Hi all, and happy Tuesday. I hope you are having a great start to your week, as always!
The past week has been rather relaxed and uneventful for us, although on Friday, Ava came home from daycare with pink eye. Apparently, it was the latest bug making rounds at daycare. We got her started on eye drops that night and she’ll be on the drops for a couple more days, but thankfully, the infection cleared up quickly and didn’t seem to bother her much. Over the weekend, we spent a day with Adam’s family, simply chilling at his parent’s house and getting introduced to our newest furry family member, Teddy. He’s a rescue labradoodle and such a good boy! Ava absolutely loves dogs, so naturally, she became instant besties with Teddy (don’t tell Koda)! Those two wore each other out and they were both tuckered out by the end of the day.
With that said, let’s dive into today’s topic – reading! I’ve read some great books lately, so I’ve compiled three recommendations that I believe should earn a spot on your summer reading list. As I’ve mentioned previously, I’m a dedicated fan of thrillers, but I’ve recently discovered a few excellent non-thriller reads that are perfect additions to your summer reading list. Of course, I couldn’t resist slipping one thriller into the mix!
#1 – Heart Bones by Colleen Hoover
Colleen Hoover’s books receive mixed reviews, but I absolutely loved Heart Bones! I am not usually one to gravitate towards romance books, so I was surprised how much I really enjoyed this one! It was such a cute, light-hearted story and a quick read that is perfect if you have a few hours to spend by a pool or at the lake or if you’re like me, and get lucky to have uninterrupted time to read, this is a great one! Overall, I highly recommend Heart Bones for a heartwarming summer read, even if you aren’t typically a fan of the genre.
#2 – Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan
First off, “Mad Honey” is filled with so many fascinating bee facts, as the main character Asher’s mother, Olivia, is a beekeeper. I didn’t know much about bees before, but turns out they are incredibly interesting, so I appreciated learning something new throughout the book! Additionally, the story weaves in important and relevant social issues, which I found engaging. While it’s a fiction book and may not perfectly depict these issues in real life, I wasn’t expecting complete realism. “Mad Honey” is a love story that contains elements of suspense and mystery, though it doesn’t quite reach the intensity of a thriller.
#3 – Don’t Let Her Stay by Nicola Sanders
Last but not least, the thriller of the list! Don’t Let Her Stay is the story of complicated family dynamics and one that I couldn’t put down! I will say that many of the reviews do complain about the main character, Joanne, and how naive she is to what is going on around her but I know from first-hand experience that when you are in that position, you do not see things clearly in the moment. Hindsight is 20:20. And again, this is a fiction book. I am not looking for it to be realistic. I completely agree with how frustrating some of the characters were, but that’s exactly why I couldn’t put it down, it kept me on my toes the entire time and then the ending whips you all over the place. Highly recommend this one!
With their captivating plots, memorable characters, and evocative settings, these three books are excellent choices for your summer reading list. Whether you’re lounging by the pool, relaxing on the beach, or enjoying a quiet evening on your porch, each one of these will be one you can’t put down!
Please let me know if you read any of them and how you like them and if you want to see what I’m up to as far as books, give me a follow on GoodReads!
Stay hungry my friends!
