Quick Lit: June 2020 (Part 2)

Quick Lit: June 2020 (Part 2)

Jul 15, 2020

As I mentioned in Part 1 of my June Quick Lit, I finished 17 books in June. I chatted about ten of them yesterday and then six in today's post. As a bonus, I'm reviewing a series I read a month ago in this post, too. As you'll see, my reading has been eclectic lately! If you enjoy this feature, check out other readers' reviews at Modern Mrs. Darcy.

I MISS YOU WHEN I BLINK BY MARY LAURA PHILPOTT – I can't remember the last time I read a book of essays, and I'm still not sure what prompted me to buy this collection. Regardless, I'm so glad I did. This is one of my favorite reads of the year! I loved so many of the stories Philpott shares and the meaning she extracts out of them. Although I'm not in the same stage of life, I still felt like I read this book at the exact right time in my life. There was something about the way she explored memory, time, and identity that struck home with me. It helped that I could relate to her Type A personality in so many ways. I'm So Obsessed With It, and I thought Philpott was wise, relatable, and funny. She made me want to be her friend. I can't wait to re-read this one!

WHAT YOU WISH FOR BY KATHERINE CENTER* – I'm going to rip off the band-aid: I was incredibly disappointed by this book. Since Happiness for Beginners is an all-time favorite, I was thrilled to learn Duncan was the hero of this story. I expected this to be exactly what I'd wished for! Instead, I felt so let down. I loved the theme of the novel, a few quotes from it, and a cameo from a certain favorite couple. But that's it. The heroine made me want to scream. She got on my last nerve and made a "just okay for me" book even worse. I was continually questioning her reasoning and actions in a way that just pulled me out of the story. I didn't like how internal the writing was either. Give me more dialogue, more action, and some showing instead of telling. Sadly, I'm So Over It. 

AMAL UNBOUND BY AISHA SAEED – Did I buy this book because I loved the cover? You better believe it. I haven't read many books set in Pakistan, so that aspect appealed to me, too. For me, this was one of those experiences were I felt like a great story had a lackluster execution. I liked the heroine's voice, but something about the writing felt unemotional and clunky. There is a great message here about speaking up and inspiring change, as well as the importance of education for girls around the world. But there was just no spark or vibrancy to the writing or characters. Both were very average. I kept wondering whether I'd be more immersed in the story if I was the intended audience, but I just don't know. I was So Okay With It overall, but I did love the message at its heart.

ANNIE'S LIFE IN LISTS BY KRISTIN MAHONEY – I randomly found this one while browsing at the bookstore. I don't read a lot of Middle Grade, but this one felt like it was made for me! I'm going to list some of the reasons why:

1. As a lover of lists, I could totally relate to the heroine, Annie.

2. A book written entirely in lists ended up being a cute and clever construction!

3. Annie was an enjoyable heroine, and I loved how Mahoney captured her voice.

4. The problems felt very realistic, and Annie's reactions to them made perfect sense for her age.

5. The adorable illustrations throughout gave me even more to love about the book.

6. I was happy that the book focused on family and friendships. 

7. All of the secondary characters were well-developed and memorable.

I So Enjoyed It and can't wait to read more from this author!

HYPERBOLE AND A HALF BY ALLIE BROSH – I was familiar with Brosh's blog by the same name but hadn't read her book. I have no idea where it would be shelved in a bookstore, since it's a combo of humor/memoir/graphic novel, but this felt like a good way to dip my toe into the graphic novel genre. It's a mix of of new content and fan favorites from her blog, and I was surprised by how many of the stories I recognized. Whether Brosh was talking about her dogs or her depression, she writes with self deprecation and humor. The illustrations are rudimentary and weird, but they work somehow. It was just disjointed for me – there were stories that made me laugh and others I found awkwardly cringe-y or honestly kinda sad. I think it balanced out to a lukewarm So Okay With It overall. 

