Summer 2020 Book Recommendations

I have read a whole lot of books during the great quarantine of 2020. I can't recommend all of them, but some were a lot of fun or truly inspiring or educational. (I love learning new things – gotta keep that empty nest mind full)! If you are looking for Summer 2020 Book Recommendations, read on for the best of what I have found.

I have loved my Audible membership this past year. We have listened to books while traveling to see our kids and during the quarantine I would get in my car and drive around listening to books just to get out of the house. They are also great to listen to if you have a mindless task you are working on.

I have read (unless otherwise noted) every book on the list and have divided them into “Loved,” “Liked,” and “Wish I hadn't.” I am including many of the books I have read in 2020. I had a surprising number of duds this year. I won't include them all, but sometimes you need to tell people why they might not like a book as well as recommend good book.s

For more book recommendations:

50 Books by 50 Years Reading Challenge

10 Best Books for Empty Nesters

Summer 2020 Book Recommendations

This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, see the full disclosure in the foot bar.  

BOOKS I LOVED:

“The Late Show” by Michael Connelly

Michael Connelly introduces a new character, Detective Renée Ballard, in “The Late Show.” My husband and I started listening to the series on our trips to see our children this past fall and winter. These are fun detective books with great characters. Detective Bosch (of previous Connelly books and of the tv show) teams up with Detective Ballard in the 2nd and 3rd books. If you are a fan of the show, listen to the audible versions because Titus Welliver reads his part. LOVED!

“Maybe You Should Talk To Someone” by Lori Gottlieb

“Maybe You Should Talk to Someone” gives a candid look at the world of therapy through the eyes of Lori Gottlieb, who is both therapist and patient in this book. If you have ever been to therapy, thought about therapy, or have no idea about therapy, this book is for you. It is funny and poignant and often too-close-to-home. LOVED!

“The Unseen World” by Liz Moore

“The Unseen World” follows the life of Ada Sibelius, the shy daughter of a single and very eccentric father. After her father is diagnosed with alzheimers and is unable to care for himself, she learns that he is hiding a big secret. Her quest to unravel her father's past as she journeys through her life will keep you turning the pages. One reviewer says that the author takes too long to reveal the real story. But when she does, your jaw will drop. Your jaw will drop again when you finish the epilogue. LOVED!

“The Family Upstairs” by Lisa Jewell

I became a Lisa Jewell fan this year. I have read “The Family Upstairs,” “I Found You,” and “Watching You” this year. I LOVED “The Family Upstairs” and “I Found You.” I LIKED “Watching You.”

“The Family Upstairs” follows three characters, two in the present, and one from the past. Of course, you know they are all going to meet up in the end. Jewell writes great psychological thrillers that are not too rough or creepy. I noticed that another of her books, “Then She was Gone” is on the Amazon's best sellers list even though it was written in 2018, so of course, it is now on my list. LOVED!

“The Fountains of Silence” by Ruta Sepetys

I mostly loved “The Fountains of Silence.” It is a historical fiction novel that takes place in Spain. The book is full of interesting and unique characters including the teenage son of a Texas oil tycoon, a pair of impoverished Spanish grave diggers/bull fighters, and a hotel maid among others. The ending of the book is a little Hallmark Christmas movie-esque, but sometimes that is what we need. In between the fun characters and the cheesy ending is a great story. MOSTLY LOVED.

BOOKS I LIKED:

“The Giver of Stars” by Jo Jo Moyes

“The Giver of Stars” tells the story of the Packhorse Librarians of Kentucky, a group of women who deliver books on horseback to poor families. There was a lot to like about this book – an intriguing historical fiction story and mostly likeable characters. I found some of the characters a bit cliché and stereotyped and that is why I liked, but not loved this book. LIKED!

“Say You're Sorry” by Melinda Leigh

“Say You're Sorry” is the first book in the Morgan Dane series. Morgan is the widow of a man killed in Iraq. She is ready to go back to work as a prosecutor after taking time off to be with her children when she is dragged into a murder case when her neighbor is accused of a murder he did not commit. I really liked her character and would like to read more in this series. The story was a little predictable, but I can forgive that for good characters. This book was free in Kindle Unlimited, so that is a bonus. LIKED!

