Elizabeth Berg is a prolific American author that I have enjoyed reading for many years. I recently made a sweep through my Goodreads author list to see what books of theirs I hadn’t read yet, and I found several of Berg’s to add to my TBR. In the last few months, I have read four of them.
Earth’s the Right Place for Love (2023) is the story of two young people growing up in Mason, Missouri. One of those people is Arthur Moses, who is the main character in The Story of Arthur Truluv, published in 2017. It focuses on love and grief and is an insightful, compelling story.
Tapestry of Fortunes (2013) is the enjoyable story of four women who live in a house together. They decide to take a road trip together, each of them looking for a specific outcome. It is great for anyone who enjoys feel-good books celebrating women’s friendships.
Once Upon a Time, There Was You (2011) follows Irene and John, divorced parents who are forced to come together when their daughter Sadie faces a tragedy. There were some details that felt a bit contrived, but I still liked the book.
Open House (2000) is about a woman finding her way after divorce. Samantha’s husband has left her and, in order to keep the house she and her son Travis live in, she takes in roommates and begins working temp jobs. Along the way, she makes new friends and discovers the self she lost a long time ago. It seemed a bit slow at first, but as I relaxed into the pace of the story, I found myself drawn into it. The style of this book reminds me a bit of Jamie Langston Turner, who is one of my favorite writers.
I recently posted books about books that were on my TBR, and this time I wanted to post books about books that I have read and enjoyed. I just love reading books that have something to do with books, whether it be a book club, a bookshop, a library, or even the publishing world.
Passions in Death by J.D. Robb – This is book #59 of her In Death series about Eve Dallas, a homicide detective in futuristic New York City. I always love these!
Freckles by Cecelia Ahern – I have enjoyed several books by this author. This one is middling for me so far.
Her Gates Will Never Be Shut: Hope, Hell, and the New Jerusalem by Bradley Jersak – I had put this book down a few months ago and recently picked it up again. I have read some other nonfiction in the meantime that I liked, so I’m hoping this will be easier for me to read this time.
What I Recently Finished
Tapestry of Fortunes by Elizabeth Berg – Berg never disappoints. I raced through this enjoyable novel about a woman who makes major changes in her life after the death of her best friend.
The Fifth Avenue Apartment by Pamela M. Kelley – This was a fun, lighthearted read about a woman who has been searching for what she wants to do with her life and how she finds a career that seems right for her. It was enjoyable. The author also released a bonus short story that set the stage for a possible second book.
Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum – This book was recommended by someone on Instagram, and I am so glad I took a chance on it. It was very thoughtful and warm. I appreciated both the story and the lessons shared as the characters grow.
The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church by Sarah McCammon – Very well-written book that is part memoir and part informational discourse on the issues that arise for people who don’t fit or start to question the church. I really liked this book.
Natural Selection by Erin Hilderbrand – Nice short story about a woman in love who has things turned upside down on what is supposed to be a romantic trip to an exotic location.
Look on the Bright Side by Kristan Higgins – A fake relationship romance with a twist. Cute book.
The Husbands by Holly Gramazio – Loved this magical realism novel about a woman whose life changes in an instant and how she copes with her new reality. I wrote a longer review of this a couple of weeks ago. Highly recommend!
What I’ve Added to my TBR List
I added a lot of books again this month. A lot of them are my standard fare, but I’m also trying to expand my horizons a bit:
The Anti-Heroes by Jen Lancaster
When We Were Friends by Jane Green (short story)
Smells Like Tween Spirit by Laurie Gelman
Nantucket Summer House by Pamela M. Kelley
Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
The Bride Test by Helen Hoang
More of Less Maddy by Lisa Genova
The Little Italian Hotel by Phaedra Patrick
The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick
Rise & Shine, Benedict Stone by Phaedra Patrick
The Secrets of Love Story Bridge by Phaedra Patrick
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
Summer Island by Natalie Normann
The Hygge Holiday by Rosie Blake
The Healer’s Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson
Crime Scene by Jonathan Kellerman
Lethal Prey by John Sandford
Gryphon’s Valor by Mercedes Lackey
Bonded in Death by J.D. Robb
Show Don’t Tell by Curtis Sittenfeld
Open Season by Jonathan Kellerman
Billy Straight by Jonathan Kellerman
UnClobber by Colby Martin
If you’re on Goodreads, feel free to add me as a friend. I’m always looking for new recommendations!
I recently added a post to Instagram featuring books that I have on my Goodreads Want to Read shelf that are about books or bookstores. I have come across quite a few of this type recently and am looking forward to reading them as I usually enjoy them.
Here is the list of books pictured:
The Library by Bella Osborne
The Lonely Hearts Book Club by Lucy Gilmore
The Banned Books Club by Brenda Novak
The Book Swap by Tessa Bickers
The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods
Found in a Bookshop by Stephanie Butland
The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams
The Door-to-Door Bookstore by Carsten Henn
The Cookbook Club by Beth Harbison
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa
What You Are Looking For Is In the Library by Michiko Aoyama
Welcome to the Huyanam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum
I actually just started reading the last one on the list and am finding it very enjoyable so far.
