In today’s post I’m sharing what I’ve been reading lately.
The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate
I found The Book of Lost Friends (affiliate link) to be heartbreaking, yet also a book that I just couldn’t put down. It’s set in the time and place that I haven’t read many books about before. Lisa does a great job of weaving the two timelines together.
Here’s the synopsis from Goodreads:
Louisiana, 1875 In the tumultuous aftermath of Reconstruction, three young women set off as unwilling companions on a perilous quest: Lavinia, the pampered heir to a now-destitute plantation; Juneau Jane, her illegitimate free-born Creole half-sister; and Hannie, Lavinia’s former slave. Each carries private wounds and powerful secrets as they head for Texas, following dangerous roads rife with ruthless vigilantes and soldiers still fighting a war lost a decade before. For Lavinia and Juneau Jane, the journey is one of inheritance and financial desperation, but for Hannie, torn from her mother and eight siblings before slavery’s end, the pilgrimage westward reignites an agonizing question: Could her long-lost family still be out there? Beyond the swamps lie the seemingly limitless frontiers of Texas and, improbably, hope.
Louisiana, 1987 For first-year teacher Benedetta Silva, a subsidized job at a poor rural school seems like the ticket to canceling her hefty student debt–until she lands in a tiny, out-of-step Mississippi River town. Augustine, Louisiana, seems suspicious of new ideas and new people, and Benny can scarcely comprehend the lives of her poverty-stricken students. But amid the gnarled oaks and run-down plantation homes lies the century-old history of three young women, a long-ago journey, and a hidden book that could change everything.
Silver Girl by Elin Hilderbrand
I read two Elin Hilderbrand books back to back. Silver Girl (affiliate link) is inspired by the story of Ruth Madoff, who was married to Bernie Madoff. He’s known for orchestrating a Ponzi scheme that stole billions of dollars. I can only imagine what it would feel like to be ostracized by not only by people who knew you, but also strangers because the Ponzi scheme had obviously been in the news.
Here’s what Goodreads had to say about it:
Meredith Martin Delinn just lost everything: her friends, her homes, her social standing – because her husband Freddy cheated rich investors out of billions of dollars.
Desperate and facing homelessness, Meredith receives a call from her old best friend, Constance Flute. Connie’s had recent worries of her own, and the two depart for a summer on Nantucket in an attempt to heal. But the island can’t offer complete escape, and they’re plagued by new and old troubles alike. When Connie’s brother Toby – Meredith’s high school boyfriend – arrives, Meredith must reconcile the differences between the life she is leading and the life she could have had.
The Identicals by Elin Hilderbrand
The second Elin Hilderbrand book I read was The Identicals (affiliate link). I don’t know what it was exactly about this book, but I just didn’t enjoy it as much as I usually do with Elin’s books. Maybe it’s because I read it right after Silver Girl which I really liked? It’s definitely not a bad book, I just wasn’t drawn into it like I normally am with her books.
The Indenticals follows the lives of four women – two twin sisters, their mother, and one of the twin’s daughter. It was interesting to read each person’s perspective. It made it easy to empathize with all four characters.
Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella
If you’re looking for something fun and easy to read, Wedding Night (affiliate link) is the book for you. The characters make silly decisions (that at the same time are completely understandable) which leads to quite a few funny and weird situations. I think that’s what I like the most about Sophie Kinsella’s books. Even though the characters get themselves into trouble you can understand how they got there.
Here’s the synopsis from Goodreads:
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. Her sister, Fliss, thinks Lottie is making a terrible mistake, and will do anything to stop her. But Lottie is determined to say “I do,” for better, or for worse.
Sheltering Rain by Jojo Moyes
I really liked reading Sheltering Rain (affiliate link). I’m a huge fan of Jojo Moyes so when I saw this one on a shelf at the library I knew that I wanted to borrow it.
It’s set in Ireland and focuses on the relationships between a mom, grandmother, and daughter. Families can be tricky and get complicated fast, and this one is no different. All three of the main characters felt very believable to me, and I could relate a bit to all of them.
Share a book that you’ve read lately in the comments below.
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