Summer Reading Recap

Fall is approaching fast, so it's time to recap some summer reads! Here are a few of my favorite books I read this summer, and my thoughts on each. Many of my summer reads this year were re-reads -- I guess I was in the mood to revisit old favorites all summer long. Now I can't wait to cozy up with hot chocolate and some fall reading.

Me Before You (Jojo Moyes) I re-read this novel early in the summer because I was dying to see the movie and wanted to have the book fresh in my mind. I remember enjoying this book when I read it shortly after its release, but definitely enjoyed it more after a second read.

I listened to the audio this time, which was really well done. But I still haven't seen the movie! If you've seen it, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Rainy Day Sisters (Kate Hewitt) This novel has a light, fun, chick lit feel to it, even though it does hit on some bigger issues. When Lucy's life in NYC hits crisis level, she accepts an invite from the half-sister she barely knows to come stay with her in a remote seaside village in England.

I loved this quick, fun read, and I totally fell for the sweet love stories in this novel (even though I am often a little reluctant to fall hard for romances). The town and its inhabitants are quirky and lovable, and it's easy to get sucked into this one and wish you could pop in for a visit.

The Thirteenth Tale (Diane Setterfield) I'm still sad that I missed our book club discussing this book last fall, but I wanted to read it on my own anyway (many months late!). I listened to the audio and absolutely loved it!

The mystery was engaging, the story was so hard to step away from, and it had the perfect amount of spooky creepiness. I always love dual timeline stories, especially when the modern day characters are researching mysteries in the past, so this was right up my alley. It was a re-read for me, and I loved it just as much or more the second time around! See our book club review post for this book HERE.

The Glass Castle (Jeannette Walls) This has been on my to-read list for many years! I'm so glad I finally got around to reading it, because I absolutely loved this memoir of Walls's unconventional childhood and the struggles she overcame as she grew.

I actually read Half Broke Horses a few years ago and loved it as well, so check that out if you've already read The Glass Castle and want more.

Hyperbole and a Half (Allie Brosh) I love Brosh's self-deprecating sense of humor, and the hilarious comics that accompany each story. This book is a quick and funny read that does hit some serious points: readers who have dealt with depression (whether their own or in a loved one) will recognize a lot of truth in the chapter chronicling the author's depression, and might even learn how to relate better and offer support to someone struggling with depression.

Harry Potter (J.K. Rowling) In preparation for our big book club Harry Potter extravaganza, I've been re-reading the Harry Potter series this year. This summer, I listened to the audiobooks for books 4, 5, and 6, and I'm starting book 7 today! No matter how many times I reread Harry Potter, I always fall in love with them all over again.

10 of Some of Our Favorite Book Boyfriends

Have you ever read a book and thought "He would be the best boyfriend." We have done that a lot over here at Delicious Reads. And I might add that some of us are obsessed with certain characters. Sometimes I think these fictional boyfriends might be ruining our view on how realistic we should view our real relationships. But it is all fun and a way to get away from stresses in your life. If your relationship isn't living up to your fictional one well at least we can always read our favorite book again and again.

I think quite a few of us might have this condition!

(Source)

The Best Books for Middle Grade Readers (Grades 3-7, Ages 8-12)

Adults are always talking about their favorite books, teens gush about the latest book made into a movie, but what about tweens? What about those kids-that-aren't-really-kids anymore? They aren't really recommending books to each other like adults and teens. Some do, but the majority of middle graders - that is the the term used in the world of literature - are getting their recommendations from the adults in their life.

Whether you are a parent, relative, librarian, or teacher, you probably know a child between the ages 8-12. Wouldn't it be nice to have a handy list ready of old and new books that you could give as gifts or recommend? Did you say, "yes"? Then look no further! We've compiled a list of Delicious Reads Approved books that your tween will love and hopefully will transition them into a lifelong reader. All of these books have an average of close to 4 out of 5 stars or better on GoodReads and Amazon. We tried to stick with books that would be gender neutral (both boys and girls would enjoy) and "clean" (no swear words, sexual content, extreme violence). If you like this list, check out some of our other book lists: 40 Clean Reads for Teens, 24 Clean Romance Novels, and Top 24 Books for Teen Boys.

