Author Jamie Beck knows how to write compelling characters with interesting stories and intersecting plotlines. Before the release of her new book, The Memory of You, She Reads caught up with Jamie and gathered a list of books she has recently read. This is what Jamie Beck reads.
Good Luck with That by Kristan Higgins
On the surface, this book is about the struggles of three obese friends. At its root, it’s about how happiness in life comes through self-acceptance and courage. No weight loss, nose job or hair transplant will magically give you a better life, so don’t put off living your life until that “someday” comes along. The most important point about this book is that it made me really stop and think about how I want to live the next decade of my life.
How To Walk Away by Katherine Center
Maggie’s life is upended in chapter one (a plane crash causes her to lose her fiancé, her job and the use of her legs). Fans of Me Before You will enjoy this story because this author, like Jojo Moyes, does a great job of taking a tragic situation and addressing it with some light humor and a little romance. And unlike Me Before You, this one gives the new lovebirds a happier ending.
The Family Gathering by Robyn Carr
It’s always a pleasure to come back to Sullivan’s Crossing. Ms. Carr does an amazing job of weaving complicated and layered family relationships and real-world problems together, all while building an amazing community and cast of supporting characters. These kinds of stories give hope that enough love can help us all solve our own real-life messes.
The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
I found myself thumbing through the virtual pages quite quickly, intrigued, heartbroken, anxious… oh, quite a ride. This book is so many things: a story of unlikely friendships, of heroism and courage, and of love and family. Don’t miss it!
As Good as the First Time by K.M. Jackson
This story is perfect for any reader who likes big families, small southern towns and second-chance love stories. Although this type of storyline may sound familiar at first blush, the details of the town and the characterization of the family make it very fresh and engaging. It’s a heartwarming story that should be read with a warm drink and a pastry, of course.
The Art of Inheriting Secrets by Barbara O’Neal
One of the many striking things about this book is how lushly it is crafted. I could picture every detail of the setting as if I’d been plunked down in rural England. The characterization is also complete and vivid and fresh. It’s part love story, part mystery, but mostly it’s about an already capable woman coming to know herself better as she solves the mystery of her family heritage and her deceased mother’s buried secrets. I’ll remember this one for a long time.
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