I’m so happy summer is finally here. Don’t get me wrong I’m perfectly happy to read a book in any season but there is nothing like reading on our porch or out by the pool that just makes reading that much more enjoyable. Our family is having a “Summer of Yes” due to pretty much everything being canceled these last two years meaning we are VERY busy leaving me not too much time to read. However, I’ll take the memory making days with them over anything. I hit a bit of a meh slump with this ten stack however, there were definitely some good finds mixed in. Check these out for your next lazy summer day read.

“Much Ado About You” by Samantha Young

After a knee-jerk reaction to a setback at work, Evie finds herself packing up her life in Chicago and escaping to a tiny village in England for a break. The rental listing seemed like fate, an apartment above a bookshop that the owner lets you run while you vacation. Her interactions with the locals begin immediately when Evie saves Roane Robson’s dog from being hit by a car. The local heartthrob asks Evie to dinner to thank her and the local gossip spreads like wildfire. Determined to not break her no-dating-on-vacation pact, Evie is determined to keep Roane at arms length. Only problem is the more time they spend together the more their chance encounter feels like fate. “Much Ado About You” is, as most rom-com reads are, a little predictable but isn’t that one of their charms? As any good Hallmark romance does this book provides lots of warm and fuzzies and leaves its reader with a smile. If you are looking for a good easy breezy “beach read” give this one a try.

“One by One” by Ruth Ware

A beautiful, private ski lodge in France with a chef and house manager on site sounds like an ideal corporate retreat spot for a tech company to collaborate and connect on a major decision for their future. The eight co-workers arrive at the isolated and remote chalet with their own secrets and agendas to work out but none of that will matter soon when an avalanche hits the property and the group becomes trapped. Having to work together to survive the elements while waiting to be rescued becomes challenging when their trust in one another is tested but will they all still be alive by the time help arrives? Truth be told I am not a die hard Ruth Ware fan. I have yet to find a book of hers that I actually fully enjoy. I find the “twist” that gets thrown in to be slightly predictable and at times eye roll worthy. However, “One by One” just may be my favorite Ware book yet. It still wouldn’t make any top lists but if you are interested in giving one of her titles a try, out of her catalog I would recommend this one first. Enough suspense with just the right amount of twist.

“The Lost Apothecary” by Sarah Penner

Hidden down a dark alley in the depths of seventeenth century London, Nella provides her poisons to women who seek her out. The apothecary shop is a secret passed in shadows with its entrance disguised to only those who are privy to its location. Nella has rules she stands firm to, she will only sell to women and every transaction and victim’s name is to be recorded. Her next scheduled customer arrives and she is met by a headstrong twelve year old girl, sent by her mistress, to obtain a lethal potion. In Eliza, Nella can see a hunger to learn and the two form a connection that could jeopardize the secret world Nella has built her life around. In present day London, a blue vial is discovered along the banks of the river Thames prompting historian, Caroline Parcewell to set off on a hunt to determine what the bear logo stands for on its glass causing her to stumble upon articles written about the “apothecary murders” and tempting her own fate as she digs deeper into the mystery. With its mixed reviews, I wasn’t sure what to expect with “The Lost Apothecary” but I am happy to report I fell into the positive camp. I enjoyed the time jumps, characters and plot. I’ve seen this listed in the fantasy genre but I’m not sure why as this reads more like a historical fiction/mystery. Also, how do you not pick this book up after seeing this gorgeous cover?

“Last Call at the Nightingale” by Katharine Schellman

To escape the life she hates, Vivian spends her nights dancing away her disappointments at the Nightingale, an underground club where cares vanish faster than the illegal liquor they serve. At the Nightingale no one cares who you are, what kind of family you come from or who you love as long as the band is playing, the dance floor is full and the champagne is chilled. But when Vivian stumbles upon a body in the back alley of the club her boring day to day life gets flipped on its head. Now she’s being asked to dig into a world she knows nothing about, dodge dangerous criminals and keep herself safe from those who think she knows too much. I love reading about this era and lots of this book lived up to my expectations but some of Vivian’s choices just left me plain puzzled. There is nothing really wrong with “Nightingale” however there isn’t much memorable about it either. It’s a good read but I wouldn’t rush to add this historical fiction who-dun-it to any must read list. Might be a top hit for some just wasn’t for me. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

“Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald” by Therese Anne Fowler

“Marry me, Zelda. We’ll make it all up as we go.” When seventeen year old Zelda Sayre met Army Lt. F. Scott Fitzgerald at a dance in 1918 the rest as they say is history. The Fitzgeralds became one of the golden couples of the Jazz Age but from their great heights, they had far to fall. After the celebrity and acclaim Scott’s writing brought to them their relationship began to spiral with catastrophic consequences. What unfolds is a fictional take on historical facts heavily researched by author Therese Anne Fowler that will interest any historical fiction fan. “Z” was a very slow read for me, not because of content or the story, it was just not a “just one more chapter” kind of read. As a warning, some of the language may be triggering in this story (1920s era outdated labels) but is worth picking up if you enjoy a his fic read. Give this one a TBR add, unless you are a diehard Hemingway fan.

