved them all. Really easy reads so I could get 7 books done this month. Try Susan Mallery’s The Stepsisters or The Vineyard at Painted Moon. Great stories with characters to either love and hate. Both are stand alone novels and not part of her different series.

    • Katie says

      The Push! The Push! Totally second this. Incredibly thought-provoking, unputdownable thriller but so much more than that.

  155. Kelsey says

    I didn’t like Malibu Rising either, glad to know I’m not the only one! I’m glad to hear about Elin’s newest book, I’ll read it next!

  156. Sarah says

    I didn’t like Bookstore on the Beach either! I keep trying Novak’s books but they just aren’t for me. I’m not sure I could ever hit a limit on beach books.

  157. Kristen Smith says

    I would love for you to read any of Rachel Hauck’s books! If you want to start with one that’s not summery start with the Fifth Avenue Story Society. I absolutely loved it!

  158. Taylor says

    For something very different from your norm, but very enjoyable, try Bill Bryson. He’s a travel memoir writer with a very dry sense of humor. He’s American, but lived in England for twenty years, where he met his wife and had his kids. Then they all moved back to the US when the kids were a bit older. I’m a Stranger here Myself would be a good place to start – it was a series of newspaper columns he wrote as he moved back to the US and it’s laugh out loud funny at times. If you get the audio, he reads it himself. Anyway, happy reading, whatever you choose! 🙂

  159. Erin says

    I don’t think Ive seen you review the midnight library or the last thing he told me yet??? I’m reading Next Year in Havana now and enjoying it!

  161. Amber says

    I agree on Malibu Rising! I so wanted to love it. Didn’t hate it, just nowhere near a favorite for the year.

  162. Anna says

    The Rose Code (historical fiction – make sure to check out the photos at the end of the book)
    The Midnight Library – very thought provoking
    The Restoration of Celia Fairchild – so cute, sweet, uplifting
    The Last Thing he Told Me – suspenseful but not scary
    One to Watch – cute, clever, has The Bachelor vibes
    Delicious! – fiction but written by food critic Ruth Reichl, set in NYC a good fall book

    I really appreciate how honest your reviews are – thank you!

  164. Danielle says

    I was not a fan of Malibu Rising either. Some books that I have enjoyed this year are Who is Maud Dixon, Stillhouse Lake, We Begin at the End, Be Frank with Me, and The Thursday Murder Club.

  166. Tammy says

    Our book club just read The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell (sooo good)

    I also enjoyed the following;

    Florence Adler Swims Forever

    Meet You in the Middle by Devon Daniels was super cute.

    The Invisible Husband of Frick Island

    American Daughter by Stephanie Thornton Plymale. This is a memoir. Very interesting!

    As always,
    Happy Reading ?

  167. Alli says

    You have to read People Who Knew Me by Kim Hoper. Emily lives in New York, 9/11 happens and the turns her life takes after. It was a great read and unexpected.

  168. Jill Cox says

    I just read Kristin Hannah’s The Four Winds, and I highly recommend it. It was a great piece of historical fiction that began in small town in west Texas during the dust bowl, then moved to California. I absolutely loved the characters and was in tears multiple times because of the emotional mother daughter relationship. It is so good! I will remember this book for a long time. If you liked the Great Alone, you will like this book.

  169. Tina says

    Hostage by Clare Mackintosh and/or Falling by T.J Newman. Both thrillers having to do with airplanes. I enjoyed both…probably Hostage slightly more.

  171. Emily S says

    I DID NOT like The Bookstore at the Beach at all. I ended up not finishing it and Googling the ending. So disappointed by that one. It was not the light, fluffy book I was hoping for.

  172. Sarah says

    Meet You in the Middle by Devon Daniels! A great debut novel with major The Hating Game vibes!! Loved it.

  173. Shirley says

    Starting Over at Acorn Cottage
    These Tangled Vines
    Open House
    Skinny House
    I’m Proud of You – My Friendship with Fred Rogers
    After Alice Fell
    Not One of Us
    Sophie Last Seen
    Take What You Can Carry

  175. Ashley says

    Falling by T.J. Newman. Originally a flight attendant, Newman wrote her first fictional novel and it is FULL of suspense. Read in one sitting and needed a meditation app to stop thinking about it! I’ve recommended to elderly couples in Costco, coworkers, family, it’s intense!

