My Favourite Mistake by Marian Keyes

 

My Favourite Mistake by Marian Keyes is the seventh book in the Walsh family series.  These are not small books - this book is over 400 pages.  I think the first book by Keyes that I picked up was before heading on vacation with the plan of one or two big books and not five relatively smaller books.

The Walsh family is a large and busy Irish family.  They like to all get involved in each other's lives and drama - quite often they create drama.  Each book focuses on a different family member and this one is Anna.   Anna has gone through tragedy years ago when her husband tragically died in a car accident but years later life is looking good for Anna.  She has an amazing PR job in New York with a feathery stroker boyfriend.  But then 2020 hits, Anna starts perimenopause, and basically is homesick for Ireland and her family.  In a rash decision she leaves her job and breaks up with her boyfriend and moves back home.  Without a plan for money or her future the first few months feel glum.  When one of her sister's friends is in crisis with a business they are trying to get running Anna finally finds a purpose.  Unfortunately, it involves a guy from her past Narky Joe.  Together they navigate helping this business giving the family one less worry.  Everything will work out if Anna could just find a doctor to give her some HRT medicine.

This book isn't a quick read - at least not for me.  It took me a bit to get into it and then read the last 200 pages in a day.  It's also filled with some Irish words and phrases that I sometimes didn't understand but for me it certainly didn't take away from the story.  I think I've always had a bit of a fondness for Irish authors.  If I'd had a girl I would have liked to name her Maeve after Maeve Binchy.  In fact I would say Marian Keyes books are for fans of Binchy's novels.  I might also call Marian Keyes the Irish Sophie Kinsella.

The Summer Pact by Emily Giffen

 

You may think that since this book is being published in July that it's about the season but it is about a group of four friends that meet in college - Lainey, Tyson, Hannah and Summer.  The four become best friends but before college is done Summer has committed suicide.  None of the friends no why - yes there was school pressure and she was an athlete that came with pressures but no one suspected a thing.  So as the now group of three friends leave college to start their lives they make a pact - the Summer pact - that if anyone of them ever hits rock bottom they promise to drop everything to help each other through the hard times.  Part of the pact too is agreeing to share when those hard times hit too and not to fight though them alone.

Many years later Hannah hits rock bottom when she discovers her fiance in bed with another woman.  Tyson and Lainey drop all commitments to rush to Hannah's side.  Once Hannah's immediate problems are somewhat resolved the three decide they could all use a break from lift and decide on a trip where each person picks where they are going with no veto options for any of them.  The three of them have some soul searching to do and some history to process as they head out on their vacation.  

The Summer Pact by Emily Giffin was a great read with many unexpected twists.  I definitely had empathy for all the characters.  I enjoyed reading about their time in Italy as well. 

The Forever Dog by Dr Karen Shaw Becker

 

I'm a dog mom to a wonderful Australian Labradoodle named Howard.  To say we are obsessed with him is an understatement.  We do our best to take care of him.  Whenever we are chopping up some fruits or vegetables we generally ask Google if it's safe for dogs and then place a small amount of that food in Howie's food bowl.

The Forever Dog Life book has us taking a new approach.  Now instead of a nibble off whatever healthy foods we might be having we are giving him larger portions and cooking specifically for Howie.  I've learned a lot about nutrition for dogs from this book.  For instance, Howie now gets 3 full eggs a week in the past he would have had a nibble occassionally.  Howie is a very happy dog since I've found this book.  If in doubt always check with your veterinarian.

Some of Howie's favourite foods are eggs, sardines, sweet potato, cheese, peppers, cucumbers, watermelon, green tea, celery, plain chicken and more.  We still rely on kibble for his main food source.

The book has suggestions for meal replacements, foods to eat on a regular basis, meal toppers and more.  If you have a furry pet I would highly recommend this book.

Love of My After Life by Kirsty Greenwood

 

The Love of My After Life by Kirsty Greenwood is a great fun read.  The title and cover lead me to think this might be a book lacking substance.  Just a fluffy read but you would be wrong to judge this book by the cover or title.  

Delphie lives an isolated life.  She works at the pharmacy across the street.  She takes care of her elderly mute neighbour.  That's about it.  No friends.  No outings.  Keeps conversation to a minimum.  

When she suddenly finds herself passed into the after life.  As I said, she's never had much of a life to begin with but after she crosses paths with a hot guy she suddenly wants to live.  Her after life therapist Merrit says she can continue on with life as long as she completes a challenge with 10 days.  But she can't complete the challenge on her own - she's going to need some help.

