Most beautiful cupcake that I ate on Mother’s Day! Tasted just as amazing as it looked!
I think both of these books sound GREAT but unfortunately I had to return them to my library before I even had the chance to crack either of them open (cue the sad violin music). I’m so hoping to read them both at some point!
**Note: The fancy pictures of these books were taken in my car juuuuuuuuust as I was about to return them to the library book return bin, lol. No beautiful shots here!**
Book #1 I’m NOT Reading:
Goodreads Synopsis of Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop {Hwang Bo-Reum}:
Yeongju is burned out. With her high-flying career, demanding marriage, and busy life in Seoul, she knows she should feel successful, but all she feels is drained. Yet an abandoned dream nags at her, and in a leap of faith, she leaves her old life behind. Quitting her job and divorcing her husband, Yeongju moves to a small residential neighborhood outside the city, where she opens the Hyunam-dong Bookshop.
For the first few months, all Yeongju does is cry, deterring visitors. But the long hours in the shop give her time to mull over what makes a good bookseller and store, and as she starts to read hungrily, host author events, and develop her own bookselling philosophy, she begins to ease into her new setting. Surrounded by friends, writers, and the books that connect them all, she finds her new story as the Hyunam-dong Bookshop transforms into an inviting space for lost souls to rest, heal, and remember that it’s never too late to scrap the plot and start again.
Book #2 I’m NOT Reading:
I LOVED The One by John Marrs (if you haven’t yet read The One, it’s a must read. HERE is a link to the synopsis and all of my thoughts)!
If this book is half as good as The One, I’m all in…
Goodreads Synopsis of The Vacation {John Marrs}:
How far would you run to escape your past?
For eight strangers in a Los Angeles backpacking hostel, even the other side of the world isn’t far enough.
The craving for a new identity and the chance to start again is something they have in common. But the search for a fresh start isn’t as easy as they’d imagined.
And they soon discover that it doesn’t matter where you are or who you are – if you can’t lay the past to rest, coincidence, fate and deception have a way of catching up with you when you least expect it.
Have you read either of these books? What did you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
Happy Friday! I hope your weekend is filled with love and BOOKS!
Xo,
Jenny
**Click HERE to order Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop and click HERE to order The Vacation both through my Amazon affiliate links. When you order through these links, I receive a tiny commission. Thank you for your support, Xo**
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I bought this little guy from a grocery store in Tennessee a little over a year ago. He makes me happy!
As you are very well aware by now, I hardly actually buy books. I am a minimalist at heart! While the thought of a gorgeous bookshelf filled with books does appeal to me, the clutter of those books that I probably will read one time and never again does not. However, I DO end up buying (or somehow acquiring) books sometimes and often I find them mounting and mounting without actually being read. I’m starting a new series called “Books I’m Not Reading” and this is the first installment! From time to time, I will select books from my shelf and show you the books I’m NOT reading, as opposed to my usual routine of showing you the books that I am 😉
These are 3 of books on my shelf that currently haunt me. They stare at me day after day and ESPECIALLY when I bring home new books. Ugh.
Here are just a few of the books from my shelf that I’m NOT reading.
Book I’m NOT Reading #1:
The Last Mrs. Parrish {Liv Constantine}
I’m honestly not sure why I’m not reading this one. Everyone loves it! I’ve heard it’s great! So…why aren’t I reading it??? Eh.
Goodreads Synopsis of The Last Mrs. Parrish {Liv Constantine}:
Amber Patterson is fed up. She’s tired of being a nobody: a plain, invisible woman who blends into the background. She deserves more—a life of money and power like the one blond-haired, blue-eyed goddess Daphne Parrish takes for granted.
To everyone in the exclusive town of Bishops Harbor, Connecticut, Daphne—a socialite and philanthropist—and her real-estate mogul husband, Jackson, are a couple straight out of a fairy tale.
Amber’s envy could eat her alive . . . if she didn’t have a plan. Amber uses Daphne’s compassion and caring to insinuate herself into the family’s life—the first step in a meticulous scheme to undermine her. Before long, Amber is Daphne’s closest confidante, traveling to Europe with the Parrishes and their lovely young daughters, and growing closer to Jackson. But a skeleton from her past may undermine everything that Amber has worked towards, and if it is discovered, her well-laid plan may fall to pieces.
With shocking turns and dark secrets that will keep you guessing until the very end, The Last Mrs. Parrish is a fresh, juicy, and utterly addictive thriller from a diabolically imaginative talent.
Book I’m NOT Reading #2:
Lost and Found {Carolyn Parkhurst}
Ok I’ll be honest. I started reading this one about a year ago and after the first chapter, I just wasn’t hooked. However, I felt like I didn’t want to give up entirely so I put it right back from where I took it…my own shelf! I keep saying I’ll try again but then I never do. Have any of you read it? Should I?
