reads

I've always loved reading but when the kids were really little, I didn't have a lot of time or energy for it. I've found I have more time to read lately so I thought I'd share what books I've read so far in 2018.

1. The Address by Fiona Davis
2. The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine
3. The Perfect Nanny by Leïla Slimani
4. The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
5. Necessary Endings by Dr. Henry Cloud
6. The Saturday Night Supper Club by Carla Laureano
7. Recapturing the Wonder by Mike Cosper
8. Expansive by AJ Sherrill
9. All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin

Currently Reading: Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton

Other Recent Favorites

Where'd You Go, Bernadette: A Novel
Fun and easy to read, I found myself wanting to meet Bernadette as I grinned at her quirks. Told in letter form, I enjoyed seeing the pieces of Bernadette's story come together through her and her "supporting cast's" letters, notes, and emails. If you're looking for a light weekend read, this is a great choice.

Bread & Wine: A Love Letter to Life Around the Table with Recipes
Ms. Niequist did it again. This compilation of stories left me reflecting on my relationships with my family and especially the women in my life. Shauna has a way of making you feel like you've just had a great conversation with a long-time friend and I look forward to reading many more of her volumes in the future.

The American Heiress: A Novel
This book took me away to an earlier time where money and social connections were king (or duke, in this case.) In the midst of Downton Abbey withdrawal, Cora Cash was the perfect character to tide me over. While the book was long, it never felt that way and I was still wishing for more by the end. A great summertime read.

Bittersweet
Have you ever read a book that makes you stop? That makes you re-think how you're approaching things? That you can relate to so well and that makes you well up with tears and then laugh at the turn of a page? For me, this was that book and I loved ever page of it. The author, Shauna Niequist, told stories that I felt in my core and by the end of the book, I felt like I knew her. I highly recommend this book.

The Kitchen House
A heart-wrenching story, The Kitchen House tells the story of Lavinia, an indentured servant who straddles two worlds - the world of the help and the world of the family who owns the plantation she grows up on. While it follows her story we also see life from the perspective of Belle, a kitchen maid in the same house. Though it tackles a difficult period in our country's history, this book drew me in completely.