Due to other commitments this spring, I had to take a little break from reading for a few weeks but summer is now in full swing and I can’t wait to make a dent on my reading list that is currently over thirty titles long! I am really looking forward to sitting poolside with many a book in the coming weeks. I’m finding it more and more enjoyable to write about each of these books as this “challenge” goes on. (Maybe I will actually keep up with this blog when this is all said and done…we’ll see.) Thank you for the book suggestions and please keep them coming!

21. “My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She’s Sorry” by Fredrik Backman

Elsa and her Granny are best friends. Granny is Elsa’s only friend, really. They have their own special language as Grannys and Grandaughters ought to as well as their own magical land they travel to when inside Granny’s wardrobe. Granny is fiercely protective of Elsa, who is almost eight years old but wise beyond her years. When Granny dies she sends Elsa off on a secret mission to deliver letters to those she needs to apologize to. In doing so, Elsa gets to know the stories behind the people she lives in the same building with and learns of the complexities in her Grandmother’s past. Like book #17 in my previous post, this book was slow to grow on me and though I can’t say I enjoyed this as much as “A Man Called Ove” it is still a special read about the bonds of the family we are given and the family we create for ourselves.

22. “Little Fires Everywhere” by Celeste Ng

A nomadic mother and daughter, Mia & Pearl, pull into the picture perfect town of Shaker Heights with the intention of finally putting down some roots. It is there where they meet the Richardson family. Elena Richardson, the matriarch of the family, is a perfectionistic journalist whose need to dig for the real story behind the new tenants in her rental house causes her own life to go up in flames. The book has a running theme that makes the reader consider, “What makes someone a mother? Is it biology or was it love?” Does simply being related by blood give you the right to raise a child? “Little Fires Everywhere” is another title off Reese Witherspoon’s book club list and she is also in the process of producing the book for a TV mini-series, can’t wait for that! I would definitely recommend adding this title to your summer reading list. (PSA to those of you who have been borrowing books from me based on these reviews – I borrowed this book from a friend so you will have to head to B & N yourself to read this one. Thanks for the recommendation, Rebecca.)

23. “The Magnolia Story” by Chip & Joanna Gaines

This beautiful story about the beginnings of the Gaines family and how their Magnolia empire came to be is a must read for anyone who is a fan of “Fixer Upper”. I was surprised that the book jacket wasn’t shiplapped! The dedication and hands on hard work that both Chip and Joanna put into the early days of their partnership come to fruition as they tell the story of how they met all the way through the opening of the Silos in Waco, TX. I was surprised to learn that Joanna had no formal training in interior design and became the home decor icon she is today due to raw talent and practicing with the couples constant moves from flip house to flip house. Joanna’s outlook on parenting and taking life less seriously is one I am working towards daily. “I am learning that getting our intentions right simplifies our decisions in life and changes our perspective. And in the end, what it’s all about is thankfulness and contentment.” Now if only these two would travel out of Waco for design work…

24. “Lilac Girls” by Martha Hall Kelly

“Lilac Girls” is a beautifully written debut novel by a New England native. The story begins in 1939 and follows three women for twenty years during WWII. What I didn’t realize until reading the author’s notes at the back is that this is based on a true events. Caroline, a former actress turned consulate worker, lives in the United States and does all she can to support the people of France as Hitler invades the country. Kasia is living in Poland working for the underground when she is arrested and imprisoned at Ravensbrook, the only all female concentration camp. Herta, a German doctor, finds her beliefs being drastically numbed at the camp she is assigned to work until she is completely swept up in the experimental atrocities spearheaded by Dr. Karl Gebhardt. While Kasia’s character is based off a fictional experience at Ravensbrook, Caroline and Herta were in fact real people. The author used letters and journals these women kept to add in much of their own voices to the story. Some chapters end in significant cliff hangers that made me want to skip ahead to see what happened next. This is a great read for fans of this genre. (Thanks, Rebecca, for another loaner.)

25. “The Hideaway” by Lauren K. Denton

“The Hideaway” is a quick, sweet read. The story follows Sara as she discovers a hidden past her grandmother, Mags, left behind after her death. The narrative changes back and forth between Sara’s present day and her grandmother, Mags, as a young twenty-something discovering her true self. Set in the south, the descriptions of the The Hideaway’s bay views makes you want to check-in just to sit back and relax on the porch with a glass of sweet tea. Another first time author, Denton takes you on an emotional journey teaching us to appreciate our loved ones while they are still with us. Sara begins to understand who her grandmother really was and why she conducted herself in such a carefree, eccentric manner, much to Sara’s embarrassment as a teenager. It begs the question, do you really know what led your grandparents/parents to who they are today? With both of my grandparents living overseas, I did not get the opportunity to have long one on one conversations with them often but when I did I was able to find out some fascinating pieces of family history I will share with my children someday. I’m not sure why this book has been placed in the Christian fiction genre as it in no way, besides a few paragraphs about Mags attending church once, mentions religion. If you are in need of a feel good story that’s tied up in a bow, then add “The Hideaway” to your list.