Goodreads Synopsis of Lost and Found {Carolyn Parkhurst}:
A gentle satire on reality TV, as a mother and daughter face numerous challenges both on and off the show. As the game escalates, tensions mount, temptations beckon, and the bonds between teammates begin to fray. The question is not only who will capture the final prize, but at what cost?
What do a suburban mom and her troubled daughter, two recently divorced brothers, a pair of former child stars, born-again Christian newlyweds, and a couple of young millionaires have in common? They have all been selected to compete on Lost and Found, a daring new reality TV show. In teams of two, they will race across the globe – from Egypt to Japan, from Sweden to England – to battle for a million-dollar prize. They must decipher encrypted clues, recover mysterious artifacts, and outwit their opponents to stay in play.
What starts as a lark turns deadly serious as the number of players is whittled down, temptations beckon, and the bonds between partners strain and unravel. Before long the question is not only who will capture the final prize, but at what cost.
Book I’m NOT Reading #3:
Arranged Marriage {Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni}
I bought this book at the Printer’s Row Lit Fest before the world shut down waaaaaay back in 2019 (you can read all about that magical day HERE). I had SO MUCH FUN that day and promised myself to make it an annual tradition. Well, enter Covid….aaaaaaaaand I haven’t been back since. It was canceled in 2020 and although it did happen in 2021, I wasn’t quite ready for a crowded festival. FINGERS CROSSED I CAN GET BACK THERE IN 2022!!! For more information on the Printer’s Row Lit Fest, you can visit their website HERE. It’s an awesome event!
Goodreads Synopsis of Arranged Marriage {Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni}:
Although Chitra Divakaruni’s poetry has won praise and awards for many years, it is her prose that is quickly making her one of the brightest rising stars in the changing face of American literature. Arranged Marriage, her first collection of stories, spent five weeks on the San Francisco Chronicle bestseller list and garnered critical acclaim that would have been extraordinary for even a more established author.For the young girls and women brought to life in these stories, the possibility of change, of starting anew, is both as terrifying and filled with promise as the ocean that separates them from their homes in India. From the story of a young bride whose fairy-tale vision of California is shattered when her husband is murdered and she must face the future on her own, to a proud middle-aged divorced woman determined to succeed in San Francisco, Divakaruni’s award-winning poetry fuses here with prose for the first time to create eleven devastating portraits of women on the verge of an unforgettable transformation.
Have you read any of these books? What did you think?
What books are currently on your bookshelf that you aren’t reading?
I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
Xo,
Jenny
Click the images below to order the books through my Amazon affiliate link. When you order through these links, I receive a tiny commission. Thank you for your support, Xo
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In case you missed my last post (because I posted it at 11:00 pm last night), HERE is a link. Blogmas is still going strong…I’ve posted 15 days in a row so far! 10 more days to go…I got this 😉
There are some AWESOME books being published in 2022 that I can’t wait to get my hands on! Here is a list of some of the books I’m most excited to read being published in 2022. Let the countdowns begin!
I listed these 6 books in order of their expected publication dates. Click the picture of each book cover to preorder your copy through my Amazon affiliate links! When you purchase through these links, the cost is the same to you but I do receive a tiny commission. Thank you so much for your support of Book Coffee Happy!
**6 Books I Want to Read in 2022**
The Perfect Escape {Leah Konen}
Expected Publication Date: 1/4/22
Goodreads Synopsis of The Perfect Escape {Leah Konen}:
A girls’ weekend to die for.
New friends Sam, Margaret and Diana are thrilled to be getting out of the city for a girls’ weekend—they’ve bonded over their messy divorces, and every mile on the odometer feels like another step towards putting their exes in the past. But when car trouble halfway into their trip strands them in the most unlikely of mountain towns, they come face-to-face with the hurts and betrayals they were so desperate to leave behind.
When Diana doesn’t return home after a night out, Sam and Margaret’s search for her reveals just how little they know about their friend. As eerie coincidences and secrets begin to pile up, and an ex-boyfriend arrives in the tiny town, the women realize that their detour may not have been a mistake…and that someone wants to guarantee that they never make it out.
The Paris Apartment {Lucy Foley}
Expected Publication Date: 2/22/22
I absolutely loved THIS BOOK by Lucy Foley so I can’t wait to read The Paris Apartment!
Goodreads Synopsis of The Paris Apartment {Lucy Foley}:
Jess needs a fresh start. She’s broke and alone, and she’s just left her job under less than ideal circumstances. Her half-brother Ben didn’t sound thrilled when she asked if she could crash with him for a bit, but he didn’t say no, and surely everything will look better from Paris. Only when she shows up – to find a very nice apartment, could Ben really have afforded this? – he’s not there.
The longer Ben stays missing, the more Jess starts to dig into her brother’s situation, and the more questions she has. Ben’s neighbors are an eclectic bunch, and not particularly friendly. Jess may have come to Paris to escape her past, but it’s starting to look like it’s Ben’s future that’s in question.
