Summer reading indeed!

 I’ve started off the summer pretty strong. 9 books. 3,621 pages. An average of 121 pages per day. So let’s get to it!

The Lady Brewer of London by Karen Brooks (796 pages). In 1405, nineteen year old Anneke Sheldrake is left as the provider for her younger siblings (and their household servants) when her father dies at sea. Anneke decides that the only way to keep the family together is to become business woman and brew (and sell) ale from her mother’s old family recipes. She begins to have success, as her ale and beer are better than any others in England. But success creates enemies. And eventually a tragedy makes Anneke wonder if she’s made the right choice. She must flee to London for a fresh start. Upon befriending a brothel owner, Anneke finds her way. And decides that she will fulfill her destiny- as the greatest brewer in all of England!  I finished in 3 days.

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeny (304 pages). The day Grady Green found out he was a New York Times best selling author should have been the happiest day of his life. But his wife Abby disappeared that day. A year later, there is still no trace of what happened to her. And Grady’s life is falling apart. His agent (and Abby’s godmother) sends him to the Isle of Amberly off the coast of Scotland. She inherited one of her client’s writing cabins and thinks it will help Grady. But Amberly is a strange place- an island of 25 residents and no contact with the outside world. And as time passes, Grady learns why he came to this island to write. I didn’t even read a preview of this book so I had no idea what I was getting into with it. And it was like nothing I’d read before. It was dark, it was twisty, it was unexpected, it was good. Still not 100% sure about the ending. But I enjoyed it. I finished in 1 day. 

So This is War by Meghan Quinn (440 pages). Smutty rom com for pool sitting!  Levi Posey is one of the stars of the Vancouver Agitators hockey team.  And he meets the girl of his dreams at a bar one night. But before he can learn her name, she runs off. A year later, he’s still thinking about her. So imagine his surprise when his coach asks him to teach his daughter Wylie a lesson about the real world by being his assistant. And Wylie is the girl from the bar!  As the weeks pass and his coach makes him demand menial tasks of Wylie, their mutual attraction is hard to deny. But she’s off limits. Until she isn’t. I finished in 4 days.

The Crash by Frieda McFadden (328 pages). Regan is 22 and 8 months pregnant from a one night stand. When the deal she was striking with the baby daddy falls apart, she decides to go visit her brother for advice. But a snow storm leads to a car accident. Tegan is lucky rescued by Hank. Who takes her home to his wife Polly. And this is where the craziness begins. Because Polly is a former nurse who struggles with infertility. And Tegan is an irresponsible young girl who can’t care for a baby. And Polly and Hank’s basement (where they cared for Polly’s mom) is a perfect  place to keep Tegan. Honestly, this wasn’t my favorite of McFadden’s books. I liked Tegan- she was, despite her injuries, quite feisty and loved her baby. But overall, I’ve read better from this author. I finished in 4 days.

Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D.H. Lawrence (302 pages). Lady Constance Chatterly loves her husband. But Sir Clifford returns from the Great War paralyzed from the waist down and so their marriage continues on as a partnership of agreeable minds. When the gamekeeper, a lower class man named Oliver Mellors, strikes her fancy, Constance begins an affair that reminds her that love is both a physical and a mental thing. This book was banned for profanity and obscenity. Oh, the sweet naiveté!  I’ve read far naughtier by Meghan Quinn and Emily McIntire! I finished in 3 days.

What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall (364 pages). Every summer, best friends Naomi, Cassidy and Olivia spent all their time playing in the woods. Until the summer they were 11 and Naomi nearly died after being attacked. But the girls testified against a serial killer and he was convicted. Now, over two decades later, the secret of what really happened that day is threatening to be uncovered. There were a lot of twists in this one. I finished in 4 days.

