books on tap: june page-turners

For the record, that's cold-brew coffee, NOT beer.

Toward the end of last month, I found out about some more "free books in exchange for reviews" programs for bloggers - oh, happy day!  B is excited, because the more free books I get the fewer I buy (theoretically - ha). I'm especially excited because one of them offers a ton of ARCs (advanced reader copies), meaning I have the opportunity to read books prior to their publication.

I did not realized, when I got started, that I would be awarded an ARC of Shauna Niequist's newest book, Present Over Perfect, coming out in August.

The result? ZERO CHILL AND ALL THE HEART-EYE EMOJIS. Y'all. Seriously. I don't care about celebrities and movie stars (ummm, except Patrick Dempsey. And Eddie Redmayne. And John Krasinski. Anyway...), but authors? Books? THAT IS MY JAM, and I am so honored to be able to review Shauna's new book. Actually, I'm honored to review ALL of the new up-and-coming books I got to read. It makes my nerdy little bookworm heart so happy, and I CANNOT STOP USING ALL THE CAPS.

For your sake I'll try to contain myself. But I strongly encourage you to pick a book (or two, or seven) to read this summer, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

peace, love, and lots and lots of books,
E 

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This Is Your Life, Harriet Chance, by Jonathan Evison. After the death of her husband, 78-year-old Harriet goes on an Alaskan cruise, where she discovers that events in her life may have happened differently than she thinks. Told in alternating viewpoints, between the current-day and various points in Harriet's life, this book was incredibly interesting. It's a fascinating look at aging and the factors and events that influence a marriage, and a life, over time It's also a really interesting look at the dynamics of a family and how those dynamics evolve over time. 4/5 stars

Luck, Love, & Lemon Pie*, by Amy E. Reichert. I had heard good reviews about Reichert's first book, The Coincidence of Coconut Cake, so I was excited to read this one. It's about a woman looking to rekindle her marriage by taking up poker, a hobby her husband enjoys, but her success causes her marriage to spiral out of control. While the premise could have been really good, the writing was a little blah. I couldn't get into any of the characters - all of them seemed kind of flat and one-dimensional. It's not a bad book, but it's also not my cup of tea - or slice of lemon pie. 3/5 stars.

300 Days of Sun*, by Deborah Lawrenson. I really loved the juxtaposition of creepy conspiracy mystery and the beauty of the Portugal coast in this book. She also did a great job tying the past and present together. There is definitely a great level of suspense going on here - I couldn't wait to find out what happened. My only complaint is Joanna and Nathan's friendship - it seemed extremely fast, then jumped right into solving the mystery together. And the ending didn't satisfy me. I won't give anything away, but I thought it needed a little more. Still, a great book. 4/5 stars.

To Bless the Space Between Us, by John O'Donohue. I found out about this beautiful book from my yoga teacher, who read one of the blessings aloud to the class in honor of a teacher at the studio who is moving away. I was instantly hooked. This isn't a narrative - instead, this book is almost like Psalms. It features gorgeous blessings for changes, beginnings, new houses, new parents, you name it, it's got it. And when I say they're gorgeous, I mean they are gorgeous. Beautifully written and lyrical, these blessings are something you'll want to bestow on yourself and those you love. 5/5 stars.

One Paris Summer*, by Denise Grover Swank. I chose this book based on its title because, well, Paris (what, are you new here?). It's a YA book about a girl who is sent to Paris for the summer to visit her father, who left the family a year prior. It's a decent read, and teens may really enjoy it, but the writing seemed very...basic. The family relationships seemed fake, and I didn't love any of the characters, even the narrator, Sophie. Paris was decently depicted - I've read worse - but I've also read better. 3/5 stars.

Present Over Perfect*, by Shauna Niequist. Ah, my holy grail of ARCs. Can we talk about how much I needed this book? In her usual essay format, Niequist discusses how she strives for perfection, trying to prove something to an imaginary audience or trying not to disappoint even the merest acquaintances. Can I just say...guilty as charged?! She challenges readers to learn to say no and to, as the title suggests, be present instead of perfect. With her trademark honesty and openness, she shares her own struggles and what she has learned. If you only read one of these books, READ THIS ONE; it's available August 9th. 5/5 stars - I'd give it more if I could.

