We’ve settled into our new home in Michigan and one of the things I’m most excited about is the independent bookstore in my new town.
Of course I took a break from unpacking the first week we were here to check it out. I ordered a few books on my TBR list and I bought myself this cute tote bag.
This month I officially quit not one, but two books! The first books I’ve quit all year. People on social media rave about The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, but I just couldn’t finish it. I stopped reading. Picked it back up. Tried again. Decided life is too short to finish a book my heart just isn’t into. The same thing happened when I tried to read Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance.
But let me tell you about a book my heart was SO into…
I’ve been anxiously awaiting the release of Book Lovers by Emily Henry since I finished her book The People We Meet on Vacation last year. I named that book one of my top three books of 2021.
Book Lovers did not disappoint. I connect with Henry’s characters. I loved Nora and Charlie and their quirky, book-loving ways. I loved the banter between them. I laughed out loud many times while reading this book. Yes, it’s a story about two book nerds falling in love, but it’s also about a woman dealing with grief and anxiety and learning how to let go of control and enjoy her life.
Here’s what else I read this month…
The Dyslexia Empowerment Plan by Ben Foss
I’m pretty certain this book was EXACTLY what I needed as we got back into the groove of homeschool. The truth is, I still find myself trying to teach Jackson the way I learned. Um, doesn’t work. I hope to use some of the things I learned from this book to shake up our homeschool and be a better teacher to Jackson. Definitely recommend this book to anyone who has a child with Dyslexia or any other learning difference.
The Golden Swift by Lev Grossman
Jackson and I read the sequel to The Silver Arrow this month. A book about a magic train that saves animals definitely kept Jackson’s attention. This book ended up being such a great read-aloud for us as we studied ecosystems in science. Jackson said he hopes they make a movie based on the books.
Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
I pre-ordered this debut novel after seeing LaLaLifeBookClub rave about it on Instagram! I finished it in two days. This is the sweetest coming of age story. Percy and Sam become best friends when they meet at the age of thirteen. This book goes back and forth between the past – the many summers they spent together at the lake – and the present – reconnecting after a decade apart. I loved their friendship and their story. This would be the perfect book to read to kick off your summer!
Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman
This book was okay. I didn’t love it, but I didn’t want to quit it. I wanted to see what happened between Gabe and Chani. She’s a reporter. He’s a movie star. She interviews him and they spend a crazy weekend together. She never forgets him or how he hurt her. A decade later, they’re reunited when she’s asked to write another story. Misunderstandings will be cleared up and they will both have to face the feelings they’ve been fighting for the last ten years.
The Family Across the Street by Nicole Trope
Do we ever really know our neighbors? Do we know what happens behind closed doors? Something strange is going on inside the house across the street. The kids didn’t leave for school. The blinds are shut. Katherine won’t open the door to accept a delivery. The delivery guy can’t push away the feeling that something’s wrong, neither can the nosey neighbor, Gladys. This thriller was chosen for my May bookclub. It was a fast read with a nice twist that took me a while to figure out.