Caraval by Stephanie Garber (403 pages). Scarlett Dragna has wanted to experience Master Legend’s Caraval for as long as she can remember. The magic, the performances. When she receives tickets for herself and her sister Donatella to come to Legend’s island and experience it for themselves, she suddenly isn’t so sure. But Tella has convinced a sailor named Julian to help her get them off of their island home and take them to Legend’s island. When Tella is kidnapped to kick off the games, Scarlett realizes she must compete and win.  With Julian’s help, she searches for clues. But Caraval isn’t what it appears. There’s a lot more to Scarlett, Tella, Julian and Legend’s stories than meets the eye. I didn’t love it. I didn’t hate it. It’s the first in a series and I doubt I’ll complete it. I finished in 2 days.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (331 pages). This was a special edition Once Upon a Book Club box. So gifties on social. Set in the 1930’s and modern day, Jacob is remembering his life as he waits for his family to pick him up from the retirement home for a day at the circus.  When Jacob was just 22, his parents died in a car accident and he left Cornell Veterinary School to join the circus. Literally. Uncle Al, the owner of the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth, is thrilled to have a show vet. Jacob is thrilled to have a purpose. He becomes friends with many of the performers and roustabouts. But his biggest connection is to Marlena, the ringmaster’s wife and the top performer of the show. When Uncle Al buys an elephant, Jacob forms another connection. As the economy (and Uncle Al’s shady business practices) wreak havoc on the circus, Jacob and Marlena try to decide if they can start anew. I loved this book when I read it nearly 2 decades ago. I loved it again. The movie could’ve been better but I still liked it. I finished in 3 days. 

Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez (353 pages). Another special edition Once Upon a Book Club box. Samantha is a social media marketing whiz. And a brand new cat mom when she meets veterinarian Xavier. Sparks immediately fly and they have an absolutely perfect first date. That ends with her telling him that she is moving home to California from Minnesota the day after their date. Her mother has dementia and the entire family has rallied together to keep her home. So while Sam’s mother is forgetting her, she hopes Xavier can as well. But true love doesn’t come along every day. And Sam and Xavier just can’t seem to forget each other. This one was a tearjerker for sure!  The idea of making memories and losing memories, all tied up into one beautiful love story. Because love stories aren’t just between husbands and wives, but parents and children, siblings, friends, people who help us find our path. I finished in 3 days.

This month’s favorite is……..Say You’ll Remember Me. 

I MAY have enjoyed a week of beach reading

 With a trip to the beach for a week and it being fully pool season, y’all knew your girl would get more read this month, right?  It was 10 books. 4,174 pages. An average of 135 pages a day. So let’s get to it!

American Gods by Neil Gaiman (522 pages). Why, oh why, did I pick up another weird book by Gaiman?  Shadow is about to be realized from prison when he learns that his wife has died in an accident. With nothing keeping him in Indiana, he takes a job with the enigmatic Mr Wednesday. As they travel all over America, Shadow learns the truth. America is a land of gods. The old gods who came to America with every soul who has come from another land and are slowly dying. And the new gods who are created all the time- technology, media, etc. And the gods must battle. Honestly, I didn’t like this book at all. And I will NEVER pick up another Gaiman book. Some people worship the religion of Gaiman- I find him to be not worth the hype. I finished in 4 days. 

Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes (435 pages). Samantha Kemp is having a hard time. Her boss is horrible, her husband is depressed and she feels like life is passing her by as she reaches middle age. Nisha Cantor is also having hard time. Her wealthy husband has decided he is done with their marriage and locks her out of their hotel penthouse with nothing, leaving her to figure out how to survive. An accidental mixup of gym bags one day means that Nisha has no clothes. And Sam now has a custom pair of red Louboutins. Turns out that walking a mile (or more) in someone else’s shoes can give you a second chance at life. Sam becomes more confident. Nisha becomes more self reliant. And both of them learn that life is easier to get through when you have friends by your side!  Super cute. I finished in 2 days. 

Talking as Fast as I Can by Lauren Graham (223 pages). If you have ever spoken to me for more than about 10 minutes, you know that Gilmore Girls is one of my all time favorite shows. I literally watch it every night to go to sleep. This was Lauren’s memoir. Honestly, I was in it for the Gilmore Girls stuff. Which did NOT disappoint. She and I agree that the final 4 words are really more of a cliffhanger than an ending. I teared up when she talked about Ed Hermann making his presence known on set during A Year in the Life. It wasn’t too deep. It was fun. It was cute. It was very Lorelai. I finished in 2 days. 

A Great Marriage by Frances Mayes (291 pages). October 1994. North Carolinian Dara Willcox is in New York for a weekend trip. While at an art gallery, she meets British Austin Clarke. And sparks fly!  By the following May, at their engagement dinner, everyone is excited about the upcoming nuptials. Especially Dara’s mother Lee and grandmother Charlotte, both of whom are experts on marriage (heck, Charlotte even wrote a book about it!). But when news from home comes to Austin, the wedding is cancelled.  And Austin and Dara have to pick up the pieces of their destroyed lives. I finished in 3 days.

