Happy FRIDAY, friends!
Woo hoo for making it through another week! Hope you have all sorts of super fab weekend plans. We’re going to be taking it easy with the girls & possibly squeezing in a long-overdue date night to celebrate our birthdays. Fun, fun! What are you up to?
Today’s post is one I’m super excited about. I wanted to do this earlier in the summer, but things got a little crazy…you know, with my fab trip to California, interview with Shawn Johnson & then a trip to my hometown over 4th of July. Things have been operating on warp speed around here lately!
Anyway, the Summer Book Roundup was one of my favorite posts last year. Whenever I was in need of a new book, I’d browse through that post, grab a recommendation & download it onto my Kindle. Instant awesomeness. I can’t wait to see your latest suggestions on what to read!
I’ll start us off with what I’ve been reading lately…make sure to share your faves in the comment section below!
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1. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein~ this was suggested last year by Corinne, and let me tell you~ if you haven’t read this, you NEED to! Dog lover, non-dog lover, it doesn’t matter. Corinne said it was one of her favorite books ever, and I completely agree. Love love love this one.
2. Matched/Crossed by Allie Condie~ Lynn gave us this recommendation last summer, and I devoured Matched at the beach last summer & Crossed over Christmas vacation at my parent’s house. If you loved The Hunger Games, this is another trilogy that I’d highly recommend as well. The third book in the series {Reached} is due out in early November~ I can’t wait!
3. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern ~ I read this book last month for our SITS Girls book club, and I could not put it down. A touch of the supernatural, a love story, a mysterious circus~ I literally stayed up way past my bedtime reading this gem night after night.
4. Catch Me by Lisa Gardner ~ I adore the Detective D.D. Warren detective series, and this latest installment did not disappoint. The twist at the end was so super fab, I literally put down my Kindle & marveled at Lisa Gardner’s writing. She had me at the edge of the seat from page 1!
5. Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter ~ I started this on my California trip, and if you’re into romances that hop back & forth between time {and that are set in Italy}, this one is for you. I’m almost finished with it, and although it’s not grabbing me like The Night Circus or Catch Me did, I am enjoying it. Definitely a fun & entertaining read, although not my fave of the year so far.
Updated as of 8/23:
6. The Paris Wife by Paula McLain ~ I really enjoyed this book~ I rooted for the characters the entire way through. I must say, if you know the background story of Ernest & Hadley Hemingway, I’ve heard that can ruin in a bit since you know how things turn out in the end. I didn’t know the backstory & thought it was an enjoyable summer read!
7. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn ~ The BEST book I have read in a long, LONG time. The twists & turns in this book are amazing~ I was guessing the entire way through. I can’t stop recommending this book to anyone and everyone, it was THAT good! If you start it, be prepared to give up a few days of your life until you finish it~ you won’t want to put it down!
8. Dark Places by Gillian Flynn ~ After loving Gone Girl, I read Gillian Flynn’s other two books right away~ Dark Places and Sharp Objects. I really liked both of them, but they are definitely darker with flawed main characters. Still, fantastic mystery!
9. Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn ~ See Dark Places review~ I definitely recommend it, although it’s a little tough to read in a few parts. Great mystery, I enjoyed Gillian Flynn’s writing!
Also on my nightstand right now? 1,2 3 Magic Effective Disciple for Children by Thomas W. Phelan, PhD {for Little O}; Happiest Toddler on the Block by Harvey Karp {for Baby H}; and The Unofficial Guide to Disney World with Kids 2012 by Bob Sehlinger and Len Testa {did I mention we’re going to DISNEY at the end of the summer?!?! Squee!!!}.
Oh and {of course!} the Fifty Shades of Grey Trilogy by E.L. James. I won’t comment on these books other than to say 1. I had to read them to see what all of the buzz was about and 2. they sucked me in the same way that the Twilight series sucked me in {and now I have all sorts of thoughts on who should be casted in the movie!}. If you read the books, let me know what you thought in the comments section!
Now I want to hear what you’re reading this summer! What should be added to the 2012 Summer Book Roundup? Can’t wait to hear your recommendations!
Counting My Kisses: Ohhh how I love a good book. Getting the girls down for their afternoon naps & relaxing with my Kindle is one of my favorite ways to spend an afternoon. Well…a margarita in hand, a beach in front of me & the Hubs on the lounge chair next to me would make that equation just about perfect, but hey, you take what you can get, right?! Have a great weekend, friends!
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PERFECT timing. I just finished my book and now that I’ve warmed up to bed rest I’m back into reading and was all ready for suggestions! I just finished Cutting for Stone. My book club adored it. I, however, found it to be an engaging read but not amazing. More of a rent, not buy, kind of book. We also read The Paris Wife, happy reading. xo
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I read The Paris Wife earlier this year, just a warning you will really want to go to Paris once you finish it. I’m reading Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn and so far it’s really good.
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Well, I’ve recently been reading The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clara (City of Bones, City of Ashes, etc), and really liked it. So you could give that a try.
The Angina Monologues by Rosamund Kendal is also great, there is a review of it on my blog.
Happy reading!
Visiting via SITS Sharefest
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I’m reading the second book of the Hunger Games, 50 Shades of Grey, and Beautiful Ruins (I have issues just reading one book at a time). Thanks for the list…now I have more books to check out when I’m done with these!
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I am reading Defending Jacob, and it is very hard to put down. It is a lawyer book so it requires a little more concentration, but I cannot wait to see how it ends. A definite page turner.
I agree with Amy that Gone Girl is a must for a summer read. Gillian is a super writer, and really knows how to keep the suspence going.
Don’t you just LOVE to read????
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i’m planning on Gone Girl next. i tried to read 50 shades bc, like you, i was curious. i couldn’t finish it. i was into the story-line and wanted to know what happened but got tired of the, ahem, other part. just not my, errr, area of interest
but, glad to hear you liked gone girl.
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