A good laugh + we have the best neighbors + a few recent reads!

I have shared before that sometimes Jake I will chat through our Nest (our video doorbell). Jake was being goofy on it yesterday and the camera captured this picture. I could not stop laughing!

I had a busy day yesterday, so I only got two pictures…the goofy one of Jake and this beautiful plate of food. We have been getting to know our neighbors since moving into our house and one of them invited us and the couple that lives on the other side of her over for dinner last night. It was SO much fun. We were there for about four hours and could’ve probably stayed for another four. We left feeling SO blessed to have such amazing people living by us. I had meat for the first time in about two months. Our neighbor grilled burgers and they were DELICIOUS.

I have been reading SO many great books this summer, so I wanted to do a quick recap of what I have read up to this point.

East of Mecca by Sheila Flaherty. 5/5 stars. I LOVED this book and could not put it down. This book tells the story of an American family living in Saudi Arabia and the many, MANY challenges they face while navigating this new space. Highly recommend this read.

The Girl With the Louding Voice by Abi Daré. 5/5 stars. Another fantastic read. This book explores a young woman from Nigeria who is sold into slavery, the connections she makes, and how she survives. SO great.

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult. 3/5 stars. This book is all about bullying and what can happen when people choose to be mean. I enjoyed parts of this book, but there were other parts that were difficult for me to get into. I also found myself wanting to punch some of the kids in the face – some of them were SO mean. The message in the book is important, though – it addresses the negative impact of bullying.

Far From the Tree by Robin Benway. 5/5 stars. This book explores the different ideas surrounding family. The story is told through three teenagers who have an unlikely connection. As someone who was adopted as a newborn, I LOVED this book. SO, so good.

Verity by Colleen Hoover. 4/5 stars. I gave this 4 out of 5 ONLY because it is SO dark and twisted. I loved this book and couldn’t put it down, but I did have a nightmare the night I finished it. It’t not scary, necessarily; I am just not a huge suspense/thriller fan, so I was a little sensitive to some of the scenes. This book is about a writer who is tasked with finishing a series for another famous writer who has been injured. I read this one in a day…I couldn’t put it down. But just know, there’s some dark stuff in it.

Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover. 4/5 stars. Ugly Love is a love story between two people who can’t quite figure things out. This was a pretty fun, easy read.

All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin. 3/5 stars. This book addresses family dynamics, bullying, and the struggle one can face when trying to stay true to themselves.

Tapestry of Fortunes by Elizabeth Berg. 2/5 stars. This book explores four women’s lives and how they intertwine. I did not really enjoy this book. I felt like it lacked substance. If you’ve read it, I’d love to know your thoughts!

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett. 4/5 stars. This book is about twin girls growing up in the segregated South and how one’s past has a lasting influence on life choices.

If you’ve read anything great lately, please share! I’d love to hear.

Happy Wednesday, friends!