what’s on my kindle, part 51

This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub. A woman celebrates her 40th birthday and then wakes up on her 16th birthday. A kind of reverse 13 Going on 30, but she can keep traveling back and live out alternate versions of her life. It was good, but I didn’t like it as much as The Midnight Library, which is a similar concept, or as much as All Adults Here, also by Emma Straub.

Had to climb up on the jungle gym to protect Greta

The Office BFFs by Jenna Fischer & Angela Kinsey. I love love love the Office Ladies podcast, which recaps The Office episode by episode. I actually find them to be a little annoying but I like the way they structure the show and they always have good guests on, plus I just love The Office and therefore will consume any and all content. I enjoyed the book. I actually got the audiobook and the Kindle book at the same time, so I listened to the parts where they had guests (i.e. Ellie Kemper and Rainn Wilson) and read the rest of it so I could see the pictures.

The Golden Couple by Greer Henricks & Sarah Pekkanen. A therapist uses an unconventional technique that causes her to lose her license but she still has a long list of clients. She starts working with a married couple and gets entangled in their issues. This book is pretty bad. I’m going to geek out for a second and say that, if you’re going to write a book from the perspectives of two different characters, you can’t have one from the first person and one from third person omniscient. That’s just the beginning of my criticisms, and I’ll finish by saying that the “mystery” component is about as mysterious as a Boxcar Children book.

Sunrise on my last morning in my happy place

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley. I really liked The Guest List and really didn’t like The Hunting Game. This one I didn’t even finish. I lost it from the library when I was about halfway through and didn’t bother to try checking it out again.

The Summer Place by Jennifer Wiener. This is the best book I’ve read in a long time and the ultimate beach read. There are a bunch of storylines and it’s just so juicy with so many twists. I desperately want a sequel and for it to be turned into a miniseries. Get your hands on it- audiobook or hard copy- ASAP.

Forge Winery on Seneca Lake. Gorgeous.

My Friend Anna by Rachel DeLoache Williams. Like the rest of the world, I watched and loved Inventing Anna on Netflix. Julia Garner is a legend. Rachel wasn’t portrayed in a very positive light on the show, and I think Shonda Rhimes must have read this book. If you want to parlay your relationship to a famous case into a book, go for it. But no one is coming to you for life advice, and definitely not life advice like “keep your emails short!” and “avoid using emojis when communicating with your boss!” It’s pretty clear she was shallow and using Anna Delvey for the money and status, because there’s nothing that suggests why Rachel ever liked Anna/was friends with her. But I still read the whole thing, so do with that what you will.

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah. Her books are a little hit-or-miss for me, and this wasn’t my favorite. It was too long, so even though the ending made me cry it was a lot of work to get there. It’s about a Texas farming family during the Great Depression. If you love historical fiction, give it a shot. But it’s not as good as The Nightingale.

Had to snap this for my family! Up in Tottenham Hale to tour the Walthamstow Beer Mile

The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand. It’s not summer until I listen to Elin’s latest. This one is about a new hotel opening, all the staff involved, and the quest for a good review from an elusive travel influencer. I always love her books, so even though I find her to be occasionally problematic and her Instagram page is alarming, I recommend this book and all her books. They are the quintessential beach reads.

Book Lovers by Emily Henry. I’m not sure why I keep reading her books when I think they are kind of terrible, but they admittedly hold my attention. Of the three, I’d say I liked The People We Meet on Vacation the best.

Amazing beer store in Wandsworth (Ghost Whale) and this literary reference really got me #IYKYK

Rivals by Katharine McGee. Speaking of terrible books that I read anyway! This is the third book in the American Royals series, not to be confused with (and not as good as) The Royal We. My main beef with these books is that the main characters are like 19 years old but consistently talking about getting married. I don’t get it.

The Love of My Life by Rosie Walsh. I listened to this during the first week of our trip to the US so I’m not sure whether I was distracted or what but I had a really hard time getting into it. I also didn’t love her other book Ghosted, so maybe she’s just not for me. Pass.

North Laine Brewhouse in Brighton. Great decor, mediocre beers.

Hello, Molly by Molly Shannon. Hands down one of the best memoirs I’ve ever read. She has a fascinating story and it’s so inspiring. Even if you’re not an SNL superfan (or haven’t watched Superstar 100 times), you should listen to it.

One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle. A 30-year-old woman loses her mom to cancer and takes a trip to Positano. I loved this- it was a quick read, it brought me back to the Amalfi Coast, and it made me think! My only regret is reading it instead of listening- if only I had known that LAUREN GRAHAM narrates the audiobook.

Elsie’s (2nd) first birthday cake! Four layers of vanilla cake, sour cream frosting, refrigerated.. doesn’t get better.

The Midwife’s Confession by Diane Chamberlain. I’ve found myself recommending this lately so I wanted to read it again to see if it holds up. It does. My other favorites of hers are The Silent Sister and The Dream Daughter.

Sunshine Girl by Julianna Margulies. I really liked this! I won’t put it on the same level as Hello Molly as far as celebrity memoirs go, but it’s really good. I am a huge fan of her from The Good Wife, she has an interesting life story, and I loved her reading of it. Serious question: should I go back and watch ER?

Girls having a little splash at the Victoria & Albert museum

Currently listening to The Paper Palace and reading The Last House on the Street.

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