Good Reads & Views

Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben
Fiction

What it’s about: Captain Maya Stern has been through so much in the last several months: war, losing fellow soldiers/friends in combat, her sister is murdered, and now she has just buried her husband. She has been discharged from the service and is now teaching flying lessons and somehow must figure out how to raise her daughter on her own. A family friend gives her a nanny camera to help her feel at ease with her nanny while she is gone and checking it one day after work changes everything. A man walks into the frame and sits down to play with her young daughter, Lily. When the man turns towards the camera Maya is shocked to see her supposedly dead husband!

Why you might like it: Once again Coben gives you more twists and turns than you can possibly imagine. Just when you think you know who’s done it, something changes, and your theories are thrown out the window. Who can Maya trust? Her in-laws are distant and strange, her friends act oddly, and new people keep showing up with secrets of their own.

You might also like: The Stranger by Harlan Coben.

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The Stranger by Harlan Coben
Fiction

What it’s about: The book follows the lives of Adam, his wife Corinne, and their two sons. One day, the stranger approaches Adam in a bar and tells him a devastating secret about his wife. He takes time to process and research to find out if the secret is true. He feels it could derail their marriage and their lives. When he confronts her, she doesn’t deny it but begins to act very strangely and then takes off, telling Adam via text that she will return in a few days when she’s ready.

Why you might like it: While you become devoted to these characters, you also find out that the stranger works for a group unveiling secrets to families to help change the world.

You might also like: Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben.

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I’ll Be Your Blue Sky by Marisa de los Santos
Fiction

What it’s about: I'll Be Your Blue Sky is the third book in the trilogy that began with Love Walked In, followed by Belong to Me. All three of them can be read as standalone books but the other two books are just as wonderful! On the weekend of her wedding, Clare meets a delightful elderly woman named Edith. After just one conversation, Edith gives Clare the resolution and guts to break off her engagement to her captivating, yet overly possessive, fiancé. Three weeks later, Clare learns that Edith has died-and has given her another gift…a huge gift!

Is it for you? Marisa de los Santos’ way with words is like no other and her gift of giving her characters such a rich, full life makes me wish I could meet them in person.

You might also like:Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos.

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The Virgin’s Lover by Philippa Gregory
Fiction

What it’s about: In this next book in the Tudor saga, Philippa Gregory starts off with Lord Robert Dudley of the House of Northumberland, and his romance with Elizabeth the First of England, and explores the possible motivations for the alleged murder of Robert Dudley's wife, Amy.

Why you might like it: This is a wonderful way for people to learn about the history of the Tudor Legacy. By mixing real and fictional characters Philippa Gregory brings history to life. I also enjoy the way she explains and focuses on the role of women at that time. She writes about women that somehow show their strength yet stay within the confines of the restrictions women were faced with.

You might also like: The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory.

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Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown
Nonfiction

What it’s about: If you're familiar with Brene's work, then this book is a profound, multilayered dive into the things we avoid. It has been a wonderful tool for unraveling difficult emotions. Of all Brene's books, this is my favorite! It is an uncomplicated ideal for voicing feelings we often struggle to identify and put into words.

Is it for you? If you seek a map for understanding your feelings and making peace with them, especially the painful ones we usually try to avoid, then this book is for you.

You might also like: The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown.

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You Are a Badass Every Day by Jen Sincero
Nonfiction

What it’s about: This book is easy to read, you can literally read a page or two a day in the morning and it will make your whole day better. It’s wonderfully relaxing, motivating, and inspiring. From taking stock to following up on dreams, making changes or sharpening your goals, this is a fantastic read! It’s like sitting with a very positive friend who is on board, encouraging and funny too!

Is it for you? If you are seeking a truly relatable approach to self-improvement and self-development you should check out this exceptional book.

You might also like: Badass Habits by Jen Sincero

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Loyalty by Lisa Scottoline
Fiction

What it’s about: In full disclosure, I’m a big fan of Scottoline but Loyalty was not at all what I had anticipated, leaving me off balance for a significant portion of the book. Lisa speaks with a much different voice in this work than in her usual. Loyalty is a well-researched, extremely accurate look at every aspect of life in Sicily in the very early 19th century.

Why you might like it: The Mafia storyline is only one of several, all of which focus on “loyalty.” All the main characters find themselves in difficult life circumstances. How they survive, whether they win or lose, provides powerful outcomes with messages that will stick with you.

You might also like: Someone Knows by Lisa Scottoline

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Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow
YA Fiction

What it’s about: Girl in Pieces is both heart wrenching and redemptive. As soon as I picked up this book, I didn’t want to put it down…except to take some breaks when my heart felt wrecked. It was beautifully written and truly gives an accurate depiction of mental health and what it’s like to struggle with self-harm, depression, sexual abuse, and alcoholism.

Is it for you? It reminds you that sometimes bad things happen in life, but with supportive friends you can overcome pain and heartache to embrace life to its fullest.

You might also like: You’d Be Home Now by Kathleen Glasgow

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All the Days of Summer by Nancy Thayer
Fiction

What it’s about: I love when you read a book and it feels so realistic. All of Nancy Thayer’s books are beautifully written with many layers of emotion and wit. They always include well-rounded characters who have both strengths and frailties. This story explores the relationship between a mother and the woman her son chooses to marry, which is a complicated one, charged with complexities and hurdles.

Why you might like it: There are twists and turns that keep the story interesting and the emotion real.

You might also like: Secrets in Summer by Nancy Thayer.

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California Girls by Susan Mallery
Fiction

What it’s about: This book has it all. Three sisters that have a full life ahead of them and then, in a matter of seconds their lives are turned upside down. There are multiple romance story lines. Susan Mallery does a wonderful job of seamlessly switching between different points of view. The characters are diverse, and it's effortless to tell who's telling each part of the story. From the beginning to the end, it was a fun and fabulous read.

Is it for you? If you’re looking for an easy summer read, a nice distraction, without violence, you’ll enjoy this book.

You might also like: Nantucket Sisters by Nancy Thayer.

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