Books I've Enjoyed Lately: Fall 2024
Every so often I like to roundup books I’ve enjoyed lately and that’s what we’re doing today. Because books are just the best and audio books are how I get through renovations ;) Today’s list is a bit eclectic - it has plenty of light, summery reads on it as well as nonfiction, physiological thrillers, a collection of essays, and historical fiction. There’s something for everyone on this list…
As always, I’m sharing links to Amazon and indiebound. But of course, most of these books are available at your local bookstore or library. We’re big fans of our local library and browse in person a couple times a month for paper books and I also check out audio versions through the Libby App. It’s a great way to get free audio books! And for anyone who can’t abide a waitlist, Audible is a great option for audio books, too. I occasionally pay for a few months just to get some of the popular titles I’m too excited to wait for.
Here are some of my favorite reads lately, in no particular order…
House Lessons, Erica Bauermeister - Part memoir, part renovation tale, Erica Bauermeister’s book was such a treat. The story centers around the substantial renovation of their Port Townsend, WA fixer upper but also looks at family and marriage and is “a loving tribute to the connections we forge with the homes we care for and live in” (according to the Amazon description). This book is a must for old-home lovers. (amazon affiliate, indiebound)
The Unmaking of June Farrow, Adrienne Young - June Farrow comes from a long line of flower farmers in small-town North Carolina but her family also suffers from a mysterious curse that leads the women into madness. Just as June’s grandmother passes, June starts seeing and hearing things. But rather than a curse, June realizes her family has a rare gift. This was a page-turner! (amazon affiliate, indiebound)
Pineapple Street, Jenny Jackson - my sister gave me this paperback and it was a delightful read. The Stocktons are an old money family in New York who’s children are at crossroads. There’s Darley, the oldest who traded her inheritance for motherhood; Sasha the daughter-in-law who will never outgrow being an outsider; and Georgiana, the baby who struggles with her wealth and falls for a man she can’t have. I loved the writing and complex family drama of this debut novel! (amazon affiliate, indiebound)
The Comfort Book, Matt Haig - for anyone who has, is, or might ever go through a hard time, this book is for you. “It’s a collection of notes, lists, and stories written over a span of several years that originally served as gentle reminders to Haig’s future self that things are not always as dark as they may seem” (according to the Amazon description). This novel is a reassurance, a life raft, and a warm hug. The audio copy is great! (amazon affiliate, indiebound)
None of this is True, Lisa Jewell - When Josie decides to drag her elderly husband out to a swanky new club for her 45th birthday, she’s enraptured by Alix, a popular podcaster who is also celebrating her 45th birthday at the same time. The two run into each other again and when Jose shares a glimpse into her unsettling life, Alix agrees to make a podcast about her. As the two grow close, it becomes clear that Josie is hiding dark secrets and when she dissapears, Alix realizes she has become the subject of the podcast. This one had me guessing until the very end! (amazon affiliate, indiebound)
The Paris Novel, Ruth Reichl - this was another hand-me-down from my sister and I loved it. The novel centers around Stella, a New Yorker whose estranged mother leaves her a one-way ticket to Paris when she passes. Cautious Stella who loves her routines is thrust into a life of passion with fashion, food and books taking center stage in the Paris streets. She quickly meets friends and discover there is so much more to life than comfort and routines. (amazon affiliate, Indiebound)
Pony, R.J. Palacio - My 8-year-old and I read this one together at bedtime and we both really enjoyed it! Silas Bird lives alone with his father and keeps a ghost as his best friend. One night three men come on horseback and take his father away and then a mysteries pony shows up. Silas, the pony, and the ghost set out on a journey to find his father that will connect Silas to his past and his future. Palacio’s writing is a delight (she’s the author of Wonder) and this story was moving and imaginative. (amazon affiliate, indiebound)
The Scent Keeper, Erica Bauermeister - I went down a Erica Bauermeister rabbit whole this summer and really enjoyed The Scent Keeper. The story begins on a remote island where Emmeline lives with her father and mysterious glass bottles filled with scents. When her father dies, Emmeline is thrust into the real world, building a new life as she tries to understand her past. (amazon affiliate, indiebound)
One Night on the Island, Josie Silver - I loved Josie Silver’s last novel so I picked up this paperback for vacation and it did not disappoint. Columnist Cleo Wilder is sent to a remote cabin on a quiet English island to write about her 30th birthday. But her solitude is interrupted by a photographer from Boston who has family ties to the cabin. As they wait for the ferry to take one of them back, their relationship evolves from contentious to something much more. (amazon affiliate, indiebound)
These is My Words, Nancy E. Turner - This historical fiction is a sweeping adventure inspired by the author’s own family. The story belongs to Sarah Agnes Prine, a remarkable woman who grows up in the American frontier and eventually builds a full life. This was a powerful read about self reliance, determination, and love. (amazon affiliate, indiebound)
Finding Gobi, Dion Leonard - this is the true and miraculous tale of Dion Leonard, an endurance athlete who finds a dog in the middle of a 155-mile race through the Gobi Desert in China. The dog, who Dion names Gobi, keeps up with him for 77 miles, cementing him in Dion’s heart. As Dion makes preparations to bring Gobi home to Scotland, the dog goes missing and Dion embarks on the race of his life to bring him home. (amazon affiliate, indiebound)
Summer Romance, Annabel Monaghan - I loved Monaphna’s debut Nora Goes Off Script so picked up this one. The novel follows Ali, a mom and professional organizer, who’s life turns upside down when her own mom dies and her husband asks for a divorce. After months of sweatpants, she finally puts on a real clothes and is surprised to meet a man. Ali doesn’t need to make her life messier, but she deserves a little summer romance, right? (amazon affiliate, indiebound)
The Gifts of Imperfection, Brené Brown - After years of being on my list, I finally listened to Brene Brown’s well-loved book. This one is firmly in the self-help category and shares a fresh perspective on life and a path to your authentic self, encouraging vulnerability, letting go of shame, and loving oneself. Brown’s writing style is so approachable and this book felt like a tight hug. The audio copy was great! (amazon affiliate, indiebound)
Husbands & Lovers, Beatriz Williams - This delightful novel spans generations of Mallory Dunne’s family, a woman who’s son was severely poisoned by a death cap mushroom at summer camp and is now in renal failure. As she searches for a kidney donor, Mallory is faced with the secrets of her child’s father, a name she’s never even shared with her son, and the secret adoption of her mother. This page-turner (or the audio equivalent) got me through a few days of siding the Poplar Cottage and I thoroughly enjoyed it! (amazon affiliate, indiebound)
This Summer Will Be Different, Carley Fortune - I’m a sucker for any novel set on Prince Edward Island so I couldn’t wait to read this one by Carley Fortune, who’s debut novel was a favorite from summer’s past. The story follows Lucy, a tourist vacationing at her friend Bridget’s beach house when she meets a man. The chemistry is undeniable, but life gets complicated quickly when she realizes that the man is actually Bridget’s little brother. (amazon affiliate, indiebound)
What about you? Read anything good lately?
