Women With Books - 2019 Summer Reading Challenge: What I Read!

Women With Books - a curated collection of conversations about your favorite books, media, and other fabulous things.

Well??? Did you complete the Summer Reading Challenge? I did!

For last year’s challenge and the books I read, click here and here.

As I said before, the 2018 Summer Reading Challenge was one of my most popular episodes of last year – this one and the round up episode. And I’ve loved hearing what everyone was reading this summer!

What I did for this challenge was give you broad themes and you find the book that best fits that for you. After all, at Women With Books, we only want you to read what you love.

I know everyone wants to know, though, what I read for the challenge this year. Some of my picks can fit into more than one category, so I may just slot them into different places… if I need to.

Pretty Dress Cover

Read: The Golden Hour by Beatriz Williams (More about it here on Best Books to Read Now)

Debut Author

Read: Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Beach Cover

Read: The Southern Side of Paradise by Kristy Woodson Harvey (More about it here on Best Books to Read Now)

Diverse/ Inclusive Read

Read: Alisha Rai’s The Right Swipe (More about it here on Best Books to Read Now)

TBR List

Read: Temptations of a Wallflower by Eva Leigh (HOLY CRAP THIS WAS GOOD WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG????)

Comfort Read

Read: Life and Other Inconveniences by Kristan Higgins (She had not been a Women With Books guest when I read this book but she is now! Find her episode here.) And Nina Bocci’s On the Corner of Love and Hate.

New Genre

Read: Empire of Sand by Tasha Suri (also an #ownvoices author and a debut author! This was so good y’all… read more about it here!)

Former WWB Guest (Find them on WomenWithBooks.com)

Read: Sidelined by Suzanne Baltzar (hear her episode here) AND The Southern Side of Paradise by Kristy Woodson Harvey (hear her episode here)

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!

Sign up for the Women With Books Newsletter here for all the updated information on Season 5 and a comprehensive list of the best book club reading recommendations!

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!

Women With Books - Kerry Winfrey (Who is STILL waiting for Tom Hanks!)

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

Women With Books Podcast featuring bestselling authors Nancy Naigle & Teri Wilson.

If you listened to Episode 47, you’ll know exactly why Kerry Winfrey is on Episode 48! After a great workshop at RWA Nationals on the renaissance of romantic comedies, it was a treat to talk to Kerry Winfrey, author of Waiting For Tom Hanks, which is a fantastic rom-com book!

One Click it Today!

For those who can’t get enough of romantic-comedy chat, check out Kerry’s terrific blog: A Year of Romantic Comedies (which we discuss on the podcast!)

I’d love to hear what your favorite romantic comedy movies 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!

Kerry Winfrey and I talk about Tom Hanks movies and also Channing Tatum and John Krasinski movies.

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!

Let's Talk Skin Care - Part 4 -Skin Care Extras & Additions

Part One Here

Part Two Here

Part Three Here

Alright, are we ready for this? Let’s go.

Moisturizers

I’ve teased this enough but yes, I stand by my statements that a moisturizer is NOT a skin care essential.

WHY?

Because your skin’s moisture might be just fine without it.

Or, your skin’s moisture might be just fine after you’ve started taking care of it correctly, using ingredients and products that protect and repair the barrier, that encourage healthy skin growth, etc.  

That is to say, all too often, I have people asking me for a moisturizer recommendation but that’s a question I can’t really answer without knowing if you’re already exfoliating (and doing so in a way that’s proper for your skin type) or if you’re using a retinol or doing any of the steps I’ve outlined in Part One, Part Two, or Part Three.

Further, what season is it? What kind of climate do you live in? How much water do you drink? All these things can factor into you needing a moisturizer or… not. It all depends.

ALSO, many of those skin care products already have some type of emollient in them. So you may find, after you’ve been cleansing and exfoliating and protecting your skin well, that the right routine and the emollients already in those products are sufficient for your individual needs.  For instance, your retinol may also have hyaluronic acid. Your choice of vitamin C may also have a peptide/ vitamin E mix.  In the last part of this series, I recommended a solid facial cleanser, the Woodlot Nourishing Cleansing Balm. This balm contains olive oil, shea butter and jojoba oil. If I take this with me on a trip, I will not need a separate night moisturizer because that is quite a lot of moisturizing ingredients…. for me.