Keep reading for more details on our middle grade book choices, including a Delicious Reads book rating and comments specific to each book.

Books for Summer for the WHOLE Family

I picked books for this series that encompassed the glorious care-free feeling of summer and focused on the special kind of love that radiates from family and friends. As a kid out of school for the summer the best thing was getting to hang out with friends in the neighborhood, go on vacations with family, and the essence of pure freedom that only summer can bring. These books display these same feelings in the lives of their characters, and are sure to bring summer fun to the whole family! These books are all dear to my heart. They are personal favorites and ones that I highly recommend.

Oh and I added some free printables at the bottom of this post, just for the readers of my fave site, Delicious Reads! These books have such great quotes on friendship, I couldn't resist!

5 Favorite Fictional Teachers for Teacher Appreciation Week

Did you know this week is Teacher Appreciation Week? I can't help but think about some of the teachers in my life who have made a difference . . . and some of the big winners are from books. Here are 5 of my favorite fictional teachers, pulled from the pages of some of my favorite books.

Miss Honey from Matilda :: Matilda was one of my absolute favorite books as a child, and the wonderful Miss Honey definitely contributed to my love of it. Matilda's kindergarten teacher is the first (and only) person in the book to recognize Matilda's brilliance, and (more importantly!) she loves Matilda exactly as she is, which can't be said of her family.

Professor Dumbledore from Harry Potter :: I'll be honest with you . . . I had a hard time including only one teacher from Harry Potter in this list (although 'Favorite Professors from Harry Potter' ought to be a post in itself!). But of course, Professor Dumbledore can't be left out of any list of great fictional teachers. Despite being the most powerful wizard in the world, he devotes his life to raising up the next generation of wizards, he always has time for his students, and he teaches them gently and wisely, allowing them to come to their own conclusions. Every school could use a teacher like Dumbledore!

Mrs. Baker from The Wednesday Wars :: At first, Holling is convinced that he's asked to spend extra time in class with Mrs. Baker as a punishment. But as they get to know each other better, he learns that Mrs. Baker is helping to teach him not just about their classroom studies, but helping him to grow into a strong and good man.

Jane Eyre from (you guessed it) Jane Eyre :: Poor Jane didn't exactly have an idyllic childhood, but she becomes a governess who loves Adele and always has great advice and wisdom for her. I admire Jane's strength of character, independence, and her success in overcoming a terrible childhood.

Miss Stacey from Anne of Green Gables :: Besides being an energetic and lovable teacher, Miss Stacey really steps up by becoming a friend and mentor to young Anne. She encourages and molds Anne, both personally and academically, and pushes her to be her best in all aspects. I love her personal approach and how she directs Anne's passion toward success instead of seeing her as a nuisance (as many teachers would!).

Do you have a favorite teacher from literature?

One Month of Reading, Reviewed

Today I thought I'd share what I read during the months of February, and March so far, with short reviews of each book. Maybe you'll find something that looks like your next read!

Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea

This middle grade novel about one classroom of 5th grade students is told from the points of view of seven different students, showing us how their dynamic young teacher, Mr. Terupt, changes each of their lives. It's rated very highly on Goodreads, and I chose it to fill a category on my Worthington Ave. 2016 reading challenge: a book that's set where you were born (Connecticut).

I thought it was cute, and can imagine myself loving it back when I was an elementary school kid. As an adult, it was sweet and fun, but not a life-changer.

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo 

The once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a mysterious darkness filled with lethal monsters. When her best friend is attacked, unremarkable Alina discovers a power with the potential to destroy the Shadow Fold forever.

This trilogy is very popular and I've heard a lot of praise for it. I enjoyed it, but the world-building and characters felt weak to me -- I never felt like I understood the world, or the magic, or even the characters themselves. I started the second book, hoping for more substance, and quickly abandoned it. Not for me.