  176. Heather says

    The Last Thing He Told Me was an easy suspense and I also enjoyed The Book of Lost Names.

  177. Leigh Ann says

    If you’re looking for a good biography, you might like Believe It by Jamie Kern Lima, the founder of IT Cosmetics. It tells her life story and how she started her makeup line that has become so popular. It’s an interesting and very inspirational book. Also, thank you for recommending Thirty Chic Days in your book review last month. I have been enjoying it so much. Lots of little tidbits of information to think about and apply to daily life.

  178. Jen says

    I’ve had a few of those months lately where the “meh” books outweigh the good. Luckily this month was great and I caught up on my goal. A few suggestions… Jasmine Guillorys new one “While We Were Daring” was everything you could want in on of her books . Thrillers I just got introduced to Linwood Barclay and read the whole Promise Falls series this month. Currently reading Falling and it’s crazy!

  180. DeAnn says

    I loved Mr. Nobody by Catherine Steadman, and The Last thing he told me by Laura Dave. My Book group is reading The Midnight library which is different than our usual Christian/mom book, but I’m enjoying it.

  181. Hayley Chandler says

    Have you read The Giver of the Stars by JoJo Moyes. I finished it last week. So good! And not a beach read. It takes a bit to really get into it, but once you do, you’ll be hooked!

  182. Allison says

    I have a great idea for a fundraiser. I know you’re not asking, but I’m saying it anyway. Since everyone knows how Sheaffer isn’t interested in reading, we should choose a book for her to read (her preferences will be taken into consideration), people can donate between $1-whatever for her charity of choice, and all she has to do is give us a review of the book. It can’t be just some generic cliff notes thing; we have to know she read it because it will have affected her emotions if we choose the right book. So far 174 people have commented on this post. We can easily raise $1000+ for a charity! Yay!

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      Oh my gosh! I love that idea! I feel like Sheaffer would rather just write the check for charity though than read! Agh! I’ll ask her! 🙂

  183. Lauren LeCroy says

    The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
    Love her Well (written for moms of teen girls) by Kari Kampakis
    Refugee by Alan Gratz – a kids book I read w my tween daughter but it was so eye opening for her I have to recommend!

  184. Caitlin says

    This summer I read How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America by Clint Smith. I highly recommend it! I learned so much and he writes in a very approachable way.

  185. Deb says

    I agree with your Hildebrand summation! Just finished The Switch which is a slightly elevated British beach read but I enjoyed it. Starting Paper Palace which is depressing and rated R but I can’t stop reading!

  186. Paige Head says

    So I read the 6th wedding and I didn’t pay attention to how many pages it was and to say I was really disappointed when I swiped left and it was over would be an understatement. I totally agree. She should have made this a full book.

    • Lorelei Boyett says

      Same for me!! I thought surely something was wrong with the kindle!! Lol. She should immediately write the rest of the story!!

  187. Amanda says

    I just finished The Sixth Wedding and I agree 100%. I’m so sad it’s over and would still love another book with these characters.

  188. Amanda Utley says

    I read The Last Thing He Told Me when we were at the beach last week and finished it in about 24 hours. It was so good! Just a little suspense and keeps you guessing!

  189. Penny says

    “A Beautiful Place to Die: Martha’s Vineyard Mystery #1” (Martha’s Vineyard Mysteries) by Philip Craig. I’ve read the entire series and enjoyed each book. Besides being good mysteries, the books are also very descriptive of Martha’s Vineyard–the towns, the people, the landscapes and seascapes, and the food.

  190. Courtney says

    The Last Thing He Told Me and We are the Brennans are two of my favorite books of the year from Book of the Month. I loved We are the Brennans because I am a sucker for family dramas.

  191. Donna Mullen says

    I just finished The Summer Seekers by Sarah Morgan. Really enjoyed it and I think you would, too.

  192. Dana says

    I recently finished “Circe” and thought it was fantastic! If you’re not up on Greek mythology pronunciations then I highly recommend the audiobook, which helped me a lot. This summer, I finally read “To Kill A Mockingbird,” which instantly hit my top 3 favorite books ever. I’m currently into “American Sherlock” and like it so far.

