Monday, July 4, 2022

Mini Book Reviews: June 2022

Disclaimer: I received a PRC of Carrie Soto is Back from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my review. This post contains affiliate links.

I don't normally have a 'theme' for my monthly reads, but reflecting on the books I read in June, I'd say that each book I read is woman-centric. In fact, each of the books has a strong woman (or 2 or 3) as the main character. I'm happy to see such strong representation, in light of what has happened in the US over the past couple of weeks!


If you could go back in time, would you? Time travel is the premise of This Time Tomorrow. It's not a sci-fi read, but a sweet story about a woman who is turning 40 and watching her father's health fail. On her birthday, she wakes up in her 16 year old life, her father young and vibrant. She sees her father from this younger perspective, having forgotten what he was once like. She also gets to revisit situations from her teenage years and instead of feeling regret at what could have been, she is relieved at how her life turned out. The story is set in New York City and I loved learning about the quaint little neighborhood, Pomander, where she grew up. I even Googled it, and yes, it's still there. This isn't a fast-paced read, but it is definitely satisfying. 



I won't lie, I was attracted to this one because of the cover! This beautifully written book is the story of two young women, who first meet at Yerba Buena, a bar where one of the women is a bartender and the other is a flower arranger. A coming of age book, the narrative follows each of the two women over time, through life, until they meet again at the bar. While Yerba Buena isn't a long book, there's a lot to unpack. Both of the women come from dysfunctional backgrounds and they are forced to confront their pasts before moving on with their own lives. 




What a fun read! Set in a restaurant in suburban Chicago, Marrying the Ketchups is a story about a family whose lives have centered around the restaurant for three generations. They are always there for each other and when things go wrong, they always return to the restaurant. As the older generation passes, it's up to the younger family members to take over the helm, forcing each to reflect on their lives and choices. I absolutely loved the Chicago setting and references--they are die-hard Cubs fans, which is important, lol. But the best part of the story is the dialogue, which is exactly like how you would imagine family members talking to each other. A really delightful story! By the way, they don't mention this in the book, but I looked it up: marrying the ketchup is restaurant lingo for combining 2 half empty bottles of ketchup.




I took time out from reading fiction for a fitness-related book, Next Level, and gave it the full blog treatment, which you can read here. A quick synopsis: Exercise physiologist Stacy Sims goes through the science of menopause and lays out a plan for active women to get through the changes of menopause. It's a well-written, practical guide that provides guidance for activities, nutrition, sleep, and mental health. Be prepared to lift heavy sh**! lol. I absolutely devoured this book. It's so nice to find a person who doesn't brush off older women but instead empowers them to push themselves. Loved it.



I grew up in the post-JFK era and I've always been intrigued by the mystique surrounding the love story of Jackie and Jack. Camelot? Not if you believe this fictionalized memoir. Jackie and Me is told through the voice of JFK's best friend, Lem Billings, who becomes Jackie's confidant and guide during their courtship. According to this version, everything you've heard about JFK's wandering eye is true and as the narrative progresses, it becomes much about the relationship between Jackie and Lem. in the end, Jackie and JFK's relationship was more like a business arrangement than a romance--at least from the Kennedy perspective. I felt kind of bad for Jackie, but this book gave me a new perspective on her later decision eventually settle with Aristotle Onassis. Eye-opening and really interesting. 



Carrie Soto was the number one women's tennis champion when she retired on top. When her record is threatened, she comes out of retirement, determined to hold on to her place in tennis history. She enlists the help of her former coach, her father, and together they work to bring her back to the top of the record books. This was a really great story and I could not put it down. I loved the character development and how Carrie had to use her mind to win against her younger, stronger opponents. Taylor Jenkins Reid is one of my favorite authors and she does not disappoint! Most definitely, Carrie Soto is Back! Ok, she'll be back on August 30, which is when the book will be released. 



Another coming of age story (I do love them!), These Impossible Things follows 3 young Muslim women navigating post-college life in a secular world. College was wild and fun, and the girls had little regard for religion or traditions. After college, the women go their separate ways, each trying to return to family, faith, and tradition. It's not always an easy read and I found myself emotionally drained during some of these passages. I care for many Muslim families in my medical practice and as with any religion, there is a wide spectrum of the level of devotion to the traditions. It's a religion that is misunderstood by outsiders. I have to comment that the portrayal of the two Muslim boyfriends in this book serves to fuel that prejudice. That aside, this was an engrossing read that I could not put down! 


I've already read my first July book. You can always read my reviews on Goodreads! Coming up this month, is a joint review with fellow blogger, Liz on July 12. We are both reviewing Running in the Midpack. If you think I read a lot, well she makes me look like a slacker. But this is a fun project and I'm looking forward to seeing what she says about the book. Feel free to read along and post your own review!