Enchantment by Orson Scott Card

Here's another book I chose to fill a Worthington Ave. reading challenge category, this time "a book based on a fairy tale." I chose this modern retelling of Sleeping Beauty. As a child, Ivan stumbled onto a clearing in a forest where he found a beautiful woman sleeping on a pedestal, guarded by a magical force. After pushing aside the memories for a decade, he returns to make sense of what he saw, and is drawn into a centuries old fairy tale.

I thought it was creative, but it was a major chore for me to finish it. Long and slow!

The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty

I love reading Liane Moriarty (my other favorites are Big Little Lies and The Husband's Secret), and this one was an absolute delight, too. Sophie Honeywell unexpectedly inherits the home of her ex-boyfriend's elderly aunt on a quiet island that is home to an unsolved mystery. She moves to the quiet island and learns that everyone there seems to be hiding something. It's fast and enjoyable and funny without ever feeling too 'fluffy.' Chapters are alternately told by different characters, and the parts told by a new mother going through postpartum depression made me absolutely ache. They hit a bit too close to home for me. Loved it all, though.

Night Film by Marisha Pessl

24-year old Ashley Cordova's death is ruled a suicide, but an investigative journalist suspects there is more to the story than meets the eye -- Ashley's father is a reclusive cult-horror-film director whose dark and gritty films seem perhaps too horrifying to be entirely fictional. The story only becomes more strange the deeper he digs, and family secrets come to light.

There were parts of this book that I loved, and ideas in it that I thought were really interesting. But overall, it felt too long and, in the end, totally underwhelming for me. Womp womp.

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

This was our book club selection this past month -- see our posts about our meeting HERE and HERE!

I never would have picked this book up on my own. Fantasy isn't really my thing, and the plot sounded complicated and confusing to me. But this is a prime example of how great a book club can be for pushing you out of your comfort zone, because I loved this novel and can't wait to get my hands on the sequel! It was exciting and engrossing, and I didn't find the magic or fantasy elements confusing (which is what often turns me off of fantasy).

The Edge of Lost by Kristina McMorris

This historical fiction begins with a search for the missing daughter of a prison guard on Alcatraz and the only prisoner who knows her whereabouts, then moves back to the childhood of a young Irish immigrant in the early 1900s, alone on a ship full of immigrants entering New York Harbor.

I thought it was a really interesting setting and I loved the history. I wish that a little more time had been spent on the Alcatraz portion of the story, which I thought was so interesting. I've always wanted to visit it!


What have you read recently?

Visit me at my blog, Maybe Matilda!

SPRING BREAK! What to read? What to wear?

Did someone say SPRING BREAK?

Yes, it's that time of year where we get to go somewhere warm and soak up the sun on a beach, at the lake or at the pool. So when I think of Spring Break I think of Swim Suits and Books. I had two questions:

1. What new swim suit am I going to get this year? 

2. What book should I take to read while relaxing on vacation? 

So I thought a what a perfect pair. Let's match up some great Spring Break reads with some of the hottest swimsuits out this year.

When I think of Spring Break Reads I want something fun, enjoyable, easy, romantic, and adventurous. I can't sit and read a serious book or one that makes me cry. I need it to be light and captivating.

Leap Year 2016: Time Travel Books

Leap year is the perfect opportunity to pick up a great book on time travel! We've pulled together 12 awesome novels that all cover time travel . . . from YA fantasy, to sci-fi bestsellers, to a slew of romantic reads to get lost in. Your perfect leap year read awaits!

12 Books Coming Out SOON You Don't Want to Miss!!

A few weeks ago we shared 16 Winter novels you'll want to stay in and read. BUT now we've turned that winter corner and are seeing signs of spring all around! What better way to start your spring cleaning than to get lost in a new buzz book? 

There are spin-offs and retellings  about the Bronte sisters, Jane Eyre, and the Bennette family, not to mention new thrillers, continuation of series and break-out debut authors!

Here are 12 upcoming titles to watch for!

Our Top 10 Most Popular Posts

All of 2016 we are celebrating ten years as a book club (yay!) so each month I've decided to highlight some of our best moments, blog posts, photos, books and memories.
We found our top 10 most popular posts and compiled them all for your viewing pleasure.
First up...