  193. Victoria Leuck says

    I’ll just keep suggesting The Truth About The Harry Quebert Affair.
    My book club read it and everyone LOVED IT. I read it years ago and it was good both times!And yes they made a movie out of it but the book is so much better!
    Happy Reading!

  194. Lindsay Miller says

    Shay Shull! I’ve always wanted to be a reader but was always just the girl sitting at the beach with a book in hand that was trying so hard to read (but never got past chapter 2) because it was the cute thing to do. . . Bahahaha sounds so lame. Here I am a 28 year old mama of 2.5 and. . . FINALLY a reader because of your book review blog posts! Whoo hoo, so thankful! Been reading consistently for a year now. Xoxo

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      Oh my goodness!!! This made me lol! YAY!!! I’m so happy to hear this!!!!!!

  196. Buffy Frazier says

    I read almost all the same books and had the same thoughts. You’re not alone, lol.

  197. Kellie says

    Have you read Girls Like Us? A psychological suspense book. It’s great, couldn’t put it down!

  198. Rebecca says

    I’m about to start Yoga Pant Nation by Laurie Gelman. It’s the 3rd book in the Class Mom series, which I love!

  199. Lauren Schoer says

    If you’re up for a change of pace…”License To Parent” written by Christina Hillsberg with her husband Ryan. They’re 2 former CIA spies! They tell their story & then discuss how they’re raising their children as a result of their training & experiences. Very interesting!!

  200. Stephanie says

    I know I’m late to this post – if you haven’t read this already, you need to read midnight at the blackberry cafe

  201. Caitlin says

    I just started reading Pamela Kelley too as she’s an author from my hometown. I loved The Nantucket Inn and I am almost done with the second book in the series, Nantucket Neighbors. I also read Plymouth Undercover by her too and I loved it! Thanks for your monthly book posts. You always give me some great choices to read!

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      So good. It was my second favorite book last year. It will stay with me always.

  203. Jennifer Goodwin says

    Please, please, please read One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London. Think of the show The Bachelor/Bachelorette, but in book form, and from the perspective of the star of the show- a plus sized gal. It’s so good and I can’t stop reading it!

  204. Danielle Koren says

    I look forward to your book review every month! I just finished Shipped and it was such a great rom-com. It combined romance, travel and I couldn’t stop reading it! Definitely recommend it for a quick, fun read. All the feels with that one!

  205. Molly says

    Thriller… Riley Sager- “Lock Every Door”
    Thriller…. Blake Crouch “Dark Matter”
    Non-Fiction….. Garrett M Graff “The only plane in the Sky

  206. Leslie Susan Clingan says

    Always grateful to see which reads you loved and didn’t. I had put The Soulmate Equation on my online book club’s consideration list this spring but the group chose to read something else. Have read several reviews that make it sound ‘pretty good’ but I am such a slow reader, I hate to tie up my time reading something that is only ‘pretty good.’ There are too many great books out there waiting to be read!!

  207. Andrea Breece says

    So my favorite book that I wanted to hug after is “the girl with the louding voice” it’s not super new maybe a year or two old. I’m almost positive you haven’t read it because I read all your blog post especially your book reviews. But it’s so so good. Definitely put it on your to read list!!! ?

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      I did read it!!! I read it last year and loved it! That’s one of those books you’ll never forget.

  208. Joda says

    Read The Lovely War by Julie Berry. It’s a love story during WW1 told by Greek gods. It’s not a book I would have picked up in my own but was suggested to me. It was really good.

  211. Jenna Campbell says

    “The Rose Code”, “When the Stars Go Dark”, “The Four Winds”, “West with Giraffes” are all good reads!

  212. Marilyn Martin says

    I just read what will be ….hands down….my best book of 2021.

    When the Apricots Bloom by Gina Wilkinson

    This is a book about the lives of three women intersecting in Baghdad during the time of Saddam Hussein. Ally, an ambassador’s wife, Rainia, the daughter of a sheikh and Huda, a secretary turned informant for the secret police. What I appreciate about the book is that the author spent a year in Baghdad during the time of Saddam. Although she says it is not biographical….there are a lot of parallels that take place in this book …..that also happened during her time in Baghdad. This book has it all….historical fiction, mystery, romance….my heart was pounding as I raced through the last two chapters. I adored this book and it will “sit” with me for a few days!

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