Little Free Library Sightings: The Jersey Shore Edition, Part 2

I know I shared some LFL sightings just a couple weeks ago, but we recently took a trip to Cape May, New Jersey, where there is an absolute wealth of Little Free Libraries!  I visited and featured several last year, and this year I came prepared with a bag of books I wanted to donate.  Here are the ones we visited on this trip:

#171625 - This LFL is called the Buoy Coffee Shop Library and is located, you guessed it, right outside the Buoy Coffee Shop!  The coffee shop/LFL owner writes, "I opened The Buoy Coffee Shop in April 2023 and have had many customers ask where to find the closest bookshop for books to read while enjoying coffee or a day at the beach. I decided this little path to the beach would be a great spot for my first little free library and a great way for visitors to have access to books for children and adults. We have even added a little spot for shared beach toys! Visit us at The Buoy Coffee Shop!"  This is such a fun idea and since the coffee shop is located practically on the beach, it's so perfect for beachgoers!  I left a book and took a book for Henry, who, as you can see, loved the addition of the beach toys at the bottom!

#

#116160 - This LFL, called Kathleen's Library, is located on one of the main roads in Cape May.  It's a cute little blue library that I only quickly stopped at because it was raining.  I left a book but didn't take anything.

#171896 - This LFL was located about half a mile down the street from where we were staying, so while Henry napped one afternoon, I took a walk down there.  Their story says, "We love all sorts of books, especially children’s books. Our library is run by four children who love to read."  I love that this library is a project for the family's children!  I left, of course, a children's book and grabbed a book for Henry, one that is actually on my library wishlist for him!

#177803 - The Inn Library is located not far from the previous library, so I decided to take a detour and visit it during my walk, as well.  This library was quite large and matched the house behind it!  It was well-stocked with several big name authors (Harlan Coben, David Baldacci, Isabel Allende), which was really cool to see.  I didn't have another book to drop off, but I did grab a book by Kate Quinn.

#105307 - This LFL is actually located at the Cape May County Park & Zoo!  What a perfect location for a library, because so many people pass by it on a daily basis, whether they are going to the zoo or one of the other attractions in the park.  I left a book but didn't take anything.

#141973 - The Little Free Library at Seaview is located in Wildwood Crest.  Last year we visited an LFL in Wildwood which I thought was the only one on the island, so I'm wondering if this one is new.  Either way, we stopped by this one after a couple hours at the boardwalk.  I thought this looked so cute in its planter.  I left a book but didn't take anything.

 

And finally, these are two unregistered libraries that we came across during our walks around Cape May!  The first one is one Tom actually found and he sent me a picture of it, then he brought me to it later that day.

  

Can't-Wait Wednesday: A Happier Life

Can't-Wait Wednesday is hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings and helps us spotlight upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating!

A Happier Life

Kristy Woodson Harvey

Expected publication date: June 25, 2024

A tender and touching novel about a young woman who discovers the family she has always longed for when she spends a life-changing summer in North Carolina.

Present: Keaton Smith is desperate for a fresh start. So when her mother needs someone to put her childhood home in Beaufort, North Carolina, on the market—the home that Keaton didn’t know existed until now—she jumps at the chance to head south. Keaton’s grandparents died in a tragic car accident before she was born, so she’s eager to learn more about the family she never met. But even though she has help from her charming next-door-neighbor, his precocious ten-year-old son, and a flock of endearingly feisty town busybodies, Keaton soon finds that she has more questions than answers.

1976: After meeting her adoring husband Townsend, Rebecca “Becks” Saint James abandoned the life she knew and never looked back. Forty years later, she’s made a name for herself as the best hostess North Carolina has ever seen. Her annual summer suppers have become the stuff of legend, and locals and out-of-towners alike clamor for an invitation to her stunning historic home. But she’s struggling behind the façade. Becks strives to make the lives of those around her as easy as possible, but this summer she is facing a dilemma that even she can’t solve. And as the end of the season looms, she is brought to a decision she never wanted to make.

As both Keaton and Becks face new challenges and chapters, they are connected through time by the house on Sunset Lane, which has protected the secrets, hopes, and dreams of the women in their family for generations. For fans of Summer of ‘69 and The Notebook, Last Summer on Sunset Lane explores the power of family, the bonds of friendship, and the boundless nature of love. - from Goodreads

Henry's Shelves #7

 

Henry and I have been enjoying so many books together lately, and I wanted to share the ones that have been on repeat in our house!

Duck & Goose, How Are You Feeling? // Duck & Goose 1 2 3 // Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!

Where Do Steam Trains Sleep at Night? // Blue Hat, Green Hat // Dance

The Watermelon Seed // Mix It Up! // Beautiful Eggs

Have you read any of these books?

