Shelley Reads and Writes

Tag: must read

  • One Summer Brought Four Very Different Women Together

    Book Cover off of Amazon Website

    Sandra Pennington is feeling lonely. She has lived alone since the death of her husband five years ago. However, this year, she is also feeling the loss of her best friend (though not to death but to dementia). Her children have no plans to visit her over the summer, and she is downright lonely.

    So, she does what any sensible woman would do, right? She rents out her remaining bedrooms and operates a bed-and-breakfast over the summer.

    Though her children aren’t sure, she decides to go through with it and invites three women into her home.

    Mary is a lawyer who recently retired and isn’t sure what her next step is. However, a vacation in Maine might just give her the clarity that she needs.

    High school teacher Amanda decides to leave her long-time boyfriend at home and take some time to figure out what she wants in life.

    Patty, a last-minute add-in, is determined to have a good time, no matter how down on her luck she is.

    These three women start spending one dinner a week together, but quickly realize they need friendship to help them discover what their futures hold.

    If you are looking for a book about happy endings, finding yourselves, and spending time with good friends, this book will be perfect for you!

    ***

    If you are interested in this book, you can grab it from Amazon right here!

    ***

    Please note, this is an affiliate link, where I will receive compensation if you buy the product, without any extra cost to you.

    ***

    Stay tuned for my next book review.

    Til next time.

  • Maeve Binchy is ALWAYS a Good Read

    Book Cover off of Amazon

    Maeve Binchy is a great storyteller, especially for those who are obsessed with Ireland. Every book that I have read by her was captivating, and this one is no different.

    The Return Journey is a collection of short stories that are pleasant to read. We meet a secretary who just wants her boss to notice her and wants more. When they go away, she is surprised by her true feelings.

    We meet a man and a woman who decide (at first sight) that they don’t like each other at all. When they do meet and spend some time together while traveling, they realize that their first thoughts were completely wrong.

    When two people grab the wrong bag, they learn more about someone else than they expect.

    There are fourteen stories in this collection, and you will be glad that you picked it up!

    ***

    If you are interested in this book, you can grab it from Amazon right here!

    ***

    Please note, this is an affiliate link, where I will receive compensation if you buy the product, without any extra cost to you.

    ***

    Stay tuned for my next book review.

    Til next time.

  • Can You Really Be Happily Married Fifteen Years Later?

    Book Cover off of Amazon Website

    Millie and Tom were only eighteen years old when they found out that they were going to have a baby. So, they did what any young couple would do? They got married and starred in a TV documentary about teenage marriage.

    Even though their families weren’t so sure that it was the right thing to do, they have managed to raise a family and are approaching their fifteenth wedding anniversary. They are both working hard, struggling with money, and raising two teenage daughters. Life isn’t as easy as it was back then.

    When the TV crew wants to do a follow-up to the documentary, Millie is worried that certain things are going to come out in the open, things she doesn’t want Tom to know. Will the couple survive a week of filming, even as their (and their daughter’s) lives explode?

    I enjoyed the entire series about the Jennings sisters. You can tell that they all love each other, even though they may not agree with each other’s choices. This is a good series by Sheila Norton.

    ***

    If you are interested in this book, you can grab it from Amazon right here!

    ***

    Please note, this is an affiliate link, where I will receive compensation if you buy the product, without any extra cost to you.

    ***

    Stay tuned for my next book review.

    Til next time.

  • Debra’s Life Changes But She Will Prevail!

    Book Cover off of Amazon Website

    Debra thought she had the perfect life. She was happily married with three perfect children and lived in a wonderful house. She never had to worry about money.

    When her marriage comes crashing down, she struggles to accept that her life is going to change. Though her husband (or ex-husband) said that he would support her and the children, she quickly learns that she doesn’t want that. She vows to get a job and find a place that she can afford, though it isn’t as easy as she thought it would be.

    Will Debra be able to pull through? Or will she give in to temptation? Or will she discover herself when she loses everything?

    I really enjoyed the second book in the series, and am looking forward to learning more about Millie in the third book!

    ***

    If you are interested in this book, you can grab it from Amazon right here!

    ***

    Please note, this is an affiliate link, where I will receive compensation if you buy the product, without any extra cost to you.

    ***

    Stay tuned for my next book review.

    Til next time.

  • Being Single Is Enough for Sophie

    Book Cover off of Amazon Website

    At thirty-four, Sophie Jennings is happily single. Though her friends and sisters are settling down, getting married, and having babies, she is truly happy with her life.

    She has her own business and flat, good friends, and a man she can call whenever she likes. Charlie isn’t exactly her boyfriend, but he is always there for her when she needs him.

    As a wedding hairdresser, she hears all kinds of stories from nervous brides. They often ask her for advice, just like all of her other friends and family. She isn’t sure how a single girl is able to give advice, but she does it to the best of her ability.

    That being said, will Sophie stay single for the rest of her life? Or will she get pressured into getting married?

    I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read the next one about divorce!

    ***

    If you are interested in this book, you can grab it from Amazon right here!

    ***

    Please note, this is an affiliate link, where I will receive compensation if you buy the product, without any extra cost to you.

    ***

    Stay tuned for my next book review.

    Til next time.

  • Two Friends Struggle with Their Weight, Happiness, and the Loss of Their Friend

    Book Cover off of Amazon Website

    I wasn’t looking for a book like this, but Higgins’ book Good Luck with That really hit a nerve. As someone who is overweight and trying to find the willpower to lose weight, this book really talked to me.

