Reviews: PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION & THAT SUMMER
Happy Monday all! I hope all of the moms out there had a wonderful Mother’s Day weekend. My son had a soccer tournament so I spent my holiday at my second home, the soccer field, lol. Today I’m sharing my thoughts on two books hitting the shelves this week that also happen to be two of my most anticipated reads of 2021, Emily Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation and Jennifer Weiner’s That Summer.
People We Meet on Vacation Goodreads Author: Emily Henry
Publication Date: May 11, 2021
Publisher: Berkley Books
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Emily Henry’s novel Beach Read was one of my favorite books of 2020. It was a five-star read for me and I adored everything about it. I therefore had very high expectations going into her new novel, People We Meet on Vacation. I’m thrilled to report that Henry not only met my expectations, but she really hit it out of the park.
People We Meet on Vacation follows Poppy and Alex. Poppy and Alex both come from a small town in Ohio and that, aside from the fact that they attended the same college, which is where they met and became best friends, is pretty much the only thing they have in common. Poppy is a travel writer and a quirky extrovert, while Alex is a high school teacher and a highly reserved introvert. They are truly the most unlikely of friends, but as the old saying goes, opposites attract and their friendship just works. They have not only stayed friends long after graduating from college, but every year they get together and take an epic vacation. That is, until two years ago when something happened to completely derail their friendship to the point where they stopped speaking to each other. Poppy desperately wants her best friend back and reaches out to Alex with an offer she hopes he won’t refuse.
I fell in love with both Poppy and Alex right away. Henry has the story unfold through a dual timeline where in the present, we watch Poppy and Alex take a trip together to try to rekindle their friendship and move forward, while in the past, we get lots of flashbacks of Poppy and Alex’s first meeting, their friendship growing, scenes from those amazing yearly vacations, etc. I loved watching the two of them interact because 1) the banter is hilarious, 2) it’s clear they have intense chemistry, and 3) they really bring out the best in each other. I was utterly heartbroken to learn that something had happened to fracture their relationship and I shared Poppy’s desperation to fix it. I was also shipping them so hard to become more than friends because they were truly just adorable together in the flashback scenes.
I don’t want to spoil anything so I’m just going to say if I had to compare this book to any other book, I’d say it has a similar vibe to Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren. If you enjoy a good friends-to-lovers story filled with lovable characters and hilarious banter, you are in for a treat with People We Meet on Vacation. This one left me with a full heart and happy tears in my eyes. 5 STARS.
That Summer Goodreads
Author: Jennifer Weiner
Publication Date: May 11, 2021
Publisher: Altria Books
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Based on the cover of Jennifer Weiner’s latest book, That Summer, I was expecting a light and fun read, perfect for the beach. What I got instead was a powerful story about the long-lasting psychological impact of rape on its victims and a heartfelt story about the healing qualities of friendship. That Summer was darker at times than I had anticipated, but with the incredible Cape Cod setting as a backdrop and the focus on a wonderful female friendship, it was still a very compelling and satisfying read.
The story focuses on two women named Diana. We meet the first one, Diana Starling, when she is a teen spending her summer in Cape Cod. She is having the time of her life, meeting new friends, attending parties on the beach, etc. until one night changes her life in the worst imaginable way. Fast forward a couple of decades and we meet the second Diana, who goes by the nickname Daisy. Daisy Shoemaker is a busy but bored housewife. She dropped out of college years ago to marry and start a family, and now, with her husband frequently occupied with his own career, Daisy feels like she’s all on her own to run their household and to deal with their teen daughter who has been kicked out of private school for behavioral issues and is a real handful. Daisy is also receiving emails intended for someone else named Diana S. (coincidentally our first Diana now all grown up) and Daisy finds herself envious of what appears to be a much more exciting life than her own. After exchanging a few emails, the two Dianas decide it would be fun to meet up. Neither of them has any idea just how life changing this meeting will be.
I really loved how Jennifer Weiner has crafted this story. Both of these women are very likeable and I enjoyed the bond of friendship that immediately sprung up between them. But what I loved most was how Weiner then starts building suspense by making it clear that it’s no accident these two women have met and by making it just as clear that Diana Starling is preparing to do something that will turn Daisy’s life upside down. She hates the thought of doing it because she really likes Daisy, but in her mind, it still has to be done. I loved how ominous this aspect of the story was and the tension and suspense that built as it became more and more apparent that their lives were bound together by secrets and lies from the past and that Diana Starling was on a mission to take down someone who hurt her.
Weiner handles a difficult topic with care and in such a way that does not demean rape victims, but also in a way that takes direct aim at the old “boys will be boys” mentality that has pervaded our society for so long.