* This post contains affiliate links; I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.

Quick Reviews

The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson (2023)

Noah, an unmated alpha werewolf, needs to show the hospital board he has a mate in order to keep his position.  Mackenzie, an ER doctor at the hospital, wants her grandmother to stop hounding her to find a partner, so the two decide to fake date/fake mate in order to satisfy both of their situations.  What they don't expect to happen is their feelings and fate playing a role in their alpha/omega pairing.  Although I read a lot of romance, I don't read a ton of paranormal ones, so I was excited for this one.  While I did have some issues, overall I enjoyed it.  Fake dating is always a fun trope, because part of me is always like, come on!  Of course you're going to end up having feelings for each other!  Mackenzie and Noah didn't really know each other before starting their fake relationship, so it was interesting seeing them get to know each other.  Noah is a bit grumpy, a bit stoic, and I loved those moments when he lets his guard down and can't help smiling at Mackenzie, who is such a ray of sunshine.  The premise lost me a little bit when the two hang out with friends/coworkers and after like 2 minutes, everyone is saying how perfect they are for each other and how in love they seem, when they had literally never seen them together before.  It just felt like it moved too fast.  I did also think the sex scenes took over a bit.  I think the author did a good job with the werewolf lore and creating this universe where such creatures are not only out in the open, but pretty well-accepted.  My only quibble with this is that she points out that alpha-omega pairings are so powerful and fated, yet Mackenzie and Noah worked together for a year and never really came across each other?  Once they're together, though, sparks fly.  4 stars

Starring Adele Astaire by Eliza Knight (2023)

In Starring Adele Astaire, Eliza Knight brings readers into the life of Adele Astaire, sister of the famous Fred Astaire, and an accomplished dancer and actor in her own right.  Having spent years dancing and touring with her brother, Adele is now at a point in her life where she wants to settle down, get married, and start a family - but can she leave the limelight behind?  Juxtaposed with her story is the life of character Violet Wood, an aspiring dancer who has faced much adversity in life.  The two women become friends during Adele's time in London.  I honestly did not know that Fred Astaire had a sister, so I was eager to learn more about her.  I think the author did a great job with researching Adele's life and describing her professional highs and personal lows.  Adele came across as a spitfire, always with a quick joke or a dance move.  I think her desire to retire and start a family came across as clunky and heavy-handed at the beginning, though, especially since it takes several more years for her to get married.  Less telling and more showing was needed.  I liked Adele, but the parts of the story with Violet unfortunately brought it down a little for me.  I appreciated the beginning of their friendship - it felt natural as Violet auditions for an Astaire show in London.  But, as the years go on and they lose touch, the times when they would come back together felt forced, like it was a bit unrealistic that Adele and Violet would end up in the same club at the exact same time after years of not talking.  I did think the setting was nice, as a lot of it takes place in London, and the author does a good job of bringing the long time period to life.  3.5 stars

* This post contains affiliate links; I earn a small commission on qualified purchases, at no cost to you.

Michele's Monday Picks #46

Angela is so generous to let me pop in with my little 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!

****************************************************************

 

Tangled Up in You

By Christina Lauren

Expected Publication: June 25, 2024

From Goodreads:

A witty and deeply romantic modern reimagining of Disney’s Tangled, by the New York Times bestselling author duo Christina Lauren, part of the acclaimed and bestselling Meant to Be collection.

She has a dream. He has a plan. Together they’ll take a leap of faith.

Ren has never held an iPhone, googled the answer to a question, or followed a crush on social media. What she has done: Read a book or two, or three (okay, hundreds). Taught herself to paint. Built a working wind power system from scratch. But for all the books she’s read, Ren has never found one that’s taught a woman raised on a homestead and off the grid for most of her twenty-two years how to live in the real world. So when she finally achieves her lifelong dream of attending Corona College, it feels like her life is finally beginning.

Fitz has the rest of his life mapped out: Graduate from Corona at the top of his class, get his criminal record wiped clean, and pass himself off as the rich, handsome player everyone thinks he is. He’s a few short months from checking off step one of his plans when Ren Gylden, with her cascading blonde hair and encyclopedic brain, crashes into his life, and for the first time Fitz’s plan is in jeopardy.

But a simple assignment in their immunology seminar changes the course of both their lives, and suddenly they’re thrown out of the frying pan and into the fire on a road trip that will lead them in the most unexpected directions. Out on the open road, the world somehow shifts, and the unlikely pair realize that, maybe, the key to the dreams they've both been chasing have been sitting next to them the whole time.