“The Killer Collective” by Barry Eisler

I listened to “The Killer Collective” on Audible. I don't think I would have liked it as much if I had read it. The author reads it himself. He is one of the best narrators I have ever heard. He moves seemlessly from character to character, convincingly voicing several accents. The story is of a an ad hoc group of former military, police, and spies who team up to take down a child pornography ring. LIKED.

“Bear Town” by Fredrick Backman

I would describe “Bear Town” as “Friday Night Lights” in the snow. It's small town hockey in Sweden and you quickly realize that Americans are not the only ones crazy serious about their kids' sports. Fredrik Backman writes beautifully and developes complex characters. There is now a sequel to this book featuring more hockey and more sports drama. LIKED.

BOOKS I WISH I HAD NOT READ:

“Strike Me Down” by Mindy Mejia

I wanted to read this book because the main character is a forensic accountant. As a former accountant it sounded interesting. The premise is that a kickboxing company with a world-renowed kickboxing star as the face of the company has lost $20 million. The more I read the book the more preposterous the whole thing became. The accounting firm never asked the most obvious questions: “Where is the money supposed to be and how is it missing?” “How do you go months on end thinking there are millions of dollars in a bank account when there isn't?” And “No one ever reconciled the bank statement?!!?” The main character is also in an open marriage. Maybe some would disagree, but I cannot fathom that this is really a happy situation. WISH I HAD NOT READ. 

I read a number of books that I would describe as merely “so so.” If you read a lot, it isn't possible to love every book you read. I wanted to give you a sample of the books I read. Use this list of Summer 2020 Books to Read to find something new for yourself. Be sure to comment below with the books you have loved, liked, and wished you had not read below.

More from Almost Empty Nest:

8 Must Follow Instagram Accounts for Empty Nesters

Are you on Instagram? If not, then grab yourself an account and start following these 8 Must Follow Instagram Accounts for Empty Nesters. Instagram is different than Facebook in that every post has a picture. It is very visual and is more about inspiring you than the sharing of opinions. (In that way alone, it can be a refuge from an onslaught of politics and other news when you need an escape from it.)

For more Empty Nest Resources:

Why Does an Empty Nest Make us Sad (and what to do about it)

The 10 Best Books for Empty Nesters

10 Things I Love About Being an Empty Nester

8 Must Follow Instagram Accounts for Empty Nesters

This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

The accounts below are accounts I follow and enjoy seeing what the owners are up to with their posts. Below I share what makes these accounts the best Instagram Accounts for Empty Nesters.

EMPTY NEST BLESSED

I love Suzy of Empty Nest Blessed. She shares fashion looks for women in our age group. She is as cute as can be and shares fun photos of herself wearing the clothes in different environments – sometimes in front of the mirror in her bedroom, sometimes around Dallas, Texas, and sometimes on her travels.

FABULOUS AFTER 40

Deborah of Fabulous After 40 is from Canada and wowza! I want to look like her when I grown up. She is some kinda gorgeous and her fashion sense is flawless.  Her look is very high end, but many of the clothes come from Amazon and Nordstrom Rack. She even has a story highlight with looks from Walmart.

FEATHERED EMPTY NEST

Lisa of Feathered Empty Nest is very relatable. She is sharing her journey of going gray and she is rocking it!! She shares pictures of her family and her hobby of axe throwing. (I may need to add that one toEmpty Nest Hobbies post.) One of her story highlights is of the “downsized” empty nest home she and her husband recently built. *Bonus: Another Instagram account with a gorgeous transition to silver hair is Amy Malott

JILL SAVAGE

Jill Savage is the author of the book “Empty Nest, Full Life: Discovering God's Best for Your Next.” You can see my review and other Empty Nest books at 10 Best Books for Empty Nesters. Her feed is full of encouragement and pictures of her with her husband and grown children.

