Oh hi! I’m alive! You’re alive! We’re all alive here together! Which, actually, is exactly what brings me to the meat of this little note.

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Normally, I’d have anywhere from 15-20 book recommendations for you per quarter. In Q2 though? Um, I’ve got nine. And it’s because I’ve been out there being Alive, Capital A. Honestly, not mad about it.

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Not mad about these books I did end up finishing either. (Well, I say that…the last one was a little meh, but sometimes it happens.) So hey, I know we’re all finishing up our summer life living, and if you have time to fit in one more good book, maybe there’s one to check out on this little list.

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It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey (Loved it. Super sweet. It was billed as Schitt’s Creek-esque, and I don’t know that I got that feel. It was too cute and not at all snarky, ha. But the love story and the couple were, well, lovely. And the sex scenes were nice and steamy—think lots of talk of vaginal orgasms.)

The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi (This was a beautiful story. I can’t believe I waited so long to read it. The writing was phenomenal and really painted a vibrant picture. Huge fan of the ending too, and will absolutely read the next book in the series.)

The Power of Fun by Catherine Price (I still managed a non-fiction book! Go, me! This one was pretty good. I mean, definitely relevant for me right now, and I appreciated the author’s light tone while delivering science and concrete ideas and applications. If you’ve been in a rut lately, this is a good book to check out.)

The Marriage Game by Sara Desai (Enjoyed the heck out of this one. For sure loved the two main characters and their stories.)

Book Lovers by Emily Henry (Y’all, Emily Henry. GAH! I love her so much. This one was so, so good, just as expected. Sweet and cute and had depth at the same time. Big fan of the ending too. Highly recommended.)

Murder Under Her Skin by Stephen Spotswood (I love diving into this genre and this era, especially together. If you like mystery, definitely recommend.)

Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel (I can’t even say much about this book because it was just so unexpected in so many ways, even a few hints would totally give it away. It was short and engaging and it’ll make you think. I recommend this one too for sure.

Black Magic Sanction by Kim Harrison (Whew, I’m making my way through the series! I continue to love these characters and it’s nice to throw in some witchy vampire-y fluff every so often.)

Starry Eyed Love by Helena Hunting (This is the one that was meh. I read the first book in the series and really liked it, so I thought this one would be equally as good. I don’t know if the author was rushed or what, but I was disappointed. It was fine, but nothing special.)

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Well, that’s it! Short and sweet this round. We’re already halfway through Q3, and so far the books I’ve read have been excellent. So we all have that to look forward to in a matter of weeks! Stay tuned, and in the meantime…

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​Follow me on Goodreads for a real-time list.

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Check out a selection of my favorites for purchase on Bookshop.org.

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​Join the Book Club inside The House of Self-Discovery. There are still Founding Member spots available, where you can get access to both The House and Book Club for a mere $25/month. Once those ten spots are gone, the monthly investment will go up to $67/month for access to The House and the Book Club. Get all the details and purchase your access here.

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Because I’ve been a little slower on the pace, I’ve been a little behind on the best recs too, so send me yours so I can keep my list current! What’s the best book you’ve read in the last three months?

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And if you haven’t been reading as much either? I hope it’s because you’re out there being Alive, Capital A, all day.

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To being Alive,

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P.S. You can read or share this on my site here.

P.P.S. My new therapist very quickly and kindly confronted me that maybe I had always been such a voracious reader as a kid and recently as a way to escape things that didn’t feel great in my life. She wasn’t wrong. I’ll never stop reading probably more than the average person, but I’ll now always be aware of how and when I’m burying myself in books. Message: Escapism can be OK. Of course it can. Just try to pay attention to when it impacts or reveals your level of being Alive, Capital A.

P.P.P.S. Hey, how are you feeling? How are things?

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