Hello and happy Thursday! Thanks for stopping by Thinking Out Loud Thursday today. This is a time when I share something on my mind and invite you to link up and do the same. It's the first Thursday of the month and that's the time I share what I read the previous month. Let's take a look ~
Yours For the Season by Uzma Jalaluddin
Yours For the Season was such an enjoyable read. It was fun, lighthearted, and wonderfully entertaining from start to finish. The story had a cozy, festive feel that made it perfect for the season, and it was exactly the kind of book you want to curl up with when you’re ready to unwind and relax. The characters were engaging and easy to root for, and the storyline moved at a nice, comfortable pace that kept it interesting without ever feeling heavy. It’s one of those feel-good reads that pairs perfectly with a warm drink and a cozy blanket, making it an ideal choice for anyone looking for a charming escape during the holiday season.
When Sameera Malik and Tom Cooke meet at a ho-hum holiday party, neither is looking for romance. Sameera’s working ridiculous hours at her law firm and healing from heartache while navigating a recently resolved family estrangement. Tom’s hustling to turn his social media stardom into a real career while fending off his family’s demands to give up his chef dreams and move back home. The two share a few laughs and a samosa-making lesson and go their separate ways.
But when one of Tom’s posts starts a viral rumor that they’re a couple, he suggests they keep up the ruse for a few months. It’s a good proposal, and a fauxmance will help Tom grow his popularity, and, in return, he can help Sameera land a wealthy client. The only problem? Their parents.
When Sameera’s very Muslim parents insist on meeting Tom’s very not Muslim family over Christmas in rural Alaska, the stage is set for misunderstandings, holiday hijinks, and an epic culture clash. As the Maliks and Cookes exchange holiday traditions and endless opinions on their children’s lives, Sameera and Tom realize they have a lot in common—including an attraction that’s starting to feel very real.
The Last Father-Daugher Dance: A Short Story by Lisa Wingate
I love settling in with a good short story on lazy Saturday mornings before I even get out of bed. There’s something so relaxing about easing into the day with a quick, enjoyable read while everything is still quiet and cozy. This particular story was the perfect choice for that kind of slow morning, and even better, it’s available for free with Kindle Unlimited. It’s always a nice bonus when you can discover an entertaining read without having to purchase it separately, making it an easy and convenient pick for a peaceful weekend start.
Olympic silver medalist Kalista Brooks has built a successful life in California, complete with a thriving sports technology company and a handsome fiancé. But when her father’s heart condition takes a critical turn, she rushes home to Atlanta. There, her father makes a surprising request: to relive favorite memories from all four seasons in just one month at their old farmhouse in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
With help from the community and her long-lost sidekick Calvin Calhoon, Kalista creates a tapestry of cherished moments—dogwoods in bloom, homemade blackberry jam, autumn bonfires, and a magical winter evening that will live forever in her heart. But as father and daughter share these precious weeks together, Kalista discovers that time has a way of revealing what matters most. In the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains where she grew up, she learns that sometimes the sweetest seasons of life come when we least expect them.
Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue
This was our library book club selection for January, and it turned out to be a wonderful choice to kick off the new year. The story was engaging and thoughtfully written. One of the most impactful parts of the book was how it highlighted the realities of immigrant life, shedding light on experiences and challenges that many people may not often consider or fully understand. The author did a great job of weaving these perspectives into an interesting and emotional storyline, making it both eye-opening and memorable. It sparked thoughtful discussion for our book club and gave us all a deeper appreciation for the resilience, sacrifices, and everyday realities that often come with building a life in a new country.
Jende Jonga, a Cameroonian immigrant living in Harlem, has come to the United States to provide a better life for himself, his wife, Neni, and their six-year-old son. In the fall of 2007, Jende can hardly believe his luck when he lands a job as a chauffeur for Clark Edwards, a senior executive at Lehman Brothers. Clark demands punctuality, discretion, and loyalty—and Jende is eager to please. Clark’s wife, Cindy, even offers Neni temporary work at the Edwardses’ summer home in the Hamptons. With these opportunities, Jende and Neni can at last gain a foothold in America and imagine a brighter future.
However, the world of great power and privilege conceals troubling secrets, and soon Jende and Neni notice cracks in their employers’ façades.
When the financial world is rocked by the collapse of Lehman Brothers, the Jongas are desperate to keep Jende’s job—even as their marriage threatens to fall apart. As all four lives are dramatically upended, Jende and Neni are forced to make an impossible choice.
All That Life Can Afford by Emily Everett
As soon as I saw this book was based in London, I wanted to read it. If you are a Jane Austen fan, there are several references to her work that you would find interesting too. This was also one of those books that completely pulled me in and refused to let go. I found myself saying “just one more chapter” over and over again, and before I knew it, I was reading way past my bedtime. It’s always a sign of a great book when you lose track of time because you’re so wrapped up in the story!
Anna first fell in love with London at her hometown library—its Jane Austen balls a far cry from her life of food stamps and hand-me-downs. But when she finally arrives after college, the real London is a moldy flat and the same paycheck-to-paycheck grind—that fairy-tale life still out of reach.
Then Anna meets the Wilders, who fly her to Saint-Tropez to tutor their teenage daughter. Swept up by the sphinxlike elder sister, Anna soon finds herself plunged into a heady whirlpool of parties and excess, a place where confidence is a birthright. There she meets two handsome young men—one who wants to whisk her into his world in a chauffeured car, the other who sees through Anna’s struggle to outrun her past. It’s like she’s stepped into the pages of a glittering new novel, but what will it cost her to play the part?
Sparkling with intelligence and insight, All That Life Can Afford peels back the glossy layers of class and privilege, exploring what it means to create a new life for yourself that still honors the one you’ve left behind.
A couple of the books mentioned here are currently available for free with Kindle Unlimited, which is always a nice bonus for readers. It’s a great opportunity to discover new titles and authors without having to purchase each book individually. If you’re looking to expand your reading library or try something outside of your usual genres, this can be an easy and budget-friendly way to do it.
Now it's your turn. What are you thinking out loud about today? Link up and share!
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