Between traveling with my boys and spending lots of time outdoors with family & friends, I only ended up reading five books this month. That said, they all packed a punch in one way or another and I couldn't have been happier with what I was able to fit in! I don't have a "least favorite" book this month either...I genuinely loved each of them, all for different reasons. Here's a wrap-up of what I read (click on the links for detailed reviews of each). Book Lovers, by Emily Henry was the first book I read in July and ohmiword...what an INCREDIBLE start to the month! There was nothing I didn't love about this one. This is the ... Read More
Last Summer on State Street, by Toya Wolfe
A book that wasn't on my radar, but I immediately bought after watching my favorite BookTok'er rave about it....Last Summer on State Street, by Toya Wolfe was the perfect read to finish July. And I'm absolutely blown away that this book is the author's debut novel...BEAUTIFULLY written! Last Summer on State Street reads more like a memoir than YA and recounts the summer of 1999 in the Robert Taylor Homes housing projects in Chicago. The story is told from the perspective of Felicia (FeFe), both as a 12-year-old child and in hindsight as an adult. FeFe and her friends spend their summer days playing Double Dutch, but increasing gang ... Read More
Cover Story, by Susan Rigetti
If you've been intrigued by the story of Anna Delvey, or if you've watched the Netflix series, Inventing Anna, pick up a copy of Cover Story, by Susan Rigetti. While the author doesn't specifically state that this book is based on Anna's incredible con, I think it was definitely inspired by the scam! Cover Story follows the diary of Lora Ricci who is hired by Elle magazine for a summer internship. While at Elle, Lora meets Cat Wolff...magazine editor and heiress to a family fortune. Lora and Cat form an unexpected friendship and Cat hires Lora as her ghostwriter. Lora gets caught up in Cat's glamorous lifestyle and eventually the ... Read More
Nora Goes Off Script, by Annabel Monaghan
If Nora Goes Off Script, by Annabel Monaghan isn't the perfect "beach read", I don't know what is! Okay, so I didn't read this on a beach, but I did read it in the mountains. On a balcony. In the rain. In ONE sitting. I could NOT put this down! Compulsively delicious...I only wish it were 500 pages longer! I couldn't get enough! Nora is a screenwriter who's latest screenplay (based on her recent marriage/divorce/narcissistic ex-husband) gets picked up for the big screen. Shoot location?! Her house. The actor set to play her ex-husband is Leo, former Sexiest Man Alive. After filming wraps, Leo offers Nora $7,000 if she'll let him ... Read More
Back in the Burbs, by Avery Flinn & Tracy Wolff
If you're looking for a palate cleanser after reading something dark or heavy, I'd love to suggest Back in the Burbs, by Avery Flynn & Tracy Wolff. Mallory is a 35-year-old divorcee who caught her ex-husband cheating and lost her job (her ex was her employer). Jobless and living with her parents, Mallory agrees to take ownership of the house she unexpectedly inherited from her late Aunt Maggie...a move that was HIGHLY discouraged by her family. Aunt Maggie's house is in disrepair and Mallory has quite a project on her hands in addition to her unsupportive parents, verbally abusive ex-husband, and a (very handsome) rule following ... Read More
Book Lovers, by Emily Henry
I'm not sure why I waited to so long to dive into Book Lovers, by Emily Henry. This one has been on my TBR forever and the only regret I have about this one is not reaching for it sooner. I LOVED IT!!!! Nora, a literary agent, and her sister, Libby, head to Sunshine Falls, NC for the month of August on a sister trip. While in the small town of Sunshine Falls, Nora bumps into Charlie, her professional rival. This one is an enemies to lovers trope, so you can probably guess how it all ends, but it's what's in between the first and last page that absolutely had me smitten. Right off the bat, let me tell you that I'm a HUGE Gilmore ... Read More
Swiss Chicken Bundles
This recipe was first shared with me about 15 years ago by my dear friend, Dena. Our boys were in playgroup together and when us moms weren't chasing our boys, we were swapping recipes :) An incredibly easy, full of flavor kind of meal. ... Read More
June 2022 Wrap Up
The theme for my reading picks this month can best be summed up as unexpected. I've mentioned before that I'm a mood reader through and through and this month found me in the mood to be sad, suspenseful, and nostalgic. Not exactly what I had planned when I started the month, but love where it took me! I was able to squeeze in 10 books with a couple of those being audiobooks. Several of these weren't on my TBR, but I'm certainly glad they found their way into my hands :). Here’s a quick wrap-up of this month’s reads (click the links for a more detailed review). My least favorite book of the month was Meet Me in the Margins by ... Read More
My Best Friend’s Exorcism, by Grady Hendrix
If you grew up in the 80's like me, My Best Friend's Exorcism, by Grady Hendrix needs to be on your TBR list! The nostalgia was strong with this one and the story was surprisingly good as well. This one was recommended to me by a friend who recently finished her copy and while I was really reluctant to read it at first, I'm so glad I did! In short, this story is about two girls, Abby & Gretchen, and the demonic possession that almost ended their friendship. If you're anything like me, you're probably thinking, "no thanks!!!" which is exactly how I felt, too! But man, it was a compulsive read! Maybe it's because I loved all the ... Read More
Then She Was Gone, by Lisa Jewell
Psychological thrillers will always be one of my favorite genres and Then She Was Gone, by Lisa Jewell was such a good one! This missing child/grieving mother trope has been written a million different times, but Ms. Jewell really did it justice in this one. 15-year-old Ellie Mack is the youngest of three children & the family golden child. She leaves for the library one morning and never comes home. Her family is devastated by her disappearance and finally gets closure 10 years after she goes missing. During those years of uncertainty, Laurel and Paul (Ellie's parents), split and start to rebuild their lives in her absence. ... Read More
