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Fabulous living

Summer Reads

Happy Wednesday! 

As we make our way through June, I always try to use these months as a time to slow down by keeping my schedule a bit more open. 

I like to try to have the flexibility to take a walk after work or enjoy a spontaneous ice cream date without having a packed schedule. I also like to use the summer to catch up on some of my favorite books. Since the start of 2021, I’ve made it a point to read every day, whether it’s a chapter of one book, of 150 pages of another. If you enjoy reading on the beach or having a few good books on hand for vacation, I have a few suggestions for you. This is a round up of my favorite summer reads. This list is a mix of different genres and authors. If you want to keep up with what I’m reading, you can check out my Instagram stories where I keep track of all my books.

Beach Read

If you are on vacation and on the beach, this is the book for you. Beach Read follows the story of a young writer who spends a few months at a little beach house that is left to her.  Her goal is to work on a new book and learn more about the cottage and how it came into her possession, but her next door neighbor proves to be a bit of a distraction. Will our protagonist find the answers she’s looking for  and what will from there cut boy next door? You have to read this fun book to find out. 

Paris is Always a Good Idea

If you are looking to escape, not just to Paris but Ireland and Italy too, this is such a fun read. After working nonstop for nearly a decade, a young professional decides to go to the places she traveled right after college in order to find herself again. She meets some old flames which brings up memories of the past in each of the cities she visits. While abroad, she makes peace with the past, but will it allow her to move on fully once she returns home? Pick up this book and find out. P.S. after reading this book, you will want to book a one way ticket to Europe-the description of the places is incredible!

Not a Happy Family

If you like suspense and mystery and a bit of who done it, here’s a summer read you won’t want to put down. After a large, Easter dinner, the parents of a well-known family are found dead in their home. But, who killed them and why? Was it one of their children? The maid who found them or a random home invasion? This book has so many twists and turns that your guesses will change all throughout the book. This story has a lot of suspense but it’s not too scary that you won’t be able to sleep at night. I do have to warn you, once you start, it will be hard to put it down. 

The Silent Patient

Sticking with thrillers and mysteries. This book tells the story of a doctor who works in a Psych ward and he tries to uncover the mystery behind his patient who is accused of murder but won’t speak. This may seem dark, but it’s much more suspenseful and mysterious than scary. When you start reading, you won’t want to finish until you have all the answers you are looking for. There’s so many twists and turns and the ending will catch you off guard. It’s one of the best books I’ve read in a long time!

Grace Not Perfection

If you know me, then I have probably talked to you about my love for Simplified and Emily Ley. Grace Not Perfection is the first book she wrote and it is the perfect summer read. If you are looking for that push to have you slow down and be more present in the moment, this is the book for you. Emily has written other books, but her first book always holds a special place in my heart. This is the perfect book to read as the sun rises or sets or by the pool. Once you read this one, I guarantee you that you will want to read her other books.

Going There

If you are a fan of memoirs, then Katie Couric’s book would be a great option for you. Whether you followed her career for years or just wanted to get to know more about her, I found this book to be so insightful. From her childhood, big stories she’s covered, her personal life and where she is today, she covers a lot of ground. I enjoyed Couric before her book but I respect and admire her even more now. You will learn so much from this book. A must read for anyone who enjoys news, journalism or women being awesome!

If you are a big reader or looking to try some new books for the first time, I hope this list gives you some suggestions for summer reads. What books are you loving this summer? Let me know in the comments below!

Happy Reading!

Categories
Fabulous living

My Favorite Ways to Read

Hey guys! Happy Wednesday! Halfway through the work week…there’s no better feeling than hump day. 

One of my favorite hobbies since I was a young child is reading. I loved going to the library all through school and picking out different books to read. From picture books, to chapter books and then eventually novels. It’s no secret that I love the classics, Jane Austen is my favorite.I do enjoy autobiographies and biographies. There is something special about learning about someone or just getting lost in a book. 

Since I started my book club with my friends Maddie and Ryan, I have been reading a lot more which has been so fun and fulfilling. I have also gotten creative with the different ways I am reading. I’ve read your traditional, physical paper/ hardcover books, digital books thanks to Libby and then audio books. Three different ways to read.

Our weekly book club meetings…all remote but still so fun!