The socialite – The nice guy – The alcoholic – The girl on the verge – The concierge
Everyone’s a neighbor. Everyone’s a suspect. And everyone knows something they’re not telling.
Woman on Fire {Lisa Barr}
Expected Publication Date: 3/1/22
**I already own an advance readers copy of this beautiful book sent to me by the beautiful Lisa Barr! I will read and share my thoughts with you closer to it’s publication date…stay tuned! I absolutely loved THIS BOOK by Lisa so I can’t wait to read her newest!**
Goodreads Synopsis of Woman on Fire {Lisa Barr}:
After talking her way into a job with Dan Mansfield, the leading investigative reporter in Chicago, rising young journalist Jules Roth is given an unusual–and very secret–assignment. Dan needs her to locate a painting stolen by the Nazis more than 75 years earlier: legendary Expressionist artist Ernst Engel’s most famous work, Woman on Fire. World-renowned shoe designer Ellis Baum wants this portrait of a beautiful, mysterious woman for deeply personal reasons, and has enlisted Dan’s help to find it. But Jules doesn’t have much time; the famous designer is dying.
Meanwhile, in Europe, provocative and powerful Margaux de Laurent also searches for the painting. Heir to her art collector family’s millions, Margaux is a cunning gallerist who gets everything she wants. The only thing standing in her way is Jules. Yet the passionate and determined Jules has unexpected resources of her own, including Adam Baum, Ellis’s grandson. A recovering addict and brilliant artist in his own right, Adam was once in Margaux’s clutches. He knows how ruthless she is, and he’ll do anything to help Jules locate the painting before Margaux gets to it first.
The Impossible Us {Sarah Lotz}
Expected Publication Date: 3/30/22
Goodreads Synopsis of The Impossible Us {Sarah Lotz}
Bee thinks she has everything: a successful business repurposing wedding dresses, and friends who love and support her. She’s given up on finding love, but that’s fine. There’s always Tinder. Nick thinks he has nothing: his writing career has stalled after early promise and his marriage is on the rocks, but that’s fine. There’s always gin. So when one of Nick’s emails, a viciously funny screed intended for a non-paying client, accidentally pings into Bee’s inbox, they decide to keep the conversation going. After all, they never have to meet.
But the more they get to know each other, the more Bee and Nick realize they want to. They both notice strange pop culture or political references that crop up in their correspondence, but nothing odd enough to stop Bee and Nick for falling hard for each other. But when their efforts to meet in real life fail spectacularly, Bee and Nick discover that they’re actually living in near-identical but parallel worlds. With a universe between them, Bee and Nick will discover how far they’ll go to beat impossible odds.
Greenwich Park {Katherine Faulkner}
Expected Publication Date: 4/1/22
Goodreads Synopsis of Greenwich Park {Katherine Faulkner}:
Helen’s idyllic life—handsome architect husband, gorgeous Victorian house, and cherished baby on the way (after years of trying)—begins to change the day she attends her first prenatal class and meets Rachel, an unpredictable single mother-to-be. Rachel doesn’t seem very maternal: she smokes, drinks, and professes little interest in parenthood. Still, Helen is drawn to her. Maybe Rachel just needs a friend. And to be honest, Helen’s a bit lonely herself. At least Rachel is fun to be with. She makes Helen laugh, invites her confidences, and distracts her from her fears.
But her increasingly erratic behavior is unsettling. And Helen’s not the only one who’s noticed. Her friends and family begin to suspect that her strange new friend may be linked to their shared history in unexpected ways. When Rachel threatens to expose a past crime that could destroy all of their lives, it becomes clear that there are more than a few secrets laying beneath the broad-leaved trees and warm lamplight of Greenwich Park.
A Tidy Ending {Joanna Cannon}
Expected Publication Date: 8/2/22
Goodreads Synopsis of A Tidy Ending {Joanna Cannon}:
Linda has lived in a quiet neighborhood since fleeing the dark events of her childhood in Wales. Now she sits in her kitchen, wondering if this is all there is: pushing the vacuum around and cooking fish sticks for dinner, a far cry from the glamorous lifestyle she sees in the glossy magazines coming through the mail slot addressed to the previous occupant, Rebecca.
Linda’s husband Terry isn’t perfect—he picks his teeth, tracks dirt through the house, and spends most of his time in front of the TV. But that seems fairly standard—until he starts keeping odd hours at work, at around the same time young women in the town start to go missing.
If only Linda could track down and befriend Rebecca, maybe some of that enviable lifestyle would rub off on her and she wouldn’t have to worry about what Terry is up to. But the grass isn’t always greener and you can’t change who you really are. And some secrets can’t stay buried forever…
Which books are you most looking forward to reading in 2022?
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Only I would get stuck slowly driving behind a bookmobile right next to a sign pointing out a different library…
A few weeks ago, I put this book on hold at the library.
