Recent Reads: Summer 2024

I’m excited to dive into the topic of books and talk to you about what I’ve been reading lately! Over the last few months I have been in a solid reading groove. I have read some wonderful books that have ranged to gamut from educational to thought-provoking to relatable to flat-out mindless, light and funny. I’m going to share the titles with you in this post and chat a little about what I took away from them. I would love to hear your thoughts on any that you’ve also read, in addition what you’ve been reading and enjoying.

SUMMER 2024 RECENT READS

• Push Off From Here by Laura McKowen (5/5)

I have been a fan of Laura McKowen since her first book, We Are the Luckiest. While We Are The Luckiest is a memoir about McKowen’s journey through alcohol addiction and the joy and peace she’s found in sobriety, Push Off From Here is more of a practical guide to building and sustaining a sober life through nine foundational building blocks.

1. It is not your fault.
2. It is your responsibility.
3. It is unfair that this is your thing.
4. This is your thing.
5. This will never stop being your thing until you face it.
6. You cannot do it alone.
7. Only you can do it.
8. You are loved.
9. We will never stop reminding you of these things.

Let’s face it, in one way or another we all have a “thing.” I found this book to be so realistic for taking actionable steps towards healing and making change. I listened to Laura McKowen read it on Audible.

• Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston (3.5/5)

“An overworked book publicist with a perfectly planned future hits a snag when she falls in love with her temporary roommate…only to discover he lives seven years in the past.”

This was a a funny book for me because I initially started it and couldn’t get into it so I put it down and moved to something else. A month or two later, I picked up where I left off and ended up really enjoying the rest of the book. It was slow to start and took me a minute to settle into the whole time travel theme but I ended up liking this one a lot. The love story was sweet, I appreciate the way grief was presented as the main character grieved the loss of a special aunt and also how that motivated her around finding true happiness.

• The Women by Kristin Hannah (4/5)

“The Women is the story of one woman gone to war, but it shines a light on all women who put themselves in harm’s way and whose sacrifice and commitment to their country has too often been forgotten. A novel about deep friendships and bold patriotism, The Women is a richly drawn story with a memorable heroine whose idealism and courage under fire will come to define an era.”

The Women seems to be one of *the* books of 2024. I have been a Kristin Hannah fan for, gosh, almost 20 years now. Her book Magic Hour that was published in 2006 is one of my all-time favorites. That said, I have found her last few books hard and heavy to get through. I ultimately ended up liking The Great Alone and The Women but I disliked The Four Winds. It was just so depressing.

Okay, back to The Women…I flew through the first half of this book and was so immersed in learning about women serving in the Vietnam War. I ended up doing a lot of my own research about it. The second half of the book was difficult to read. I felt that they way Hannah presented Frankie’s post-Vietnam re-entry into the real world and the PTSD that she dealt with was important…but it went on and on an on (and on). I thought the second half of the book could have benefited from some editing for brevity. Lastly, I loved the way female friendships were a theme in this book but did not care (at all) for the way the romance was done.

The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren (4/5)

“For two sworn enemies, anything can happen during the Hawaiian trip of a lifetime—maybe even love—in this romantic comedy.” 

I end up reading a lot of books either because my grandmother puts them on our shared Kindle account or because they’re available on Kindle Unlimited. This one was the latter and I liked it so much more than I thought I would! The disdain between the two main characters drove me a little crazy in the beginning but I really ended up enjoying this book and breezed right through it. Great summer read!

• Yellowface by R.F. Kuang (2/45)

“White lies. Dark humor. Deadly consequences… Bestselling sensation Juniper Song is not who she says she is, she didn’t write the book she claims she wrote, and she is most certainly not Asian American—in this chilling and hilariously cutting novel.” 

My grandmother warned me that she didn’t care for this one but I read it anyway because it sounded interesting and was a Reese’s Book Club pick. My biggest issue with this book was that the main character was insufferable and it was hard to feel any sympathy or goodwill towards her at all. Additionally, this is one of those books that addresses big and important topics…but takes on too many of them at one time and bashes you over the head with them (reminded me of Jennifer Weiner’s book The Breakaway that I read last summer).

All that said, I don’t regret reading it and it was an interesting story and social commentary. Would love to hear thoughts from anyone who also read this one.

• Love in Fine Print By Shawna Renae (4/5)

“What happens when a retired NFL quarterback who doesn’t believe in love inherits a matchmaking business and has a meet-cute that ends in the emergency room with a high-powered divorce attorney who is a secret romantic?

