It was a busy Summer and I haven’t posted a wrap-up post since June!

Now that July and August are behind us, I’m looking forward to my favorite time of year. 🍁🍂🎃

But first, let’s take a look back at a full and fun summer!

July Reads

☀️On The Island by Tracey Garcia Graves – highly recommend this back list title by the author of The Girl He Used To Know. A plane crash, a romance and lots of scary survival situations. Loved this epic summer title. Read it in a day.

☀️Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston – What a completely original and fun romance! I didn’t expect to like it so much. The storyline was sweet and real and took some of the drama from real life politics.

☀️Girls Like Us by Cristina Alger – Read this in a day! This was a fast paced and exciting crime drama with lots of villains and car bombs and dead bodies. I could definitely see this as the beginning of a series. Very well done!

☀️One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid – another back list title and a unique storyline. Big big fan of TJR and love her writing style. She writes characters that are real and feel real emotions. I enjoyed this book and read it quickly. The premise was intriguing and I would not want to be Emma or Sam or Jesse. I can’t imagine having to make the kind of decision Emma did. Heart wrenching.

I loved Emma’s parents (and how her punishment was extra shifts) and her relationship with her sister was beautifully done. Loved the little details, the “booksellers daughter”, the sisterly competition and the family dynamic in general.

☀️The Two Lila Bennetts by Liz and Lisa – fun and suspenseful and set in LA.

☀️How to Hack A Heartbreak by Kristin Rockaway – Clever and original full of charm and snark. Mel and her girlfriends were the best! It’s part Sex and the City meets Never Been Kissed with a side of The IT Crowd.

Swipe right. Hookups. Ghosting. Can you ever really trust someone? I’ve been married 18 years and I still found this to be a fast paced, funny and modern romance..

6️⃣ books ⬇️1️⃣ from June

August Reads

☀️Us Against You by Fredrik Backman – I waited forever to read the sequel and it didn’t disappoint. I am in awe of Mr. Backman’s incredible talent for writing intense and emotional stories. He captures the essence of his flawed and angry characters and sends the reader on a rollercoaster ride as we see the best and worst sides of characters we came to know and love in Beartown. Beautiful and haunting.

☀️Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate – I’m glad I finally read this well done story and that people have become more aware of the awful events that occurred at the Tennessee Children’s Home.

☀️Big Lies in A Small Town by Diane Chamberlain – this was an early advance reader copy from Netgalley. An interesting story told from two points of view. Art becomes a healing device and there’s a mystery as well. Great characters as usual. Lots of heavy themes. Alcoholism, racial issues of the 1940s, rape, suicide and family secrets. I was engaged by both stories, past and present and read it quickly. Unfortunately this book didn’t have the same wow factor, that emotional tug that I’ve come to rely on from this author.

☀️The Moon Sister by Lucinda Riley – really enjoyed this fifth book in the seven sisters series. Tiggy’s story is partially set in Spain which is a special place to me.

☀️Meet me at the Museum by Anne Youngson – sweet story told in letters. Two lonely, older people correspond with deep and meaningful conversations.

☀️The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang – a hyped book that I finally got to and found very enjoyable and entertaining.

☀️Stay Sexy and Don’t Get Murdered by Karen K and Georgia H – I was thoroughly impressed by the alternating chapters from these two strong women. They share a lot of dark details about their past along with great advice about life and love.

☀️The Scent Keeper by Erica Bauermeister – a magical and unique book about growing up, discovering who you are and learning to overcome an unusual and solitary childhood. The writing and imagery was breathtaking. The author brought to life a world filled with beauty and scents that can make you remember your happiest memories. I didn’t know what to expect and fell in love with the characters and the story. A lovely surprise.

8️⃣ books ⬆️2️⃣ from July

Most Popular Post

Thanks to an author retweet, the most visited post is an older post from February!

Top Ten Tuesday – Under-appreciated Books

Book Reviews

Pleased To Meet Me | Slay Like A Mother | Escape Room | In The Full Light of the Sun | The Undertakers Assistant

Author Interviews

Amy Mason Doan | Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke

Gallery Books Winner

I won the Gallery Books “Summer Lovin’ Giveaway”! These ARCs are now a treasured part of my library. Thank you!

Events

▶️ Smart Summer Reads with Kaira Rouda, Abbi Waxman, Deb Spera, Chip Cheek, Gwendolyn Womack

▶️ Adventures by the Book, Breakfast Republic with Abbi Waxman, Kristin Rockaway and Kathy Cooperman

▶️ SoCalBooksta Brunch & Book Swap

ICYMI – What We Saved

▶️Never Have I Ever: Joshilyn Jackson Reveals Her Bookish Secrets – click here

▶️Angels Flight Lost Chapter: 1965 Published here for the first time is a chapter from Angels Flight that never made it into the final published book. It is a glimpse into Harry Bosch’s past. – click here

▶️Why is Irish literature thriving? Because its writers and publishers take risks. Whether from Sally Rooney or Edna O’Brien, experimentalism has never frightened Irish readers – click here

▶️WHEN CRIME AUTHORS WRITE NON-CRIME BOOKS – 8 crime authors moonlighting in other forms of literature – click here

▶️ How Do You Juggle Multiple Social Media Platforms? – click here

▶️ How to give your book blog posts that extra spark – click here

Coming Up

There are a lot of incredible events happening over the next few months! I’m looking forward to book signings with Nicole Meier, Sarah McCoy, Michael Connelly, Liza Palmer and Jeanne Blasberg just to name a few.

🍂Take a peek at the EVENTS CALENDAR for all the latest bookish events in Southern California.

🍂US friends, make sure you’re following me on Instagram, (I’m doing a BIG BIRTHDAY Giveaway on September 10th.)

🍂 Stay tuned for more #sundaysessions author interviews and a surprise new guest writer.

Happy Fall!

Jaymi

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