When in Doubt, Add Butter by Beth Harbison: Chick lit at its finest. It combines two things I really love, reading and cooking. To read about a private chef and her love life was just as amazing as it sounds. A feel good romance that has main characters to root for and also a great set of supporting friends. The story is filled with life and laughter and moves along nicely. In between she talks about cooking and recipes and my mouth was watering just reading about some of the great things she made in the kitchen. Really wanted to start cooking Ukrainian food too besides other dishes. A thoroughly enjoyable read!
Summer Secrets by Jane Green: After reading lots of Jane Green books this one disappoints. While it tackles as usual a difficult topic besides the obvious love story, there is basically no love story until the ‘unexpected’ happy end. Definitely one of her weaker books, also the subject of alcoholism doesn’t make for an entertaining read. Which it shouldn’t of course. Still, I am spoiled by the way Marian Keyes works with similar difficult issues, getting the tone just right but also always leaving room for the romance. Here the romance was over and the heroine was just wading through her personal troubles. Can’t really recommend it!
Circling the Sun by Paula McLain: A remarkable story about a remarkable woman. The real life Beryl Markham was a pioneer in so many ways. And Paula McLain brings her alive in her book. Not only did I like the character, I also loved that all the stuff she did was true. This woman was not only the first female race-horse trainer in Africa but also the first woman to fly over the Atlantic from east to west. Her impressive personality got shaped by an upbringing in Kenya without a mother but instead the nearby Marino tribe. Once I realized that McLain was writing about the same time as the movie ‘Out of Africa’ I couldn’t wait to re-watch it again. Excellent read!
Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld: It took me a while to get into it probably because I was reading two other books at the same time. When I finally concentrated on this one I even went to bed early to keep reading instead of watching tv (okay Skam). I loved it; it’s funny, witty and with the right portion of sarcasm on the whole ‘Jane Austin’ level. ‘Pride and Prejudice’ has finally arrived in the here and now and the characters are perfectly drawn. Mother Bennet was amazing and very similar to someone in my immediate family and I had several lol moments. Go and read it!
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