“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall” F. Scott Fitzgerald

Fall is approaching according to the calendar but it’s in the 80s as I write this. Crisp, sweater weather it is not. However, I will not complain because if you live in New England like me, you know you will blink and snow will be here soon enough. I’ll take the gorgeous colors and yummy fall food while I can. One other thing that fall brings back is school pick-up line reading time again. I can’t wait to have my dedicated book time back in the schedule. This 10 stack took me through the end of our summer travels and helped me hold on to my favorite season just that little bit longer. Hope you find something to add to your TBR list. One of my favorites of the summer is in this 10. Can you guess which one it is?

“Reckless Girls” by Rachel Hawkins

When Lux and Nico are hired by two college best friends to sail them to a remote island it seems as if everything is falling into place. They can now afford to repair The Susannah and set off on their own adventures when they return leaving dead end jobs behind. Their destination, Meroe Island, the site rumored to be haunted by those shipwrecked long ago with tales of cannibalism whispered and murderous acts for survival by those who were left stranded. When the group arrives at Meroe their dream of a private island getaway is squashed when they see another boat already anchored off shore. When the rich, young couple blend themselves into the foursome, they don’t seem to mind. The Azure Sky is well stocked with food and drink thanks to her rich owners. They quickly fall into a routine as a party of six soon living more on the island than their boats. A few days into their stay they spy another boat on the horizon and when its lone sailor comes ashore the group soon realizes that danger has washed up with him and being so far from help may come at a price. For me, “Reckless Girls” was just an okay read. There was nothing particularly wrong with it but I also had no problem putting it down for a break either. You could see some of the plot unfolding before it did, predictable in its twists and turns but it kept me reading. I wouldn’t be the first book I would recommend someone pick up but I wouldn’t steer someone away from it either. A middle of the road read.

“The Summer of Wishful Thinking” by Eve Edwards

As the local registrar, Gemma helps couples live their happily ever after day in and day out. Though she loves her job it is a constant reminder what is missing from her life, someone to share it with. When all signs point to a fresh start being what Gemma and her son need, the two move into a cottage on the property of a castle. A work in progress by its owner Sam, the castle is his second chance at life, leaving his old career behind after a tragic loss. The two begin to form a friendship when they realize they could benefit from what the other has to offer. For Gemma, a safe place to live and for Sam, someone to help keep an eye on his elderly father. But when Gemma’s old life creeps onto the castle grounds she worries it could ruin everything she and Sam have wished for. “The Summer of Wishful Thinking” is a sweet, easy read that I finished in a day. You can easily picture yourself in the small village Gemma escapes to and relate to both her and Sam. Though I felt the ending was a bit rushed and wished we could have had a little more, I enjoyed this one for what it was. A good beach day read.

“Dating You Hating You” by Christina Lauren

Evie is convinced she is fated to be forever single. After arriving at her friend’s Halloween party alone realizing that everyone is there as a couple, she begins the countdown before she can politely make her exit. But when her Hermione meets a single Harry at the punch bowl she begins to think her luck might be turning around. Evie and Carter immediately hit it off and sparks begin to fly even learning that he works at a competing Hollywood agency doesn’t seem to squash their interest in one another. One can never get too comfortable in tinsel town because things can change in a Hollywood minute. Evie and Carter all of a sudden find themselves mixed up in a corporate merger and only one of them can stay, causing their budding romance to turn sabotage. With only one of them in the end keeping their dream job, the two are forced into situations that remind them of how good they could have been if only the stars had aligned. I love me a good Christina Lauren book but I have to admit this one wasn’t my favorite. It felt as if there was just something missing that could have made this a hit but I could never quite put my finger on what it was. One major plus for me is the author highlighting the subject of workplace inequality and double standards between men and women getting ahead in predominantly male-dominated industries. Though I wouldn’t steer someone away from this book, there are just other Christina Lauren books I would recommend reading first.