Get it?

And THAT is why I don’t think a moisturizer constitutes a “skin care essential.” Because it DEPENDS. And anything that DEPENDS cannot, by definition, be essential.

However… (you knew this was coming, right?)

There will be times when you are doing everything right and still you feel dry or itchy. Then you have the delightful experience of picking out light or heavy, fragrant or organic, or whatever type of moisturizer you need for YOUR FACE.

For me, in the winter, I love a good oil (but only certain types because other types clog me up.) I love the luxurious feel and putting a nice healthy barrier on top of any active ingredients I’m wearing that day. For several years, my go-to has been the Boscia Tsubaki Oil which seems pricey but a bottle lasts a long time (until my sensitive skinned teen got a hold of it – but hey! It works for her too!)

Another quasi-moisturizer I like to put on after using chemical exfoliants at night especially is the Scinic Honey Ampoule. It feels thick and sticky when it goes on but in the morning my skin feels soft like a baby’s behind!

Hyaluronic Acid

This is an ingredient that is everywhere and can be found in a lot of skin care products. It’s cheap and effective and I don’t think you can overdose on it, so pile it on! 

I personally use this Hado Labo one and it’s the complete opposite of the Honey Ampoule. It almost feels like water when you apply it, it’s so light and, well, watery. Obviously, I use this on days when I just feel the need to put a little something extra on top of active ingredients or if I’ve had a bit too much sun or wind exposure.

Peptides And Collagen

Two other buzz words in skin care lately and yes, they’re important but again, probably not as essential as all the other stuff. Once again, you’ll probably already see these ingredients pop up in your Vitamin C, retinoid, etc.  If you are doing the other things and you do NOT have any peptides and collagen, these would probably be the next best thing to add to your routine.

Personally, I like The Ordinary’s Buffet (which, LOOK! Also has hyaluronic acid!) but I also prefer to add collagen to my diet, not just topically, because then I get the benefits throughout my aging and decrepit body. I add a collagen powder to my morning coffee and like the way this one dissolves: Collagen Peptides.

Snail Mucin

Now you’re really starting to look at me funny… if you’re American.  If you’re in Asia, you’ve already heard of Snail Mucin because it is ubiquitous in skin care and for good reason. Because it is a freaking miracle ingredient. Here’s an article about it which says that it’s basically a nice organic moisturizer but there’s still something really magical about snail mucin.

If you’re dipping your toe into this area, just go straight to the Mizon products, like the All in One Repair Cream or the Intensive Ampoule. I think either one would be great for all types of skin.


Other things you can use: Masks, Spritzes, Toners, Oh MY!

At this point, let’s be honest. A sheet mask is probably not going to change your skin tone and erase twenty years of sun damage if that’s ALL you’re doing. But if it feels good and makes you happy, experiment! Have fun!  Use what feels good to you! I don’t personally love putting slimy cold paper towels on my face, but you do you! Once you’ve got the basics down, there’s a beautiful, fun world of skin care to explore that won’t hurt anyone, might boost your self-confidence and distract you from the dumpster fire that exists in the real world.

So go. Be Beautiful.

ONE LAST WORD….

OKAY, A FEW MORE WORDS.

WATER.

SLEEP.

DAIRY / SUGAR.

If, after trying all the products and routines, you still are not happy with your skin, you’ll have to take a good hard look at your lifestyle and what you’re willing to change. For some people, you might be willing to drink three gallons of water a day before you’ll give up cream in your coffee. Other people might do the opposite. For me, my skin blows up when I consume dairy, liquids especially. Giving up sugar also helps me get *that* glow.

But it might not work for you. That’s okay. At the end of the day (and this blog series *WHEW*) that’s what it’s all about. Figuring out what works for YOUR LIFE and what is going to make you feel your best.

For helping me learn more about what works for me, hat tip to The Ordinary Regimen Guide: https://theordinary.com/regimenguide

One more gif because when I searched “pretty” Nikolaj Coster-Waldau kept coming up and so… I agree. ;-)

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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!