Photo Credit: Goodreads
Goodreads Synopsis of Hostage {Claire Mackintosh}:
You can save hundreds of lives. Or the one that matters most.
A claustrophobic thriller set over twenty hours on one airplane flight, with the heart-stopping tension of The Last Flight and the wrenching emotional intensity of Room, Hostage takes us on board the inaugural nonstop flight from London to Sydney.
Mina is trying to focus on her job as a flight attendant, not the problems of her five-year-old daughter back home, or the fissures in her marriage. But the plane has barely taken off when Mina receives a chilling note from an anonymous passenger, someone intent on ensuring the plane never reaches its destination. Someone who needs Mina’s assistance and who knows exactly how to make her comply.
It’s twenty hours to landing. A lot can happen in twenty hours.
I received the notification that the book was in and I could pick it up at any time. I was so excited! I thought it looked so good.
Aaaaaand a few hours later ON THE SAME DAY THAT THE BOOK CAME IN, I received a text from my book twin.
If you have been reading my blog for any length of time, you are well aware of my Book Twin, Jana. Jana and I (almost) always agree on books and we take each other’s recommendations very seriously. If she loves a book, there is a HIGH chance that I will as well. If I love a book, I can’t wait for Jana to read it. We text each other often with book recommendations, especially if one of us reads a book that we KNOW the other will love.
Jana’s text:
This text from Jana really threw me. She recommended Falling. And not just recommended it but used the phrase “READ THIS ONE.” I immediately googled the synopsis and realized that there is no way I could possibly read BOTH of these books back to back. 1 book about a hijacked plane is definitely more than enough for an already generally anxious person who loves to fly.
Photo Credit: Amazon
Goodreads Synopsis of Falling {T.J. Newman}:
You just boarded a flight to New York.
There are one hundred and forty-three other passengers onboard.
What you don’t know is that thirty minutes before the flight your pilot’s family was kidnapped.
For his family to live, everyone on your plane must die.
The only way the family will survive is if the pilot follows his orders and crashes the plane.
Enjoy the flight.
So I suddenly found myself in a bit of a conundrum. Which to read??? The one already waiting for me at the library or the one I’d have to order and possibly wait a long time to read???
If you are lucky to have someone in your life who recommends books to you and is always (or almost always) SPOT ON…you listen to them.
Many of you tell me that I’m that person for you…I’m flattered! I write this blog with the intention of helping as many people as possible find books they will love. Some of my reviews you may agree with, some you may not…but in the end, I love knowing that I’ve introduced so many of you to books you may not otherwise have picked up.
So, back to my conundrum. Random book I found on social media or Book Twin recommendation?
I canceled my hold request for Hostage (which pained me a bit…who cancels a request for a book when the book is WAITING for you to pick it up???) and I immediately put in a request for Falling.
A few weeks later…
I’m so excited to read it! I may wait a few weeks as I’m going on a vacation (NOT flying, lol) and I think this may be the perfect vacay read.
And let’s take a moment to talk about my book twin and the fact that she did indeed read BOTH OF THESE BOOKS BACK TO BACK. That’s A LOT of hijacking! I don’t think I would ever fly again! Here are her thoughts:
Looks like I made the best decision. I’ll let you know my thoughts once I read it!
Happy Friday! I hope your weekend is filled with love and BOOKS!
Xo,
Jenny
Have you read either of these books? What did you think (ZERO SPOILERS ALLOWED)? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
Xo,
Jenny
Click the image below to order the book through my Amazon affiliate link. When you order through this link, I receive a tiny commission. Thank you for your support, Xo
This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support! Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:
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Throughout this quarantine, I have been reading my way though a huge stack of library books that I had checked out before the Illinois shelter in place began, books on my bookshelf that I hadn’t yet read, and books borrowed from my dear friends. If you have been following me for any length of time, you know that I am completely obsessed with my local library. I absolutely love checking out library books and VERY rarely purchase books on my own. However, with our local library currently being closed and with no plans of reopening any time soon (insert sobbing emoji here)…I finally bought myself a brand new, beautiful book!
That post received SO MANY great responses and some AMAZING book suggestions! I just love the Book Coffee Happy reader community so very much. 🙂 Some of your suggestions were books that I’ve read (and LOVED) and others were new to me titles. I read every single one of your comments and looked up the synopsis of every single book mentioned. I’m VERY happy to report that my To Read list has grown thanks to that post! Some of the books mentioned by you guys sound AMAZING. I love, love, love book discussions. Thank you so much to those of you who commented! If you haven’t read that post or it’s amazing comments, you can follow my Facebook page HERE.
I gave my decision as to which book I was going to buy lots of thought. Being the president of my daughter’s school’s PTO has been hard work…and receiving this gift card as a thank you touched my heart. I needed to spend it wisely! Although a few of those Facebook post suggestions reaaaaaaally got me thinking…I ultimately decided on a book that wasn’t even mentioned by any of you in that post.
I Bought A Book!
The book that I bought is a book I have been dying to read for MONTHS AND MONTHS…even before it’s release. I’ve been on my library’s wait list forever (before the book was even released) and my name isn’t even coming close to the top (especially now, lol). Every time I would walk into the library, I would desperately check the new release shelf in hopes of it randomly being there but it never was. The good news is that if you are on the wait list at my local library…your name just got moved up 1 spot 🙂
I initially thought of buying this book but then decided to see if any of your suggestions would sway me into thinking that maybe I should spend my gift card on a different title instead.
So after much thought (the minimalist in me does NOT take purchases like this lightly), I ultimately went on Amazon and thanks to Prime…it arrived on my doorstep this afternoon.
Here are some clues about this book:
It was published in February 2020…a brand new release!
It’s listed genres include: mystery, thriller, horror, fiction, and suspense.
This is the 7th book written by this author but the first one I’ve ever read.
The reviews on this book are INSANE….like….everyone loves it. I searched and searched and couldn’t find a negative review! People are LOVING this book which clearly explains why I couldn’t get my hands on a library copy.
Any guesses???
As a fun follow up to yesterday’s post where I was burning a Christmas scented candle, here is the candle currently burning next to me as I type. Quarantine life has taught me not to wait for the correct time to burn the seasonal candles….there are no seasons in quarantine! Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!
Off to rip open this Amazon box and wipe down my brand new book with these disinfecting wipes so I can start reading ASAP!
What book do you think I bought??? I’d love to hear your guesses in the comments below 🙂
Xo,
Jenny
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When I randomly picked up The Other’s Gold by Elizabeth Ames on the library shelf, the synopsis gave off the same type of vibe as THIS BOOK which I absolutely loved. I couldn’t wait to read it and write a review! I hadn’t heard of this book or this author but obviously the subject of 4 best friends who met in college sucked me right in.
Goodreads Synopsis of The Other’s Gold {Elizabeth Ames}:
Assigned to the same suite during their freshman year at Quincy-Hawthorne College, Lainey, Ji Sun, Alice, and Margaret quickly become inseparable. But they soon find their bonds–forged in joy, and fused by fear–must weather threats that come at them from institutions, from one another, and ultimately, from within themselves.
The Other’s Gold follows the four friends as each makes a terrible mistake, moving from their wild college days to their more feral days as new parents. With one part devoted to each mistake–the Accident, the Accusation, the Kiss, and the Bite–this complex yet compulsively readable debut interrogates the way that growing up forces our friendships to evolve as the women discover what they and their loved ones are capable of, and capable of forgiving.
My Book Review:
(Disclaimer: I will never post spoilers in my reviews HOWEVER the comment section is completely fair game to discuss any and all specifics including spoilers)
4 Stars
The beginning of this book was written on a path aimed directly into my heart. 4 best friends who met freshman year of college and INSTANTLY became soulmates??? Their instant connection? Their immediate bond? The fact that 4 strangers could immediately become FAMILY? It was insane. It was US. I texted my 3 best friends and told them that I was currently reading a book that written about US.
**You can read about my relationship with my amazing besties HERE and HERE**
And then as the characters began to unfold and their stories came to light, it was ABUNDANTLY clear that this book was NOT in fact written about us. Nope, not at all. Not even a little bit. How could I ever even think to compare the 4 of us to these 4 awful women?!
The girls in this book turned into 4 of the most unlikable characters I’ve ever read about. I couldn’t connect to ANY of them, their life decisions, or the way that they ultimately treated each other and at times treated their friendship.
I am ALWAYS thankful for my 3 beautiful best friends but after reading this book I am even MORE thankful that we have each other and that we are NOTHING like these awful women. Yikes.
Warning: Parts of this book are hard to read. The subjects (especially in the 2nd half of the book) are extremely uncomfortable.
The writing was…interesting. Extremely descriptive, sometimes TOO descriptive.
So why am I giving this book about these horrible women 4 stars??? I COULDN’T PUT IT DOWN. This was the kind of book where I would sneak in a little bit of reading time anytime that I could because I HAD to know what was going to happen next. I felt my mouth physically DROP OPEN reading about some of these decisions that these 4 were making and I found myself physically covering sections with my hand so I wouldn’t mistakenly read ahead. I loved the tiny cliffhangers at the end of certain chapters! Why can’t more authors master this?! Awesome!!
My review of this book is so all over the place. Things I loved? YES! Things I hated? YES! Able to put it down and stop reading until I finished? NO!
Bottom Line:
I’m not sure how I can like AND recommend a book where I hate the characters and subjects…but….I do?!?