THE SONG OF ACHILLES BY MADELINE MILLER – Having read and loved Miller's Circe last year, I had to go back and read this book. I haven't read a lot of Greek mythology and know little about the Trojan War. So, most of the things described in this book were entirely knew to me! As with Circe, I found Miller's writing to be gorgeous. I listened to it on audio, too, and loved the narrator's voice. This is a character-driven story, and I did think Miller did a great job developing both Patroclus and Achilles and the secondary characters. But despite that fact, I just didn't find myself very invested in anyone. I'd expected way more emotion, at least based on some reviews I'd read. Instead, I felt a distance and detachment as the story unfolded. I So Liked It, but Circe remains my favorite of the two.

Thanks Kelly, @xoxokellynina, for letting me use your photo!

SUGAR DADDY, BLUE-EYED DEVIL, SMOOTH-TALKING STRANGER, AND BROWN-EYED GIRL BY LISA KLEYPAS – I planned to write a separate post about this series but have clearly gotten too lazy. So, instead, you're getting my short and sweet thoughts about each book! Luckily, Kleypas is an incredibly popular and well-known author, so I'm just joining a chorus of people who are already a fan of this series. But here's the backstory you have to know first: Kelly has been begging me to read Sugar Daddy for years, and I flat-out refused. I hated the title, the cover, and the sample I read once in a bookstore, so my mind was made up. Then, we did our bookish March Madness bracket and tied (I won by half a point!). Typically, the winner choses a book for the loser to read. Since we basically both won, we both got to choose a book for the other person. Can you guess what Kelly picked?

Yep, Sugar Daddy. Thankfully, Hoopla had the audiobook that I could borrow, so I figured I'd rip the bandaid, turn it to 3x speed, and get it over with. Can you tell I went into it with such a chip on my shoulder? It's a miracle that I'm able to say: this book won me over! It's unusual for the genre and felt more women's fiction than romance in many ways. I loved the heroine and was rooting for her the entire novel. I'm shocked to say I So Enjoyed It! I personally wish the hero had been introduced sooner and that the romance has been more developed because it ended up being the weakest element for me. After spending so long getting to know this heroine, I was disappointed we didn't get to dig deeper into her relationship with the hero. The narrator of the audio, Brittany Pressley, added to my enjoyment and is a big reason I almost immediately started the second book.

Blue-Eyed Devil was my favorite in the series, which I wasn't expecting. We first meet the hero in Sugar Daddy, and he had a lot to make up for based on the way he'd acted in that novel. Thankfully, this book spent a lot of time with the heroine first, and she stole my heart right away. Her backstory is heartbreaking, and it's hard to watch her go through some truly awful, traumatic things. I appreciated that Kleypas handled it with care. I loved how the hero slowly won her trust over time, and I thought it was great that the romance didn't "fix" her life. She found healing on her own, and the "happily ever after" was just icing on the cake. I So Loved It and will definitely re-read it. 

The third, Smooth-Talking Stranger, was my least favorite. And it was even more of a letdown following the magic of the second book! I thought the heroine was pretty annoying, and the hero was a bit too alpha male for me. I just was never fully invested in the story. The romance felt more attraction-driven rather than emotional, and that's never a favorite for me. Two things redeemed it and made it a So Liked It: the heroine's commitment to making sure her nephew was cared for and the cameos of the previous couples. I don't see myself revisiting it, however.

And finally, we end with Brown-Eyed Girl. I had some issues with this one, but the overall story appealed to me more than the third book. I loved the heroine's wedding planning business, her relationship with her half sister (and another storyline involving that character), and the way the heroine's possible career move was presented and resolved. But honestly, I'm not sure what the hero saw in her. She continually pushed him away – for no reason except her own insecurity! Yes, it can be realistic, but it is hard to believe that this supposedly wealthy and gorgeous man would keep pursuing her after so much rejection. That being said, I So Enjoyed It once I just suspended my disbelief on that aspect. Overall, a fun way to say goodbye to the Travis family.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review consideration. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review.

What have you been reading lately?