“The Sanatorium” by Sarah Pearse

Who wouldn’t want the novel experience of staying in a luxury hotel that was once used as a sanatorium for tuberculosis patients? Developer Lucas Caron has high expectations for his Swiss resort and has spared no expense renovating the abandoned property. When Elin and her boyfriend Will arrive at the isolated property she immediately feels something is off at Le Sommet or could it be meeting up with her estranged brother and his new fiancée Laure to celebrate their engagement that has her anxious? When they awake the next morning and discover Laure to be missing, it sets off alarm bells for Elin, a detective on leave, and she starts her own investigation. As a devastating storm beats down on the hotel and help from the police is not coming, Elin is their only hope to uncover the mystery surrounding Le Sommet and calm guests’ fears. Elin feels back in her element until they discover a body and now it’s a race against time and the elements. I love a good page-turner that leaves the answers just past your fingertips though at times I found this to be repetitive and slightly confusing. I wasn’t aware that “The Sanatorium” was the start of a series featuring Elin so now I will have to add “The Retreat” to my TBR list.

“Verity” by Colleen Hoover

Verity Crawford was at the peak of her career when an accident ended her ability to finish her successful book series – enter Lowen Ashleigh. Verity’s husband has asked Lowen to complete the last three books Verity set out to write. Bordering on financial ruin after losing her mother for Lowen this is the job of a lifetime. Jeremy invites Lowen up to their home in Vermont to go through years of Verity’s notes and outlines to hopefully help decipher what it was she intended to write. Hidden in the chaos of Verity’s office, Lowen finds a manuscript of what appears to be an autobiography. Lowen rationalizes to herself that the best way to get into Verity’s head is to learn about her life in her own words. What she doesn’t expect to find is page after page of unedited truths, confessions and secrets Verity never intended anyone to read including the truth about what really happened the day her daughter died. Knowing how much grief Jeremy is already wading through, Lowen decides to keep Verity’s confessions hidden. Lowen and Jeremy start to grow closer together the longer she remains at their home but when unexplained things start to happen, things that couldn’t possibly be real Lowen starts to question whether Verity is truly as far gone as her family believes her to be and if she is risking her life just by being there. Before “Verity” I had yet to come across a Colleen Hoover book I liked. After several attempts I had just about given up on figuring out what the die hard fans saw. A friend encouraged me to try “Verity” and I’m so glad I did. Though the themes are VERY dark and at some points disturbing I couldn’t put this one down. I could have done without the last twist but all in all Verity was a page turner.

“Darling Rose Gold” by Stephanie Wrobel

After serving five years in prison for allegedly poisoning her daughter, Patty Watts is now free. Rose Gold is prepared to give her mother a second chance and upon her release agrees to let her move back in with her and her newborn son. Her entire childhood was riddled with illness and unexplained ailments that kept Rose Gold from having a normal life. Instead she was kept isolated and attached to her mother. Medical professionals couldn’t explain what ailed her, she appeared to be allergic to everything and was confined to a wheelchair when out in public. Their community rallied around them with casserole deliveries or fundraising events, Patty & Rose Gold were wrapped in caring arms. Then a neighbor began to ask questions and things started to unravel for Patty. Now that she has returned home the once tight community is shocked that Rose Gold has allowed her mother to reside under the same roof as her again. For half a decade the neighbors have had a hard time letting go of old history but the thing is…so has Rose Gold. “Darling Rose Gold” is an outrageously dysfunctional story of two people that I would never want to encounter in the real world. Both Rose Gold and Patty are so disturbingly complex and diabolical you have a hard time sympathizing with either of them. For me, this was just an okay read and I would have a hard time suggesting this to most based on the theme alone. Lots of TWs throughout so be sure to proceed with caution for this one.

“The Thursday Murder Club” by Richard Osman

Inside the sleepy hallways of Coopers Chase retirement home a small group of unlikely friends meet every Thursday to discuss cold cases and try their hand at solving them. The four members of the Thursday Murder Club, all nearing octogenarian status don’t let a little thing like age get in the way of the possibility of doing what the police can’t, at least in their opinion. When a local man with ties to Coopers Chase is murdered Joyce, Elizabeth, Ron and Ibrahim decide their services are needed in order to solve the crime. When one body turns into two the Thursday Murder Club is hoping to stay one step ahead of the authorities in order to catch the killer among them. I really enjoyed the quirky little collection of characters in this book. Though I found the pace to be a little slow, I was rooting for the club from the start. “The Thursday Murder Club” is book one in a series by Richard Osman and I can’t wait to see what the Thursday Murder Club will be up to next.

“Float Plan” by Trish Doller

Three years before his death, Anna’s fiancé set a reminder in her phone for the day they would set sail on their big Caribbean tour. This morning, ten months after his passing, the alarm wakes Anna from her grief. Without thinking, she grabs some belongings, heads to their boat and casts off alone into unknown waters intending to complete Ben’s dream voyage. When she realizes she is in over her head alone Anna recruits a professional sailor. Not ready to fully release herself from the loss of Ben, Anna hopes that following his path and the course he charted will help lead her towards a new beginning and a fresh horizon to aim her sails. “Float Plan” is filled with the most beautiful descriptions of some of the most picturesque locations on Earth. If you can’t take a vacation this year, reading along with Anna’s sailing adventures are enough to fill that void. I would never be brave enough to navigate what she did but reading Doller’s words made me feel like I was right there with Anna. When a book starts off with a TW regarding loss of a loved one due to suicide you brace yourself for a difficult read but “Float Plan” was anything but. I didn’t want this one to end and thankfully Doller has created a series with book two and three following two of Anna’s friends and continuing her story within.

Til next time,

The Booked Mama

Follow/Like/Add @thebookedmama on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter