Summer is winding down, so I'll be taking a brief break from the blog to soak up these last days! Thanks for stopping by, and I look forward to talking books again in September!
Monday, August 24, 2026
Friday, August 21, 2026
Blog Tour + Review: The Economy Always Gets Better
Today I'm partnering with WOW! Women on Writing to celebrate the release of The Economy Always Gets Better: Navigating Uncertain Times with Confidence by Nikki M. Finlay, PhD. Keep reading for my review! I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Nikki M. Finlay, PhD
Published August 18, 2026
For those of us who forgot what we learned years ago or never had the opportunity to take an economics class, terms like recession, depression, tariffs, inflation, and gross domestic product can make our heads spin.
If that sounds like you, you’re in the right place.
In The Economy Always Gets Better, award-winning economist Dr. Nikki Finlay explains the economy in its simplest terms, making it easier to understand and giving readers the tools to approach even the most distressing economic information with confidence.
Dr. Finlay combines her knowledge and years of academic experience in this practical and accessible guide for anyone wishing to better their understanding of the economy. Using personal stories, useful metaphors, visual representations, and statistical data, she makes economics accessible to everyone.
Whether you’re worried about the current economic troubles or trying to figure it all out for the first time, The Economy Always Gets Better will leave you better informed and better prepared to thrive. - from Goodreads
I am not a person who follows things like politics or the well-being of the economy very closely. I'll be honest, I don't really understand a lot of it. Sure, I notice things like the cost of groceries and gas and how my investments are doing on a quarterly basis, but I don't really think too much about (or understand!) why those things happen the way they do. Economist and professor Nikki Finlay aims to solve that problem with her new book, The Economy Always Gets Better. She explains terms and concepts in an easy-to-understand way, breaking down big picture themes into smaller bites. She uses examples from her own life to illustrate the concepts, and she also references the pandemic often, since the economy was hit so hard. The book is split into two parts: part 1 focuses on basic concepts such as prices, trade, and banks, while part 2 focuses on problem areas such as inflation, unemployment, and recessions and the role the government plays in helping us get out of tough times. I liked the way she ended each chapter, with a little exercise asking the reader to think about how they would explain the gist of the chapter to an 8 year old. Sometimes breaking something down into its simplest terms is the best way to learn. While I'll never be an expert, I do feel a little better equipped to talk about the economy after reading this book.
3.5 stars
Monday, August 10, 2026
Michele's Monday Picks #101
Angela is so generous to let me pop in with my series, Michele’s Monday Picks! I’m not a blogger or bookstagrammer, but I love getting excited about new releases with the rest of you. Here I’ll be sharing new books I’m really looking forward to!
*************************************************************************
Liane Moriarty
Expected Publication: August 25, 2026
From Goodreads:
In her first-ever sequel, Liane Moriarty examines the complexities of modern women’s lives, shining light on shame and family secrets with wit and compassion. Whether you’ve read Big Little Lies or not, this is the perfect novel for longtime fans and new readers alike.
The last time we saw the women of Big Little Lies—Madeline, Celeste, Jane, Renata, and Bonnie—their children were five years old. If someone wasn’t invited to a child’s birthday party, feelings were hurt. But ten years have passed, and the kids are now in high school, with all of the drama that accompanies teendom (goodbye playdates, hello drugs, sex, and alcohol).
Now, after the principal of the high school receives a severed human finger in the mail, the parents are in an uproar. But Madeline, Celeste, Jane, Renata, and Bonnie have other things to worry about. Celeste’s mother-in-law, Mary Louise, is behaving oddly—is it old-age forgetfulness and forthrightness, or something more sinister? Madeline is facing perhaps the biggest challenge of her life, Jane is at a dangerous fork in her marriage, Bonnie has realized there’s only so much solace in yoga. And Renata? Renata is living her best life—revenge is sweet.
When a strange man begins lurking around the school asking supposedly innocent questions, this tightly connected group of women must finally face the full repercussions of the big little truths they have and haven’t shared with their kids. Because the stakes are now much higher than not being invited to an ice-skating show—and the ice has never been thinner for any of them.
I loved Big Little Lies and the TV adaptation! Do you think you’ll be picking this one up?
Monday, August 3, 2026
Month in Review: July 2026
July was a decent month! We took Henry to the movies to see the new Minions movie, and he had fun! We spent 4th of July in my sister's pool, which was so nice! Henry started music again, so that's been a fun way to spend Saturday mornings. We took advantage of our zoo membership to attend a Member's Night, free from the crowds. My college roommate passed through New Jersey on a road trip, so we met up for dinner - it was so good to see her and catch up! My stepmom hosted a craft day for the ladies, and it was such a fun, chill day - no kids or husbands allowed! My craft was a paint-by-number painting, which is now proudly displayed in my home office, ha! The weather this month has been wild - some seriously hot weather, wildfire smoke that kept us indoors for a couple days, and lots of thunderstorms! But thankfully, we also got some really beautiful days.
The Books
.jpg)
The Posts and Reviews
How are you doing?
* This post contains affiliate links; I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)