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Quick Lit: June 2020 (Part 1)

Quick Lit: June 2020 (Part 1)

Jul 14, 2020

I read 17 books in June, and I'm sharing my thoughts on all of them over the next two days! Since the post was too long, I split it into two parts: ten mini reviews in today's post and six in tomorrow's post. You'll find one June read only briefly mentioned at the end of this post, along with thoughts on three books I read in May. And tomorrow's post contains some thoughts on a series I read a month or two ago. I had to make sure I was all caught up! If you enjoy this feature, check out other readers' reviews at Modern Mrs. Darcy.

VALENTINE BY ELIZABETH WETMORE – Let's start by laying it all on the table: if I'd solely read this physical book, I would have DNFed it. There are no quotation marks in this novel or even any stylistic indication that dialogue is occurring. WHY?! However, I listened to it on audio and thought it was brilliantly narrated. If you decide to try this book, I highly recommend that format. This is a book where the setting feels like a character, and I loved that fact. The story, set in 1976, explored how this small Texas oil town shaped the lives of seven women who lived in it. With multiple points of view, I was impressed by how Wetmore captured the voice of each character. The first two chapters, in particular, wowed me. I So Loved It, the kind of read that lingered in my mind long after I was done.

LONG BRIGHT RIVER BY LIZ MOORE – I borrowed a copy of this book from my sister, even though she hadn't read it yet. I was drawn to the idea of two sisters divided by their very different lives until one of them goes missing. I was expecting it to be primarily a mystery, but I was pleasantly by how deeply it explored the characters and their family dynamic. The Then/Now structure created a great slow build and kept me completely hooked. Focusing on the opioid crisis and addiction did make a very bleak, heartbreaking read. It's heavy, I won't lie. But I was totally engrossed in the heroine's search for her sister and the way Moore unflinchingly depicted their story and this city. It's more literary than what I'd expected from a mystery/thriller and that worked in its favor for me. I So Enjoyed It.

YOU DESERVE EACH OTHER BY SARAH HOGLE – I bought this on a whim at Target one day because we all know I can't resist a summary with hate-to-love. An engaged couple who now hates each other? You know I had to find out how they'd gotten there! Here's the deal: I So Loved It, but I think it will be frustrating for a lot of readers. The heroine is pretty neurotic, and most of their issues stem from her inability to communicate. I kept thinking, "Um, I think this is all in your head... and you're being rude." Regardless, I still found it to be such a fun read. The writing was quirky and sarcastic, the story was ultimately adorable, and it was a fun twist on my favorite trope. I laughed so much while I was reading it! It worked for me, personally, but I'd recommend it with some caveats.

ONE OF US IS LYING AND ONE OF US IS NEXT BY KAREN M. MCMANUS – After loving A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, I found myself craving more YA mysteries. That led me to this duology! The first was like The Breakfast Club – but with murder – and I thought it was thrilling. I solved the case about halfway through, but that didn't lessen my enjoyment at all. It was twisty, fast paced, and I was rooting for the characters! I So Enjoyed It. The sequel was set at the same high school but followed different characters, including one we met in the first book. It was also quite fun: the Truth or Dare game stressed me out, the characters were enjoyable, the hints of romance were cute, and the ending surprised me. I thought the first was a bit more engaging, but I still So Liked It.

STIR BY JESSICA FECHTOR – Though I'm not a foodie at all, I weirdly love books about food. After reading a blog post about 20 tasty and tantalizing food memoirs, I added a ton to Goodreads – including this one! The author suffered a brain aneurysm at age 28 and lost her sense of smell and the vision in one eye. Struggling with her "new normal," she turns to food and cooking to find her way again. Jessica's voice was warm and inviting, her support system sounded lovely, and her outlook on life was inspiring. Even without the food element, this was an excellent memoir. Ah, but the food! She described cooking and eating with such love and joy that it made me reflect on my  own memories that are connected to meals I've eaten. I So Loved It and will be buying a copy for my shelves.

