Read With Keri: Books I Read in July

I’m happy to report that July was a GREAT book month! I’ve been going through ups and downs with reading this year, but July proved to be one for the books (no pun intended).

Typically in the summer, I gravitate towards easy beach reads with lighthearted stories. Although I still love those, I’ve also been craving substance and wanting to learn new things. July was a good balance of both fiction and nonfiction and I’m excited to share more about the five books I read in July.

The Lazy Genius Way — Kendra Adachi (5/5 stars)

I finally took the time to read this and it was SO GOOD. This book is seriously perfect for anyone who’s about to enter a new life stage or for those who need some tips on how to calm the crazy in everyday life. I’m tempted to purchase a few copies and give them to friends and family as gifts. Kendra Adachi (also the host of The Lazy Genius Podcast, which I listen to every Monday) walks through her 13 Lazy Genius Principles on “how to be a genius about the things that matter (to you) and lazy about the things that don’t.” She refers to this book a lot on her podcast, so if you’re curious, definitely check it out because it’s pretty great.

Essentialism — Greg McKeown (3.5/5 stars)

Ironically, I started Essentialism before picking up The Lazy Genius Way, but little did I know that Kendra mentions this book multiple times in her book, so that was convenient! This basically goes into detail about how to “essentialize” what’s important to you and de-prioritize what’s not. I thought it had great concepts and ideas on how to implement the principles (e.g., ways to manage your inbox, time saying “no” when you feel obligated to say yes), but it did get a bit repetitive after a bit.

The Hotel Nantucket — Elin Hilderbrand (5/5 stars)

I love an Elin Hilderbrand beach read in the summer. All of her books are set on Nantucket and she has a knack for writing that makes you feel like you’re on the beach and living your best sun-filled life. The Hotel Nantucket, her latest novel, is no exception…but with a twist. The story gives multiple viewpoints which I loved and follows the story of a struggling hotel, its wonderful staff, the ghost who haunts it, and a summer to remember. This is definitely one of my favorite Elin Hilderbrand books by far, and I highly recommend it.

One Italian Summer — Rebecca Serle (4/5 stars)

Rebecca Serle wrote The Last Five Years, which I read in 2020 and surprisingly loved. One Italian Summer was fantastic, which pleasantly surprised me because it received a lot of hype in the book community. I listened to this as an audiobook and Lauren Graham (AKA, Lorelei Gilmore from Gilmore Girls!!) narrated it, which made this an even better experience. The book follows a woman who recently lost her mother to cancer but still goes on the Italy trip they were planning before she died. A surprising twist of events occurs that makes the bittersweet trip of a lifetime even more unforgettable. Needless to say, this will pull on your heartstrings a bit. Bonus: It made me want to visit Italy, especially Positano, because of the rich descriptions of foods, sights, and more.

Finding Me — Viola Davis (5/5 stars)

I loved this autobiography/memoir written by Viola Davis. Before reading Finding Me, I knew a little bit about Viola Davis. I knew she was an actress and played the powerful Annalise Keating on How To Get Away With Murder. Viola has had such an intense life, so this touches on many tough topics like abuse (many forms), alcoholism, poverty, and racism. There is quite a lot of language, as well, since Viola includes a lot of dialogue throughout the book. Overall, this is a great, powerful read, but use discretion if any of the topics I mentioned are triggering for you.