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Vacation Reading

Review: All the Broken People by Leah Konen

7/8/2020

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All the Broken People
Leah Konen
mystery/thriller/page-turner
page count: 368
publication date: June 30, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Lucy King flees from Brooklyn to rural, hippie-town Woodstock with her small dog and few belongings to escape a life she needs to disappear from. Renting a small cottage on the outskirts of town, she befriends neighbors Vera and John, becoming completely bewitched by their life together. Stories about John float through town, and the couple decides to stage an "accident" that will allow them to disappear themselves, abandoning the whispers and rumors in their community. Lucy becomes entangled in their plot, and can't figure out who she can trust.

Liked: Overall, I enjoyed the setting of Woodstock and the author does well in describing John, Vera, and the home they share there. The writing was strong.

Disliked: Nothing sticks out, I just tend to be very hard on mystery/thrillers...more than any other genre for sure.

I recommend this as a fun summer read! 🌟🌟🌟​🌟
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Review: The Vacation by T.M. Logan

7/8/2020

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The Vacation 
T.M. Logan
thriller/page-turner
publication date: July 21, 2020

Perfect as an airplane read or for enjoying on the beach. 
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an Advanced Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review.
The families of four longtime girlfriends rent a luxurious villa in the south of France for a relaxing vacation together, in lieu of the normal girls' getaways the women often share together. Soon after arrival, Kate, mother of two and wife to Sean, uncovers some disturbing and mysterious text messages on her husband's phone and quickly realizes he is having an affair...with one of her friends currently in the villa with them. As the vacation ambles on and Kate tries to figure out who has betrayed her, family secrets are revealed and lives are destroyed forever when someone is found dead on the villa's property.

I love stories of "vacations gone awry" so this mystery/thriller was a solid entertaining read for me. I wish the setting had been even more a focus of the book, as it could have taken place anywhere in the world and I do love a strong sense of place. The awkwardness and uncomfortable exchanges between the various family members were well done, and I had no idea which direction the plot was heading.

A good summer read! 🌟🌟🌟​🌟
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Review: The Safe Place by Anna Downes

7/8/2020

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title: The Safe Place
author: Anna Downes
genre: thriller / page-turner
publication date: July 14, 2020
page count: 352
Perfect as an airplane or poolside read. 

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an Advanced Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review.

When struggling young actress Emily loses her office temp job and receives an eviction notice from her landlord for too many late payments, her future seems more uncertain than ever. Former employer, company CEO Scott Denny, takes notice of her and believes her to be the perfect fit for their family, serving as an assistant to his wife, playmate to his young daughter, and caretaker of their sprawling oceanside property. Emily accepts, quickly forming a bond with wife Nina as they spend hours a day together restoring the grounds, lounging poolside, and prepping elaborate meals. Young Aurelia is a bit more work, but even she begins to trust Emily as they spend more time together. But, something just feels off…

With a little research, Emily begins to uncover the family’s darkest secrets and suddenly her dream job by the sea is a complete nightmare.

Liked: I absolutely loved the setting - the description of the massive Querencia property and how Emily and Nina spend their days gives me the summer vibes. The story kept me reading, too, and I had fun with this one.

Disliked: Some of the lines in the book were a bit cheesy. The plot is a bit predictable, but still a fun ride.

Recommend for a great summer read. 🌟🌟🌟​🌟
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6 Backlist Books Perfect for Summer Reading

7/2/2020

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Summer reading looks different for everyone, but for me, it’s all about the page-turning thrillers (this will be another list!) or diving into a book whose cover just screams beach, sun, and sand. I love seasonal reading, and heading out to my front porch with a glass of iced tea and a book with a summery cover makes me so happy during the warmest months in Cleveland.

Ideally, my summer reading contains the following:


1.) a summer vacation house on a lake or the ocean
2.) family members or friends gathering for an event
3.) a great deal of detail about clothing/food/décor that gives me all the summer vibes


Are you looking for some great seasonal summer reads? Check out this backlist book list – these should be easier for you to acquire from your library or eBook account since they were published some time ago.

The Summer House by Hannah McKinnon

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​Flossy Merrill welcomes her children home to the family’s Rhode Island beach house to celebrate their father’s 80th birthday. During the reunion, she announces that they will be selling the beach home, which leads to learning more about each character and the struggles they endure. 

The Summer List by Amy Mason Doan

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Best friends Casey and Laura were inseparable as young adults, spending lazy summer days floating in the lake and embarking on summer scavenger hunts together. When a betrayal spurs Laura to leave home (and her former friend and a first love behind) she doesn’t return for 17 years…and when she does, she must face her childhood with Casey and do one last scavenger hunt together that will cause the past to resurface.

The Forever Summer by Jamie Brenner

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​Marin Bishop seems to have it all at the age of 28, including a prestigious career and handsome fiancé. After suddenly finding herself single and unemployed, a woman who claims to be her half-sister announces her existence and they embark on a road trip to meet Marin’s grandmother. Spending the summer at her grandmother’s seaside bed and breakfast, Marin realizes her life is changing forever. 

Slightly South of Simple by Kristy Woodson Harvey

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Ansley welcomes her three (very different) daughters to her beachy home after each one experiences sudden change in her life. Caroline is pregnant and dealing with a husband who has cheated on her and starring in a reality TV program, Sloane is raising two young children with a military husband overseas, and Emerson is an actress who continues to find her footing in the industry. As they spend more time together, secrets from the past surface, and the family must together face both current challenges and past hurt.
(This book is first in a trilogy.)

anything by Elin Hilderbrand

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Hilderbrand IS summer reading for so many. With the exception of her Winter Street Series and the St. John trilogy, she has written over twenty books that take place on her beloved home of Nantucket. Get to know its residents and their families in stories that explore relationships between lovers, friends, and family. Note that there is some overlapping of characters between novels, but you can definitely read them in any order. 

Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver

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​Barbara Kingsolver is a master storyteller (The Poisonwood Bible is on my all-time favorite book list), and this novel that intertwines three stories of love and humankind set against rural Appalachia in the heat of a humid summer is nearly as captivating. 

Are you looking for more summer reading recommendations?

One of my favorite reading friends, Gen the Bookworm, has assembled a fantastic list of current summer reads. Make sure to give her a follow on Instagram too! She loves podcasts, lives in gorgeous rural Vermont, and shares fun photos from her life as a mom and reader.

And, if you need even MORE books for your summer reading list, here are nine books I can’t wait to read this summer, as posted in early June 2020.
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Go follow Gen! She is a delight!
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@genthebookworm
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    Vacation Reading

    Next to travel, reading is my greatest pleasure. When I can combine the two...even better.

    Check out my reading recommendations, curated book lists, and book&travel pairings here. 
     

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