WRITERS & LOVERS BY LILY KING – Now that my sister Caroline has started reading a ton and joined bookstagram, I have another source of reading recommendations. This was one of her favorite reads in May, and she made it sound so good that I had to read it. This slow, slice-of-life story felt like nothing was happening, so its beauty snuck up on me. I thought I was simply enjoying it until I suddenly realized no, I So Loved It. Character-driven with insightful writing, I loved how King explored grief, love, adulthood, and finding your way. It was quiet and contemplative, and I thought the heroine was so well developed. I frequently wanted to reach into the novel and offer her advice or a shoulder to cry on. This isn't the kind of book I'd typically pick up, but I'm so glad I tried it!

COMING HOME BY ROSAMUNDE PILCHER – After thoroughly enjoying Pilcher's The Shell Seekers last year, I was excited to pick up this book from her. It sounded right up my alley: a continent-spanning saga following a young British girl, Judith Dunbar, from her early days in boarding school through WWII. But I had the audiobook equivalent of sticker shock when I realized it was 40 hours long. Yikes! There were things I loved about this quaint, cozy novel – particularly the characters and setting – but it also felt overly detailed and way longer than it needed to be. For me, not enough happened in the story to justify the length. The second half was more interesting than the first, but I was starting to resent it by the end. I So Liked It but don't see myself reading more from Pilcher in the future. 

THE VANISHING HALF BY BRIT BENNETT – I loved Bennett's debut, The Mothers, and couldn't wait for this new release from her. The way Bennett explored the concept of identity through these twin sisters and their children was so thought-provoking and discussable. It would make a great book club read! However, for me, it felt like something was missing. The shifts in time and way it moved between various characters wasn't my favorite. The characters were well developed, but it often seemed to leave a storyline right at the moment I wanted to dig deeper into it. It never felt like it was building towards anything, and I thought the first half was much stronger than the second. I So Enjoyed It and understand why it's getting a lot of buzz, even though it wasn't a favorite for me.

DON'T OVERTHINK IT BY ANNE BOGEL – As a longtime reader of Modern Mrs. Darcy and someone often guilty of overthinking and indecision, this book immediately appealed to me. I listened to the audiobook, so I got to hear Anne's conversational writing delivered by her soothing voice. A perfect combo! The strategies presented here aren't necessarily new or original ideas, but I loved that they were gathered into one helpful resource. The examples presented sometimes felt like shallow things to worry about, but I felt like that was part of the point – overthinking can cause such indecision and anxiety about things that are not deserving of that level of mental energy. It reads a bit like a series of blog posts, but I still So Loved It and look forward to re-reading, pen in hand.

I listened to the first three books of the Mortal Instruments series – City of Bones, City of Ashes, and City of Glass – by Cassandra Clare on audio back in May. I'd initially planned to review them once I finished all six, but now that a month has gone by... I'm not entirely sure that I'll go back to the series. I don't know what happened! I liked the action, thought the world was intriguing, and was hooked on the drama. The characters annoyed me, for the most part, but I'd still say I So Liked It for all three. And yet, the more time has passed, the less motivation I have to return. I think they were fun when I was immersed in the world but were forgettable once I'd left it. I have positive feelings for them overall and may complete the series eventually, but I definitely prefer the Infernal Devices.

Additionally, I read Book Love by Debbie Tung, a graphic novel about books. There's no story to it – just vignettes celebrating bookworms and the love of reading. It's the kind of thing I'd gift to another book lover. Nothing very new but makes a cute addition to a "books about books" stack. I read it in about 30 minutes and So Liked It. 

Don't forget to check out Part Two of my June 2020 Quick Lit tomorrow for reviews of six more books! And though I didn't re-read anything in June (what?!), I do have a few books that I'll briefly write about here. 

What have you been reading lately?

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The Throne Must Go On

The Throne Must Go On

Jul 9, 2020

This week marks the release of one of my most-anticipated releases – and a book that you'll definitely find on my Top Ten of 2020 list at the end of the year. The Heir Affair by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan is the sequel to The Royal We, a book I first read when it came out back in 2015. I've re-read it twice since then, and I love it more each time. These characters feel like my friends, and it's such a comforting read for me. The Royal We is set in a world that's familiar but with a twist. You can read my review for more details about that story. But the fun nods to William and Kate's love story story, the insightful way it explores personal privacy vs. life in the public eye, and the descriptions of England (especially Oxford!) have earned it a spot on my all-time favorites list.

