One last semi-August mini review round up! Today, I’m going to be sharing mini reviews a few more books that I read towards the end of August and the first few of my September reads. This is my first week at work and while I am really excited about my job (I’m teaching middle school English) & like being back in a work routine, I am definitely going to miss my summer days spent reading, especially since I know that I won’t be reading as much in September as I did in August. As was the theme of my summer reading, today I have a few contemporary fiction reads and yes, 4 Elin Hilderbrand books, to recap. 

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Seven Days in June by Tia Williams – Seven Days in June is THE romance book that has taken over my bookish feeds over the past few months. I knew the book featured two Black protagonists, but I didn’t know much else going into it. A few book recommendation sources have recommended this one if you’re in a book hangover after reading Robinne Lee’s The Idea of You, and while I think fans of that book will still enjoy Seven Days in June, Seven Days in June has much more serious and darker tone (and doesn’t have the whole older woman dating a younger celebrity synopsis). Seven Days in June follows two famous Black authors, Eva & Shane, who are both connected by their past in high school (warnings for drug and alcohol abuse and self harm). I really liked Tia William’s writing style and the writing plot lines surround Eva and Shane’s careers. Eva also has an autoimmune disorder that largely affects her lifestyle, which was overall something I haven’t read in a book before. My Rating: 4/5 Stars 

The Rehearsals by Annette Christie – Everyone knows that I’m up for any book about weddings, which led me to Annette Christie’s debut, The Rehearsals. This contemporary read follows college sweethearts Megan and Tom & their disastrous rehearsal dinner before their wedding. After a mega fight, Megan and Tom wake up on the morning of their wedding, only to become stuck in a Groundhog Day-type loop where they repeat the day of the rehearsal dinner again. The time-loop premise totally worked for me in this one, having loved exploring the what-ifs in Tom and Megan’s relationship and their relationship development through the repeated days. I totally admit that I have a love-hate relationship with the ending. I wanted more closure but also I sometimes like a what’s next kind of ending (trying to avoid spoilers). My Rating: 4/5 Stars

The Beach Club by Elin Hilderbrand – Another favorite Elin Hilderbrand book! The Beach Club is one of Elin Hilderbrand’s very first books, following a series of characters who work for a beach club on nantucket. After loving this one and The Blue Bistro, I’ve realized that I love Elin Hilderbrand’s early books because of their writing style and they have some of the more unique premises of her books. As per usual with Elin Hilderbrand, The Beach Club was so atmospheric and made me want to stay at the beach club/hotel so much. My Rating: 5/5 Stars

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The Matchmaker by Elin Hilderbrand – Elin Hilderbrand’s The Matchmaker definitely lands in my top 5 favorite Elin Hilderbrand books. This beach read follows Dabney, who has set up over forty couples while spending nearly her entirely life on Nantucket. While Dabney has been contently married to economist & professor John for years, she’s never really disconnected from the true love of her life, Clen, who left Nantucket 27 years ago to take a news-reporting job overseas and has now returned to Nantucket years later. Also returning to Nantucket for the summer is Dabney’s adult daughter, whose contemplating if her fiancé is really the love of her life. The Matchmaker is one of my favorite Elin Hilderbrand books because the synopsis was so strong and completely delivered, and I loved getting the many perspectives of Dabney, Clen, John, & Agnes. If you loved 28 Summers and are going through Elin’s backlist like me, definitely read this one. My Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Here’s to Us by Elin Hilderbrand – Here’s to Us follows the families of celebrity chef, Deacon, after his unexpected death as his wife, two ex-wives, his children, and other family members convene at the family Nantucket cottage to say goodbye. Typically, I only want to focus on Elin Hilderbrand books and ignore the other books on my TBR pile, but I wasn’t addicted to reading Here’s to Us like her other books. I don’t necessarily mind an unlikeable protagonist or two, but could not get behind two of Deacon’s ex-wives, Scarlett or Belinda. I think I maybe let my expectations get to high because I saw the culinary inspired synopsis and instantly thought of The Blue Bistro, aka my favorite Elin Hildebrand book. I only held on partly because I liked Laurel and Angie’s storylines so much and partly because my quest to read all of Elin Hilderbrand’s books. My Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Beautiful Day by Elin Hilderbrand – Again, major wedding book meets Elin Hilderbrand fan here! Beautiful Day follows the wedding of Jenna, which has been planned to the detail by a notebook Jenna’s mother left before she died from cancer. The book does not directly follow Jenna, but rather Jenna’s sister & matron of honor, Margot, her father, Doug, and the groom’s mother, Ann. I really liked Margot’s perspective, but I wish we got Jenna’s as well. I liked Beautiful Day a lot, having all of the Elin Hilderbrand trademarks but I don’t think it necessarily stands out compared to her other books (especially since while I obviously love wedding premises, a few of her books revolve around weddings/marriages and kind’ve blur together). My Rating: 4/5 Stars 

What books have you been reading lately? Have you read any of the books that I mentioned? Share in the comments!