Hello! It’s that time again! I’m sharing what I’ve been reading lately. Some months I read a ton and other months I only read a few books, but I’m always happy to share them!

Before I get it the books, I want to wish my sister-in-law Katie a very happy birthday! I hope you have a super day!

Summer is a huge reading time for me and July did not let me down! It looks like a ton of books because the last Show Us Your Books linkup was June 14th, so I am actually sharing about a month and a half of books.

Summer beach reads are my favorite books and I try hard not to read any until I am officially finished work for the school year. I am working my way through my list, but I saved a few for when I actually put my toes in the sand.

The Shortest Way Home by Miriam Parker ☀️☀️☀️☀️

I thought this was a fun book, perfect for reading at the end of the school year. I’d love to visit the vineyard and stay a while. The references to wine were fun and it would make for a good book club menu plan!

The Islanders by Mary Alice Monroe (audio) ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️

Luke and I listened to this together and it was great! I loved the messages about exploring the outdoors, friendship, family, and growing up. The connection of having seen a sea turtle nest boil last summer made it a little extra wonderful! We can’t wait to listen to the next one, Search For Treasure.

The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka ☀️☀️☀️

This one missed the mark for me a little. The beginning drew me in with a group of swimmers that use a pool at the same times each week. I thought the second half would tell a little more about each swimmer, but it only followed one. Her story was good to read, but I wanted to read about all of them.

The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Rauf (kids)

I thought this was a great book about refugees and how kids should accept new people in their classes and friendship groups. It gave great information from many perspectives.

The Homewreckers by Mary Kay Andrews ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️

I thought this book was so fun! It reminded me of Wendy Wax’s Beach Road series. MKA always brings a little mystery and a strong heroine, which I like. The book is a long one but I’m glad I read it!

Book Lovers by Emily Henry ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️

This is my favorite of Emily Henry’s books to date. I though that the title matched the content, finally! It was a great beach read with a little more substance. It made me excited for our trip to NYC and ready to go back to visit the Asheville area again soon!

An Island Wedding by Jenny Colgan ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️

You know I love a Jenny Colgan series and this one did not disappoint. It was lovely to go back to Mure and see what Flora was up to. One day I am going to do my very best to visit a Scottish isle like Mure or any of Jenny’s series settings.

Red, White, and Whole by Rajani LaRocca

Another heavy, but great book for kids. These Battle of the Books books are no joke this year. This one is about an Indian girl who is struggling to find our her place in an American school without abandoning her Indian heritage. It felt authentic and I think many kids will relate to it.

The Lifeguards by Amanda Eyre Ward ☀️☀️☀️☀️

I‘ve read two of Amanda Eyre Ward’s books and I don’t love either of them.. They pass the time just fine. There are characters you want to succeed and others that are down right unlikeable. The title and front cover made this seem like a fun summer read, but it was more a small town drama involving an unexplained death and the families that might be involved.

Summer Love by Nancy Thayer ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️

I really enjoyed Summer Love. It is the story of four friends who find themselves living together in old basement rooms while on Nantucket for the summer. We hear about their first summer on the island and their reunion set in current times. I loved seeing how the characters grew up and their lives came together or grew apart.

The Beach Trap by Ali Brady ☀️☀️☀️☀️

This was a fun book! It has similarities to The Parent Trap, but in a fun, grown up, beachy way. The main characters meet at summer camp when they are 12 and discover that they are half sisters, but never speak again. About 15 years later, their dad dies and leaves them the family beach house. They need to renovate it and learn how to get along with each other. It was predictable but so fun!

The Suite Spot by Trish Doller ☀️☀️☀️☀️

After reading Trish Doller’s Float Plan last year, I knew I wanted to read this! It was a fun summer read and the main character, Rachel, is the sister of Anna from Float Plan. Rachel leaves south Florida with her young daughter to take a new job on a small island in Lake Erie. This new job finds her sharing a house with her boss and I bet you can guess what happens! It’s a fun and easy read and I can’t wait to read book 3 in the Beck Sisters series next summer!

Currently Reading: Rivals by Katharine McGee (American Royals #3)

Currently Listening: What She Ate: Six Remarkable Women and the Food that Tells Their Stories by Laura Shapiro

I have really hit my summer reading stride and there is no turning back. I have a few books I am saving for the beach – The Hotel Nantucket, The Bodyguard, This Time Tomorrow, and Out of the Clear Blue Sky. I’m hoping to read more than those four when I share books again.

What have you been reading lately? Anything you think I’d love that I am missing? If you are looking for books, checkout my Book Lists or Books 2022 pages. My other yearly reading logs are at the bottom of Books 2022. Have a great day full of sunshine and books!

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