And do you know what I wrote in my 2015 review? “I'm dying for a sequel so I can spend more time with Nick and Bex – and get an update on Freddie, too, of course.” 2020 hasn't been the year I'd wish for, by any stretch of the imagination, but my dreams have come true! I couldn't wait to read The Heir Affair, and it did not disappoint. I read the book back in May and adored every minute of it! Picking up right after the end of the first book, it gives you an up-close look at the fallout from Nick and Rebecca's fateful wedding day. Marrying a prince doesn't guarantee a happily ever after, especially when you're in the midst of a very public scandal.

In this sequel, Queen Eleanor says it best, “But what is it you Americans say? You break it, you buy it? Well, you broke it, and you've bought it, so it must be you who mends it.” But will Bex… ahem, Rebecca… be able to fix it? You're going to have to buy the book to find out, but I can still tell you a little bit of what to expect from it (with no spoilers, of course). Clocking in at 464 pages, The Heir Affair will take you on a Journey. Yes, with a capital J. The newlywed period – living together, combining your lives, joining a new family and creating one of your own – can be hard for mere mortals. When your in-laws are monarchs, there's even more pressure added to the mix. 

Even if Rebeca's impropriety from the previous book hadn't come to light, she was still in for a rude awakening once she became an official member of the royal family. I truly believe that no amount of etiquette training beforehand can truly prepare someone for the world she was about to enter. With the first book, I loved how it explored the idea of what someone has to sacrifice as a sovereign. The idea of giving up your privacy because you fell in love with a public figure wasn't something I'd thought deeply about before that book. And now, it's always on my mind when I read articles + see photos of the British Royal Family. I certainly don't envy Kate Middleton.

What I love most about this sequel, on the other hand, is how it explores your entire life being judged in the court of public opinion, having the weight of centuries of history upon your shoulders, and what a monarch must sacrifice for the throne. You see all this private pain – things like tension in a marriage, distance between brothers, business interfering with a friendship, and heartbreaking medical complications  – that has a significant impact on your emotional and mental health. And yet, it's got to stay behind closed doors. The public wants you to be personable, sure, but in a polished way. Don't be too ambitious, too scandalous... too much of anything.

How can you be a PERSON when you're also a POSITION? That was the question that I couldn't stop asking while I was reading. There's a lot happening in this book: a marriage in crisis, a blossoming friendship between two unexpected people, a palace renovation, a quest to discover secrets from the past, and a prescient storyline for one character that echoes of real-life changes that have taken place in the British Royal Family in recent months. And that's certainly not all you'll find inside! There's a ton packed in these pages, and I couldn't get enough of it.

If your biggest issue with The Royal We was the length and/or pace, you'll probably feel similarly about this sequel. However, I had no complaints. I loved all the details – the witty dialogue, the emotional developments, and the major drama. Because these characters feel like friends, I was thrilled to spend as much time as possible with them. Could some of it have been cut? Probably. But I wouldn't lose a page personally. Did I like every decision these characters made? Nope. But I understood their motivation. Are these characters occasionally suffering from Privileged People Problems? Sure. Yet, I still wouldn't trade places with them. I'd rather be a "nobody" in Georgia than join the monarchy. Knowing history has its eyes on you (thanks, Hamilton) is an incredible amount of pressure.

And while I may have made this sound like it's all Deep Thoughts and Complicated Scenarios, it's also a ton of dishy, dramatic fun. It was thought-provoking read for me, but it was also entertaining and exactly what I needed in the midst of COVID-19. The drama is cranked all the way up, and it's messy, y'all. But so are The Real Housewives. Why would I expect anything less from the royal family? Give someone money and power, and shit's gonna start hitting the fan. If you've read The Royal We, I can't wait for you to find out what happens next. And if you haven't, what are you waiting for? I love the Fug Girls and these characters they've created! Long may they reign.

