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Life

R.I.P XVI Challenge – 2021

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RIP XVI Challenge - 2021It’s that time of the year again!! Time for the R.I.P XVI Challenge! Each year this challenge gets easier and easier. Basically, you grab your scary reads and movies and enjoy them from September 1 – October 31. There is also a Group Read component if you are interested in that. Just follow @perilreaders on Twitter or Instagram for all the details. 

As you know, I was away for a little bit and this challenge, although one of my faves snuck up on me. I don’t have a formal list of reads or movies but there are some horror movies that I wouldn’t mind seeing:

  • The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (daughter said it was terrifying)
  • Candyman
  • American Horror Stories: Double Feature (already watching)

For books, I am thinking about these:

As you can see, I am pretty loose and flexible this year. Just going with mood and what feels good. Are you joining the fun?

Book Review

Review: Summer Darlings

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Summer Darlings

Summer Darlings
By Brooke Lea Foster
Gallery Books, 9781982115029, May 5, 2021, 368pp.

The Short of It:

Everything you want in a summer read, a slow-burn romance, a Martha’s Vineyard setting, a 1960’s backdrop of money and glamour but also a tiny bit of deception to keep you interested.

The Rest of It:

I went into this read with an open mind and it surprised me in a lot of ways. It wasn’t a straight-up beach read, as you’ve come to expect from a cover like the one above. Summer Darlings offered quite a bit more and kept me interested very early on.

After losing her scholarship at Wellesley, Heddy must find a way to earn her tuition money quickly and the easiest way to do that is to be a nanny for one of the wealthiest families on the island. Heddy is great with children but the lifestyle is a stretch for her. She has never been surrounded by so much wealth and opulence, nor has she any experience with how social circles work.

At first she is envious of her boss. She seems to have everything, a beautiful home, an attractive husband but no matter how much money you have, things are never as perfect as they seem. Between the other inhabitants of the island and her keen observations, there is definitely trouble in paradise.

I really loved that this story had a little bit of everything. It had all the glitter and glamour you’d expect from the island rich, but there is a bit of darkness too and honestly, it caught me by surprise. Heddy is young and impressionable but she doesn’t always make good choices, which surprised me given her upbringing. Nonetheless, I found it to be a great summer read and a good kick-off to summer reading. Have you read it?

This is the first book on my 10 Books of Summer list.

Source: Borrowed
Disclosure: This post contains Indiebound affiliate links.