Happy Tuesday! I am linking up with Shooting Stars to share the books I read this month. I listened to some books and read some books. In October, I shared that I only read three books and was hoping to read more this month. Well, I did read more than three but I am hoping to read even more next month.

THE CASTAWAY BY STEPHANIE TAYLOR ☀️☀️☀️☀️

This is the first in a planned to be eight book series. The first four books are published and number five comes out next month. I loved the island setting and cast of characters in this small town. A former first lady, Ruby, is escaping Washington, DC since her husband died in office and there are a lot of rumors surrounding his death. She heads to Shipwreck Key, a small pirate themed island, to open a bookstore. Could this be a better place – warm island and bookstore??? I don’t think so. Ruby’s daughters think she is crazy to move to this island but find that it is the perfect refuge for all three women as they navigate life after their dad and husband dies. A juicy writer decides he’s going to write an in depth biography of Ruby and her husband. The book has the potential to blow up every scandalous rumor, but Ruby decides to go for it. Moving, starting a new career, and a tell-all book release could be too much for a person to handle, but not Ruby. She shines through the troubles and I will definitely read the next books in the series.

HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE BY J.K. ROWLING (audio) ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️

It’s Harry Potter folks. Read it or listen to it. It’s great for kids and adults alike!

There’s No Coming Back From This by Ann Garvin ☀️☀️☀️☀️

I think I picked this book as an Amazon First Reads this summer. It was a fun book to read and would have been a great beach read. Poppy Lively is in a bit of trouble. Her accountant ran off with all her money and didn’t pay her taxes. Her daughter is spending the summer after high school as a nanny in New York City. Poppy has one job this summer – figure out how to earn enough money to save her home, her business, and pay for her daughter to go to college. She has a chance run-in with an old boyfriend and ends up on a movie set in Hollywood. Of course, nothing goes smoothly but I found myself routing for Poppy all the way.

Bomb Shelter by Mary Laura Philpott (audio) ☀️☀️☀️☀️

I listened to this book, narrated by the author, and I really enjoyed it. I am nosy/curious about other people’s every day life and this was a look into Mary Laura’s life. There were ups and downs, scary things and celebrations, but her style of writing made it all enjoyable. I listened to it pretty quickly.

The Good Part by Sophie Cousens ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️

I loved this book! It is my fourth Sophie Cousens book and I’ve given all of them five sunshines. This book was a fun look at what would happen if you woke up 16 years in the future. Lucy is a down on her luck 26 year old who comes across a wishing machine after a particularly tough day. She wishes to skip to the good part and wakes up the next morning 42 years old with two kids and a husband. She has to navigate the world, her family, her career, and her friendships without any idea of how she got there. This story was heartwarming, a good nudge to reflect on how I got here, and a reminder that this is the good part.

Currently Reading: Honestly Elliott by Gillian McDunn

Currently Reading: Reign by Katharine McGee

Currently Reading: Love, Holly by Emily Stone

Currently Listening: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

I cannot believe I am reading four books at the same time. I need to read some of these and get back to my one or two books at a time norm. Four books going at the same time usually means I am not reading much of any book. You can always checkout what I’ve been reading on my Books 2023 page. If you scroll to the bottom of that Books 2023 page, I have all of my yearly reading pages linked.

What are you reading now? Do you have anything you are looking forward to reading? As you can see I am starting on my Christmas books already. I have quite a few lined up and ready to read! I’m planning to share my annual Christmas book list soon. In the meantime you can check out previous lists. Have a great day full of sunshine and books!

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