So Quotable

“I liked that used books brought with them their own history – every dog-ear, every stain, every crease. Maybe a book was slightly faded because someone had left it in the sun on their honeymoon. Maybe page ninety-eight was turned at the corner because it contained a glorious insult, or the perfect romantic turn of phrase. Maybe the person who'd highlighted nearly every line had graduated at the top of her class. Secondhand books could have lived in tiny walk-ups or hotel rooms of the White House – or, here, even in Balmoral Castle itself. Each book was a mystery, its secrets hidden in plain sight. Kind of like me.”

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review consideration. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review.

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July 2020 Goals

July 2020 Goals

Jul 7, 2020

If I was surviving before, June was the month where I finally felt like I was thriving (somewhat). My baby long, wonderful crib naps + sleeping better at night. Having those few extra hours during the day and less broken night sleep has made a world of a difference. I'm able to do chores around the house, play with my big boy, or just have a moment to rest. I didn't realize how much I needed that in my day! Newborn snuggles are wonderful, but I am loving this current age and stage. I feel like we're settling in as a family and finding our new rhythm.

Personally, I started to feel more like myself in June. Introducing a bottle + formula made it possible for me to go run a few errands. I got back into the habit of meal planning and cooking. Naptime made it possible for me to get my house in order. I started picking up physical books a little more instead of relying on audios. And getting out of the house for a little mountain weekend getaway was something we all needed for a little mental refresh. It was just an all-around great month, with my goals included. I got a lot done and am carrying that positivity into July. 

On My Calendar:
– Celebrating nine years of marriage
– My mama's birthday
– Hamilton on Disney+
– Last month in my current Simplified planner

Currently Obsessing Over:
– The release of Hamilton on Disney+ at the beginning of the month, of course! I've listened to and loved the album for years, but I wasn't sure I'd ever be able to see the show live. It was incredible to watch at home – with the original cast! – and have that experience. I absolutely loved it and can't wait to watch it again.
– I made these baked potato foil packs for dinner recently, and Nick and I loved them! A new go-to meal.
– Although many things have re-opened, the only thing I cared about was the bookstore. My sister and I visited two of them more than once in June, as evidenced by all that I acquired. My TBR was the lowest it's been since I started blogging, and now it's jumped back up. Whoops! Oh well, I have had so much fun hanging out with my sister.

Yearly Goals:
(These should stay the same all year, so I'll just do month-to-month progress reports!)
– Read through the Bible in one year.
– Read a devotional every morning.
– Track my spending in the Goodbudget app.
– Blog 2x per week.

June progress: 
– Yikes. June was my worst month yet! I only read my Bible like one day each week, though I did catch up every time. I don't know what happened because I'd finally gotten back in the groove, and then... Womp womp.
– I did stay more consistent with this goal and only missed a few days. I'm loving the devotional I'm reading!
– Continuing to track my spending, though I sometimes get a few days behind on inputting purchases.
– So close, but not quite. I blogged eight times total, which isn't bad. Imperfect progress is still worth celebrating!

Revisiting My June Goals:
– Schedule a monthly planning session. / Check! Developing this habit is one of my favorite things I've done in 2020.
– Complete Four Months in the baby's journal + take monthly photo. / I finished the journal on the 7th and took the photo a few days later (once the weather was nice enough for better lighting). So many memories recorded!
– Complete Toddler Year Three + One to Four Months in my big boy's journal. / AHHH! That's my celebration scream. I'm finally starting to get caught up in my firstborn's baby book – thanks to old photos, videos, and notes in my journals/planner from that time. And now I have a plan for moving forward with this project.
– Cull, download, rename, and backup May 2020 photos. / Done! I finished about mid-month, and it was the perfect activity to complete while watching a movie with Nick one night. I'm so proud of maintaining this process.
– Since all my photos/videos are now backed up, cull what's saved on iPhone. / Partially complete! I went through all the videos (like 1,000ish) and narrowed it down to just 150 favorites that I'll keep on my phone. And I went back through any photos from 2019 or before, but I have more culling to do from 2020. Moving this to July!
– Trade in used books, and donate unwanted clothes. / I traded in books for store credit, and Nick took a donation of clothes to Goodwill. In addition, I made a plan for how we'll store clothes the boys have outgrown.
– Complete two 20 in 2020 items. / We completed one – cook for someone else – when we invited my parents over for a meal. But I totally failed at referencing our list for a second activity to check off!
– Make my Summer TBR. / I made it and shared it on the blog. I'm excited about all of the titles on my list!
– Finish three blog posts currently in my Drafts. / Yep! I could have pushed myself to finish a few posts that lingered there longer, but I still published three posts that I'd been planning and hadn't gotten around to yet.
– Read one non-fiction book. / I read five total, and one is on my list of favorite reads of the year (coming soon).

