What I've read (and liked) so far this summer.

I needed a break from pyramid scheme shit...

I want to start with my friend Jennifer’s book which is out TODAY:

Faculty Lounge by Jennifer Mathieu!

wildly beat up because I read it on the beach!

I love it for so many reasons and not just because a friend wrote it. It might be the most unique book I’ve ever read! There isn’t one most crucial plot, and it has many different points of view, yet each chapter had me wanting to read the next. When I first saw all the characters, I thought, ‘ho boy, I’m never going to be able to keep track of all these people because that tends to be a problem for me, but it wasn’t an issue at all. I was fully invested in each teacher/staff member storyline, and though they held their own, they blended beautifully. She also was able to touch on several heavy topics like alcoholism and infidelity. Still, it never felt exploitative or added for shock value, simply weaved in as part of the human experience. And the serious topics were balanced with humor, wit, and the perfect amount of sarcasm. I extra appreciate this book, having been a teacher and a parent, but you don’t need to be either of those things to enjoy it. Please buy it, read it, and share your love for it; it’s truly one of a kind!

Short and sweet synopses of the other five:

The Sicilian Inheritance by Jo Piazza

It was a lovely read! It made me want to visit Sicily. It had the perfect amount of history, fun characters, spice, and a twist at the end I was NOT expecting! It was very well written, with strong female characters and just the right amount of backstory. Also, it made me hungry, and I mean that in a good way…so many references to cooking and food. I did half and half on this one; half audio and half hardback, and the narrator is very good, in case you chose the audio version!

Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See

I love everything Lisa See writes! I had the pleasure of attending a local author event where she spoke about writing this book, and it was fascinating. She is a talented writer, but she is next level as a researcher. Her books are all fascinating and make me want to learn more about the topics. Her strong female characters are easy to love. Don’t miss this one!

I went on a bit of a thiller/suspense kick as you can see from the next three reads:

Blood Sugar by Sasha Rothschild

“She’s accused of four murders, she’s only guilty of three.” I mean, the hook ALONE is a reason to read it! This came out a couple of years ago, and I’m glad I picked it up. It was a fun and enjoyable read, with great tension throughout. It was engaging, with well-developed characters, and though there was death, it wasn’t gory or tasteless. I rooted for the main character, even though the book opens with a scene that would leave you thinking she’s a sociopath.

What Lies Between Us by John Marrs

This was another book I purchased during the pandemic and hadn’t gotten around to reading yet! I loved his previous book, When You Disappeared, so I wasn’t at all surprised that I enjoyed this one. It has a great writing style and fun plot twists! It was DARK, and a little slow at times, but never enough that I wanted to set the book down.

The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks

I know, I’m like a decade late reading this and holy crap, how did I miss this one? It's another book that has been sitting on my shelf forever. Totally gripping, in every way. I didn’t see any of the twists coming!

What I’m reading next:

Democracy in Retrograde by sami sage & Emily Amick

Because I’d like to know what else I can do for this dystopian hellscape we live in.

Let me know if you’ve read/enjoyed any of these, and please recommend what I should read next!

xo Emily