“Every Summer After” by Carley Fortune

For over a decade Percy has thought about him, compared everyone to him. Sam Florek was the boy next door for six summers at her family’s lake house, the two growing into teenagers together. Each summer their friendship gaining until Percy and Sam were inseparable. Now thirty year old Percy is being brought back to the town she thought she would never visit again after the death of Sam and Charlie’s mom. One phone call and every memory she thought she stored away comes rushing back, the one that got away. When the two are once again reunited the connection the two once had is undeniable but in order to possibly get everything she ever wanted Percy must first come clean about what really broke them all those years ago. So…controversial to say the least “Every Summer After” drew me in thanks to Bookstagram. However, I knew nothing of the question marks that surrounded this book until after I was well underway reading and had to pause several times thinking “haven’t I read this somewhere before?” Yes, the similarities to another popular author’s book that I reviewed a few months ago is very glaring but unpopular opinion here…I think “Every Summer After” did the theme/storyline better. I had a hard time with a few scenes in the “other” book where I felt “ESA” did the flashbacks/teenage scenes in a stronger way. I liked the writing in ESA more as well as the characters. If it came down to recommending one over the other, I’d go with “Every Summer After” any day.

“One Italian Summer” by Rebecca Serle

When your whole world is no longer with you, what do you do next? This is the question that Katy now faces after the death of her mother, Carol. Carol was everything to Katy, her confidant, her best friend. She finds herself trapped in indecision with no one to turn to for advice. Does she return to work? Does she even love her husband anymore? To avoid everything and everyone, Katy decides to still take the mother/daughter trip of a lifetime that they had planned. Two weeks in Positano with a carefully curated itinerary made by Carol herself based on her memories of a summer she spent there when she was younger. Carol wanted to show Katy everything, all her favorite spots and eat all her favorite foods. When she arrives at their hotel, Katy can feel her mother around her as she slowly begins to heal but when something unexplainable happens Katy realizes her mother is closer to her than ever here in Positano. Though she never expected to learn once again from her mother, Katy is suddenly face to face with a part of her she never knew existed causing old wounds to reopen in one of the most beautiful places on Earth. I had a hard time with “One Italian Summer”. The plot was just a little too far fetched for me to really settle into. I also didn’t connect with Katy and wanted to shake her at times. However, the virtual vacation I took while reading this was outstanding and felt like I was there on the Amalfi Coast dreaming of eating everything along the way. (Give me all the wine, tomatoes, cheese and pasta.) Though I wouldn’t steer someone away from this book, there is another Rebecca Serle book I would recommend reading more.

“Shadows in Time” by Julie McElwain

Kendra Donovan is tasked with helping to solve yet another crime in the 1800s after getting trapped there when she crossed through a rift in time. Having no way of knowing if she will ever be able to get back to the present day, Kendra is using all of her skills learned at the FBI to help navigate this era. Now that she has become an official ward of the Duke of Aldridge, Kendra is afforded more respect with the Ton and finds herself in the ballrooms of the upper class elite knowing one of them might just be the culprit she is looking for. This time around she is tasked with finding a missing man whose employer is desperately looking for. Kendra suspects immediately that there is more to this story because as she has discovered everyone in this time has something to hide. “Shadows in Time” is the fifth book I’ve read in the “…in Time” series and I hope Julie McElwain never stops writing them! They are the perfect mix of mystery, historical fiction and romance all mixed together with a little sci-fi fun. These books are definitely made to be read in order so if time traveling mysteries is up your alley check out book one “Murder in Time” first.

