Best Books of Summer 2018

Can you believe Summer is over? I know, not technically but College Football is on my TV and the Fall decorations have made their appearance at my abode. Summer is gone and it's Fall ya'll!

I read so many great books this Summer so today I'm sharing my best books of Summer 2018. You'll notice this list is a lot of contemporary romance. It's my favorite genre for the summer season and maybe of all time. If you like contemporary romance I don't think you'll be disappointed with any of these titles on my list.

The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory

I bought this book on a vacation in March because I knew Overdrive or my local library weren't going to stock it. Ya'll I'm so glad I did! A man who is a groomsman in a wedding and a woman meeting her sister randomly meet in a hotel elevator. Sparks immediately fly. Groomsman asks her to go to the wedding she says yes, typical meet-cute. This one is steamy ya'll. I loved every moment. Jasmine Guillory has a new book coming out in October called The Proposal. You best bet I'll be picking up that one as well.

Save the Date by Mary Kay Andrews

An up and coming floral designer is stressing about pulling off the biggest wedding of the season, but she keeps getting distracted by a fella who is showing up at all the weddings she's working. This one is predictable but it was so good. I've not read all of Andrews novels but this one didn't leave me disappointed. Other plus, it's set in Savannah and I'm dreaming of taking a trip there one day.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

I've really been trying to listen to more audiobooks. The issue with me and audiobooks is that I get SO distracted. The book has to be nonfiction or have great narration for me to get into the story. I found a list online of books with great narration or was read by an actor. The Help was on the top of one of those lists and I immediately went and downloaded it on OverDrive. Ya'll, it was so good! It's read by three different narrator's, one being Octavia Spencer. I can't sing it's praises enough. Give it a listen!

Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren

This is one of those books that's told in alternating storylines, then and now. So if you don't like those books or they confuse you skip this one. This is a story about first love and what happens when it walks back into your life after 10 years. It also had a bombshell ending I didn't see coming. Also, the lead in the book had a book closet. A BOOK CLOSET. Every book lover's dream.

The One That Got Away by Bethany Chase

I read a synopsis on this one this that said "every girl's got one, the one who got away." I'm not sure I could sum this book up any better than that. The One That Got Away is set in Austin, Texas and is about an architect Sarina and her college fling. It was a really good, romantic book. I have nothing bad to say about it.

How To Walk Away by Katherine Center

Margaret and her boyfriend are in a plane crash and this is the story of what unfolds during her recovery. I have never, ever wanted to go up in a tiny prop plane before and reading this just reaffirms that fact. Put me on a big plane, no small planes for me please! This one was sad but you couldn't help rooting for the lead. I wanted all the happy endings for her!

To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

Oh my word! THIS BOOK! I hate that I waited so long to read this one! I won't go into detail about this one because I'm sure you've heard all about it because of the Netflix movie. Just do yourself a favor and READ IT and then promptly plop yourself on the couch and watch the movie. The second and third in the series are already on my hold list at the library. I'm sure I'll devour them just like I did this one.

A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams

I was completely sleeping on this one. I read a Beatriz Williams book a few years ago and remember really loving it and for some reason I haven't read another one since picking up A Hundred Summers. It was historical fiction and full of intrigue. It's another past/present book and I just had to keep reading to see what happened. It was great! I plan on reading more Beatriz this year. If you've read this one and liked it pick up Tiny Little Thing. It was great as well!



Did you do a lot of reading this summer? What books should I put on my to-read list?

What Heather Read - March 2018

Do you know what promotes great reading? Removing social media from for your life for Lent. I replaced the mindless scrolling for picking up a book and it showed this month. I typically read between 4 to 5 books a month and read 8 for March. Seriously y'all, put down the phone and do something else. I'm not going to go on a bitter rant about social media but get off your phone and live your life. 

I feel like I read a mixture of everything this month - it was a great month of reading!

The Last Mrs. Parrish - Liv Constantine

The quote "be careful what you wish for because you just might get it" sums this book perfectly. A power and wealth hungry woman named Amber lusts after Daphne's rich and magnetic husband. But is he really what he seems?

I think I found out about this book because of Reese Witherspoon's book club. I read pretty much everything so I added it to the list. If you like a good suspense then it should right down your alley. 

I do have to have a character in the stories I read to be likeable and Daphne fit that bill - I wanted to shove Amber off a cliff. You'll probably feel the same. 

4/5 stars

A Wrinkle in Time - Madeleine L'Engle

Meg Murry's father has been missing and with the help of the Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, & Mrs. Which she sets off on a quest to go and find him. 

It's science fiction and considered a classic and I didn't like it so much. I read this because I'd never read it when I was younger and because I have to read the book before I see the movie. I feel like I'm in a camp of one because I didn't like it. It just wasn't my thing. 

