It’s BOOK REVIEW DAY! And it is SUMMER here at the Beucler house as of this afternoon! WOOHOO!!! After a crazy Spring, this mama is ready. Heading out of town for a bit and will definitely be taking the time to read and share with y’all while enjoying our happy place after a crazy month of May!

In May, I always love reviewing the perfect beach read for any upcoming vacations or staycations that you may have on your summer calendars. To me, a beach read is an escape from reality . . . an easy read that can be enjoyed with a cocktail on the side. I saw this quote below from the amazing Emily Henry, and I had to include. Basically, because I agree 100%.

AMEN! Okay, so this month, I read four books. All four I LOVED! Yeah! I highly recommend all four. Precious, sweet, lovely beach reads.

Here we go . . .

Happy Place by Emily Henry

I read this book on a girl’s trip at the beginning of the month. I finished it on the plane home, and when I closed the book and my best friend asked if I loved it, she had her answer with my smile and tears rolling down my face. Just all the feels, y’all. So, so sweet.

Harriett and Wyn have been together since college and engaged for years. The problem? They broke up five months ago and haven’t told their best friends . . . those same friends that they are now with on a week-long trip at the Maine cottage that has been their happy place for the last decade.

Happy Place takes turns with chapters being told from the past and the present. The perfect way to watch two people fall in love, struggle, break up, and then try to find their way back to one another. This is a sweet book about love and redemption during life’s biggest challenges: work, family, loss, grief, etc.

Emily Henry writes super sweet books that border on PG-13 . . . wholesome with a touch of steam. Nothing that would make you blush, if you worry about these things. PRECIOUS. Perfect read for the summer.

Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez

I am a HUGE Abby Jimenez fan. I’ve read all of her books and have loved each and every one. Yours Truly contains some of the same characters as her previous book, Part of Your World, which you know I love!

Briana, a well-loved ER doctor, is dealing with her little brother living through kidney failure along with staring down the impending date of her divorce after her husband of ten years admitted to cheating on her for years. Hard times for Briana.

Jacob, the new ER doctor on staff, deals with chronic anxiety, and is struggling to find his place at a new place of work and in life as his brother is now engaged to his ex-girlfriend.

After a rough first impression, Jacob and Briana start writing notes to each other and find a true connection in their respective phases of crazy! Add a little fake dating scenario into the mix, and you have the perfect set up for a love connection. This book is super, super, sticky sweet. Rainbows and unicorns, and all the things. I was here for ALL OF IT! Abby usually is rated R with her writing, but I felt that this book was a bit more benign on the steaminess. It was definitely still there, but I’ll give it a strong PG-13 rating. SUPER quick read! LOVE it!

Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune

After Carley’s debut novel last year – Every Summer After – I feel in love! I have been so very excited about her newest release, and she did not disappoint! Full Disclosure . . . Every Summer After is still my favorite Carley Fortune book, but don’t sleep on this one!

Fern Brookbanks has “escaped” to Toronto in an effort to not take over for her mother as the owner and manager of their family business – a lakeside resort outside of the city. She wants her own life, wants to create her own way, and wants zero to do with the resort that impacted her childhood in every way. As she is finishing college, one week before she is to return home to her mother, she spends 24 hours with Will Baxter. These 24 hours change both of their lives, and as they move forward, they promise to meet each other on the dock at the resort in one year. One year later, Fern shows up full of hope and promise. Will does not.

Nine years later, Fern finally truly returns home after her mother passes away and has no choice but to run the resort. While grieving the loss of her mother and trying to figure out what she truly wants, Will Baxter shows up at the resort with the announcement that he is checking in for the month and that her mother had hired him as a consultant.

Heartbreak and grief, broken promises, dreams and goals lost due to life changing course on you . . . some hard topics in this one, y’all. Yours Truly is 100% about second chances. About fighting for what you want, fighting to figure out who you are supposed to be, and forgiving yourself for the mistakes that once defined you. Definitely rated R. I really liked this one. Highly recommend for your summer beach read!

Rock Bottom Girl by Lucy Score

At this point, I have read a handful of Lucy Score books. I have enjoyed them all with their humor, drama, and steaminess. Rock Bottom Girl drew my attention as I was walking to check out at Target – gets me every time! Easy purchase, one that I loved!

After Marley loses her savings when her start-up company crashes down, breaks up with her boyfriend, and loses her apartment, the 38-year-old moves back in with her parents in the small town that she grew up in. The small town that terrorized her as a high school student . . . she has a lifetime ban from all Homecoming activities at the school after getting back at a bully. Yikes! Marley has zero prospects, zero desire to get out of bed, and zero hope that this small town will ever let her live down her failures. In an effort to get her moving again, her parents have her accept a temporary PE teacher/soccer coach position at the high school, and Marley suddenly finds herself returning to high school.

The temporary gig puts her in the pathway of facing her high school nemesis (fellow teacher), working with her high school crush (fellow coach and teacher), and learning to overcome her fears of failing all over again twenty years later.

I really loved this book. I had a great high school experience, but the thought of returning as a teacher doesn’t sound appealing at all. HA! So many amusing parts, but definitely had a little PTSD from reading some of this. High school isn’t always where we shine the brightest, and there is something to be said for facing those mistakes and fears all over again as a mature adult. Fixing the issues and healing the heartbreak that seemed so HUGE to an 18-year-old, and so minimal as we grow older and wiser. Hopefully!

Lucy Score always hits it with the rated R, but I felt like this was a little more benign that her other books. Just FYI. I mean, you may blush in a chapter or two, but you won’t be worried someone will judge you if they were reading over your shoulder. 😉 LOVED this one! Grab it, read it, share it with your people!

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Happy reading, friends! As always, please let me know your thoughts on the books above. AND, send me your recommendations. Happy Summer! XO