“You’re Invited” by Amanda Jayatissa

No one wants to hear about their ex-boyfriend getting married, especially when the person they are marrying is your ex-best friend. After years without seeing or speaking to Kaavi or Spencer, Amaya is surprised to find an invitation to their Sri Lankan wedding in her inbox. The email urged her to come, that both the bride and her family wanted her there despite their strict pact that Amaya never return to Sri Lanka after her last visit five years ago. Determined to stop this wedding at all costs Amaya boards a plane and finds herself plotting how she can end this relationship. Once she is there and back to spending time with Kaavi, she learns that her family had no idea she was invited and are furious that she is back and when Kaavi winds up missing on the morning of the ceremony all fingers point to Amaya. Though as the search for the bride begins it seems that Amaya wasn’t the only one with an agenda and an invite. I love a good thriller and when one has promise it’s slightly disappointing when it falls flat. I loved the way the story was structured through interviews and other narratives but the ending felt thrown together, rushed and a little far fetched. I’ve heard good things about the author’s other work so I’ll definitely give that one a try.

“All Dressed Up” by Jilly Gagnon

Attempting to make amends with his wife Becca after betraying her trust, Blake is whisking them away to a theme weekend at a gorgeous, yet isolated estate. The guest list is small, the drinks are strong and an excuse to wear some elaborate 1920’s fashions sounds ideal to Becca. Not knowing if she is fully able to forgive Blake, now that’s another subject. When all of the guests arrive for cocktails it is quickly revealed that Blake wasn’t completely truthful about what this weekend was all about when a body is found on the floor. Becca has found herself in the middle of a murder mystery weekend. The guests are now tasked with uncovering which one of them is the responsible for the murder of Ida Crooner but when they arrive at breakfast the next day it seems that one of the cast members has gone missing. Becca seems to be the only one concerned with the girl’s welfare and takes on the case herself placing herself in the middle of a real life whodunit that is anything but a game. I loved the concept of “All Dressed Up” and found myself tearing through this one to get to the resolution. I could have done with a little less of being in Becca’s head when it came to her relationship but other than that I really enjoyed this. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

“Those Who Are Saved” by Alexis Landau

After getting word that all foreigners must report to an internment camp, Vera is faced with an impossible choice. Should she take her French born daughter with her or leave Lucie hidden with her governess until she can return? Believing the safest option is to keep her away from the trauma of the camp, Vera leaves Lucie behind saying she would be back soon. As the horrors of the war begin to increase, Vera is forced to flee across the ocean. The time separated from her daughter is filled with pain, worry and speculation when letters and news from France is slow to arrive and then not at all. Determined to be reunited with Lucie and strongly believing she survived the war, Vera’s only goal is to once again set sail for France and journey on until she discovers Lucie’s fate. This was a difficult book to read as a parent. I can’t imagine the anxiety that was felt by so many in this situation not knowing where their children were, how they were or if they were even alive. I don’t know if my nerves could have handled this. The story in parts dragged on a bit and could have possibly done without some of the narrative, especially in Sasha’s POV when for me the Vera/Lucie storyline was the main focus. If you are a His Fic fan, I’m sure you would enjoy this if you are looking for a new read. For me it was a bit of a slow roll.

“The Crown – Volume I and Volume II” by Robert Lacey

“The Crown is a historical drama about an ordinary woman born into extraordinary circumstances. It is not a documentary or a docudrama.” – Peter Morgan. “The Crown – Volume I & II” are written to accompany the TV show to help establish fact from fiction and to dive deeper into the players involved in some of history’s most pivotal moments. Volume I covers the years 1947-1955 and Volume II picks up in 1956-1977. With Queen Elizabeth II’s recent passing, I wanted to revisit her story and recognize the tremendous, long life she led. I know that the television drama takes many liberties with creative storytelling (though you’d be shocked at how many people believe that “The Crown” is purely factual) however some of it is truly based on fact. These books help flush out where those two lines blur. Royal historian Robert Lacey clears the way for readers to learn the truth behind Queen Elizabeth II’s tremendous dedication to her service that spanned her 70 years on the throne. Also inside these two books are gorgeous visuals and the layout of the book mixing real life photos of Queen Elizabeth as well as photos from the show is very well done. If you have watched the four seasons of this show (…I can’t wait for season five) I would highly recommend taking the time to read/listen to these books and to quote Paddington…”Thank you Ma’am, for everything.”

Til next time,

The Booked Mama

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