Side note: movie wasn't great either. 

3/5 stars

The Life She Wants - Robyn Carr

A light and fluffy read about a woman who escapes to her hometown after her husband's suicide. I know you're thinking, "what? How is that light and fluffy?!" Y'all it just is! The husband wasn't nice and in true chic-lit form everything turns out okay in the end! 

This is a quick weekend or beach read. Sometimes you need a predictable book for a palette cleanser. This fits that bill.

2/5 stars

Everything, Everything - Nicola Yoon

Girl who has been locked up in her house and literally can't step outside falls in love with the neighbor boy. It was a cute book and really had you rooting for the main character. I had the plot figured out before the end of the book. It was cute. The movie adaptation is on HBO. I may watch it before it goes off the channel. 

3/5 stars

He Said/She Said - Erin Kelly

I really just didn't understand the hype with this book. It was so slow going and boring. Even the ending was a let down. This book was recommended from The Modern Mrs Darcy 2017 Summer Reading Guide. I think I'm in the minority for not liking this one - it was just very dull to me.

2/5 stars

Before We Were Yours - Lisa Wingate
This book was so good and so heartbreaking at the same time...and to think it's based on a true story. This is a sweeping story and I recommend everyone read it. I really can't even give a brief synopsis because I'm afraid I'll give something away.

Just do yourself a favor and buy a copy or go to the library and pick it up. You won't regret it.

4/5 stars

Ready Player One - Ernest Cline
My husband read this book in about two days time and he never reads. He loved it. I probably let it sit on my shelf for a little too long because I loved it too! It was so fascinating and the 80's nostalgia was fantastic! I had 80's music running through my head whenever I was reading because of all the references. You'll love this if you like sciency-fiction things and you like nostalgic references. Two thumbs up from me!

Now, for the movie...mind you, I read the book and I feel like those you read the book and those who didn't have differing opinions. To me, the movie was awful. It was completely different than the book...and not in a good way. I wish I had never went and seen it in the theater.

5/5 stars

The Violets of March - Sarah Jio
This book is told in dual storylines - one set in the present day and one set in the 40's. So if you aren't a fan of those type of stories steer clear.

This one was just okay. I've been meaning to read something by Sarah Jio (the covers of her books are beautiful) for a while now and I picked this one up at a used bookstore for super cheap.

I think the author intended for this to be a "deeper" type of book and I don't think it had the intended effect. I didn't hate it but didn't love it either.







Have you read any great books lately? My unread shelf is overflowing...but I would never pass us a good suggestion!

Weekend Recap - Where I Chase Waterfalls

Hi friends! It's MONDAY. I hope you all had a spectacular weekend! Here in Middle Tennessee it was the first beautiful weekend we've had in a long time. It has rained the previous 6 out of 8 weekends. It's been miserable - you'd have a beautiful weekend and then it would pour rain all weekend long. No fun. Since the weather was supposed to be gorgeous and sunny my sister and I decided it was time to chase some waterfalls. It had rained Thursday so it was going to be the prime time to see the waterfalls...and here in Tennessee you better hike to waterfalls before Summer. Nothing sucks works than hiking down a gorge to see a waterfall with no water.

Friday night was super chill. Nathan got off work late so we had a cheat meal of Sonic (our favorite) and rented Murder on the Orient Express. It was okay - honestly I didn't love the book or the movie, but the film had Johnny Depp and I pretty much have to watch everything he's in. Afterwards I packed up the backpacks and camera equipment for the hike on Saturday. I'm a slight camera hoarder. There are worse things I guess.

Saturday I woke up bright and early and drove out to parents house to pick up my sister and the waterfall adventure was on. First on the agenda was Foster Falls. It's one we had never been to and the pictures I had seen on Instagram were gorgeous. The lucky thing about living in middle Tennessee is you're super close to lots of waterfalls. I live in an hour radius of upwards to ten just off the top of my head. 

The hike down was super rocky which made for a real blast hiking back out - but seeing that gorgeous fall makes it all worth it.

Our second waterfall adventure for the day was our beloved Greeter Falls. Ya'll, me and the seester have decided it's our happy place. It just takes your breath away. 

I'll do a full recap of our hiking adventure later - I got some great footage on my GoPro so I'm hoping to make a short video. 

We hiked most of the morning and I ended up getting home around 2:00 and really didn't do much for the rest of the afternoon but make margherita pizza for dinner and finish season two of The Crown (so good!). I've also been trying to watch more movies so we watched Kodachrome on Netflix before bed. It was good - sad, but good. 

I try to make Sunday a really low key day. We go to Church and back to parents for the afternoon and try to take it slow for the rest of the day. Monday is my worst day at work and I try to really veg out and relax.

Have a great week ya'll!

Linking up with Lindsay for Hello...Monday.