I’ve been a big reading nerd since I was in single digits —and as I packed for the end-of-summer trip , I brought so many books I got from recommendation lists—

so many my oldest complained (rightfully 🤣) about how much weight my books added to the suitcase.

It inspired me to share the love and write a similar book recommendation list for you: I'd love to hear if you've read any of these, what you thought, and what you'd add to the list!

​The Correspondent: my best friend heard about this and recommended it to me based on some letter writing that was going on in my own life. I bought it at the Indianapolis airport after facilitating a professional development day and started reading it while I waited to board the plane— and finished reading it on the Air Train home from JFK that same day (my idea of the perfect flight). Told exclusively through letters, it’s smart writing, has some mystery and takes place over decades, which I love and really in many ways is a love letter to writing and to slowing down to connect with the people you love.

​Into the Blue: I saw this on a newsletter I get along with many other books I liked: it’s a quirky romance with sci fi flavoring, which also takes place over many decades and is emotionally intelligent and interesting and funny and smart and sexy. I added her other book, Songs in Ursa Major, to my “books to check out” list immediately (will report back).

​Whistler: I generally love anything Ann Patchett writes and this is no exception. Really beautiful exploration of the relationship between a woman and her stepfather, what family means, what connection can look like over time, and small moments that carry big consequences.

​Love You More: Back in the day (20 years ago?...) I pre-ordered and devoured every Emily Giffin book that came out. At some point they got a little trite and predictable but when I saw this at Target doing some back to school shopping before our trip and I grabbed it. I read it in less than 36 hours: I'm a sucker for a second-chance love story.

​New York Sketches: I’m constantly trying to get through the pile of New Yorkers on the side table and whenever I have read E.B. White’s throwback work in the magazine I’ve liked it—and who doesn’t love Charlotte’s Web, his greatest hit? I picked this up on a whim last March and while it’s very thin and not a hard read at all, it took me a while—but eventually it was the perfect book to read a few short stories from before bed. I definitely want to read more of his work, including the ode to New York, Here is New York.

​The Midnight Train: The The Midnight Library is one of my all-time favorite books (I recently re-read it on my kindle when I needed a quiet activity and it was a delight) so I was eager to try this new book by Matt Haig which has a similar premise: the idea of reflecting on your life at the end of it and the various stops along the way that made an impact. I LOVE books like this. Very good, although if you can only choose one, choose The Midnight Library.

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Would love to hear what you think—have you read any of these? Or have any other book recs for me? (hint hint)

I may be a little delayed coming back from my vacation but I read and respond to every reply and would love to hear. 📚🤓💕

Take care,

Beth

ps. I don't do a ton of recommendations newsletters like this, but if it's something you like let me know so I can add more to the mix!