Oh, how I wish I could be the type of person who starts reading summery books just a tad earlier—say, April 16th (the day after tax day? IDK). But alas, I’m an unapologetic mood reader and summer reading officially starts June 1st (or if I’m being generous, May 25th). My attempt to squeeze in the rest of my summer reads during August went about as well as you’d expect. Between hosting guests back-to-back weekends, back-to-school happenings for my 3 big kids, and the early arrival of fall weather, I found myself completely distracted by the lure of cozy autumn reads. So yea, my reading month didn’t quite go as planned.
But now it’s September, and summer? I hardly know her! It’s time to embrace the season of chunky sweaters and dive into all the spookycozythrilling books. So, here’s what I did manage to read in August… YOLO!
Catching Feelings by Alicia Thompson | ☆☆☆☆
My 6-year-old is obsessed with baseball, so when I came across this book at the bookstore at the start of summer, I couldn’t resist bringing it home. I love when I find books that align with my kids' interests, and this one gave me some enjoyable insights into the world of America’s (and my second born’s) favorite pastime.
This was delightfully charming with a surprising amount of depth. Daphne (btw this is the third MC with this name I’ve encountered this year!) is recently divorced, and after one too many drinks at a baseball game, ends up heckling Carolina Battery player Chris Kepler, creating a viral moment she’d much rather forget. But, of course, that’s not how things go. What follows is an exciting and heartfelt journey, and I loved watching both Daphne and Chris grow as characters along the way.
it’s giving put me in coach! | he saw her in the stands… | sideline social club
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The Wedding People by Alison Espach | ☆☆☆☆☆
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this one. The story centers on Phoebe, who arrives at the luxurious Cornwall Inn in Newport, Rhode Island, just as a weeklong wedding is underway. The inn is exclusively occupied by wedding guests, adding to the story’s sense of intimacy and exclusivity. Initially, the narrative feels dark and heavy, but it quickly evolves to a blend of humor and insight as Phoebe befriends the bride and gets caught up in the whirlwind of wedding festivities and drama. This book offered many nuggets of thought-provoking reflections on relationships and life's purpose, all while keeping me eagerly engaged and curious about how the story would unfold.
it’s giving the RI wedding | an elegant wedding cocktail hour | coconut pillows?
Ambition Monster by Jennifer Romolini | ☆☆☆☆
Romolini delivers a brutally honest memoir that reveals the dark realities of workaholism and the suffocating pursuit of success, all while offering a front-row seat to the rise and fall of the girl-boss era—an era she was fully entrenched in. She dissects the pressures of modern work culture, the lingering effects of unresolved childhood trauma, and the addictive nature of achievement that inevitably leads to burnout. The book almost reads like two distinct stories— not because it lags, but because the first half feels like a completely different journey from the second, and both were utterly absorbing. I devoured the insider’s glimpse into the Condé Nast empire at its peak, especially as someone who, for a brief summer in my youth, also fantasized about landing a high-powered editorial job straight out of The Devil Wears Prada.
it’s giving Sassy | my favorite read of summer 2006 | More Than Enough
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore | ☆☆☆☆
Alright, we’re talking about the internet dubbed “book of the summer,” and I’ll start by saying I approve that message. I also think it would be just as enjoyable in the fall or any time of year, as its setting, steeped in nature, transcends the idea of a summer read to me. I thought the story was very immersive—so much so that I often forgot I was reading fiction. It’s both thought-provoking and thoroughly entertaining, but also deeply sad, which is expected in a mystery involving a missing 8-year-old boy but it went deeper than I was expecting. My only critique is that it could have been shorter; some character arcs didn’t feel essential to the main story. But even with that, it’s a fantastic book.
it’s giving 70s summer camp | Fear Street Part Two: 1978 | the perfect pink paint
currently reading…
physical book: I just started Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe (what an epic name by the way) as a bit of a palate cleanser after God of the Woods and not to toot my own horn but I can already tell that I picked the most perfect book for that task.
audiobook: Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson— I actually read the first 70ish pages of this back in September 2022 and then didn’t pick it back up (for no particular reason), so to get back into it I’m listening to it on audio in hopes of finishing it this time.
coming next week…
a read/watch/listen list for fall!
Do your bookmarks have a home?
In our home, everyone knows where the bookmarks live. They have their places, both downstairs and upstairs, tucked away yet always within reach. If you happen to take one of my favorites, I’ll kindly ask you to handle it with care—or perhaps suggest you swap it for another. Sybil has her favorite mug, and I have my favorite bookmarks (also, if you get this reference leave a comment because we’re for sure besties). Somehow, despite the constant ebb and flow, we always seem to have just the right number on hand. They may be nothing more than strips of paper, but bookmarks are as essential here as nail clippers or car keys—everyday necessities, and we always know where to find them.
Open our junk drawer, and amidst the odds and ends, you’ll discover a reliable stash of bookmarks, easy for anyone to locate. My 7-year-old needs some too, so there’s a second collection in my boys’ room stashed on the top of the bookshelf, within reach of the top bunk. But the best bookmarks—you know the ones—reside in my nightstand drawer. These are the top-tier bookmarks, the ones from favorite bookstores I’ve visited, featuring a beloved quote, or purchased simply because they were too cute to resist. These bookmarks are reserved for the best books. Average books don’t get that honor. Yes, I’m making snap judgments about books early on, but I’m rarely wrong. The best bookmarks inevitably find their way into beloved books, the universe makes sure of it.
There’s a quiet joy in catching someone in the house reaching for a bookmark. It’s a reminder that I live in a home full of readers, and these small slips of paper play a significant role in our daily lives. I love that everyone knows where to find one. The homes I’ve created for them have become communal hubs for the simple but necessary tools for our reading lives.
So, do your bookmarks have a home?
I love that I’m not the only one waving my freak flag when it comes to bookmarks…and iykyk regarding the freak flag comment too ;)
You have some cute bookmarks! Mine are housed in a bookish mug