EMPTY NEST JOY

Alexis of Empty Nest Joy is truly a joy to follow. She is upbeat, realistic, and will have you smiling in no time. She is single and features topics applicable to single empty nest women, as well as all empty nesters.

TEXAS OVER FIFTY

Brenda of Texas Over Fifty Encourages a lifetime filled with everyday intentional adventure.

MY SIDE OF FIFTY

Cathy of My Side of Fifty shows you how Jesus meets you in the encore years over 50 and she just started a podcast!

Almost Empty Nest

Yes, this is my account! I would love to have you as a follower and interact with you. I like to post pictures of my family and news of what is going on at Almost Empty Nest. Don't miss the latest happenings around here.

Join the Instagram fun and follow these Instagram Accounts for Empty Nesters with me!

Empty Nest Hobbies: Quilting

This is a guest post by Maria Gee of Scissortailquilting.

Hello, there! My name is Maria Gee from ScissortailQuilting. As part of Laura’s series on “Empty Nest Hobbies,” she invited me to tell you the story of how I became a quilter when I was an (almost) empty nester.

You might be thinking what I thought: Quilting is the stereotypical hobby for an empty-nesting mom. True. I won’t argue that. 

Now before you roll your eyes and snub the idea of quilting cause it’s for grandmas, hear me out on one thing:

Quilting was never on my radar.

Empty Nest Hobbies: Quilting

Empty Nest Hobbies: Quilting – My Story

Quilting would not have been my hobby of choice 15 years ago

I vividly remember a friend of mine talking about her quilting when my children were young. I didn’t get it, and it didn’t interest me in the least. But I was happy she had her hobby. On the day that I announced to my family that I was taking up quilting, I think I was the most shocked person in the room. You see, as our boys were growing up, my vision for the empty nest years was to take golf lessons and spend more time on the links with my husband. That was not to be.

While I have always been a crafty type, my tendency was to be a “quick and dirty” crafter. I mean, I love creating, but I tend to be an “instant results” type of girl. My husband can tell you that when it comes time to work on a project, I’m really good for about a day, but then I expect to knock that sucker off my list, losing patience if it goes past the “acceptable” time frame. My preconceived opinion (which was partially true) was that quilting was more of a “long game” type of pursuit, so I would have never thought it was for me. I will elaborate more on this later.

The other reason quilting came as a surprise was that I had a love/hate relationship with my sewing machine. When I was a child I loved ANYTHING that had to do with a needle and thread. When I was about 10 years old my mother taught me to use our old Singer sewing machine. I found it utterly fascinating. But somewhere in my teen years, the sewing machine came to symbolize things that I wanted to steer clear of.

Mainly memories of me and my mother nearly ripping out each other’s throats because I needed to rip out a seam or a zipper AGAIN! It reminded me of stressful times. So in my adult years, I would occasionally sew for the home, but I tended to stay away from projects that I thought might get complicated.

So how did I end up quilting?

It was the summer before our oldest son’s senior year in high school. After years of crazy frantic activity, I was so weary of my home feeling like it was in constant disarray. It needed some TLC. (I can feel you nodding your head and relating to me…) While attending football games, soccer tournaments and cello concerts, I would dream of how I was going to take back control of the ever-mounting piles of stuff in my boys’ rooms.

Don’t get me wrong: I knew I was going to miss them greatly when they left, but I was itching to get started on reclaiming the nest. Let’s just say that there is still a lot of nesting that goes on during those almost empty nest years!

I reasoned that I could get a jump start on it by making new curtains for their rooms. Then, I even thought that once I got my foot in the door, I might be able to make some early progress on the clutter. The only problem was that my sewing machine was broken.

Enter Miss Emma

That friend I mentioned earlier is my friend Emma, who is an avid quilter. She had graciously offered to let me borrow one of her sewing machines. When I arrived to pick it up, she invited me into her sewing room. I had never seen this part of her home, and I was a little awed to discover that her room was lined with ribbons from all the quilting awards she had won over the years. But I wasn’t surprised.