My favorite author duo reimagining one of my favorite Disney movies? I’m all in - do you think you’ll be picking this one up?

Quick Reviews

Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld (2023)

Sally is a writer for an SNL-type show, when a famous musician, Noah, is tapped to be the host and musical guest.  Sally pokes fun at the phenomenon of average-looking men dating extremely beautiful women but finds the tables may be turned when she and Noah seem to hit it off during his time hosting.  I really loved this book - first, I listened to it on audio, and the narrator (Kristen Sieh) is spectacular.  She really brought Sally to life, creating a smart, funny, but also vulnerable woman.  The story is divided into three main sections - the first takes place during Noah's week of hosting the show.  Not only do we get a great behind-the-scenes look at late-night television and all the work that goes into creating each show, but Sittenfeld perfectly captures how the unusual circumstances lead Sally to wonder if Noah might be interested in her.  Their time there together, however, ends poorly, and the story picks up again a couple years later, actually during the COVID-19 pandemic.  I'm not crazy about fictional books that already incorporate the pandemic, but this felt natural, as Sally and Noah reconnect through email and then as she goes to visit him.  I found Sally to be very relatable - she's so honest and endearing, although she can be very negative towards herself.  And although he's a celebrity, Noah comes across as friendly, charming, and rather normal.  At the beginning I felt like he was being a bit too vague about his feelings, but I did really like his and Sally's connection - their conversations are full of banter and were totally engrossing to listen to.  I was rooting for these two all along!  4.5 stars

The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren (2023)

Felicity "Fizzy" Chen is a romance novelist who has never been in love; Connor Prince is a documentary filmmaker who is now tasked with producing a reality tv dating show.  It seems like the perfect fit to showcase the queen of romance finding her own true love - but what happens if Fizzy and Connor fall for each other?  This book is linked to a previous Christina Lauren novel; Fizzy was a side character in that story.  I think it helps to have read the first book, but I barely remembered it and I don't think it hindered my enjoyment of this book at all - and I really loved this book!  Although, let me get this out of the way now - I think "Fizzy" is a terrible character name, it just sounds really silly.  Ok, rant over.  There was so much to love about this book!  A romance novelist who has never truly experienced the love she writes about every day?  A dating show where the male "contestants" represent romance archetypes (the cinnamon roll, the alpha, etc.)?  A single dad who still has a great relationship with his ex?  A forbidden love?  Just so many swoons over here.  I loved Fizzy - there is a lightness, an effortlessness to her, although she still has her issues.  And I loved Connor - his devotion to his daughter, especially.  And the two of them together?  Pure chemistry.  These two spark from the moment they meet; it's so obvious they belong together, but there could be major repercussions for the show.  I was anxious to find out how it would all work out, and the ending just had me smiling the biggest, cheesiest grin.  4.5 stars

* This post contains affiliate links; I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Husbands & Lovers

Can't-Wait Wednesday is hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings and helps us spotlight upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating!

Husbands & Lovers

Beatriz Williams

Expected publication date: June 25, 2024

Two women—separated by decades and continents, and united by a mysterious family heirloom—reclaim family secrets and lost loves in this sweeping novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Summer Wives.

New England, 2022. Three years ago, single mother Mallory Dunne received the telephone call every parent dreads—her ten-year-old son Sam had been airlifted from summer camp with acute poisoning from a toxic death cap mushroom, leaving him fighting for his life. Now, in a search for the donor kidney that will give her son a chance for a normal life, Mallory’s forced to confront two harrowing secrets from her past: her mother’s adoption from an infamous Irish orphanage in 1952, and her own all-consuming summer romance fourteen years earlier with her childhood best friend Monk Adams—now one of the world’s most beloved singer-songwriters—a fairytale cut short by an agonizing betrayal.

Cairo, 1951. After suffering tragedy beyond comprehension in the war, Hungarian refugee Hannah Ainsworth has forged a respectable new life for herself—marriage to a wealthy British diplomat, a coveted posting in glamorous Cairo. But a fateful encounter with the enigmatic manager of a hotel bristling with spies leads to a passionate affair that will reawaken Hannah's longing for everything she once lost. As revolution simmers in the Egyptian streets, a pregnant Hannah finds herself snared into a game of intrigue between two men…and an act of sacrifice that will echo down the generations.

Timeless and bittersweet, Husbands And Lovers draws readers on an unforgettable journey of heartbreak and redemption, from the revolutionary fires of midcentury Egypt to the moneyed beaches of contemporary New England. Acclaimed author Beatriz Williams has written a poignant and beautifully voiced novel of deeply human characters entangled by morally complex issues—of privilege, class, and the female experience—inside worlds brought shimmeringly to life. - from Goodreads