Loooots of reading was done during the month of July. We went on a weeklong vacation to Turks and Caicos to kick off the month, and during that trip I somehow finished eight books – it was amazing! There were also several audiobooks finished, and the first few books I’ve ever read on my Kindle! Summer reading is the very best reading in my opinion, so I had a great month!
THE LAST MRS. PARRISH BY LIV CONSTANTINE – 4 STARS
Amber has a plan on how she’s going to weasel her way into the lives of the rich and enviable Parrish family – to befriend the wife so she can become the wife. The Last Mrs. Parrish is a psychological thriller with somewhat of a slow burn, but a huge twist leaves you turning pages until you find the ending. It reminded me a lot of The Wife Between Us.
HERE’S TO US BY ELIN HILDERBRAND – 5 STARS
Elin Hilderbrand and beach vacations just go hand in hand. Here’s to Us is the story of what happens when a famous chef passes away and his family – three previous wives included – must meet at his Nantucket home to grieve and lay him to rest. I love the drama and relationships that Hilderbrand weaves into every story, giving even the most unlikeable characters at least one redeeming quality that has you rooting for everyone in the end.
NEXT YEAR IN HAVANA BY CHANEL CLEETON – 4 STARS
Brb booking a trip to Cuba. This book was less a romance and more a political and historical look at Cuba during the revolution, but I thoroughly enjoyed it! There was such beautiful imagery surrounding the setting, the food, the clothing and opulent homes – you just feel like you’re there!
THE NEXT RIGHT THING BY EMILY P. FREEMAN – 5 STARS
Emily Freeman is my therapist, she just doesn’t know it (lol jk). All jokes aside, The Next Right Thing was a beautiful guide through decision-making and life change, full of hope and wisdom from God’s Word and trusted sources along the way. I feel certain that I will pick this one up again.
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW BY SALLY HEPWORTH – 4 STARS
For some reason, I thought that this book was a fast-paced thriller, so I was slightly disappointed with the pace of the story. It has a dual timeline, switching back and forth between the present-day, where a woman is found dead and everyone is a suspect, and the past, where we see a glimpse into a very complicated mother-in-law, daughter-in-law relationship unfolding. I think I would have enjoyed it much more had I not been anticipating something more ~thrilling~.
THE UNHONEYMOONERS BY CHRISTINA LAUREN – 5 STARS
I loved this book. There aren’t many books that cause me to literally laugh out loud, but I kept having to put the book down to read excerpts to the people around me because it was just so funny. A seafood buffet gone wrong at a wedding causes the bride and groom to be unable to go on their honeymoon. The bride’s sister and groom’s brother (archenemies) are called on to take their places, and all of the chaos and romance ensues. Highly recommend.
FLOAT PLAN BY TRISH DOLLER – 4 STARS
Float Plan was such a cute romance book to read at the beach. I won my copy on Goodreads and brought it along with me on our trip to Turks and Caicos. Little did I know that I would be reading about a budding romance on a sailboat in Turks and Caicos! It was so much fun to read about the places I was literally visiting that week. Perfect beach read.
THE SILENT PATIENT BY ALEX MICHAELIDES – 5 STARS
This was a reread for me, but because it had been two years, I was once again surprised by the twisty thriller that is The Silent Patient. I hate it when people tell you, “Just wait until the twist!” because then I anticipate every single happening. But this book is just a wild ride from the beginning that you won’t see coming. I included it in my Summer Reading Guide also.
AN OFFER FROM A GENTLEMAN BY JULIA QUINN – 3 STARS
Book three in the Bridgerton series, this book follows the love story of the second born Bridgerton, Benedict. I don’t totally love this series, but I am interested in each of the Bridgerton children’s stories, so I’m pushing through! Expect romance and the ever-so-popular enemies to lovers trope.
THE LAST ANNIVERSARY BY LIANE MORIARTY – 3 STARS
Liane Moriarty is sure to bring you a complex cast of characters and an intriguing story. Always set in Australia, I love the relationships and tensions that she weaves with her words. The Last Anniversary is about a tiny island inhabited with a family full of secrets – unsolved murder, abandoned baby, family ties, and the secrets that hold it all together.
ROMANCING MISTER BRIDGERTON BY JULIA QUINN – 3 STARS
Book four in the Bridgerton series, this book follows third-born Bridgerton child, Collin. This book featured a lot more of the Lady Whistledown storyline than any of the others so far, and I really enjoyed the mystery and romance of it all.
BIG SUMMER BY JENNIFER WEINER – 4 STARS
Be warned, Big Summer looks like a fun summer read, but it gets heavy quickly. I originally thought it would be similar to the likes of One to Watch, but when murder becomes a plotline, everyone becomes a suspect. It’s still a fun, easy read, but just a little bit heavier than I anticipated.
THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE BY V.E. SCHWABB – 5 STARS
Wow – this is a beautiful book. The dual timelines in this book bring you all the way back to the 1700s in France and then back again to present day NYC. Addie LaRue has been cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets. And then she falls in love. It’s a long read, and at times moves slowly, but it is truly stunning writing, and you’ll be dying to know how it all ends up.
THE NIGHTINGALE BY KRISTIN HANNAH – 5 STARS
Another beautiful book, The Nightingale is a story of two sisters in occupied France during WWII and the struggles and sacrifices that they must make to survive. It was also a slower read for me, but I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and the ending was so beautiful.
You can follow along with my 2021 reading here!
What I Read in January
What I Read in February
What I Read in March
What I Read in April
What I Read in May
What I Read in June
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