Empty Nest Hobbies: Quilting – My Pictures

My first quilt was a simple 9-patch design. I hand tied and “big stitch” quilted the sashing.

Empty Nest Hobbies: Quilting – My Mentor

I should tell you a bit more about Emma. Emma is a woman about 30 years my senior. One reason we are so close is that we were in the same Bible study group for about 10 years, and we also worked together as part of the Children’s Ministry at our church. She is dear to me for many reasons, but mainly because she “gets” me.

So many times she has pulled me aside in private to share a bit of wisdom. I’ve always been appreciative of this because each time it has been clear to me that she is paying loving attention to my life and noticing what is going on. It’s a rare find in today’s world to find a friend like that because so often people are more focused on their own worries. In many ways, she is my “other” mother.

As I lugged the machine out to the car, she asked me what I planned to make. “Just some curtains and maybe a tablecloth. Straight seams only. Nothing complicated,” I answered.

“You should try making a quilt,” she replied.

“I don’t think that’s ever gonna happen! That’s a little above my skill level.” I scoffed back.

“Well, perhaps, but it’s really only straight seams, too.”

I eagerly got to work sewing those curtains, but Emma had planted a seed. While I stitched along, I thought that a quilt would be nice to match those curtains. A sense of guilt kept gnawing at me for how dismissive I had been to Emma’s suggestion, as it was her passion. I thought to myself, “Emma has known me for a very long time. She “gets” me, and the least I should do is give it a try before I totally blow off something that means so much to her.”

BTW: Emma has a fantastic story for how she became a quilter, and it’s actually much better than mine. You can read all about it here: How My Friend Emma Overcame Adversity and Learned to Quilt

Just “Google” quilting

I decided to look on Google for quilting information, and thought maybe I could find some simple instructions for how to make a basic quilt. A quick internet search and I soon realized that there were many types of quilts in the world. Whenever someone mentioned quilts, my mind’s eye conjured up this image of quilts made with mismatched, worn fabrics and poorly coordinated colors. That image wasn’t exactly something I thought I would want in my home. But what I found in my google search was anything but that. It was a feast for the eyes!. I’m a graphic designer by trade, and the designs I was seeing were a delight. They were vibrant. They were interesting. They were fresh and modern.

I soon realized that there was a huge quilt revival happening on the internet, fueled mostly be the younger generation. They were organizing new guilds and online quilt alongs. The quilters I found were not only the traditional stereotype of old church ladies. They came from all walks of life and many of them were in the middle of raising children.

Empty Nest Hobbies: Quilting – My First Quilt

I decided to start with a simple 9-patch. My favorite color is black (oops…hope you don’t judge me too harshly for that!) and so I found some fabrics I liked in black, gray and citrine.

The “long game” process of quilting

I mentioned earlier that I did not consider myself a “long game” crafter, and quilting is a long-term process.  There is actually a well known company in the quilting industry called “Quilt in a Day.” I always thought that was kind of comical, because everyone knows that a quilt isn’t made in a day. But the truth is that the woman behind this particular company (Eleanor Burns) created many techniques in the 70’s that make quilting much faster than it used to be. Things like “rotary cutting” “chain piecing” and “strip piecing” have all revolutionized and made the craft speedier.

Getting started with making a quilt doesn’t need to be intimidating, either. There are plenty of beginner-friendly patterns that are much more interesting than my beginner 9-patch. A really good way to start is with a rag quilt or a simple log cabin.

Another thing I soon realized about quilt making is that the process can be easily broken up into various tasks, and most tasks can be “completed” in a single sitting. For example, you might spend a few hours one evening cutting your pieces. After that, you begin making blocks. Usually several blocks can be made in an evening. A few weeks later, you’ll start putting those blocks into rows. Next, you’ll sew those rows together and maybe add a border. Then, you’ll make a “quilt sandwich” and then “quilt the quilt.” Finally, you’ll attach a binding. Breaking the task down like this helped me feel like I was finishing something along the way even though the quilt might have a long way to go. I realized early on that an entire quilt was easily completed step-by-step in usually 4-6 weeks.

