(MORE) Best Books to Read On VACATION - July 2024

Y’ALL!

Are you as happy as I am this summer? I feel like authors are really bringing it and I can barely keep up with my TBR list.

So many of you loved my first round of vacation reading suggestions, that I quickly looked at my book pile and decided I’d bring you more recommendations for the plane, the cruise, the beach… or your own back yard.

(June Reading Recommendations HERE)

*I’ve picked these for universal fun and based on my own preferences for summer reading. If you have other preferences by the pool, please READ THOSE! Do your thing, friend.

The Rom-Commers - Katherine Center

Husbands & Lovers - Beatriz Williams

The Mystery in Moonshine - Lindsay Emory

The Summer Pact - Emily Giffin

Look On the Bright Side - Kristan Higgins

If you like getting book recommendations from a reader/ author like me, subscribe to my newsletter Women With Books ! I often give more details there about the books I love and the books I don’t…

Or for all the book recommendations on my blog, just click here!

Recommendations for Mother's Day Books!

As a mom, who has a mom, and has friends and relatives who are moms, I think one of the very best gifts you can give a woman is quiet time with a good book. And her favorite beverage.

Partners and children, please take note:
1. Quiet time.
2. Good books
3. Beverage.

If you do all the above (and take her out for a meal she doesn’t have to cook or clean) then you will win.

Without further ado, here are my top book giving recommendations for a woman in your life.
*I purposely picked books that were low on “spice,” for lack of a better term, to better serve a wide swatch of grandmas, teachers, aunts, etc. But hey - if your grandma loves some spice in her books, go find that woman her type of book!

All of these books feature multi-generations of related women, with all the joy and complexity of those relationships. I hope you find something you - or someone you love - will enjoy during your (their) quiet time with your (their) favorite beverage.

The Women - Kristin Hannah

The Mystery in Moonshine - Lindsay Emory

Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe - Heather Webber

Dial A for Aunties - Jesse Q. Sutanto

A Little Ray of Sunshine - Kristan Higgins

If you like getting book recommendations from a reader/ author like me, subscribe to my newsletter Women With Books !

Women With Books - Victoria Schade - A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED EXPERT

A new episode of the Women With Books podcast is up!

Women With Books Podcast featuring bestselling author Victoria Schade

I already used this gif to express how I feel about Victoria Schade but it’s so accurate I have to do it again.

Victoria Schade would know exactly how to deal with these dogs.

If you love dogs, then you have to go check out Victoria’s Instagram here. And also go read her books, like Who Rescued Who, which you can hear us discuss in depth on this episode!

Press play to listen or download from your favorite podcast app.

Follow Victoria's Puppy Adventures on Instagram! For a list of the authors/ books discussed, subscribe to the Women With Books newsletter (With extra Q&A from the guests!) Buy me a coffee! Support the Podcast at www.Ko-fi.com/womenwithbookspodcast Friend me on Goodreads!   THANK YOU FOR LEAVING A REVIEW SO THAT READERS CAN FIND THIS SHOW.

Victoria Schade and I discuss the Puppy Bowl, her wise dog training advice and the things we really hate (reading our reviews!)

Some links on this page may be affiliate links, which means I could receive a few coins for posting them. As always, thank you for your support and encouragement!

Best Books to Read Now - August 2019

Reminder/ Caveat/ Disclaimer: This is my (hopefully) monthly list of books I’ve read and enjoyed. These are not reviews, I do not include books I didn’t enjoy because life is too short to speak badly of books!

Welcome to the Best Books to Read Now Book Club! My (hopefully) monthly blog featuring my reading list, my TBR pile and the books I think you and your best friends should be reading. 

If you’re not sure whether you’ll agree with  my recommendations, check out my blog post on My Reader Wheels and my podcast, Women With Books . Those should help you decide if you’re going to be into my recommendations.

The best book club recommendations for you and your friends!

This is kind of a mixed up month because I’m also posting my summer reading challenge books on the blog. Therefore, this might overlap and it might not with that list. Traditionally, I only put 4 or 5 books on my Best Books To Read Now post, even if I read more books that month because I’m trying to give visibility to the new releases or the ones I really want to share/ talk about. This month, just look at both lists if you’re looking for recommendations!