26. “Sea Creatures” by Susanna Daniel

I REALLY wanted to like this book, I really tried. It takes quiet a bit for me to write an unfavorable review but I think this one might have earned it. The author’s research and descriptive style of writing wasn’t the problem, in fact that was one of the best parts of the book, it was that nothing really happened until about 3/4 of the way through the book. I kept waiting for something to begin. In “Sea Creatures”, Graham and Georgia relocate back to Georgia’s hometown of Miami with their young son, Frankie, for a fresh start after Graham’s parasomnia causes them to flee Illinois. Georgia takes on a personal assistant job and from there the book mostly follows her day to day tasks as she helps “the hermit”, Charlie, catalog his work out at his Stiltsville home in Biscayne Bay. Charlie and Georgia form a weird, familiar relationship rather quickly and Charlie begins to pull Georgia’s selectively mute three year old out of his shell. The trio become entangled in tragedy as the last few chapters of their story plays out. If you enjoy books with a “happily-ever-after” or if you love being invested in a character’s journey…then this isn’t the book for you. I can’t recommend adding this book to your “must read” list unless you are having trouble falling asleep at night, then this might just do the trick.

27. “Sarah’s Key” by Tatiana de Rosnay

“Sarah’s Key” adds another book to this growing list set during the Second World War. The tale begins in Paris in the early morning hours of July 16, 1942. Sarah awakes to loud banging on her front door from French police. They were rounding up families who were Jewish to be escorted to a nearby stadium for what would become one of the most disturbing events to read about in French history, what was known as “The Vel’ d’Hiv'”. Fast-forward to 2002, Julia Jarmond, an American living in Paris with her French husband and 11 year old daughter, is assigned to write about the 60th Anniversary of the Vel’ d’Hiv’ roundup. As she begins research on her story, she realizes that her in-laws have been harboring a secret that goes back to that fateful July day. The first few chapters from Sarah’s perspective are very difficult to take in. While police are rushing Sarah’s family out of their apartment she locks her little four year old brother in their secret hiding place promising to return for him in a few hours. These pages were truly heart-wrenching to read as a parent. “Sarah’s Key” is a quick read, I think I finished it in a day and a half and as hard as it is to read about what these fictional characters went through, it’s important to keep telling stories like these so people don’t forget what happened to all of these innocent people. Just from this roundup alone, 13,152 Jews were arrested, deported and eventually exicuted at Auschwitz, 4,115 of them were children. To quote from the book, “Zakhor, Al Tichkah. Never forget.” Another must read for the historical fiction fan.

28. “Second Chance” by Jane Greene

When tragedy strikes a group of friends they are pulled back together after almost 20 years apart to mourn the passing of one of their own. Tom was the friend who tied their group together, the one that they all kept in touch with, the one that kept them all updated on each other. One by one each of their lives change with Tom’s passing – a midlife crisis, a bought of alcoholism, a public scandal. Saffron, Holly, Paul & Olivia help each other discover who they are becoming as they approach 40 with what seems like assistance from Tom each step of the way. I had hoped for a different outcome for a few of the characters and your heart breaks when reading from Tom’s mother, Maggie’s POV. The story was tied up a little too nicely in my opinion and I would have liked to have heard what became of a few of the sub-characters. I thought Jane Green’s fluid way of changing characters voices between paragraphs without having the choppy chapter breaks between POVs was refreshing. Though not a gripping page turner, “Second Chance” is a quick read, that’s good for those afternoons spent at the beach or by the pool.

29. “Night Road” by Kristin Hannah

As a parent, how far would you go to get justice for your family, even if the crime was an accident? If you were the one who committed the crime, what would you be willing to give up to seek forgiveness? Fourteen year old Lexi never had it easy. Being tossed from foster home to foster home after witnessing her mother overdosing she has finally found a distant relative willing to take her in. Lexi’s Great Aunt Eva doesn’t have much but she loves her and gives her what she can. On the first day of school Lexi becomes fast friends with Mia, a social outcast at Pine Island High School. The opposite of Mia, twin brother, Zach is the most popular kid in school who Lexi crosses paths with on that first day as well. The Farraday’s home becomes a sanctuary for Lexi and Jude, Zack & Mia’s mother, treats Lexi like one of her own. Their High School years fly by and suddenly it’s senior year. Jude is constantly worried about her children and their safety and makes it her mission to know where her children are at all times and who they are with. Unfortunately, accidents can happen to even the most careful of families. “Night Road” is the second book I have read by Kristin Hannah. After having enjoyed “The Nightingale”, I was really excited to get to this one and it didn’t disappoint. “Night Road” is a bittersweet story with love and forgiveness running through it. Add this one to your summer reading list.

30. “The Dry” by Jane Harper

Talk about a page turner. “The Dry” follows Officer Aaron Falk as he returns to his hometown for Luke’s funeral, his childhood best friend. Circumstances around his friend’s death couldn’t be more horrific and Aaron’s countdown until he can leave Kiewarra begins the minute he steps foot in the town. He has a complicated history there and ghosts he would rather not run into. Luke’s parents don’t believe what the city police said happened inside Luke’s home the night he and his family died. Gerry and Barb beg Aaron to stay in town to see if he can help uncover the truth. Set in a small Australian farming town during a severe drought the residents of Kiewarra are a powder keg of emotions waiting to go off. The author gives the reader just enough information to keep you guessing as to what really happened to the Hadler family. I’m usually able to figure out the ending of “who-done-its” fairly early on but Jane Harper did a great job not giving it away. Her smooth transitions between chapters keeps the story flowing and keeps the reader wanting more. This was a great read.

Til next time,

E