Xo,
Jenny
Did you read this book? What did you think? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
Click the image below to order the book through my Amazon affiliate link. When you order through this link, I receive a tiny commission. Thank you for your support, Xo
This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support! Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:
*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*
*Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)*
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I’ve mentioned before that I take choosing books for vacations very seriously. When packing for my honeymoon 10 years ago (!!!) I took choosing these books VERY seriously! Jon and I just celebrated our 10 year anniversary last week and in honor of this milestone anniversary, I thought I would share bits of our honeymoon with you today.
10 years ago, we left for our honeymoon approximately 28 hours after our wedding ended and I was more than READY for a relaxing, perfect week in Jamaica with my HUSBAND!
Checking into the hotel was the very first time I ever officially wrote my brand new name!
We had the best week with the best memories. The most perfect start to our new life!
For as long as I live, I will never ever forget laying in the shallow end of this beautiful ocean while reading a book. To this day, I’ve never in my entire life felt as peaceful as I did in that moment. The waves all around me, the sky as perfectly blue as could be. I would give anything to return to that beach and read just like that again one day. Hands down one of my most favorite reading moments of my life!
So peaceful, right???
Beautiful.
We had our own private villa with our own private pool. See those lounge chairs? I remember laying there and reading next to my new tote bag with my brand new initials while Jon was laying in the chair next to me. Every few pages I would glance over at that tote in pure disbelief that those initials were now MINE!
Only a true book nerd would apparently take a picture of the book she was reading while on her honeymoon, lol:
Our private villa had the most gorgeous balcony where I would wake up before sunrise and read while Jon was still sleeping (AKA still one of my favorite things to do on any vacation! I would rather wake up early and read than sleep in any day):
Here are the 2 books that I brought with me that week:
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Audrey Niffenegger’s innovative debut, The Time Traveler’s Wife, is the story of Clare, a beautiful art student, and Henry, an adventuresome librarian, who have known each other since Clare was six and Henry was thirty-six, and were married when Clare was twenty-three and Henry thirty-one. Impossible but true, because Henry is one of the first people diagnosed with Chrono-Displacement Disorder: periodically his genetic clock resets and he finds himself misplaced in time, pulled to moments of emotional gravity in his life, past and future. His disappearances are spontaneous, his experiences unpredictable, alternately harrowing and amusing.
The Time Traveler’s Wife depicts the effects of time travel on Henry and Clare’s marriage and their passionate love for each other as the story unfolds from both points of view. Clare and Henry attempt to live normal lives, pursuing familiar goals—steady jobs, good friends, children of their own. All of this is threatened by something they can neither prevent nor control, making their story intensely moving and entirely unforgettable.
My Thoughts:
Omg this book. I SOBBED in the very best way possible! Truly one of the best and most thought provoking books I’ve read. If you haven’t read this gem, I VERY highly recommend it. Beautifully written characters, beautifully written story. I’m getting teary just thinking about it. Such a gorgeous book. READ THIS BOOK!
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Since becoming a widow at age twenty-seven, Anjali Kapadia has devoted herself to transforming her parents’ sari shop into a chic boutique, brimming with exquisite jewelry and clothing. Now, ten years later, it stands out like a proud maharani amid Edison’s bustling Little India. But when Anjali learns the shop is on the brink of bankruptcy, she feels her world unraveling…
To the rescue comes Anjali’s wealthy, dictatorial Uncle Jeevan and his business partner, Rishi Shah — a mysterious Londoner, complete with British accent, cool gray eyes, and skin so fair it makes it hard to believe he’s Indian. Rishi’s cool, foreign demeanor triggers distrust in Anjali and her mother. But for Anjali, he also stirs something else, a powerful attraction she hasn’t felt in a decade. And the feeling is mutual…
Love disappointed Anjali once before and she’s vowed to live without it — though Rishi is slowly melting her resolve and, as the shop regains its footing, gaining her trust. But when a secret from Rishi’s past is revealed, Anjali must turn to her family and her strong cultural upbringing to guide her in finding the truth…
My Thoughts:
I’ll be honest…this book didn’t leave nearly the impression on me as The Time Traveler’s Wife did. I very much remember LIKING it…but I do not very much remember LOVING it. Wasn’t horrible, wasn’t amazing. This book was just a bit forgettable although clearly the EXPERIENCE of reading it for me was most definitely not!
I loved both of these books but the most special part of them isn’t the writing. It is the fact that they are both completely water logged from the gorgeous Jamaican water! Just looking at the ripples in these pages will forever make me smile and remember one of the best times of my entire life. I will never, ever get rid of these books!
Have you read either of these books? What did you think?
Xo,
Jenny
Click the image below to order the book through my Amazon affiliate link. When you order through this link, I receive a tiny commission. Thank you for your support, Xo
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The year was 2001. My best friend Amy and I went to the movie theater and saw it. WE. LOVED. IT. So much so that we went back just to see it again! We HAD TO. And again. And again. Aaaaaaand when this movie finally completed it’s theatrical run, Amy and I had gone to see it together….drumroll please…
10 TIMES.
Yes, we saw this movie 10 TIMES in the movie theater. We couldn’t get enough! HOW was that 19 years ago??? Such a fun memory!!!