A fake marriage, of course.”

I read this book right after the Unhoneymooners so I read two fake marriage books in a row…which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing for summer/beach reads! Okay, the first thing to know about this book was that it’s DEFINITELY in the romance genre. I didn’t realize that when I was downloading it from Kindle Unlimited. Let’s just say there are some very spicy scenes. If you’re good with that, this is a delightful book for an easy and cute read. I was really pulling for the two main characters. I discovered it’s the first in a new series so I’ll definitely be checking the other books out when I’m looking for something lighter to read.

• Just for the Summer by Abby Jiminez (5/5)

“It’s supposed to be a quick fling, just for the summer. But when Emma’s toxic mother shows up and Justin has to assume guardianship of his three siblings, they’re suddenly navigating a lot more than they expected–including catching real feelings for each other. What if this time Fate has actually brought the perfect pair together?”

I am a sucker for Abby Jimenez books. I’ve read them all and think they’re funny, modern and smartly written. This is the third book in the Part of Your World series but you don’t have to read the others before reading this one. Just for the Summer is my favorite book of 2024. The story was cute and fun to read but I was unprepared for how moved I would be by the way mental health was written about in this book. It was really relatable and gave voice to a lot of things I’ve felt and experienced in my own life that are different from the situations in this book but the same in some of the resulting feelings.

“Unhealed trauma is a crack. And all the little hard things that trickle into it that would have rolled off someone else, settle. Then when life gets cold, that crack gets bigger, longer, deeper. It makes new breaks. You don’t know how broken she was or what she was trying to do to fill those cracks. Being broken is not an excuse for bad behavior, you still have to make good choices and do the right thing. But it can be the reason. And sometimes understanding the reason can be what helps you heal.”

I just really loved this one.

• Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews (4/5)

“A fun, heart-warming, and intriguing summer read. For readers who’d enjoy a blend of friendships (old and new), budding romance, and secrets held within the walls of a hotel that needs rescuing.”

Love a Mary Kay Andrews summer read and this one did NOT disappoint – we had mystery and romance! Thoroughly enjoyed the story, the coastal Georgia setting and the characters.

• The Many Lives of Mama Love by Lara Love Hardin (4.5/5)

“Lara Love Hardin recounts her slide from soccer mom to opioid addict to jailhouse shot caller and her unlikely comeback as a highly successful ghostwriter in this harrowing, hilarious, no-holds-barred memoir.”

Oof. This one was extremely well-written but extremely hard for me. I listened to Hardin read her memoir on Audible and there were moments where I had to turn it off (example: when her husband unhooked her IV in the hospital and injected heroin into it). Drug addiction is really triggering for me after what my family went through with my brother – and even more so when there are children involved like there are in this book.

Ultimately, I’m glad that I read this book and it gave me a deeper understanding of addiction, recovery and what that journey can entail. I’m very happy for Lara Love Hardin that she is in recovery, thriving and bringing voice to addiction. I wish my brother could have done the same.

• The Next Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine (still reading)

“Daphne and Amber Parrish are thrust back into each other’s lives upon the resurgence of a long-forgotten threat, forcing a vicious game of cat and mouse where everything is on the line.”

This is a sequel to The Last Mrs. Parrish which I read a couple of years ago. I am currently listening to this on on Audible and about two-thirds of the way through it. It has completely sucked me in and I’m loving the drama, twists and turns.

• Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera (1/5)

“What if you thought you murdered your best friend? And if everyone else thought so too? And what if the truth doesn’t matter?”

I am on outlier on this review because I know many liked this book a lot…but I hated everything about it. I didn’t care at all for the characters (I wanted to scream every time the voice in Lucy’s head started talking), the overall story or the way it was written in the podcast format. The only reason I finished it was because I was listening to it on Audible while organizing my closets.

• Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand (still reading)

“The beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author brings her Nantucket novels to a brilliant finish: when rich strangers move to the island, social mayhem—and a possible murder follow. Can Nantucket’s best locals save the day, and their way of life?”

Reading the new Elin Hilderbrand is a summer staple for me. I can’t believe this is her final Nantucket novel! I understand her desire and need to move on from them but I’ve enjoyed the ride. I am currently a little more than halfway through Swan Song and it’s so good – quintessential Hilderbrand.

QUESTIONS

Let’s have book club in the comments! Would love to hear your thoughts on any of the above books, as well as what you’ve been reading and what’s on your up next list!