The Husbands by Holly Gramazio – This is Holly’s debut novel, and I am thoroughly enjoying it. The main character, Lauren, returns home one night to find that reality has somehow shifted and she is married. As she tries to figure out what is going on, her husband goes to the attic to change a light bulb and disappears and a different husband comes down the ladder. So fun!
What I Recently Finished
Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation by Kristin Kobes DuMez – This was a fascinating account of the development and evolution of white evangelicalism in America written by a historian. I found it very easy to read and extremely educational.
Pack Up the Moon by Kristan Higgins – This novel is about a man whose wife wrote him letters before she died and had them delivered to him every month for the first year after she passed. It was reminiscent of P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern – in a good way!
The Library of Borrowed Hearts by Lucy Gilmore – I love books about books, and this novel features a librarian who discovers a 60-year old love story written in the margins of books. It was a charming book!
Earth’s the Right Place for Love by Elizabeth Berg – This is a another great installment from a writer I have admired for many years. It is a coming of age story which provides the backstory for the Arthur Moses, the main character in The Story of Arthur Truluv.
Once Upon a Time, There Was You by Elizabeth Berg – This is the story of John and Irene, who are divorced but are still connected by their 18-year old daughter Sadie. It is beautifully written, as are all of her books.
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare – This is Book 1 of the Infernal Devices series, which is the prequel to the Mortal Instruments series. Both of these series are part of the Shadowhunter Chronicles. It was a recommendation from my friend Kim, who is a big fan of young adult romance and fantasy books. I don’t always love her selections, but I really enjoyed this one and am going to continue reading the series.
What I’ve Added to my TBR List
I added quite a few books to my list this month:
The Bookstore Sisters by Alice Hoffman (short story)
The Bookstore Wedding by Alice Hoffman (short story)
The Bookstore Keepers by Alice Hoffman (short story)
Fatal Intrusion by Jeffery Deaver
Natural Selection by Erin Hilderbrand (short story)
Heartstopper: Volume One by Alice Oseman
The Lonely Hearts Book Club by Lucy Gilmore
Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell
Close Knit by Jenny Colgan
The Summer Pact by Emily Giffin
The Book Swap by Tessa Bickers
The Life Impossible by Matt Haig
Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout
The Banned Books Club by Brenda Novak
The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams
Found in a Bookshop by Stephanie Butland
The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods
The Door-to-Door Bookstore by Carsten Henn
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa
Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum
What You Are Looking For Is In The Library by Michiko Aoyama
Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors
Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare
The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church by Sarah McCammon
If you’re on Goodreads, feel free to add me as a friend. I’m always looking for new recommendations!
Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation by Kristin Kobes DuMez – I am just a few chapters in and I am totally engrossed in this book.
Pack Up the Moon by Kristan Higgins – I just got this one on my Libby app; haven’t started it yet.
What I Recently Finished:
The Sister Effect by Susan Mallery – I gave this one five stars. It was so well-done.
The Excellent Lombards by Jane Hamilton – I gave this one two stars, which is pretty rare for me. I did finish it, but it just wasn’t my favorite style of writing.
The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center – This was an enjoyable book about two writers writing and falling in love. Very good.
Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle – Another five star book. I loved the premise and I didn’t guess the twist, which doesn’t happen very often.
The Summer Book Club by Susan Mallery – This was a good read.
Toxic Prey by John Sandford – Yet another five star rating – I have hardly given any this year and now I have three in one month! This is listed as #34 in the Lucas Davenport series. Goodreads also has it filed as #3 in the Letty Davenport series since it includes her as well (she is Lucas’s daughter.) I flew through this one.
What I’ve Added to my TBR List:
Miss Amelia’s List by Mercedes Lackey – This is #17 in the Elemental Masters series
Nashville Dreams by Pamela M. Kelley
If you’re on Goodreads, feel free to add me as a friend. I’m always looking for new recommendations!
Random In Death by J.D. Robb – this is #58 from the In Death series, and it’s great so far, as they all are!
Revelation for the Rest of Us: A Prophetic Call to Follow Jesus as a Dissident Disciple by Scot McKnight – I haven’t made much progress on this one since last month. I’ve been reading mostly fiction.
What I Recently Finished:
What is Love? by Jen Comfort
Second Chance at Christmas by Emily Engberts
Blank by Zibby Owens
Secrets of Bella Beach by Kate Wentworth
Christmas at Bella Beach by Kate Wentworth
No Home Like Nantucket by Grace Palmer
The Bodyguard by Katherine Center
Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan
The Happiness Plan by Susan Mallery
A Little Ray of Sunshine by Kristan Higgans
What I’ve Added to my TBR list:
Beyond Fragility: A Skills-Based Guide to Effective Anti-Racist Allyship by Yara Mekawi
A Flexible Faith: Rethinking What It Means to Follow Jesus Today by Bonnie Kristian
I also added 63 fiction books to my TBR list. Instead of participating in Stuff Your Kindle Day, which gave me mixed results in book quality, I went through my list of books I have read and looked up what my favorite authors had written since I last read them.
If you’re on Goodreads, feel free to add me as a friend. I’m always looking for new recommendations!
In So Many Words 