I love how many options there are out there to read. My personal favorite is the traditional, physical, paperback or hard cover (and preferable library books). I love being able to hold a book in my hands and go through it, page by page.  There is something special about the simplicity of curling up with a good book and being transformed to a new place. Even though I have a large stack of favorite books that I own, library books are my go-to for one time reads. I like supporting a community staple and I like that I can return it if I don’t like it, plus, library books are free which is a very good thing. 

A few books from my collection at home.

If I can’t get my hands on a physical book, checking them out from the library, digitally is the next best thing. I found out about Libby, which is an app you can download on your phone, iPad, or Kindle and check out books from your local library. This was a huge life saver when libraries were closed due to the pandemic. I do like how easy it is to read wherever you are (and it beats carrying books around) and Libby makes reading at night easier too. But, there is something that still draws me to the physical book. If you are always on the go and can read wherever, this could be the best option for you.

Lastly, audiobooks, as a child, we would sometimes listen to audiobooks on road trips. As I’ve gotten older I’ve stuck with reading books as opposed to listening to them. I decided to give audio books a try last month. I downloaded Audible and started a one month long free trial. It was nice to be able to listen to books as I was driving or getting ready or doing laundry. However, I would often get distracted and wouldn’t be as focused on my book. It was convenient for long drives but ultimately, I would rather sit down and relax to read as opposed to multitasking.

Reading is a favorite hobby of mine and I love that I have been able to carve out time every day to savor it, whether it’s reading a book physically, a digital book or an audiobook. At the end of the day, I will always be happy to curl up with a book and get lost in a new world or learn something new. 

Now it’s your turn!!!

What are your favorite ways to read and what books are you reading now?

Comment below!

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Fabulous living

Book Review: Just Jessie and Rediscover Catholicism

Hi All! 

Happy Tuesday! It is finals week for me, thankfully my finals aren’t too strenuous, I am looking forward to easing my way out of the semester. With summer right around the corner, one of the things I’m looking forward to is reading a lot. I have always loved to read but being in college doesn’t always give me the time to read for fun. Don’t get me wrong, I read a lot for my classes, for example, in one of my classes, I was reading a novel a week. I was definitely getting in my 30 minutes of reading a day. However, I didn’t have a lot of time to read for fun. I was able to complete two books for fun through the Spring semester.  Although, I wish it was more I was happy to get in a little bit of fun reading.

Such a fun book

I first read Jessie James Decker’s book, Just Jessie.I have always been a fan of Jessie James Decker. I loved following her show on E, listening to her new albums, and following her sweet family on social media. In her book she opens up about growing up, dreaming of becoming a singer, her career in music, meeting her husband, starting a family, creating her fashion line, but above all being herself. It was such a fun and light read, especially when I needed a break from reading textbook material all day. I read a few chapters every night so it took me a few weeks to read it, but you could finish it in a few sittings. I love when artists, actors, or influential people, write books and open up about how they got to where they are today. I find it inspiring and it encourages me pursue my own dreams. If you are a fan of Jessie James Decker I would highly recommend reading her book. She also just released a new song, Roots and Wings, which is beautiful. You can listen to it here

Grade: A-

Another great read

I also read Matthew Kelly’s book, Rediscover Catholicismover Lent.  It was another eye-opening book that made me reevaluate my faith and my relationship with God. This is the third book I have read by Matthew Kelly, I have also read Perfectly Yourselfand The Greatest Lie in the History of Christianity. Although, I liked the other books more than this one, I enjoyed digging deeper into my faith. The books really breaks down the Catholic faith, from The Seven Pillars of Catholic Spirituality, living the authentic life, and how we should live our lives as Catholics. I read a little bit every night and I took me the whole duration of Lent to read it, it could definitely be read in a few sittings, but I wanted to reflect on what I was reading. After reading it, I wanted to challenge myself to make my faith more a priority and be more intentional with my relationship with God. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone struggling with their faith or looking to deepen their faith. 

Grade: B-

If you are looking for new books to read I hope this gave you some insights on different books to try. Now, with summer rapdily approaching, I need your help picking out some new books that I should read this summer. What are your current favorites?! I need all the suggestions. Leave them in the comments below! Have a fantastic week!