books she loves

Warm rain, budding flowers, and a feeling of renewal make spring my favorite time of year. As the temperature rises I love to mix a few fresh books into my reading list. These are some of my favorite recently read stories about life, relationships and being a woman.

My Not So Perfect Life

by Sophie Kinsella

Katie’s dream is to make it in the big city as a designer in a big advertising firm. She’s got a strong desire to show her talents and make something of herself while struggling with finances, coworkers, her hated boss, and trying to present a perfectly styled and amazing life on social media. When she is fired and it seems like everything is lost, Katie moves home to help her dad with his new business. Here she finds her strengths and realizes that sometimes life gives us a chance to use our talents in other ways. Katie also finds a way to connect with her former boss, Demeter, despite their outward differences and learns that Demeter's seemingly perfect life might be just as broken on the inside. It may seem like a typical message, but Kinsella presents it in a way that is fun, witty, and fresh, leaving the reader feeling happier with their less than perfect ways.

CRAZY RICH ASIANS by

Kevin Kwan

This book is a wickedly fun, wild, modern look at the high glamour life of well-to-do Singaporean society and a refreshing take on the lives of the rich and famous. Nick invites his girlfriend, Rachel, to accompany him to Asia for the summer to attend the wedding of his best friend and to meet his family for the first time. What Rachel doesn’t know is that Nick’s family is one of the most influential high society families in Singapore, and they are already doing everything they can to make sure she doesn’t ruin their reputation. I felt deeply, laughed out loud, and cheered for Nick and Rachel to the end. If, like me, you want to keep reading about Nick and Rachel, pick up the second book in the series, “China Rich Girlfriend.”

← A TWIST in TIME

by Julie McElwain

A fascinating combination of murder mystery and historical fiction, “A Twist in Time” is the story of former FBI agent Kendra Donovan who is now stuck in London in the year 1815. Alec, the Duke of Aldrige’s nephew and Kendra’s confidant is the prime suspect in the murder of his former mistress, Lady Dover. In her quest to find the real killer, Kendra, Alec and the duke join forces with the Bow Street Runner, Sam Kelly, and begin investigating Lady Dover’s many secrets. As Kendra uses her skills to find the truth, we also see her frustration with the limitations of society in an era two centuries before her own time. Start from the beginning and read the first book in the Kendra Donovan series, “A Murder in Time” before this one comes out April 4.

→ MOM & ME & MOM

by Maya Angelou

A beautifully written memoir, this book is about the complicated, but loving relationship Angelou had with her mother. Reunited with her mother as a young woman after being raised by her grandmother, Angelou begins her story with the challenge of forming a mother-daughter relationship after so many years apart. As she grows up, we see the various intricacies of this type of relationship and how much those we love can change our worldview. It’s a love letter to her mother and the lessons she left behind about gender, race, class and aging.

by Janet McNally

“Girls in the Moon” is a beautifully written story filled with relationships, rock-and-roll and amazing lyrics. Phoebe Ferris is the teenage daughter of famous musicians and former rock star couple Kieran and Meg Ferris of the 90s band, Shelter. She visits her sister in New York, Luna, who is just beginning to pursue her own musical career. While there, Phoebe searches for answers about her family’s past including the truth behind her parents’ breakup and why her father stopped calling. Interspersed amongst Phoebe’s search for the truth are flashbacks from her mother’s point of view showing the early days when Shelter was gaining fame. In the midst of it all, Phoebe’s pointed lyrics punctuate the story with feelings and poetry in a way that will leave you breathless.