The Young Widower's Handbook*, by Tom McAllister. In this book, a slightly socially inept 29-year-old guy is left at loose ends after his wife dies suddenly. Because the pair never got to travel, he takes her ashes on a road trip where he meets some crazy characters. He also leaves behind some crazy characters, in the form of family members (naturally). The best part of this book, though, is his achingly honest and raw portrayal of grief and of the tiny but innumerable things that make up the bond between spouses. I hugged B a little extra tight after I finished this. 5/5 stars.

Six Feet Over It, by Jennifer Longo. I read this book after loving Longo's Up To This Pointe, but this book wasn't quite as good. Instead of the tidy "one chapter in Antarctica, one chapter in San Francisco" to tell the past, this time she simply wove the past into the narrative, but not very neatly. I was confused about certain plot points for a while, and some actions seemed to come out of nowhere (see: the entire ending). But the characters are believable and real, and I love Leigh's sarcasm and her devotion to her sister. All in all, a good, quirky YA read. 3/5 stars.

Falling*, by Jane Green. This book is like every other chick-lit book, and it's identical to all of Green's other books. There's nothing wrong with it, per se. Her writing is fine but nothing special, and she frequently mixes past and present tense. As with most chick-lit, it's wildly predictable, except for the very end which is so unpredictable it's like she's trying to make a statement. I loved Green's books when I was in college, but clearly I've aged. It's an easy, fast, no-brain-power-required beach read, but if you want substance or uniqueness, this isn't it. 3/5 stars.

Beginning French*, by Les Americains. The tagline tells you everything you need to know about moving to a foreign country: "First they took French. Then they took leave of their senses." It also sums up the book: serious and honest, but funny, with great descriptions of the French countryside, delicious food, and their (mis)adventures. I just didn't want the book to end, and also, I miss France. The authors even sent me a SIGNED "author proof copy," of which there are only 1,000 (mine's #120). Sorry, but you're not borrowing this book. Go buy your own copy. 4/5 stars.

Vinegar Girl*, by Anne Tyler. This book is basically a re-telling of Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew." I actually didn't like it at first - the writing is very stiff, especially the dialogue, as though she's trying to use Shakespeare-era English in modern-day Baltimore. But as the book went on, I did grow to like the characters more, especially Pyotr, and it was a cute ending. It just seems like it needed...more. We all know the plot of Taming of the Shrew, but it seems she could have drawn it out a little more to make it more interesting and to better develop the characters. 3/5 stars

Having a Martha Home the Mary Way*, by Sarah Mae. After several months of moving, painting, rearranging, organizing, and decorating, this was a refreshing and alarmingly necessary read. We often,  by necessity, have to be like Martha - cleaning, organizing, caring for our people. Our Mary side rarely sees the light of day. This book offers practical tips to clean and organize your home to create a better, calmer living space. But at the same time, it offers Bible verses and thought-provoking questions to help you spend time with Jesus. This book is helpful, encouraging, and well-written.  4/5 stars.

Cooking for Picasso*, by Camille Aubray. I thought this book would be your ordinary chick-lit, but it's surprisingly deeper. It alternates between the present day, where Celine is seeking information about her grandmother's past, and about 1930s Provence, where said grandmother, Ondine, was a chef for Pablo Picasso...leading to a whole lot of drama. It's a beautiful, intriguing story with great descriptions of the south of France and of family discord. I would have maybe liked more background into her father and siblings, but overall, this was a fantastic book. 4/5 stars.

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*Disclaimer: The titles notated with a star (*) above were given to me for free by either NetGalley, BookLook Bloggers, or Blogging For Books, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
**Also - the books linked in this post are affiliate links, meaning that if you click on any of the book links and order one (or any) of them through Amazon, I may earn a small commission. B thanks you in advance for helping to support my psychotic book-buying habits.