3 Fun Things
Book news, my Memorial Day reads, plus the summer dress I'm obsessed with.
I wait all year long for summer. It’s one reason why my best friend Carin once gave me a small plaque to keep near my desk: “It’s always summer somewhere.” This weekend, my family and I are heading to the North Fork of Long Island to spend some time at the beach. It’s here where we slide into a more relaxed frame of mind. You can often find me in our pretty screened-in porch reading or writing.
What will I be taking in to the porch with me this weekend? Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand. It’s her last Nantucket summer novel, and since I got my hands on an advanced copy, I will be devouring it. I’m also going to listen to
’s The Sicilian Inheritance, which is getting so much buzz as a must-read historical fiction pick. Siciliy? Check! A long-ago murder? Check. A young woman trying to solve the mystery of her family’s past. Yes, please!This weekend is a little bit of a calm before the storm because I’m leaving on my book tour on June 3rd. See where I’ll be (Charlotte, Greenville, Myrtle Beach, etc.) and when below, but if you want to register, please go to my website and sign up. Am I coming somewhere near you? I would love to meet some of you lovely readers in person!
Can I just be really excited for a second?
There’s been some super fun news around here about my book that I needed to share, too, and then I’ll shut up about it.
For one, First for Women named All the Summers in Between one of “13 Must-Read Books For Summer.” I particularly loved this quote about the book: “A tale of glamour, intrigue and friendship set during a transformative era.” See the full write-up here.
Second, Katie Couric’s news site named my book one of “12 Best New Beach Reads” alongside the books of writer friends like Jane Rosen (Seven Summer Weekends),
(The Sicilian Inheritance), and Kristy Woodson Harvey (A Happier Life).As if I’m not already over the moon, I received a message from
that she’s included my book as one of her Summer Book Picks! Woot! So excited!
My Favorite Summer Dresses Right Now
So I’ve been a little obsessed with long flowing dresses, in part, because I’m doing a ton of events and I feel my best in a great dress. But I’m also obsessed because it’s summer, and in summer, I live in long (and short) flowy dresses. I get to feel like my characters in the 1970s wearing those fabulous maxi dresses they all used to rock.
I’ve been lucky enough that Stephanie Sack at the pretty (and very chic) North Fork Apothecary and the incredibly beautiful brand Banjanan has decided to gift me several amazing dresses for my book events. You’ll be seeing me in so many of these beauties! Don’t you just adore this gorgeous pink dress below? It was my very first pick. In 2022, I splurged and bought one of these dresses for one of my Nantucket book events, and I’ve worn it dozens of times since. DOZENS. Case in point: This photo of me and my husband taken in Lisbon in April.
I also found the cutest dress ever at the J.Crew Factory Store and I got a mega deal on it. Look at this preppy aqua and the gorgeous pink florals and the ruffly sleeves. So cute! Throw a denim jacket over it and I’ve got an outfit for an event.
Meanwhile my friends are laughing at me while reading this because I’m always asking them for fashion advice. But dresses, dresses, I don’t need help with. I always feel good in them!
Need Memorial Day Book Ideas?
It’s pub day for my author friend and USA Today bestselling writer Meredith Jaeger, who put out a fascinating historical fiction title today called The Incorrigibles. It’s about “two women whose lives intersect as one resists the gentrification of her San Francisco neighborhood, and the other, eight years earlier, fights for her freedom in nineteenth century America.” It’s been getting rave reviews, and Meredith is a lovely person whose written so many fabulous reads. Find the full synopsis here, and buy your copy here!
Did you hear that Steven Rowley’s The Guncle sequel comes out today! I don’t know Steven but I enjoyed The Celebrants when I read it last summer, and people rave about The Guncle. Find The Guncle Abroad in bookstores today.
I really want to get a copy of Ruth Reichl’s new novel The Paris Novel. For one, I’ll read just about any book with Paris in the title, and two, I’ve adored Reichl’s smart food writing for decades now. She has a Substack newsletter, too,
.Also, Ruth Ware’s new novel One Perfect Couple came out today, and I love all of her books. That is going on my TBR list!
We're spoiled with the beach just a few miles away, but I think it's the backyard this year. I'm reading The Sicilian Inheritance right now...pretty sure you're going to love it. And...summer dresses.👗🥰