Us Against You by Fredrik Backman (434 pages). The sequel to Beartown. After everything that happened last spring, Beartown is falling. The hockey club is closing. And the residents are still reeling from the lies and truths that emerged. But it’s summertime now. And a different violence has come to Beartown. One that will again rock the town and end a life. But it’s always Beartown against everyone else. In hockey and in life. Especially against their rival town Hed. Y’all- this series!  It’s so beautifully written. I finished in 2 days.

The Winners by Fredrik Backman (670 pages). The third and final book in the Beartown series. It’s been 2 1/2 years since the scandal that tore through Beartown and Hed. But a truce finally exists. Or so they think. But underneath the surface lies the hatred of one boy. Hatred that will claim lives. But show Beartown and Hed that they can co-exist. Hockey will go on. And greatness will come out of this town. Y’all- again. I cried at this one. It was a beautiful ending to a series. Absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking. I finished in 2 days.

The Fiancé Dilemma by Elena Armas (410 pages). Josie Moore, mayor of the small town of Green Oak, NC, spent most of her life not knowing who her father was. Turns out, he’s millionaire Andrew Underwood. And when that truth comes out, Josie becomes a PR nightmare for him. Because she has left four, yes four, men at the altar!  When her sister’s best friend Matthew shows up on her front porch in the middle of a misunderstanding with Andrew’s publicist, Josie states that he is her (fifth) fiancé. Matthew is willing to play along. But when a wedding date is set, it gets harder and harder to admit that this is a fake relationship. Honestly, I didn’t care for this one. And y’all know I love a good chick lit. At least there was no third act misunderstanding that caused a breakup. It was just kind of boring. And I didn’t find myself caring about the characters. I finished in 4 days. 

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon (427 pages). It’s the winter of 1789 in Hallowell, Maine. A frozen body is pulled from the ice of the River and midwife Martha Ballard is called to examine the body. The body of Joshua Burgess. Martha knows he has been killed but the new doctor in town declares his death accidentally. But Joshua Burgess and Judge Joseph North have been accused of raping the minister’s wife. And Martha was a witness to the aftermath of the rape. As court hearings occur and more babies are born, Martha wants to learn the truth. I was fascinated to learn that this book was based on the real life diaries of Martha Ballard. A midwife who never lost a mother. The great-aunt of Clara Barton. And the great-great-grandmother of Mary Hobert, the first female physician in America (who amazingly enough specialized in obstetrics)! The author took liberties to make the story more whodunit. But I loved the story!  I finished in 3 days. 

Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon (395 pages). One of my favorite musicals is The King and I. Amazing songs, amazing sets, amazing cast. Anna Leonowens became a teacher for the court of King Mongkut of Siam in 1862. She was a widow and needed to provide for her children Avis and Louis. Avis was sent to England for school and Louis went with her to Bangkok. The musical either combined stories and characters or omitted them entirely. This book went into much more detail.  There were funny stories, heartbreaking stories, political stories, religious stories. Anna lived a very fascinating life for the five years she was in Siam. And had quite an effect on the Crown Prince Chulalongkorn- she introduced him to the life of Abraham Lincoln and inspired him to free the slaves of Siam when he became king.  All that to say, upon further study, Anna Leonowens was perhaps a little loose with the truth in her own diaries. Which were the inspiration for this book. Doesn’t make me love the story of The King and I any less!  Shall we dance indeed! I finished in 6 days. 

The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand (367 pages). Hollis Shaw loves her life- she’s married to a handsome surgeon, she has a wonderful daughter in college and she has a successful food blog. But when her husband dies in a car accident and her daughter begins to distance herself, Hollis doesn’t know what to do. Until she reads about a widow who threw herself a five-star weekend- a girls weekend with a friend from childhood, from college, from prime of life and from middle-age. And she asks her daughter to be the videographer. But the weekend isn’t the perfect weekend she planned. But it is the perfect weekend. Secrets are revealed, grudges are forgiven. And each woman has a nice story. I finished in 3 days. 

This month’s favorite is……..Fredrik Backman. I will not choose one over the other though.