My July Goals:
– Schedule a monthly planning session.
– Complete Five Months in the baby's journal + take monthly photo.
– Complete Five Months in my big boy's journal.
– Choose and print photos for both Promptly Journals.
– Cull, download, rename, and backup June 2020 photos.
– Go through last few months of photos saved on iPhone.
– Celebrate nine years of marriage.
– Prep new 2020-2021 Dapperdesk planner.
– Catch up on all reviews.
– Review my 20 in 2020 list.
– Meet with Nick to discuss finance book once he's finished.

Do you have any goals for July?

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June 2020: Recap + On My Shelves

June 2020: Recap + On My Shelves

Jul 6, 2020

We're halfway through a year that has felt like no other, but I'm thankful for the moments of normalcy – things like afternoons in the backyard, walks around the neighborhood, and pretend "movie theater nights" at home. 

1. Introduced Bottles + Solids – Before my second baby was born, I started thinking about what I wanted to do differently this time around. At the top of the list? Eventually introducing bottles and formula! I waited too long with my first, and he just refused both. I'm so happy that I'm still nursing but am successfully bottle feeding formula, too. I love combining both! Our pediatrician gave us to go ahead to introduce solids, too, and that's been messy fun. 

2. Projects Around the House – There were a lot of projects around the house that got done in June, and it made me so happy. Nick was hard at work! He installed a new light fixture outside and in a bathroom, replaced the fan and hung the outdoor string lights pictured on the screened-in porch, and helped clean out our dining room. It had become the holding area for stuff to be donated, put it storage, etc. It was so satisfying to cross it all off my list!

3. Weekend in the Mountains – We spent Father's Day weekend in the mountains, and it was exactly what we needed. Traveling with a baby, even just an hour away, is always a little stressful. I have to remind myself that babies are generally pretty adaptable! We all loved getting out of the house, had nice weather, and enjoyed spending time with my family. My favorite part was reading on the porch and snacking on hot boiled peanuts.

4. Brother Love – This isn't one specific thing, but it deserved a spot because so many of my June photos are of these two boys. It has been a delight to watch my big boy become a brother. He's handled the transition with such maturity! And the older the baby gets, the more fun they're having together. The baby's eyes light up when he sees his brother, and our big boy is so gentle and loving with him. The way they smile at one another melts my heart.

Read 17 Books | Favorites:

Valentine by Elizabeth Wetmore

You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle

Writers & Lovers by Lily King

I Miss You When I Blink by Mary Laura Philpott

Honorable Mentions:

Long Bright River by Liz Moore

Stir by Jessica Fechtor

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

Don't Overthink It by Anne Bogel

“I kick my dangling feet to leave scuff marks.
This is how I'll die: slightly unwilling but ultimately lazy.”
You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle

“I wouldn’t listen. I wanted everything to stay as it was.
I was more afraid of the truth than the lie. The truth would change the circumstances of my life.
The lie was static. The lie was peaceful. I was happy with the lie.”
Long Bright River by Liz Moore

“I don't know why it's so hard for people to admit that sometimes
they're just assholes who screw up because they don't expect to get caught.”
One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus

“I don’t write because I think I have something to say.
I write because if I don’t, everything feels even worse.”
Writers & Lovers by Lily King

“Food has powers. It picks us up from our lonely corners and sits us back down, together.
It pulls us out of ourselves, to the kitchen, to the table, to the diner down the block.
At the same time, it draws us inward. Food is the keeper of our memories,
connecting us with our pasts and with our people.”
Stir by Jessica Fechtor