That Summer is a powerful story about revenge and holding people accountable for their actions, but it’s also an emotional and hopeful story about survival, moving forward, and the healing power of friendship. 4 STARS
Review: UNDER THE SOUTHERN SKY by Kristy Woodson Harvey
Under the Southern Sky by Kristy Woodson Harvey Also by this author: Feels Like Falling, The Wedding Veil
Published by Gallery Books on April 20, 2021
Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Women's Fiction
Pages: 400
Source: Netgalley
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository
Goodreads
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Under the Southern Sky is the fifth novel I’ve read from Kristy Woodson Harvey and it’s my favorite yet. It’s a story about love, family and childhood friendships rekindled, and it’s also a story about loss and grief and how to move forward when you think your life has fallen apart.
The story follows journalist Amelia Saxton. Amelia is recently separated from her husband after catching him cheating on her and while licking her wounds, she is also researching the biggest story of her writing career, a story about what couples who have gone through IVF choose to do with any leftover embryos. Amelia discovers that her childhood friend, Parker, and his late wife, Greer, are on the list of those who have abandoned their embryos. After much consideration, Amelia decides she is obligated to reach out to Parker and make sure he is aware of the abandoned embryos and it is then that Amelia’s hunt for a story takes her on a far more personal journey than she ever anticipated.
I loved both Parker and Amelia and enjoyed watching them reconnect. They both have some tough choices to make, particularly Parker with respect to those embryos, and they are both dealing with loss and how to move on. So much of what they go through is heavy and heartbreaking but there are some lighter and more hopeful moments as well. I found myself rooting for them to build a future together almost right away because they just seemed so well suited to one another.
I don’t want to give anything else about the plot away as the story packs an emotional punch and it’s best to let it unfold as spoiler free as possible, but I will say that as someone who has gone through IVF, everything about this story spoke to me and I thought the author handled this sensitive topic with respect and grace. Even though Greer is deceased, we still get some chapters from her perspective so we get a feel for what her and Parker’s dreams for a family were before she got sick.
Filled with wonderfully complex characters and poignant moments, and all framed by gorgeous writing, Under the Southern Sky is a story that is sure to tug at your heartstrings and keep you invested from the first to the very last page. It’s not a light read but it’s one of the most beautiful stories I’ve read this year.
About Kristy Woodson Harvey
Kristy Woodson Harvey is the bestselling author of DEAR CAROLINA, LIES AND OTHER ACTS OF LOVE, SLIGHTLY SOUTH OF SIMPLE, THE SECRET TO SOUTHERN CHARM and THE SOUTHERN SIDE OF PARADISE. Kristy is the winner of the Lucy Bramlette Patterson Award for Excellence in Creative Writing, a finalist for the Southern Book Prize, her work has been optioned for film and her books have received numerous accolades including:
Southern Living’s Most Anticipated Beach Reads
Southern Living’s Best Spring Break Reads
Southern Independent Bookseller Association’s Okra Pick
Parade’s Big Fiction Reads Every Book Club Will Love
Entertainment Weekly’s Spring Reading Picks
Us Weekly’s Sweet Reads for Right Now
Woman’s WorldBest Books
PopSugar’s Ultimate Summer Reading
USA Today Happy Ever After’s Best Women’s Fiction
New York Live’s “Ashley’s A-List”
Deep South Magazine’s Summer Reading List
Raleigh News & Observer‘s “The Best Reads of Summer”
Charlotte Observer’s “Summer’s Best Books”
Bustle’s Books to Read and Discuss With Your Mom and Grandma
Huffington Post’s Summer Reading: Women’s Fiction Style
She blogs with her mom Beth Woodson on Design Chic about how creating a beautiful home can be the catalyst for creating a beautiful life. Design Chic is the inaugural member of the design blogger hall of fame, sponsored by Traditional Home, and winner of Amara’s Best Luxury Blog, as chosen by Roberto Cavalli. She also loves connecting with readers on kristywoodsonharvey.com.
Harvey is a Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s school of journalism and holds a master’s in English from East Carolina University, with a concentration in multicultural and transnational literature. Her writing has appeared in numerous publications and websites, including Southern Living, Traditional Home, Parade, USA Today, Domino, Our State and O. Henry. She has been seen in Today.com, Women’s Health,The Washington Post, US News and World Report, The Huffington Post,Marie Claire’s The Fix, Woman’s World, Readers’ Digest, Bustle, New York Live and North Carolina Bookwatch, among others.
She is a proud member of the Tall Poppy Writers, serves on the board of Beaufort Historical Association, and is a member of the University of North Carolina’s Women’s Leadership Council. She is a frequent speaker at fundraisers, book conferences and private events. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and son where she is working on her next novel.
