The Futures by Anna Pitoniak

A boy-meets-girl story set in New York. Well, it's much more than that. Evan and Julia meet as undergraduates at Yale and move to New York after graduation. Evan gets a job at a hedge fund and Julia works at a non-profit. The financial meltdown hits....and things start to unravel.

This was an above-average read for me.

Anything is Possible by Elizabeth Strout

I think I've wanted to like Elizabeth Strout's work. I hear podcasters rave about her writing. I've read a few of her books, and I'm always left with...meh.

And once again...meh.

I'll Be There by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Sam and his little brother, Riddle, are orphans of sorts when they are welcomed into Emily Bell's family. A story about family and the friends who become family.

Last Things: A Graphic Memoir of Loss and Love by Marissa Moss

Oh my gosh. This was a tough book to read.

Marissa's husband, Harvey, was diagnosed with ALS and this is the story of how she, her husband, and their three sons handled it all.

Devastating and sad. Not really redemptive either. But some things you just get through, I guess.

Sometimes Boomer will randomly pick up one of my library books and read it. He picked up this one and I warned him, but he read it in one sitting. 

The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith

Owen lives in the basement apartment and Lucy lives on the 24th floor. They meet when their elevator stalls. Owen moves to California and Lucy moves to London...can they stay connected?

A fast YA read.

The Bright Hour: A Memoir of Living and Dying by Nina Riggs

Nina Riggs wrote this as she was dying from cancer. It was sad, raw, honest....did I mention sad?

It hit a little too close to home as I am very aware that it's almost been a year since my beautiful friend died from cancer.

The Defining Decade by Meg Jay

This was recommended to me by several parents of twenty-somethings as well as a few twenty-somethings themselves. Even though the 20s are long gone for me, it was actually super helpful to put some kind of developmental frame on what needs to get done in your 20s so that you're not entering your 30s or 40s lost....

A Re-read: Paris in Love by Eloise James

I don't even know how many times I've read Paris in Love. Whenever I want a fun pick-me-up, I check it out from the library and re-read it. Just noting that I re-read it yet again. It was thoughtful, fun, and plus she's in Paris. Always reminds me of being in Paris with Boomer and we got lost looking for the Eiffel Tower. Boomer kept saying, "It should be around here somewhere..."

How to be Married: What I Learned from Real Women on Five Continents About Surviving My First (Really Hard) Year of Marriage by Jo Piazza

A fun and funny memoir, self-help, and travel book all rolled into one. As a newlywed, Jo Piazza travels around the world trying to figure out what makes marriage works. I was a bit skeptical about this one at first, but somehow it worked and ended up being a pretty fun read.

The Rules Do Not Apply: A Memoir by Ariel Levy

A memoir of an interesting and complicated life. A fast read but was only a so-so read for me.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Wow, this is how far behind I am in posting! I read this in the early summer and jotted down a note about the book: "A fine summer read about a movie star and her many marriages."

Well, it's not summer anymore, but this would make for a fun fall read too. It's kinda gossipy though.

Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy by Sheryl Sandberg

Hi there! Phew! A lot has been going on in our family and home life, and it's just been in the last week that I've been able to think a little bit beyond our home. 

I am about 20 books behind, so I am gonna try to catch up by continuing to give you shorter posts each day until I'm caught up.

After reading Sheryl Sandberg's Lean In, I was a bit conflicted. You can read about my torn feelings here. Option B is about her experience of grief after her husband suddenly dies while they are on vacation. I liked Option B so much better. It was like hearing from a different Sheryl Sandberg, and I'm sure she is very changed after this devastating experience. She comes across as much more human, kind, and compassionate. She, along with Adam Grant, offer insights into grief and very practical ways to care for yourself and others.

One important thing I learned was to not say, "Just let me know if you need anything!" to someone going through a tough time. Offer something concrete. This was so helpful. So I texted my neighbor who is going through chemo right now to say, "I have banana bread for you. Can I bring it over? Or just leave it on your porch?"So much more helpful.