“Her death hit in waves. Not a flood, but water lapping steadily at her ankles.
You could drown in two inches of water. Maybe grief was the same.”
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

“When you married someone, you promised to love every person he would be.
He promised to love every person she had been. And here they were, still trying,
even though the past and the future were both mysteries.”
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

“Maybe we all walk around assuming everyone is interpreting the world
the same way we are, and being surprised when they aren’t,
and that’s the loneliness and confusion of the human experience in a nutshell.”
I Miss You When I Blink by Mary Laura Philpott

“If everyone decided nothing could change, nothing ever would.”
Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed

.I didn't blog as much as I'd hoped to in June, but that's okay. I started the month with my May 2020 Recap and our June 2020 Goals. Then, I introduced Tales & Tiger Lily – my sister's new bookstagram account – and a new feature with her book reviews every month. After posting her reviews, I shared my May 2020 Quick Lit reviews. And finally, I had three Top Ten Tuesday posts: 25 Books on My Summer TBR, Celebrating 10 Years of Top Ten Tuesday, and Books I'm Buying in the Second Half of 2020. Not my most productive, but not too shabby either!

Favorite Song: "Cowboy Take Me Away" covered by Carly Pearce
I enjoy Pearce's music and was so excited to listen to her cover of this classic Dixie Chicks song.
It made me so nostalgic! Now I want to make a playlist of late 90s/early 00s country music.

Just Mercy (2019) starring Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx and Brie Larson – I read the book this movie is based on back in 2017 and was so obsessed with it. It was such a moving, thought-provoking read – and the movie was a wonderful adaptation! I loved the casting, especially Michael B. Jordan as Bryan Stevenson. You can watch the movie without having read the book, but I would certainly encourage you to pick up the book after if that's what you decide to do. In there, you'll find additional legal cases and statistics that illustrate our flawed justice system. 

BOTM: Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner, The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett, and Writers & Lovers by Lily King

Bookstore Browsing: The Last Train to Key West by Chanel Cleeton, The Marriage Game by Sara Desai, Last Tang Standing by Lauren Ho, Little Universes by Heather Demetrios, Jo & Laurie by Margaret Stohl & Melissa de la Cruz, One of Us is Next by Karen M. McManus and Sex and Vanity by Kevin Kwan

Amazon Buy 2, Get 1 Free Sale: Late Migrations by Margaret Renkl, I Miss You When I Blink by Mary Laura Philpott, The Rural Diaries by Hilarie Burton Morgan, I'd Give Anything by Marisa de los Santos, Save Me the Plums by Ruth Reichl, and Devotions by Mary Oliver

Target Buy 2, Get 1 Free Sale: Recipe for Persuasion by Sonali Dev, Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh, Over the Moon by Natalie Lloyd, If I'm Being Honest by Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegmund-Broke, Tweet Cute by Emma Lord, and Relish by Lucy Knisley

Books-a-Million Bargains: Always Never Yours by Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegmund-Broke, Lab Girl by Hope Jahren, Pachinko by Min Jin Lee, Brown-Eyed Girl by Lisa Kleypas, and The Best Cook in the World by Rick Bragg

Used Bookstore Credit: Annie's Life in Lists by Kristin Mahoney, Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed, and Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore

Bargain Books: Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors by Sonali Dev, Hourglass by Dani Shapiro, Kid Gloves by Lucy Knisley, And Now We Have Everything by Meaghan O'Connell, Sisters First by Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Pierce Bush, Pen & Palate by Lucy Madison & Tram Nguyen, Hungry Hearts edited by Elsie Chapman, The Map from Here to There by Emery Lord, My Life with Bob by Pamela Paul, Good Husbandry by Kristin Kimball, The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui, The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow, Never Have I Ever by Joshilyn Jackson, We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal, Dark of the West by Joanna Hathaway, and The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Gifted: The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin, The Girl in White Gloves by Kerri Maher, and The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel

For Review: The Empire of Gold by S.K. Chakraborty, Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert, and The Heir Affair by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan

NetGalley: Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis (not pictured)

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