What I've Read During Summer 2018

The summer is officially over for us teachers, cue the tiny violin lol.  It's crazy how fast it flies by each year. I was able to soak up a ton of reading time this summer so I wanted to share with you the books I read and a little snippet of what I thought about each. I'll try to keep it really brief so I don't give anything away. :)

The Perfect Couple by Elin Hildebrand


Elin Hilderbrand never disappoints! This book combined my love for Nantucket and a little bit of mystery. The story line was interesting and kept me wanting more. I highly recommend it for the last few weeks of official summer. 

The High Tide Club by Mary Kay Andrews


Love this one! Mary Kay Andrews' books are what I normally consider "fluff" and I say that with kindness because I LOVE them. I just don't usually think they are very complex. This one on the other hand had a great story line. Loved it!

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones



We read this in book club this summer and it was a favorite amongst everyone there. The author really worked to bring the characters to life and the writing was absolutely beautiful. I felt the storyline was a little lacking when it comes to action but you have to remember that I like thrillers or really sappy love stories. This wasn't either of those. I would still recommend it even though it wasn't my top fave of the summer. 

The Favorite Sister by Jessica Knoll



Now if you are looking for drama then this is the book for you. It's jam packed with back-stabbing, betrayal, and even murder. I really didn't like Jessica Knoll's previous book Luckiest Girl Alive but this one was much better! It was an easy read and kept you wanting more. Loved it! 

The Family Next Door by Sally Hepworth



This book was not what I was expecting but in a good way! I couldn't put it down and I read it pretty quickly. Hepworth does an excellent job of pulling you into the lives of each character and the storyline dips and weaves entangling each one. If you like Liane Moriarty books then I think you will like this too. Their style of writing is very similar. 

The French Girl by Lexille Elliott


I really wanted to like this book because I heard so many great things. It just wasn't my favorite though.  The characters frustrated me and I didn't really understand their friendships or what made them tick. I kept reading because I just wanted to know how the girl died but it took forever to get to that point. The reviews are pretty high for this book so maybe it was just me lol.

Bring Me Back by B.A. Paris


The premise with this book was just so strange. I LOVE B.A. Paris but this one was just a miss. It seemed so far-fetched and unlikely to happen. If you want a great thriller than read B.A. Paris' book called Behind Closed Doors. It's suuuuper creepy but so good! 

Legendary by Stephanie Garber



Now this is a very different category of book than what I normally read. It falls under the young adult and fantasy categories which is not normally my jam, but there is something about Caraval (the first book) that left me wanting more. I pre-ordered this one and I was sooo excited to get it. The book is set in a magical world that is filled with love, betrayal, and mystery, who doesn't love that right?? The characters are all players in a game and you're unsure of what is real or what is part of the fun. I loved the strong female characters and the love story was pretty adorable too. If you haven't read Caraval, read that first. 

The Wild Card by Hope and Wade King



This is for all my teacher friends out there. I have been following both Hope and Wade King on Instagram for awhile and I knew I wanted to read their book when I had some time this summer. Engagement is something that is constantly evolving in the classroom especially with each new group  of students that comes in. I love their ideas for letting passion really shine through what you do and they give practical ways to be more engaging. Now I want to get their monthly subscription to Set the Stage to Engage so I can see what else they have up their sleeves. Loved this book!  

The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware



I had such high hopes for this book but the plot was just really strange. I felt like I couldn't connect with the characters and I was confused by their motivations and the decisions they were making. Ruth Ware is an excellent writer but this was just a miss for me. 

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Reid Jenkins



I LOVED this book! We are actually reading it this month for book club but I finished it a couple months ago. The book follows Evelyn Hugo, an actress who has a very Marilyn Monroe vibe to her. She is a climber and will do what it takes to be successful which sometimes means hurting those around her. This book has an air of mystery to it that will keep you interested until the very end. It has a lot of surprising twists and turns and I can't recommend it enough!

How to Walk Away by Katherine Center


One of my favorite books of the summer! I loved the story of how Margaret persevered in what seemed to be a very dismal circumstance. The characters were very relatable and made you instantly want to be their friends. Overall the book was heartbreaking but also contained so much joy and resilience. Loved it!



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