May, even as an empty nester, was somehow still so busy! Between moving my college girl home for the summer, graduation celebrations for sweet friends, and my boy turning 21, I really didn’t get much reading done last month. However, all three of the books I did manage to finish I highly recommend, and one will likely be in my top 5 of the year!
The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick – 5 stars!!!!!
If you haven’t already read this one, immediately add it to your to be read next list! In The Book Club for Troublesome Women, Marie Bostwick drops you into 1960s Virginia where four suburban housewives – Margaret, Charlotte, Viv, and Bitsy – form a bookclub that sparks a bit of a rebellion after reading Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique. What starts as an excuse for a monthly social gathering turns into a strong sisterhood, inspiring them to challenge societal expectations and define for themselves what it means to be a fulfilled woman, wife, or mother.
I’m admittedly slightly biased as I absolutely have a penchant for stories set in the 60s and 70s. I just immediately start thinking about the fashion and interiors when I’m reading anything set during this time period and can’t help falling in love. And this story absolutely delivered as I could easily imagine how these characters dressed and how their homes were decorated which made the story all the more fun for me.
But even if that weren’t true, I would still rave about this book! This novel is warm, witty, and brilliantly crafted. These characters jump off the page! Marie Bostwick blends historical context with such vividly drawn characters that their personal journeys feel deeply intimate yet universally stirring. It’s the kind of book that leaves you in awe and makes you grateful for the road that was paved before us and leaves you inspired to continue paving the way for the next generation.
It also inspired me to get my hands on a copy of The Feminine Mystique and google how to make Vodka Stingers. If you know, you know. 😉
The Tell by Amy Griffin
I always have a hard time rating non-fiction, and this memoir is no exception. In The Tell, Amy Griffin recounts how a guided MDMA therapy session brought forth repressed childhood memories of abuse, shattering her carefully crafted life, and propelling her to confront the trauma. She details her struggle with the legal limitations of seeking justice and how she ultimately embraced healing through raw honesty.
The Tell tackles trauma, memory, and the journey to healing with honesty and grace. It’s a bit graphic at times, and the subject matter could be triggering. I found this deeply personal memoir insightful as it shed light on the complexity of this type of therapy and the case for doing away with statutes of limitations. While some parts of the writing felt almost emotionless to me, this was a powerful, worthwhile read.
Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez – 4 stars
This is the second book in the Part of Your World series that I started in April, and while there are some crossover characters this is really a stand alone story. And I liked this book a bit more than Part of Your World as this one has a little more depth than your typical romance. In Yours Truly, ER doctor Briana Ortiz whose personal life is imploding finds herself in a fake-dating relationship with a new awkward but endearing colleague who is in desperate need of a date to his brother’s wedding…to his ex-girlfriend. This story is truly a delightful mess with a little tenderness and a few laugh out loud moments.
It’s a quick read that would make for a great beach vacation book. And even if romantic comedies aren’t typically your thing, I think if you’re looking for a palette cleanser that isn’t overly sweet you’ll really enjoy this one! I definitely did!
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Your turn! Do you have any book recommendations to share?
The Correspondent