Serendipity Trailer:
***Omg. Watching the above trailer just brought instant tears to my eyes and goosebumps up and down my arms! BEST MOVIE! ***
Everything about this beautiful movie was (is) pure magic for us.
The CD I had playing on repeat in my car for YEARS. I still know every single word to every single song and have been humming them while writing this post. 🙂
I haven’t watched an actual DVD in years but I will never get rid of it:
Years after the movie release, Jon and I went to New York and you KNOW what my #1 must see landmark there was:
I was obviously reaaaaaaaally excited to be there 😉 It appears I was about to knock Jon down without a care in the world 😉
Hanging inside of the restaurant:
My souvenir mug. I should really start drinking from this! I’ve currently got it on display in our dining room cabinet along with my bridal bouquet, our prom champagne glasses, and other important mementos. Obviously this is one VERY important memento!
I bought Amy and I matching Serendipity tote bags that day as well.
Front:
Back:
If you haven’t seen the movie Serendipity…WATCH THE MOVIE SERENDIPITY. No better time than during a quarantine…
Throughout the movie, there is a classic book referenced over and over again which plays a very large part of the storyline. Of course I had to buy the book!
I’ve owned this book for 19 years…but….have never actually read it! It’s such a huge part of my favorite movie, I’m sure I would love it and it might even make me dig deeper into the meaning of some aspects of the film. Have any of you read it? I’m not sure why I haven’t yet…
Book Synopsis:
In their youth, Florentino Ariza and Fermina Daza fall passionately in love. When Fermina eventually chooses to marry a wealthy, well-born doctor, Florentino is heartbroken, but he is a romantic. As he rises in his business career he whiles away the years in 622 affairs—yet he reserves his heart for Fermina. Her husband dies at last, and Florentino purposefully attends the funeral. Fifty years, nine months, and four days after he first declared his love for Fermina, he will do so again.
I. HAVE. GOOSEBUMPS. This book sounds amazing…I must actually read it!
It was an Oprah’s Book Club selection and she has this to say about this book:
“This is one of the greatest love stories I have ever read. … It is so beautifully written that it really takes you to another place in time and will make you ask yourself—how long could you, or would you, wait for love?” — Oprah
I already love this book because I just love this movie so much! I must read it…Why haven’t I???
But first I think I may need to watch Serendipity. For the 500th time.
Have you seen Serendipity? Have you read Love in the Time of Cholera? What are your thoughts?
Xo,
Jenny
Click the image below to order the book through my Amazon affiliate link. When you order through this link, I receive a tiny commission. Thank you for your support, Xo
This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support! Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:
*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*
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The older I become, the more I believe in and practice minimalism. You can read more about this decision in this post! I am constantly tidying, decluttering, and getting rid of things around our house. My annual garage sale has become one of my favorite events! Whenever anyone asks for gift ideas for anyone in our family (especially for our children) I always respond with EXPERIENCES OVER PHYSICAL THINGS. My children will gain so much more from an enriching experience than any toy could ever provide. I proudly keep my house clean, organized, and as clutter free as possible (If you are interested, I can do an entire post on this…just let me know in the comments). One area that I’ve come to realize gets out of hand quickly when I allow it to is BOOKS. As you know, I’m a huge book lover (obvi) and reading books truly brings me happiness (hence the name of my blog). It took me many years to realize that my joy of READING does not in fact mean that I find joy in OWNING books. Libraries have become my happy place as they allow me the opportunity to read any book I want without having the physical book in my possession when I’m done.
As a book blogger, I’m extraordinarily blessed that authors are constantly mailing me copies of their books on a regular basis for me to read and review on my blog. These books are in a whole separate category of things that I own. They are so much more than just books to me…these are actual reminders of my hard work and dedication to this blog as well as the actual reminders of authors and publishers who believe in my value as well as my opinion. Minimalism dictates not keeping anything which doesn’t hold a special meaning to the owner…these special books are some of my prized possessions!
It’s the books that I seek out on my OWN to read…the books where buying them will eventually mean one more thing on my bookshelf to keep tidy…it’s THOSE books where I love reading (and returning) a library copy.
I have been wanting to read this particular book for MONTHS.
I went to the library yesterday…no copies in stock. I checked out 2 books that I wasn’t even that excited to read for the simple fact that they weren’t this particular book.
When I got back to my car, I called our other local library (the one where I had placed a hold on this particular book) from the parking lot of the first library.