    Emerson, Georgia, and Marley have been best friends ever since they met at a weight-loss camp as teens. They truly found someone who loved them, no matter their size, though they still had a list of the things that they would do once they finally got skinny!

    When Emerson tragically passes away, her friends are shocked that she wants them to carry out the things on their list, right now, before they run out of time! She didn’t want them to wait until they got skinny!

    It isn’t easy. Marley has been carrying around the loss of her twin since she was four years old. Because of that, she hasn’t been able to find love. Georgia has been dealing with rejection from her mother and brother her whole life, due to her size. She has to learn how to love herself, no matter what her size. Her ex-husband loved her, even at her heaviest, but she wasn’t able to see that!

    As the two friends grow stronger, they learn to love themselves and start living, even if they still have quite a few pounds to lose. This book was really an eye-opener for me. I have said many things that both Marley and Georgia have said. When I am skinny, my life will be better. However, I have to learn to love myself too!

    ***

    If you are interested in this book, you can grab it from Amazon right here!

    ***

    Please note, this is an affiliate link, where I will receive compensation if you buy the product, without any extra cost to you.

    ***

    Stay tuned for my next book review.

    Til next time.

  • Holly’s Story Wasn’t Done

    Book Cover off of Amazon Website

    Seven years after her husband’s death, Holly Kennedy has moved on with her life. She was working with her sister and has even found love again.

    When her sister asks her to tell her story on her podcast, she has no idea how her life will change. She had no idea that her story would touch so many people. In fact, several terminally ill people decide that they want to leave letters for their own loved ones! And they need her help!

    Holly has to decide if helping them is the right thing (or if it is going to drain her and take her back into the deep depression she felt after Gerry’s passing). But along the way, she learns so much about life, love, and herself!

    If you loved PS I Love You, you will love the rest of Holly’s story in Postscript by Cecilia Ahern. I highly enjoyed his read and hope that you choose it for your next read!

    ***

    If you are interested in this book, you can grab it from Amazon right here!

    ***

    Please note, this is an affiliate link, where I will receive compensation if you buy the product, without any extra cost to you.

    ***

    Stay tuned for my next book review.

    Til next time.

  • The Book is Even Better!

    Book Cover off of Amazon Website

    In PS I Love You by Cecilia Ahern, Holly and Gerry were childhood sweethearts–soulmates. They grew up together, as best friends, so it was no surprise when they married and started their life together.

    But when the unthinkable happens, Holly struggles to continue living without her soulmate. Then, Gerry surprises her from beyond the grave. He leaves her with a bunch of notes that he signed ‘PS, I Love You’. Holly is told to open one a month for several months.

    Following whatever Gerry tells her, Holly buys a new outfit, gets a good job, tries karaoke, and much more. However, she quickly realizes that, even with Gerry’s death, she is still living for him.

    Lucky for Holly, she has a lot of family and friends to help her through the first year. She finds herself laughing, crying, and enjoying life again. Even better, she has a guardian angel by her side!

    I haven’t watched the movie in years (or read this book), but I am really glad that I picked it up again. I am looking forward to reading the sequel, so stay tuned!

    ***

    If you are interested in this book, you can grab it from Amazon right here!

    ***

    Please note, this is an affiliate link, where I will receive compensation if you buy the product, without any extra cost to you.

    ***

    Stay tuned for my next book review.

    Til next time.

  • A Sweet Romantic Novel Worth Checking Out

    Book Cover off of Amazon Website

    Mia DeAngelis made a change that would affect the rest of her life and her nephew Ben’s. However, she knew that it would be for the best.

    Deciding to move to Compass Cove, where her grandmother lived, felt like starting over. She took a job as a college librarian in a sleepy little beach town, where she knew that Ben would shine. The two move in with Mia’s grandmother and plan to make a life for themselves.

    Adam Miller, who retired from the NFL after an injury, returns to Compass Cove to lead a quieter, purposeful life. He becomes a coach at the college, so that football can still be a part of his life.

    They couldn’t be more different. A quiet librarian raising her sister’s child and a fast football star looking for a chance at a slower-paced life. However, when the two of them meet, everyone knows that they belong together. The two of them just need to realize it themselves!

    If you are looking for a sweet romantic read, you should start with Then Came You by Jeannie Moon. I couldn’t wait until Mia and Adam realized how perfect they were together, with little Ben by their side!

    ***

    If you are interested in this book, you can grab it from Amazon right here!

    ***

    Please note, this is an affiliate link, where I will receive compensation if you buy the product, without any extra cost to you.

    ***

    Stay tuned for my next book review.

    Til next time.

  • Five College Friends Stay Close Years Later

    Book Cover off of Amazon Website

    In All the Right Mistakes by Laura Jamison, five college friends approach their fortieth birthday, having traveled very different paths. Elizabeth and Sara are lawyers, Martha is a doctor, and Carmen is a wealthy stay-at-home mom. The most successful, Heather, is a famous tech executive.

    Then, Heather writes an advice novel, basically talking about all the “mistakes” that her college friends made, like opting out, giving half effort, and more. It becomes extremely popular, though, which hurts her friends more than anything. In fact, it may just tear them apart. None of them feels they can forgive Heather. When her life starts to fall apart, she doesn’t have her friends to fall back on.

    This makes the group realize that friendship is worth more than anything. They need each other to get through the ups and downs of life. It just makes life so much better to have someone you can count on!

    ***

    If you are interested in this book, you can grab it from Amazon right here!

    ***

    Please note, this is an affiliate link, where I will receive compensation if you buy the product, without any extra cost to you.

    ***

    Stay tuned for my next book review.

    Til next time.