I really enjoyed The Love of My After Life way more than I suspected.  The characters were great and you couldn't help but cheer Delphie on.  The ending had a wonderful surprise twist that I never saw coming.  I would happily read a second book to hear how Delphie's new life is.  This is my first Kirsty Greenwood book and I will certainly look for more of her novels.

The Seaside Sisters by Pamela Kelley

 

The Seaside Sisters by Pamela Kelley is a good beach read for this summer as it takes place in Cape Cod.  I always love a book that's set in Cape Cod.  Reading about the beautiful beaches and dreaming about being near the ocean is always a good summer read.

Hannah lives in New York and since her mother passed she's been having panic attacks.  Hannah is also an author.  Her first book has recently been published but now she's in a rut working on the second book.  When her Aunt calls and suggest spending the summer on Cape Cod she thinks being around family and the beach might just be the answer to help her relax.  Her sister lives there too and it would be good to spend more time with her.

As predicted being with her aunt and sister do help ease her stress and slowly the words start flowing again.  Hannah joins a local writing group and starts making new friends.  Spending the summer here is great but it's not Brooklyn.

The book is called The Seaside Sisters but Hannah feels like the main character.  There is a small side story about her Aunt and her sister but they all seemed second to Hannah's story.  I think I would choose a different title for the book as the sister relationship wasn't a main theme of the book.  

This book took me a bit to get into the characters and I admit I almost stopped reading it.  But I persevered and enjoyed the book in the end.  At times I found some of the story repetitive but I enjoyed reading about all the scenery and food.  I also felt the ending was too rushed.

Bookish People by Susan Coll

 

If you've ever dreamed of working in a book store Bookish People is for you.  If you've ever thought the idea of working in a book store, Bookish People, will convince you otherwise.  Although, this particular bookstore in DC does seem particularly full of activity.

Sophie Bernstein loves her bookstore and employees.  When her husband passes away and the news of the world makes her feel like it's all too much, Mrs. Bernstein begins a plan to hide away in a secret room within the bookstore.

The world seems against her plans though when a series of events make Mrs. Bernstein feel like she can't get a moment of peace.  Everyone seems to need her attention.  Her keys are locked in the Qwerk III.  The power keeps going out.  Her son, Michael, a yoga instructor, has borrowed the shop's van and doesn't seem to have plans to give it back.  On top of that there seems to be an endless amount of party invitations all with different themes.

Clemi is the store's event planner.  She has booked a very controversial poet to speak at the store.  Mrs. Bernstein is worried about the event and really wants her to cancel but Clemi ulterior motives and this event must go on.  Clemi also is pulled in many different directions and all she wants is a minute alone with the poet.

Also, what's that fishy smell coming from the closet?

Bookish People has many lovable characters .  I really enjoyed the novel and all the craziness it had going on.  This story might be a bit extreme but working in libraries and bookstores are definitely never dull.

The Bodyguard by Katherine Center

 

Every now and then an author comes along that I will consume all books that this author puts out.  This time I found myself in a reading funk and I thought I need Katherine Center to get me out of that funk.  Luckily I came across The Bodyguard.  BookPage calls Katherine Center “the reigning queen of comfort reads.” and I couldn't agree more.

The Bodyguard is about a team of personal protective agents.  They aren't really physical bodyguards - although they certainly can be.  They're more the brains behind protecting people.  Hannah Brookes is a master at her job.  Her brain is constantly assessing risks - except when it comes to her heart.  On the eve of her mother's funeral her boyfriend - and coworker - dumps her.  She's desperate to get out of the country on a new assignment but her boss wants her to sit still and properly grieve her mother.

Finally, Hannah gets a new assignment but unfortunately, it's right here in Texas.  To make matters worse it's a movie star  - Jack Stapleton.  To make matters more worse - she has to pretend to be his girlfriend.  She's the farthest thing from a movie stars girlfriend.  No one is going to believe this.

Aside from the fact that she doesn't look like a movie star's girlfriend Hannah is perfect for the job because she could care less that he's handsome and charming.  Hannah is extremely professional and if she can protect Jack from stalkers until Thanksgiving hopefully she'll be given a new gig in London.

The Bodyguard was the story I needed to get me reading again.  I very much enjoyed the story and the characters.  If you like The Bodyguard,  I recommend you search out some of Katherine Center's other books.  Follow the links below to read other Katherine Center book reviews on my blog.

Things you Save in a Fire

What you Wish For