I hope all is well in your world. Not too much new around here. The weather has been picture-perfect, so we have been spending a lot of time out on the patio.
Three words: I loved it!
We went to a happy hour in our neighborhood on Friday night. There has been a big turnover in the 'hood since we moved in five years ago. It was nice to meet some of the new neighbors, and it is always great to get together with the old ones established residents.
My J.Crew Factory order arrived just in the nick of time. The white denim jacket replaced my usual cardigan, and the pants are petite, which worked out to be the perfect length for me.
Anytime I don't have to spend $$ on alterations is a good day in my book.
Oh, how I adored this book! It is nonfiction written by a tabloid writer. Isabel is asked by her dear friend, who is living in Canada, to look in on her Dad every once in a while in NYC. Isabel recently went through a divorce and was lonely and out of sorts. She called Edward, and he invited her over to dinner. He had taken up cooking when he retired and enjoyed having the company. In no time, Isabel would have a weekly dinner at Edward's. While Edward mourned his wife, Isabel mourned her marriage. And both bonded over good food. It is the story of a beautiful friendship that revolved around food, wine, and lost love.
This book is on my Top Ten list for 2026.
The Mister loved it too.
I have read several books by Dean Koontz, and this is by far my favorite. This story begins in the late 1930's, with a young girl as the star attraction in a circus freak show. Her handler is a miserable man who treats Alida horribly. One day, a well-to-do couple offers the man money to take Alida off his hands. If you want to know what happens next, you'll either have to kill me or read the book.
This is a wonderful story with a dash of magic.
This is a gripping and emotionally charged novel that blends suspense, resilience, and the power of human connection. Charlotte Gray is an aspiring wildlife photographer grappling with a strained relationship with her mother while trying to build a name for herself in her field.
I hadn't read a book by Fern Michaels in years. After this page-turner, I will definitely seek out more of her books.
Amazon
This story is the tale of two lovers who found each other, only for circumstances to tear them apart. It ripped my heart out.
Anything by Julianne MacLean is on my automatic download list.
Because I loved the last book so much, I downloaded this one, which I am presently listening to now. The central message is that even in the face of loss, hardship, or unexpected change, tomorrow still holds possibilities.
This is a double timeline. Sixty years ago, a woman's grandmother lived on Martha's Vineyard under an assumed name. It turns out she was an up-and-coming actress in Old Hollywood. After some success, she dropped out of sight and changed her name. The granddaughter gradually put the pieces together after she found a box of old letters in the attic. This moved quickly, and the plot was well constructed.
My favorite genre is domestic drama. This story takes place in the 1970's. Two families living on the same street become permanently intertwined when the wife/mother runs away with the husband/dad of the other family. The book shows the rippling effect of this dramatic move through the years. This one is a gem!
I enjoyed Haven Point, the author's first book, very much. This one takes place in Maine as well. The book opens with Anna, who is staying with her sister and is watching her nieces for the Summer. In her spare time, she writes a book, Liberty Island, under a pen name, which eventually gains notoriety. The story is told in two timelines: 1900 and Anna's niece, Julia's story in 1922.
If you read one historical fiction novel this month, I highly recommend this one. If you liked All The Light You Cannot See, you will love this one. It takes place during WWII. A young woman, Kitty, comes from an unconventional family that inherits a house in Guernsey. She meets Lukas, a German seminarian visiting his grandparents. Sparks fly, and we watch this love story unfold through the years.
Chloe and Mark work together for a law firm. They meet for dinner - Chloe with her husband, Alex, and Mark with a date. When Chloe and her hubs, Alex, sit down at the table, it is evident that he and Mark's date know each other. The date gets so flustered that she runs out the door.
As my girls would say: AWKWARD!
If you liked The Next Mrs. Parrish, you will love this one. An aspiring young author marries an older, successful author. His first wife was her sister, who died mysteriously. He has no clue. Is he a good guy or a bad guy? You'll have to wait until August, when it debuts, to find out.
This novel tells the story of a chance incident that sparks a powerful realization in a beloved teacher's life—a poignant meditation on loneliness, friendship, parenthood, and the importance of truth in a capsizing world.
This is a bold, big-hearted novel about a group of unbreakable women, fighting for what's rightfully theirs—and the power of friendship to change everything.
I just started this one, and from the first page, I was hooked.
When 77-year-old Pepper Mills' adult children place her in a retirement community in Texas, the last thing she expects is to become pregnant.
I am a big fan of Frankel's and look forward to reading this one.
The lives of four sleepless strangers intersect late at night as they attempt to solve not just their own anxieties but also the mysterious disappearance of one of their own.
I'm putting together a post about intriguing books coming out this Summer.
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Thanks for the recommendations! I put several on my TBR. I'm really looking forward to Calamity Club.
ReplyDeleteFYI - Virginia Hume is Brit Hume's daughter!
ReplyDeleteAlways impressed by how much reading you do! Thanks for the suggestions.
ReplyDeleteGreat list ~ thank you! Excited to see your summer recs. Always the best reading season ☀️
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