Friday Reads 3.7.25
Home again, home again, jiggity jig! We are tanned, rested, and already longing for warmer weather. The break was exactly what we needed. Lots of sun, a cool breeze to make it less steamy, beautiful ocean waves and an infinity pool that was as pretty as the beach. This was the view from our breakfast table for the week. It was none so bad. Considering it’s the first actual vacation we’ve had in two years, we were happy to just lounge around, reading, drinking strawberry lime spritzes, and eating lots of fish. I even found a heart shaped rock and a chunk of sea glass on the beach. I feel better than I have in months, so yay!
Sint Maarten. Photo by J.T. Ellison © 2025Okay, here’s a little known fact: I have a thing for rocks. I bring one home from every trip. Like a dope, I never labeled them, so I don’t necessarily know which rock comes from which place, but they are a lovely collection of memorabilia that the universe presents me with. This has been happening since I was a little girl; I have quite a collection.
Anyway, all that to say, got some reading done. I finished JULIE CHAN IS DEAD by Luann Zhang. It was really fun, a searing satire on today’s influencer culture and the lengths we’ll go to in order to fit in. Quite good for a debut, too.
Then I pivoted directly into Elin Hilderbrand and her daughter Shelby Cunningham’s first collaboration, THE ACADEMY. Y’all know how much I love a good boarding school story. This one was chock full of all the right tropes and a cozy vibe: love, friendship, growing pains and adult drama. Very Hilderbrand. I hope there’s another book set at Tiffin!
Also up this week is Boyd Morrison and Beth Morrison’s latest THE WHITE FORTRESS. This series is so cool. Medieval adventure with fabulous characters and painstakingly accurate research. Highly recommended.
Another that’s been on the bedside table for a while is Casey Means GOOD ENERGY: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health. Hubby read and narrated while he did, and so much of what I’ve been doing with my diet is reinforced in this fascinating tome. We’ve made some more changes (eg: filtered water instead of tap makes our tea taste so much better) and look forward to seeing the results. Since I’ve been working so hard on the gut-mind connection since my EDS diagnosis, there was nothing in this that didn’t resonate. LSS: Ketogenic diets are incredible for your body.
Speaking of good food, my friend has a brand new cookout out this week! THE SIMPLIFIED COOKBOOK is another step in her journey toward health and happiness by providing quick and easy recipes for the family. Cookbooks are hard to do, people. Really hard. I am so proud of her!!!
And one last… ’s fabulous book I WAS ANASTASIA is on a Bookbub right now for a mere $1.99. If you loved THE FROZEN RIVER, you don’t want to miss it!
That’s it from me! What are you up to this weekend? Any good book recommendations? I’d love to hear what you’re up to. Does the universe present you with gifts?
