I’ve always been a voracious reader. The summers of my childhood were always filled with books. Every year, our local library hosted a reading challenge in which kids tallied up the time they spent reading in order to earn special “dollars” that could be spent at local shops and restaurants. I loved the summer challenge and have vivid memories of many joyful summer reading moments…curled up by the fire in our summer cabin, sprawled out on the dock by the lake, giggling as my mom read to me in bed. Books fueled my imagination and curiosity and allowed me to experience many wondrous worlds beyond my own.
As an adult, I will admit that I’ve struggled to make the time for reading. In pursuit of personal growth, I went through a phase where I felt as though I should only read informative and important non-fiction (do we all go through this phase?). I often got only halfway through these books before returning them to the shelf. I read the news. I listened to podcasts. But, between work and socializing, I stopped reading much for pleasure. When I started graduate school and the assigned reading piled up, I didn’t pick up a novel for months. In the years following school, the distractions have been numerous - work, social media, wedding planning, life.
Vacations are often the only time I feel I have the time and space to indulge in a good book. So, when we took our honeymoon in October 2021, I finally had time to indulge. Here’s a look at what I read and what I loved.
Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters
My Rating: ☆☆☆
My Take: A vivid and emotional story, this book reminds us that families are created through choice and love, not biology alone. The characters felt a little overdone at times but, otherwise, this was a very solid read.
American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld
My Rating: ☆☆☆☆
My Take: A captivating fictionalization of one of America's most influential couples, this book whisks you along through the life of Alice Blackwell, aka Laura Bush. The storytelling is rich and you feel as though you know the characters intimately. Towards the end, the book feels a bit longer than it needs to be but, by that point, you've become so attached to the characters you simply can't stop reading.
You Think It, I’ll Say It by Curtis Sittenfeld
My Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
My Take: This collection of short stories is smart and genuine and deliciously human. In each story, Sittenfeld wields only a few small moments and details to develop a rich and complex web of human emotion and interaction. I absolutely couldn't put this one down!
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
My Rating: ☆☆☆☆
My Take: As a travel blogger, I had to love this story about Poppy, a travel blogger, and her dear friend, Alex. It's a sweet story of friendship and love and exploration and is an overall easy and delightful read.
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