This last weekend I finally felt like this new normal had become habit. So when Friday hit I felt myself start winding down. A weekend away from my desk job in my apartment. Yes, I’m still virtually in the same room as that desk but for some reason it didn’t call out to me to run over to it. I did sit at it and write out several blog posts and even sat on my couch and started a book. In between writing and reading I did a little gardening. Well, I’ll be honest, I watered the garden which is about the extent of my gardening skills, but it was nice to be outside. I finished the book I was reading in one day and started another. My reading mojo is rocking it! If I had the field goal emoji I’d use it right now. 🙂 So, here are the books I read/am reading.

This post originated over on Book Date, so thanks for the idea and letting me continue on the discussion about what books I am reading.

JUST FINISHED

I got sent this ARC after it’s release date, which is kind of strange and makes me think the publisher wants to give it a nudge. I’m kind of surprised it needs it! It’s a totally cute YA contemporary with a cute protagonist and a list of things to do before the summer ends. Even at my age, this was a message I could totally get behind and I loved how easy it was to fall into.

Synopsis:

The perfect book to kick off summer! For as long as Rachel Brooks can remember, she’s had capital-G Goals: straight As, academic scholarship, college of her dreams. And it’s all paid off–after years of following the rules and acing every exam, Rachel is graduating at the top of her class and ready to celebrate by . . . doing absolutely nothing. Because Rachel Brooks has spent most of high school saying no. No to dances, no to parties, and most especially, no to boys.

Now, for the first time in her life, there’s nothing stopping Rachel from having a little fun–nothing, that is, except herself. So when she stumbles on a beat up old self-help book–A SEASON OF YES!–a crazy idea pops into her head: What if she just said yes to . . . everything?

And so begins a summer of yes. Yes to new experiences and big mistakes, yes to rekindled friendships and unexpected romances, yes to seeing the world in a whole new way. This book is a fresh and fun take on the coming-of-age novel that explores the quintessential themes of growing up: taking risks, making mistakes, and, of course, love. And who knows? Lindsey Roth Culli’s hilarious and heartwarming debut may just inspire your own SAY YES SUMMER.

Click this link to purchase!* Say Yes Summer

JUST STARTED

I’m about 40% through this one and L-O-V-E it! It comes out this week, so please put this one on your TBR if you haven’t already.

Synopsis:

A romance writer who no longer believes in love and a literary writer stuck in a rut engage in a summer-long challenge that may just upend everything they believe about happily ever afters.

Augustus Everett is an acclaimed author of literary fiction. January Andrews writes bestselling romance. When she pens a happily ever after, he kills off his entire cast.

They’re polar opposites.

In fact, the only thing they have in common is that for the next three months, they’re living in neighboring beach houses, broke, and bogged down with writer’s block.

Until, one hazy evening, one thing leads to another and they strike a deal designed to force them out of their creative ruts: Augustus will spend the summer writing something happy, and January will pen the next Great American Novel. She’ll take him on field trips worthy of any rom-com montage, and he’ll take her to interview surviving members of a backwoods death cult (obviously). Everyone will finish a book and no one will fall in love. Really.

Click this book to purchase!* Beach Read

Now that you know what’s on my radar, give me a hint about what’s on your virtual (or physical!) bookshelf!

Happy Monday!

Deb