Sidelined by Suzanne Baltsar
Amazon || Apple Books

YOU GUYS. This book. This book is one those books that I wish I could pick up and re-read for the first time. It is sort of connected to Suzanne’s debut novel, Trouble Brewing, but it’s also a standalone. It’s about a woman football coach AND her assistant coach. It’s such a great romance and so perfect for the summer of #equalpay and Women’s World Cup excellence and Suzanne handles the battle of the sexes deftly. HIGHLY recommend.

Always accept your applause like Megan Rapinoe.

Empire of Sand by Tasha Suri
Amazon || Apple Books

THIS BOOK! I saw this recommended by Aarya of Smart Bitches, Trashy Books on Twitter and I one-clicked it. For a long time, I’ve been interested in reading more fantasy romance, but it feels like such a challenge to find ones that aren’t too out-there for a non-fantasy reader (like me) and have a female-centered gaze (which is what I prefer) AND have a guaranteed HEA (also my preference.) But Aarya guaranteed that this would be a good pick for someone with my requirements and I’m so glad I listened! This book is both a great fantasy novel, with all that entails (magic, world-building, villains) but it also has a slow-burn romance (with the HEA) and it’s loosely based on the Mughal Empire which I really enjoyed, too.

Life and Other Inconveniences by Kristan Higgins
Amazon || Apple Books

OKAY, THIS ONE TOO!
I listed this as a “comfort read” on the Women With Books Summer Reading Challenge and it is comforting, like a great multi-generational story can be. It deals with love, loss, choices, growing up, growing old, independence and how we take care of other people. I told Kristan in our Women With Books episode that this might be the best book she’s ever written. And that’s saying a lot.

Sapphire Flames by Ilona Andrews
Amazon || Apple Books

SIGH
Yes.

You know what I’m going to say, right?

THIS.
ONE.

It’s a well known fact that I stan Ilona Andrews. I. Love. Every. Word. They. Write.

But…. I’ll be honest. I wasn’t sure about them leaving Nevada and Connor behind and taking the Hidden Legacy series in a new direction.

That just goes to show that I’m dumb. They’re brilliant and so is this book. I can’t wait for their next one!

Me when I get a new Ilona Andrews book.

And yes, there were some books I did not love this month…. I’ll be talking more about those and why I think they didn’t connect with me in my newsletter this month.

Do you like books on sale?
Make sure you’re following me on Facebook because that’s where I post great books on sale!

And what about you?
I’d love to hear what you’ve read and loved lately or what you’re looking forward to reading next!  If you want these book recommendations (and a sneak peek at my TBR list and advanced reading copies) sent straight to your inbox, remember to sign up for my newsletter where I’ll be including all the best book club recommendations throughout 2019!

Some links on this page may be affiliate links, which means I could receive a few coins for posting them. As always, thank you for your support and encouragement!

Women With Books - Kristan Higgins (Who gives the BEST advice!)

A new episode of the Women With Books podcast is up!

Women With Books Podcast featuring bestselling author Kristan Higgins

Y’all.

Y’all.

Kristan Freaking Higgins. I don’t think you can tell from the episode (but maybe you can?) how nervous I was having one of my personal author superheroes on the podcast. What made it better (and worse!) is that I truly adored Kristan’s latest release, Life and Other Inconveniences and have been recommending it to everyone. I really wanted to do the book justice and show Kristan all the respectful hero worship she deserves!

Talent, beauty, grace & a hot husband, Kristan Higgins has it all.

For those who can’t get enough of Kristan’s big sisterly advice, check out her podcast with Joss Dey, Crappy Friends.

I’d love to hear what your favorite Kristan Higgins books are! Hit me up on social media or respond below!

Press play to listen or download from your favorite podcast app.

For a list of the authors/ books discussed, subscribe to the Women With Books newsletter (With extra Q&A from the guests!) Buy me a coffee! Support the Podcast at www.Ko-fi.com/womenwithbookspodcast Friend me on Goodreads! Check out the HBIC Nation Podcast!

Kristan Higgins and I chat about her book, Life and Other Inconvenience and she gives free, wise life advice.

Some links on this page may be affiliate links, which means I could receive a few coins for posting them. As always, thank you for your support and encouragement!