And since there's a 'day' for everything":


So no excuses!

What are you reading? Do you have any good book recommendations for me? Have you read Running in the Midpack?

I'm linking up with Kim and Zenaida for Tuesday Topics.






27 comments :

  1. Ah look, I can comment if I visit you via Chrome. I enjoyed These Impossible Things, too, though I see what you mean about the Muslim men the women encounter; that's a good point. My review is here - I read it last month, too https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2022/06/09/book-review-salma-el-wardany-these-impossible-things/. Looking forward to our joint review of Midpack, and of course I bought Next Level on the strength of your review!

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    1. I'm going to check out your review when I get home from work! I love that we are reading some of the same books--although your reviews are much more professional than mine!

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    2. I just have more time to write longer reviews. I have to say I preferred our cover to These Impossible Things, although I'm the other way round on Dele Weds Destiny!

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  2. "This Time Tomorrow" sounds fascinating! It reminded me of how it felt like to be a teenager - I hated it! I'm much happier now as a middle-aged adult. :-)
    Right now I'm reading an extremely heavy book. "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor E. Frankl. It's all about how he survived the horror of the Nazi concentration camps. I have to read it in very small batches as it's quite depressing.
    Please post a reminder here when you do the review of Midpack with Liz!

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    1. We read the Frankl book in college and of course, I was too vapid to understand it. I need to re-read it. But maybe not right now--lol--too much depressing reality!

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  3. Okay, I'm all set to celebrate "stay in bed reading day!" How do you choose your books? I'm just curious because you always have such an interesting selection. These all sound great- and you reminded me that I NEED to read Next Level! Right now I'm reading a mystery by Elizabeth George. It takes place in England and deals with the Nigerian immigrant community and their tradition of FGM (female genital mutilation.) So, it's fiction and an engrossing mystery but not exactly a lighthearted topic!

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    1. I read other book blogs and book lists to find things I might be interested in!

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  4. this time tomorrow sounds like a good one! I also love Taylor Jenkins Reid thanks for sharing that one. I currently reading Elin Hilderbrand's new one. Also, still halfway thru Next Level which I really am enjoying and 100% agree with her perspective. It seems a lot like her first book

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    1. Elin Hildebrand's books are always good! Glad to hear you like Next Level. It was so validating!

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  5. As always, thanks so much for your book reviews! This time Tomorrow sounds like a book I would like to read. I often ask myself if I could go back in time, would I change anything. For some things, absolutely!

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  6. Haha, that meme!!! I always look forward to your reviews because you always have interesting ones. The ones I am reading from now on are based on your reviews. The most interesting one to me is This Time Tomorrow. I remember you wrote about a similar one months ago. It had to do with time travel as well. If I could go back in time, I would make different choices in college. I would have been more focused with my studies - I was having too much fun there!

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  7. Always love your book reviews! Getting ready to start This Time Tomorrow and also just bought Next Level. Having read the Louise Penny/Hillary Clinton book State of Terror and enjoyed it, I've started reading the Louise Penny Inspector Gamache series and love these on audio.

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  8. I read a book a while ago that sounds somewhat similar to your first review. This woman's mother dies of a heart attack at a one age. The woman had been a workaholic & hadn't seen her family as much. Then she wakes up and her mom is alive . . . and she tries to keep history from repeating itself. Not a great book but still an interesting read.

    I'm reading a Jojo Mayes book right now but it's just kind of meh.

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    1. I think Jojo Moyes was a one hit wonder. Me Before You was fantastic. It's got to be hard to follow up to something like that!

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  9. I just remembered that I have not yet gotten my hands on The Next Level....I guess I'm spending too much time on my bike (nah, LOL).

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    1. There's always time to read...or maybe audiobooks would be more appealing to you since you're always on the go?

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  10. Thanks for sharing these! I tend to read more in the summer, so I need some books ready to go for whenever I have a free minute:)

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    1. I know I read a lot less when the boys were little. It's really hard to find any time. That's when I started reading at night after I put them down for bed.

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  11. I'm currently reading Next Level thanks to your IG post. I will definitely add This Time Tomorrow to my "must read list" and I'm always up for another Taylor Jenkins Reid story!

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  12. Oh this is wonderful Wendy! As I moved from one review to the next, I actually foind myself drawn to each book you've shared. Definitely my kind of reads.

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  13. I love your reviews. Finished recently Seven Husbands and am starting Malibu Rising.

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    1. I loved Seven Husbands but didn't love Malibu Rising. I may need to read it again. Did you read Daisy Jones and the Six? That was my favorite of her books.

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