I’d like you all to know that: summer vacation + bronchitis/sinus infection + awesome reading material = reading binge. 

I finished six books in a little over a week.

And as I’m going on vacation next week and intend to read more, I’m sharing these six with you now, so I don’t have to do the longest book review list in history at the end of July.

Ready? There are some really good ones in this collection!

The Book: I Regret Nothing by Jen Lancaster

The Category: Memoir

In Three Words: Middle-aged bucket list.

Biggest Takeaway: Here’s the thing about Jen Lancaster. I have almost nothing in common with her lifestyle or beliefs. Except one super-awesome thing: she’s always, ALWAYS brutally honest and self-aware, and she’s always trying to push herself to grow and learn. Based on that, and the fact that her voice just gets in my head, I’m going to keep reading her memoirs. Even if some of them do get a little… forced.

The Book: The Rumor by Elin Hilderbrand

The Category: Fiction

In Three Words: Steamy beach scandals.

Biggest Takeaway: I’ve heard a lot of people say this was their Hilderbrand favorite, but it wasn’t mine. Even a week later, the characters aren’t sticking with me the way the Castaways or the Island‘s characters did. (What were their names?) But I do love that characters who were stars in previous books make return appearances, like police chief Ed Kapenash. It makes sense, given that all of the books take place in the same small community, and it’s also nice that Hilderbrand indulges herself and her readers by giving us a glimpse into these former characters’ post-story lives.

 

The Book: Heads In Beds by Jacob Tomsky

The Category: Memoir

In Three Words: Insider hotel secrets.

Biggest Takeaway: Did you know that the front desk clerks prioritize you into a low- or high-grade room before you even walk into the lobby? I now know all the tricks for getting the best “room with a view.” (Hints: be nice, call ahead, and slip a twenty.) I also know more euphemisms for the $20 and $100 dollar bills than I could possibly use in normal conversation.

Also, I was pleasantly surprised to read an insider memoir that was well-written by the actual insider (not ghost-written).

The Book: Vintage by Susan Gloss

The Category: Fiction

In Three Words: Obvious but fun.

Biggest Takeaway: This was one of those novels where setting was everything. The plot was a little thin, and the characters’ relationships to each other weren’t as strong as I expected to find in a women’s “club” novel. But if you ever want to read the best descriptions from inside a high-end vintage shop in the mid-west, including all the gorgeous designers and historical details, this is the only book to read.

The Book: The Circle by Dave Eggers

The Category: Dystopian Thriller

In Three Words: Internet world domination.

Biggest Takeaway: Eggers broke the mold for this futuristic novel. When you place a character in a setting that’s new to the reader, whether it be past, future or fantasy, it’s very important to make the character relatable to the reader, so that they can navigate the new world together. In this book, I felt almost no connection to the main character, Mae. I didn’t like or dislike her; I thought nothing of her except occasional mild disgust. But I did identify with the creepy, futuristic world, in which a company like Google on steroids has taken over the world via social media, virtually enslaving everyone in totalitarian mob rule. It was horrifying, and yet so modern-relevant that I wanted to cancel Facebook and Twitter as soon as I finished reading. (I reconsidered.)

The Book: Royal Wedding by Meg Cabot (via audiobook)

The Category: YA Fiction

In Three Words: Overkill! Overkill! Overkill!

Biggest Takeaway: I loved the whole Princess Diaries series. This book was meant to finish the series for Mia and set up a new series based on her long-lost little sister. I just… I’m so disappointed in this book. It was big paint blobs of plot thrown at a canvas, and everything stuck, leaving no white space and no opportunity to process or enjoy.

In case you missed it, here’s the link to my article on DIY MFA, the first of a new series authored by yours truly, called “Be Well, Write Well,” a column about health and wellness for writers.

I also want to include two links that inspired me this week: this one from Writer Unboxed about growth mindset for writers (I read the book by Carol Dweck and it’s been hugely influential); and a companion from the Huffington Post, about reminding yourself to add the word, “Yet.”