I love reading and although I read less now thanks to the internet/Audible/busy life..there is no substitute for sitting down with a nice cuppa and a good book. I thought it might be fun to share some books that i’ve been reading over the past few months. I usually go for chick lit in the Summer as they’re easy to read whilst lounging by the pool or on the beach and boy do I relish those long, lazy afternoons in the last of the day’s Summer warmth with a good book in my hands. Here are some i’ve been loving (or not, as the case is for a few of them) this past Summer….
Sophie Kinsella – Shopaholic to the Stars
Plot: Becky Brandon has stars in her eyes. She and her daughter, Minnie, have joined husband Luke in LA — city of herbal smoothies, multimillion-dollar yoga retreats, and the lure of celebrity.
Verdict: I’m a big fan of the shopaholic series and have read them all religiously but this was definitely the worst of the bunch as I think the whole story is starting to wear a little thin now. Disappointing.
Sophie Kinsella – Wedding Night
Plot: Lottie just knows that her boyfriend is going to propose, but then his big question involves a trip abroad — not a trip down the aisle. Completely crushed, Lottie reconnects with an old flame, and they decide to take drastic action. No dates, no moving in together, they’ll just get married . . . right now.
Verdict: I wanted to like it so much because I usually love Kinsella and all that she writes but…and that’s a big but for this book…I tried really hard to like it, but it was just bad. Not funny nor gripping just boring.
Cecelia Ahern – The Time of My Life
Plot: Lucy Silchester keeps receiving this strange appointment card and sweeping its gold embossed envelope under the rug. Literally. She busies herself with a job she doesn’t like, helping out friends, fixing her car, feeding her cat, and devoting her time to her family’s dramas. But Lucy is about to find out that this is one appointment she can’t miss, when Life shows up at her door, in the form of a sloppy but determined man.
Verdict: Another one of Cecelia Ahern’s captivating stories with a truly unique plot. I truly enjoy Ahern’s books and this was no exception. Perfect beach read.
Jenny Colgan – Little Beach Street Bakery
Plot: Polly Waterford is recovering from a toxic relationship. Unable to afford their flat, she has to move miles away from everyone, to a sleepy little seaside resort in Cornwall, where she lives alone above an abandoned shop. And so Polly takes out her frustrations on her favourite hobby: making bread. With reserves of determination and creativity Polly never knew she had, she bakes and bakes and bakes…. And people start to hear about it. Sometimes, bread really is life…and Polly is about to reclaim hers.
Verdict: There are only a few authors whose books immediately go on my to-read list as soon as a new one is announced and Jenny Colgan’s is definitely one of them! This is a cute tale of someone having the courage to turn their life around and travel the road less travelled. Lovely Brit chick lit which captures the essence of an English fishing village, down to earth characters and great (and easy) holiday reading.
Jojo Moyes – The Last Letter from Your Lover
Plot: In 1960, Jennifer Stirling wakes in the hospital and remembers nothing—not the car accident that put her there, not her wealthy husband, not even her own name. Searching for clues, she finds an impassioned letter, signed simply “B,” from a man for whom she seemed willing to risk everything…..
Verdict: Although not as good as Me Before You which is my absolutely favorourite of Jojo Moye’s books, this was still an enjoyable read…kept me interested and wanting more!