I’ve been on this library’s wait list FOR. EV. ER. The library recently started a new system where they won’t tell you what number you are in line! They are now part of a consortium that receives books from all other surrounding libraries so there really is no way to track when your book will be in. It’s both wonderful and FRUSTRATING. It’s wonderful because you theoretically could receive your book much quicker as it could be coming from a multitude of libraries and not just from one. I called our library yesterday to see if they could give me ANY indication…am I #2 or #200??? They wouldn’t tell me. I hung up and drove my annoyed self straight to Barnes and Noble. I couldn’t wait even another day to start reading this book.
Desperate times call for desperate measures.
I’ve been holding on to this beautiful gift card from one of my best friends for months waiting until there was a book I’ve reaaaaally been wanting to read. The time has come!
How cute are these tote bags??? Barnes and Noble for the WIN!
I’ve seen this before and I think it’s a fun idea. You get a book without knowing which book you are receiving! There are descriptions written on the covers and you make your decision based upon those descriptions without ever seeing the actual cover. Love it!
HOWEVER…
I love it for a library where you aren’t paying actual money to blindly make a purchase. $16.00 to buy a book I very well might not want to own? That’s the exact OPPOSITE of minimalism (and smart purchasing in general). Hell no!
Besides, I was there on a MISSION. No time for cute tote bags or mystery purchases. I hobbled (stupid broken toe) straight to the fiction section, found my book waiting for me on the shelf, quickly scooped it up, paid with my beautiful gift card, and happily drove home.
I started reading this afternoon! It’s making my broken toe feel better already…
Polygamy is absolutely fascinating to me…I could NEVER share my husband/life with another woman. EVER. Sister Wives on TLC is one of my very favorite shows. Do you watch Sister Wives? Which wife is your favorite? #teamchristine
I’m currently on chapter 2 of my new book and from what I’ve read so far…this was a smart purchase. A very smart purchase indeed.
Sometimes, minimalist or not…a girl just wants to read what a girl wants to read. NOW. And this girl is doing just that 🙂
Did you read this book? What did you think? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
Xo,
Jenny
Click the image below to order the book through my Amazon affiliate link. When you order through this link, I receive a tiny commission. Thank you for your support, Xo
This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support! Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:
*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*
*Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)*
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I have a very special place in my heart for quotes. I LOVE quotes. I am constantly writing them down or adding them to the self created “quotes” folder on my phone! Years ago I had entire notebooks where I would write down my favorites. I’m constantly taking pictures with my phone of quotes I see while in public. My house is decorated with inspirational sayings!
My most recent blog post received an overwhelming amount of comments on both Facebook and Instagram. Clearly people love Where the Crawdads Sing just as much as I do! What I DIDN’T mention in that post were the 4 quotes that I took pictures of with my phone while reading so I would remember them. I often will take pictures of quotes that touch my heart while I’m reading. Anyone else do that?
**I used my extremely subpar photoshopping skills to block all other language and cropped out all page numbers…no spoilers here!**
This is just a gorgeous quote and deeper meaning into life:
Interesting perspective on how we treat others:
The power of words is spectacular:
And then there is this. Not inspirational, not motivating…but…holy hell is this fascinating (and super weird and super creepy, lol):
So now you know THAT little random tidbit. You’re welcome 🙂
Did you read Where the Crawdads Sing? Any quotes that stuck out to you? As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
The following quote has been my absolute favorite for as long as I can remember. It was even my “senior quote” when I graduated from high school! It has truly applied to every single stage of my life and continues to do so:
“I always knew I’d look back on the times I had cried and laugh but I never knew I’d look back on the times I had laughed and cry.”
Love. It.
Be sure to check the blog on Monday…I’ll be having a giveaway for an ADORABLE book!
Do you have a favorite quote or saying? I’d love to hear what it is in the comments below!
Xo,
Jenny
Click the image below to order the book through my Amazon affiliate link. When you order through this link, I receive a tiny commission. Thank you for your support, Xo
This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support! Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:
*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*
*Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)*
*If you already have a blog, please “follow” mine*
*”Like” my Facebook page (and please comment on, “like”, and share my posts)*
*Clicking and buying products through my Amazon Affiliate links. The cost to you is exactly the same and I receive a tiny commission off of your purchases.*
Throughout this quarantine, I have been reading my way though a huge stack of library books that I had checked out before the Illinois shelter in place began, books on my bookshelf that I hadn’t yet read, and books borrowed from my dear friends. If you have been following me for any length of time, you know that I am completely obsessed with my local library. I absolutely love checking out library books and VERY rarely purchase books on my own. However, with our local library currently being closed and with no plans of reopening any time soon (insert sobbing emoji here)…I finally bought myself a brand new, beautiful book!
Goodreads Synopsis of The Other’s Gold {Elizabeth Ames}:
I felt my mouth physically DROP OPEN reading about some of these decisions that these 4 were making and I found myself physically covering sections with my hand so I wouldn’t mistakenly read ahead. I loved the tiny cliffhangers at the end of certain chapters! Why can’t more authors master this?! Awesome!!
Book Coffee Happy 