Presidents' Day Book List

If you're looking for a book to read this Presidents' Day, we've got you covered. Whether you're in the mood for an educational non-fiction about American history, or an inspiring biography on one of our founding fathers, or a speculative historical fiction based on a president or First Lady's life, or even a funny political picture book to read with the kids, you'll find your perfectly presidential read right here.

16 Winter Novels you'll want to stay in and read

Are you feeling the cold of winter? 

Doesn't it make you just want to curl up in front of a fire and read a good book?

I was thinking of just this the other day and wanted to put together a list of books that our book club members like to read in the winter. So if it's cold and blizzardy outside pick one of these books and I guarantee you will be blissfully taken away to another life and another time and forget about the cold outside.

Book Club Book Recap for 2015

Whew! The year is almost up and we made it. I wasn't able to finish my 52 books in 52 weeks goal (unless I can read 10 more books in 2 days), but I did finish all of the Delicious Reads book club picks for the year. We had some great finds this year, some surprises, and a few books with very mixed reviews. We've put together a little recap of all the books we read in 2015. I included our overall star rating and what made it a good or bad book for book club.

In 2015 we read:

-2 Young Adult books (Remembrandt, Remake)

-1 Biography (My Life in France)

-1 Historical Fiction (The Devil in the White City)

-2 Classics (20,000 Leagues Under the Sea & Murder on the Orient Express)

-2 Middle Grader books (Wonder & The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe)

 -3 Adult Fictions (Station Eleven, The Thirteenth Tale & Edenbrooke)

All together as a book club we read a grand total of 3885 pages.

Not too shabby!

January

Book: Remembrandt

Author: Robin King

Our Star Rating:

Our Book Club Recap: We think this book was a perfect pick as one of our young adult books of the year. It was a quick read with lots of fun ideas that could be used as themes (spying, Russia, college life). There are also discussion questions at the back of the book made specifically for book clubs. This would be a good choice for a easy read or great teen book club pick. 

*Check out our ideas on how to throw your own Book Club on Remembrandt, including games, decor and recipes!

February

Book: My Life In France

Author: Julia Child

Our Star Rating:

Our Book Club Recap: While the book was ornately informative and quite a romantic portrayal of France in the early 50s, the book is largely written about Julia's passion/obsession for writing her cookbook "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" which some loved and other felt tedious. Our fabulous sit down dinner featuring French food and talk of Julia made the read worth it, either way.

*See our full review here of My Life in France

*Check out our ideas on how to throw your own Book Club on My Life in France

March

Book: The Devil in the White City

Author: Erik Larson

Our Star Rating:

Our Book Club Recap: Overall, we as a group thoroughly enjoyed this book although MANY of our members would say that it is not for the faint of heart! There is enough detail about Holmes's murders to give you bad dreams if you pick up this read before bedtime. We felt that it was very informative for a non-fiction book but also very entertaining which is not always the case in this genre and makes for a PERFECT book club book!

*See our full review here of The Devil in the White City

*Check out our ideas on how to throw your own Book Club on The Devil in the White City

April

Book: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

Author: Jules Verne

Our Star Rating:

Our Book Club Recap: Most of the Delicious Readers relished in the underwater imagination garden that flourished and bloomed in our minds, but there were a few that found the details Verne used overshadowed the characters and plot of the story (those that listened to the audio version found that the characters came to life more). We all agreed that Jules Verne as an author was a genius in his time and this book's level of technology described in scientific detail was mind blowing. There was so much to discuss and we thoroughly enjoyed the under the sea themed book club night.

*See our full review here of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

*Check out our ideas on how to throw your own Book Club on 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

May

Book: Remake

Author: Ilima Todd

Our Star Rating:

Our Book Club Recap: This book raised many interesting questions that we could have discussed it all night - the themes raised in the book of gender and family made for great discussion (there are discussion questions at the back of the book). This YA book also had adventure and romance which added to the fun of the read. We'd recommend this as an easy summer read or a perfect teen book club choice.

