The Gateway to Summer...
the Pascal of it all, books to read, my book blurb reveal(!), and some joy!
Hi, hello, welcome!
How are things?
I know, I know. May can be chaotic. Somehow, I’m overwhelmed by kids’ school stuff while simultaneously there is less school to send my children to.
The Maycember of it all.
But not today! At least, not here! This is a cozy, chatty little corner of the internet where we’re going to put a pause on these end of school/start of summer shenanigans, take a breath, and just admire Pedro Pascal. The way God intended us to do.
At least we’re going to celebrate good things and talk books! Just as good.
BOOOKS!
Let’s talk summer reading. These are books I’m excited to read, am currently reading or have even finished, proving I do, in fact, read.
Swept Away: picked this up from Good Girl Books book truck and devoured it! Griped the book tightly and sometimes skimmed because, yikes, it’s intense. But Beth O’Leary does it again with a dual POV, highly believable, mid-spice love story that happens to take place on a small houseboat when two people are swept out to sea (and STRANDED) after a one-night stand. Highly recommend, brace yourself for stress.
You Belong with Me: can’t wait to read it! Grabbed this one at the library, still in the new section though it debuted in September 2024. That tells me, it’s been popular. Love a famous person-normal person love story and this one actually hits the “what happens after they’re together” angle. Already, I’m fascinated. Mhairi MacFarlane is inching into an auto-buy zone for me, even as I have to thrice times check the spelling of her name.
Thank You for Listening: reading on Kindle, another library loan, and it’s a delight. A story about an actress turned audiobook narrator now possibly turned actress (with complications) again who’s also falling in love with another audiobook narrator? Yes, please! This one is from 2022 but thank goodness for readers like me who enjoy a back catalogue.
The Love-Haters: Alert! Alert! Katherine Center has a new book that dropped this week! And I don’t have it because I’ve been so busy editing my own book I lost track of all exciting things in the world. But I’m getting this tout de suite and I can’t wait.
It’s a Love Story: Annabel Monaghan, writer of my beloved Nora Goes Off Script, has a new summer romance book out May 25th, and while I’ve missed one of her books in the middle, I’m excited about this new one.
Stories Our Scars Tell: releasing this September and I’m the lucky ducky who has an ARC as the author happens to be one of my best friends. You didn’t know I was this cool, did you?
But this isn’t about me, it’s about Brittany Tinsley’s book and it is a beautiful, touching, and thoughtful read. I can’t wait for it to be in the hands of people in September. Also, you can find Brittany on Substack at
so preorder and then give her a follow here. Then hop back over here and thank me!Ordinary Time: picked this one up from my dear Union Ave Books and I can’t wait to dive in, as I find Annie B. Jones a great Instagram follow. Also, the tagline feels wonderfully instructional on how to have a good life as an introvert: “lessons learned while staying put.” These days, staying put is my favorite place to do anything, learn lessons or otherwise.
What are you reading or looking forward to this summer? Let me know in the comments!
The One You Fall For… book blurb!
I am so proud of this book blurb. Working with Jessie of Book Blurb Magic (of course) in her book blurb master class, this is, hands down, the best blurb I’ve written so far. Are you ready for it? You’re not ready.
Here we go:
Old flame. New sparks.
Ten years ago, Indy Bird and Cillian “Sully” Sullivan couldn't imagine a life without each other. Now, neither can imagine spending even an hour together. But when their oldest son starts asking questions, Indy panics and invites Sully to elementary school graduation day.
As Indy and the kids introduce Sully to the life they’ve made without him, disaster strikes the Bird family farm. Now Indy’s faced with two appalling options: crush her cousin’s dream wedding…or ask her estranged husband to stay for the summer and help.
Reconnecting with his children and using this work to atone for his mistakes is all the reason Sully needs to stay. It should be enough to protect him from Indy’s hostility–but maybe not her irresistible appeal.
After all, you can’t help the one you fall for…
I am a happy woman when it comes to this blurb. Most of the credit still belongs to Jessie but I worked so hard on building this blurb.
Please drop questions, comments, and squeals below.
Joy Corner
I realize, you’re probably thinking, “but, Emily, isn’t the joy in the Pascal of it all?” Actually, yes, that’s what I thought, too.
But things I am loving right now, a brief(ish) list.
Walking on my treadmill in the morning whilst wearing this weighted vest. Huge shout-out to my husband who made the treadmill purchase, unaware I would claim it as my own. I’m by myself, in that weighted vest, I’ve got my skincare working, and I go. But in one place. It’s doing wonders for my attitude. And my skin.
This super cute, super budget-friendly light & airy skirt that will go with a thousand things because navy blue and also feels so pleasant on a hot, humid day.
Libraries! As is probably obvious, I’m in a reading season, and loading up my library card with in-person and online books is ah-mazing. Plus, libraries are the pinnacle of reader heaven, indoors, air-conditioned, filled with free books and book lovers. My preschooler and I are visiting our local one weekly, sometimes more. Don’t ever take for granted the gift of the library.
And people are reading my books! While my Kindle Unlimited pages won’t set the world on fire, there’s something so satisfying to seeing my romances being read every day! If you’re interested in starting the series, grab First Comes Love here on kindle or kindle unlimited or the paperback here.
To be crystal clear, I’ve set up a tiny little Amazon storefront and the links included here are affiliate links. Use them or not as you see fit. Mostly I’m curious to see if I’ve done this correctly. The odds are 50-50!
That’s it for now! Thus far in my newsletter career, my Glen Powell-themed July newsletter is my most opened email. Time to find out if Pedro can give him a run for his money.
Thank you so much for presence here! It’s a gift! And stick around, share your gif preferences and reading recs below. I’m all ears.
Take care,
Emily
How did I miss that Annabel Monaghan AND Katherine Center have new books?!
Those are some good book recs! (I, too, loved Swept Away).