I’m not sure why the last post I did of book recommendation was for summer 2018… but regardless, I have some book to recommend for the upcoming summer!
First, I have to say that I bought myself a Kindle Paperwhite this winter. It took me a bit to want a reader; I was always just reading on my iPhone. But then I noticed I was always getting distracted by other apps, notifications, etc. And it was actually hard to read on my phone when I was sitting outside while my boys played. Bright sunlight and an iPhone do not get a long.
So I just bought the paperwhite, just to see if I liked it.
Turns out, I love it! I love that it’s JUST for books – no notifications allowed – and can be used in bright sunlight, and that it’s waterproof. I have totally taken my paperwhite into the shower so I could keep reading while I washed my hair. It took me a minute to get used to the screen flashing black every now and then, but now I barely notice. I almost always have my paperwhite on me (it fits into even my small crossbody) and use it just about everyday.
So, for some of the books I’ve been reading on my paperwhite, and to my recommendations for this summer. A lot of my recommendations have come from the widely read Stephanie Howell. Once I read a book that someone recommends, and I love it – I basically take their recommendation for anything within my preferred genre. So far, Stephanie hasn’t given me a bad read yet.
And I will say, that I’ve totally gravitated towards easy, lighter reads in this season than is probably my norm. My normal favorite read is a well-written, thought-provoking compilation of narrative essays. But with all that is my life right now, especially with a deployment, I just want life and easy. So a lot of my books fall in that category; which is also perfect for reading at the beach or the pool.
Books to Read Summer| 2019 Edition
WHERE THE FOREST MEETS THE STARS This is so far my favorite book that Stephanie has recommended. It takes a while to get into the book, but it’s worth it to push through! If you chatted with me about books in the last couple months, I’ve recommended this read. If you only pick one books on this list to read, pick this one!
Where the Forest Meets the Stars by debut novelist Glendy Vanderah has absolutely stolen my heart. It’s as simple as that. With gorgeous prose, a quirky cast of characters you can’t help but root for, an underlying sense of mystery that will keep you guessing from the first page to the last, and just the slightest possibility of magic, this novel has something for everyone. But what really enraptured me is that at its core, this is a novel about love in many different forms and varieties. Some will shatter your heart into a million pieces, and others will mend it back together. Because really, what better story is there than a love story? -Alicia Clancy, Editor
BEYOND THE POINT While my husband is not a West Point grad, he is in the Army – so there was a lot I could connected with in this book. And having the Air Force Academy in town, provided some context as well. And my heart strings are tugged when they started talking about deployments.
Three women are brought together in an enthralling story of friendship, heartbreak, and resilience. Set at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, this is an amazing debut novel.
ALMOST THERE I read this book because it was written by a fellow military spouse, who also happens to live in Colorado. If you’re a military spouse, Bekah does a good job of making you feel like you’re in a conversation with someone who really does understand the military life.
Almost There is for those on the move and those who feel restless right where they are. It’s for those who struggle with not belonging, with feeling unsettled, with believing that home is out of their reach, at least for the moment. And Almost There is for those who find themselves in a transient lifestyle they didn’t expect—say, moving across the country for a new job or the military or an opportunity to begin again.
THINGS LEFT UNSAID + ALL OF COURTNEY WALSH’S BOOKS I read “Things Left Unsaid” first and then read all of her other books too. They’re not ground-breaking, but they’re light, good stories that I have really enjoyed reading! She’s written over ten books and I’ve read just about all of them.
Lyndie St. James is thrilled that her best friend, Elle, is getting married but unprepared for the emotional storm of the wedding week and returning to her childhood summer home of Sweethaven. The idyllic cottage community harbors some of her best—and worst—memories. It’s not only the tragic death of her childhood friend Cassie that has haunted her for ten years, it’s the other secrets she’s buried that have kept her from moving on.
KEEPER OF LOST THINGS My husband is always picking up coins that he sees laying around, and Ajax now does it too – he has a knack for spotting a lost coin. So the concept of finding little treasures and connecting stories to them made my heart smile.
A charming, clever, and quietly moving debut novel of of endless possibilities and joyful discoveries that explores the promises we make and break, losing and finding ourselves, the objects that hold magic and meaning for our lives, and the surprising connections that bind us.
TATTOOIST OF AUSCHWITZ This was the only, more serious, book that I read. But what makes this a book so powerful is that it is based off of interviews with Holocaust survivor and Auschwitz-Birkenau tattooist Ludwig (Lale) Sokolov. It’s not a light read, but it definitely is a powerful one!
A vivid, harrowing, and ultimately hopeful re-creation of Lale Sokolov’s experiences as the man who tattooed the arms of thousands of prisoners with what would become one of the most potent symbols of the Holocaust, The Tattooist of Auschwitz is also a testament to the endurance of love and humanity under the darkest possible conditions.
BOOKS I HAVE ON HOLD TO READ THIS SUMMER