*See our full review here of Remake

*Check out our ideas on how to throw your own Book Club on Remake

June

Book: Station Eleven

Author: Emily St. John Mandel

Our Star Rating:

Our Book Club Recap: We had very mixed feelings about this book, but one thing we could agree on was that it was written beautifully. This post-apocalyptic themed book made for some interesting discussion about humanity, survival, and what matters most. It took many of us some time to get used to the switching back and forth between characters and time periods, but we found it interesting how it was all tied together at the end.Though we did have differing opinions, all of us agreed that the book stayed with us after reading it.

*See our full review here of Station Eleven

*Check out our ideas on how to throw your own Book Club on Station Eleven

July

Book: Wonder 

Author: R.J. Palacio

Our Star Rating:

Our Book Club Recap: Out of all the books we read this year, this one received our highest rating, which is almost surprising because it is considered a middle grade book. Not only did we love the book and the character of Auggie, we loved the writing style of the author and how he captured the likeness of a child. Our discussion focused on outward appearance, bullying, and teaching kindness. We would all definitely recommend this book for any book club. 

*See our full review here of Wonder

*Check out our ideas on how to throw your own Book Club on Wonder

August

Book: Shutter

Author: Courtney Alemeda

Our Star Rating:

Our Book Club Recap: We don't often read horror books, but we were lucky to have this author come to our book club of this book. We would definitely recommend this YA book to anyone who wants a taste of horror (including monsters, ghosts, goblins, vampires, and more). There is some fun romance and we all felt like the book had a "Ghost Buster"-like vibe to it. This would make for a fun October/Halloween book club book.  

*See our full review here of Shutter

*Check out our ideas on how to throw your own Book Club on Shutter

September

Book: Murder on the Orient Express

Author: Agatha Christie

Our Star Rating:

Our Book Club Recap: We all love Agatha Christie's writing style. After reading And Then There Were None last year, we had to read another one this year.  Her writing is refreshing in the sense that it isn't fast paced so it gives you time to think, for suspense to build, for suspicions to arouse which is perfect for a mystery novel. We also liked how she never gives anything away with her murder mystery clues. I don't think any of us knew how the ending was going to play out. There were also some good things to discuss, including justice verses revenge, when is murder justified, and the time period. We turned our book club night into a murder mystery dinner that was to die for! Every book club needs to read at least one Agatha Christie novel!

 *See our full review here of Murder on the Orient Express

*Check out our ideas on how to throw your own Book Club on Murder on the Orient Express

October

Book: The Thirteenth Tale

Author: Diane Setterfield

Our Star Rating:

Our Book Club Recap: Wow. we loved the twists and turns this book took us through! The suspenseful mystery was a perfect read. We collectively agreed that the writing was magical. Setterfield had a beautful way with words and really drew us into the "ghost story" and kept us guessing until the very end. 

 *See our full review here of The Thirteenth Tale

*Check out our ideas on how to throw your own Book Club on The Thirteenth Tale

November

Book: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Author:  C.S. Lewis

Our Star Rating:

Our Book Club Recap: We like to choose a short book for November because we meet the first week of December and combine book club with our Christmas party. This book was perfect because it was short and had a wintry/Christmas feel to it. It is one you need to discuss at book club because there are so many layers to it - the surface story, and the underlying themes C.S. Lewis drew from religion. C.S. Lewis is an author every book club needs to read! 

*See our full review here of The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe

*Check out our ideas on how to throw your own Book Club on 

The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe

December

Book: Edenbrooke

Author: Julianne Donaldson

Our Star Rating: We are currently reading this book and will add our rating soon

Our Book Club Recap: This Regency romance is sure to please any book club, especially those that have enjoyed anything by Jane Austen. 

*See our full review here of Edenbrooke (Coming Soon!)

*Check out our ideas on how to throw your own Book Club on Edenbrooke (Coming Soon!) 

As you can tell, most of the books this year that we read we would recommend to read for your book club, but all for different reasons. Some of the books weren't necessarily the best books we've read, but they made for great discussion or great parties! Make sure to check out our full reviews and book club ideas before you host your own book club.

XoXo,

www.byrobinking.com