Share Your Shelf (the books I read in July)

 

Happy Thursday, friends, and better late than never, right? I totally forgot to write this post yesterday. I'll jump in with this month's link party that I'm co-hosting with Joanne, Tanya, and Marilyn. I'll jump in with the July books that I read, which aren't as many as I'd hoped, but life is life. 

I loved The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand! (Click that link to be taken to Amazon.)

This is a book about the life of a woman whose life seemed perfect until it wasn't. Hollis is reeling from the death of her husband, and she's just trying to cope and get through her own grief, all while helping her daughter Caroline grieve the loss of her dad. She does what she does every summer; she goes home to Nantucket. When she hears the story about a woman's five-star weekend that includes a best friend from each phase of her life, Hollis decides to plan her own version for the summer. 

I could hardly put this book down, friends! It was so good, and felt quintessentially summer-y, which is just how I like my beach reads to feel. 

Next up was this one.

I loved One Summer in Paris by Sarah Morgan. Joanne recommended this one, and I'm glad she did! 

To celebrate her 25th wedding anniversary, Grace planned the surprise of a lifetime: a romantic month long getaway to Paris. What Grace didn't plan was her husband surprising her with details of his secret life on the night they celebrated at a local restaurant. Grace has to regroup; does she cancel the trip or does she go on it alone instead? Meanwhile in London, Audrey is counting down the days until she graduates so she can leave for her summer in Paris. She is so anxious to get away from her mom, and the disaster that is their life. This book entwines the lives of Grace and Audrey; how they befriend one another and help each other when they most need it; thus forming a friendship to last a lifetime, despite the thirty year age difference. 

Next up was another book by one of my favorite people on earth. 

Stand All the Way Up (Stories of staying in it when you want to burn it all down) by Sophie Hudson was a comedic and heartfelt book right when I needed it the most. 

We all face hard stuff; is your first instinct to just want to make it all go away? You might wonder if it's possible to just ignore it, or better yet, just burn it all down. (I'm laughing, because this literally feels like my life right now.) During a hard stretch in her own life, Sophie learned that the Lord, through His will and His people, has already provided all that we need to get up, straighten up, and stand all the way up. This book is a collection of stories, sass, and spiritual insight, revealing our God, who teaches you to stand up for His kingdom. 

Lastly was This Used to be Us by Renee Carlino. 

There are two sides to every story, and every breakup. After twenty two years together, Danielle and Alex are getting a divorce. Once fiercely in love, they can barely stand the sound of each other's voices these days. Instead of shuffling the kids between two homes, they decide to share a nesting apartment while swapping days with their teenage sons in the family home. In the apartment and on their own, Dani and Alex begin to reflect on the last two decades: why they fell in love, and how they fell apart. With their newfound space and time, they're given a chance to find their autonomous selves again, and despite starting to date other people and changes at work, they find themselves drawn to one another again and again. Their distance allows them to remember what once was, and what they loved about the other one. When a family crisis occurs, they are put to the test. 

What did you read that you loved this month? I can't wait to hear any recommendations you have! Thanks for joining in with us today, friends. Love to all!

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