Top Ten Tuesday – The Last 10 Books I Read but Don’t Plan to Review on the Blog
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Top Ten Tuesday has been one of my favorite memes ever since I started blogging, so huge thanks to Jana for taking over the hosting duties!
This week’s TTT topic is actually supposed to be My Ten Most Recent Reads (maybe share a one-sentence review to go with?). I have either already reviewed or am planning to review the last 10 books I read, so I decided to twist the topic to make it a better fit for me. I’m sharing the last books I read but have no plans to review on the blog, mainly just because they’re older reads and/or I just didn’t have enough to say about them to even write a mini review.
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The Last 10 Books I Read but Don’t Plan to Review on the Blog
1. ALEX, APPROXIMATELY by Jenn Bennett (4 STARS)
This was my 5th Jenn Bennett novel and probably my favorite yet. Loved the enemies to lovers plot with a You’ve Got Mail twist.
2. AUTOBOYOGRAPHY by Christina Lauren (5 STARS)
I had been avoiding this book, afraid it wouldn’t live up to the hype, but wow, it really blew me away. Such a moving, beautiful, cute, and all around special story and I adored all of the characters, especially Tanner.
3. THE BOOKSHOP OF SECOND CHANCES by Jackie Fraser (3 STARS)
This book actually releases today and I had somewhat mixed feelings about it. I loved the setting – a bookshop in Scotland and I liked the main character, Thea. I also love a good second chance romance. So why mixed feelings? I wasn’t the biggest fan of her second chance guy. I guess he was supposed to be a cute grumpy type, but for some reason, it just didn’t work for me this time even though it normally does. I also thought the pacing was slow at times. It was still a nice read overall but just didn’t captivate me the way I expected it to.
4. BOYFRIEND MATERIAL by Alexis Hall (4.5 STARS)
I love a good fake dating story and this one totally delivers. The main characters, Luc and Oliver, are wonderful, both individually and together. Plus, there’s tons of humor so that was a bonus as well.
5. THE HOUSE IN THE CERULEAN SEA by T.J. Klune (5 STARS)
I think every other blogger out there has said everything there is to say about this book, but it is truly one of the most special and unique books I’ve ever read. Truly magical and it had me crying happy tears by the end. I adored all of the children so much, especially Lucy and Chauncey.
6. CODE GIRLS: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE AMERICAN WOMEN CODE BREAKERS WHO HELPED WIN WWII by Liza Mundy (3.5 STARS)
One of my goals this year has been to read more nonfiction and this is one of the books I have read so far in 2021. Since I enjoy WWII historical fiction so much, I picked this book up since I had never heard of these women code breakers before. It’s a pretty interesting read, although a little dry at times. I definitely recommend the audio version.
7. EXCUSE ME WHILE I UGLY CRY by Joya Goffney (4 STARS)
This book actually releases today and although I enjoyed it, I just didn’t have enough to say about it to review it in full on the blog. Imagine having your journal, with all of your innermost secrets and private thoughts, land in the worst possible hands. This is exactly what happens to Quinn, the main character. And not only does her journal end up in the wrong hands, but the person who has it decides to blackmail her with it. This is a wonderful story about facing your fears, figuring out who you are and who your true friends are. There’s also the possibility of a romance but that takes a backseat to the coming of age storyline.
8. HIDDEN FIGURES by Margot Lee Shetterly (4 STARS)
This is another nonfiction book I read this year, mainly because I loved the film of the same name so much. This was a great read, although slightly different from the film in that it focuses much more on the science and the history and a little less on the personal lives of the individual women.
9. A PROMISED LAND by Barack Obama (5 STARS)
Also part of my quest to read more nonfiction. This was such a fascinating inside look at Obama’s political rise from his younger years up through his Presidency. It’s volume 1 of what will be a 2 volume memoir so this one runs up through the mission where we finally got bin Laden. It’s basically a record of every major event that happened during those years and Obama’s thoughts at the times as well as his hindsight reflections on those events. I really enjoyed that he talked about both his successes and his failures, and how things affected him both politically and personally. I also highly recommend the audio version.
10. DAUGHTER OF SMOKE & BONE trilogy by Laini Taylor (4 STARS – Books 1 & 2, 3 STARS – Book 3)
This trilogy had been sitting on my shelf for several years so I decided it was time to finally knock it off my TBR. I really enjoyed the series overall, although not quite as much as the wonderful Strange the Dreamer series. The world building was very impressive, I loved all of the main characters, and I especially loved the seraphim versus chimaera premise. The series finale was a bit of a let down for me, mainly just because it introduced new characters and I just wasn’t invested in them at all and felt they were in the way of the characters I wanted to read about.
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