Empty Nest Hobbies: Quilting – But here’s why I really love quilting

As I made each block in that first quilt, I realized there was something oddly satisfying to me about the process. You take this perfectly good and beautifully designed fabric, you rip it apart, and hope that when you are finished putting it all back together and mixing it up with lots of other perfectly-good ripped up fabrics, you will end up with something beautiful.

It occurred to me that this was a bitter-sweet analogy for life. Often things have to come undone before they get better. Your family sometimes has to be “torn” apart before it can really grow. It clicked with me why so many empty nesting moms turn to the art of quilting.. We are at that point in life when we feel like all we’ve done for so long might just be coming undone. As those children leave the home we need to believe that it’s actually growing into something better.

Always learning and always sharing

I jumped in with both feet, eager to learn everything I could about quilting, and never looked back or regretted that choice. Emma was a great source of information during those first years. She would take me to all the quilt shops and quilt shows, pointing out things I should notice, sharing a little tip or quilting strategy. She even helped me research and replace my old broken down sewing machine. Best of all, she introduced me to the the quilt guild and to many quilters in my area, who are a wonderfully supportive bunch. Not only had I gained a new hobby, but I gained a whole new community of friends.

About a year after I started my quilting journey, I was laid off from my job, and before I found full-time employment, I took a part time job at a quilting shop. This catapulted me into the quilting industry and exposed me to an even deeper level of quilting knowledge much quicker than I would have been able to acquire on my own.

It’s been nearly nine years since I started my quilting journey. These days I primarily focus on creating what my kids call “the world’s greatest quilting website” where I share what I know with other’s in the quilting community. One thing I can say for sure: It keeps me learning and I never get bored!

Do you think quilting might the right hobby for you?

I’d encourage you to start off like I did, with a simple internet search to just take a peek into all the possibilities that are out there. And, if you want to learn more, please stop by ScissortailQuilting.com to visit and explore.

For a list of over 50 Empty Nest Hobby Ideas: Empty Nest Hobbies

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Summer Must Read Books

I love to read all year, but the summer offers more occasions to curl up with a good book. Whether you are able to take a vacation or are reading in your backyouard or on your couch, find a book from this list of Summer Must Read Books.

For more ideas:

50 Books by 50 Years Reading Challenge

Summer Must Read Books

This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, see the full disclosure in the foot bar. 

“The Next Right Thing” by Emily P. Freeman

“The Next Right Thing”: This book came as the result of Emily P. Freeman's podcast by the same name. She addresses the question of how to make a decision when we are unsure of the best path. Sometimes there is no clear cut path, no sign received, no clarity…. What is Emily's advice? “Simply do the next right thing.” This book helps us deal with our decision fatigue and be more confident that everything is going to be ok. My book is underlined, and dog-eared.

“The Struggle is Real, But So Is God” by Misty Phillip

“The Struggle is Real”: Misty Phillip has truly been there in the trenches – no pat answers or platitudes from her. This is a meaty Bible study full of scripture. It is a 6 week study full of God's promises to you to help you in the struggles of life. I was privileged to be on her launch team and thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Misty and the other gals who went through the study for the first time. 

“30 Days with John by Leah Lively”

“30 Days with John”: Leah leads you through the book of John by allowing you to read and explore without too much commentary or drawing the conclusions for you. This would be a great Bible study for morning (or anytime) devotions. Lot of space to fill in your answers and enjoy your journey.

What is Next on My List for the Summer?

“Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens

“Where the Crawdads Sing”: This book is next on my list. I just finished “Next Year in Havana” today. Plan to start on this tomorrow!

Update: Finished this book. Loved it!!! Not sure how I feel about the ending, but overall loved the book.

“Ask Again, Yes” by Mary Beth Keane

“Ask Again, Yes”:  I am about 2 chapters into this book. So far, pretty intriguing. Two New York City police officers and their families live next door to each other in the suburbs. 

What I am Pre-Ordering

“The Middle Matters” by Lisa-Jo Baker

“The Middle Matters” comes out in July, but I am pre-ordering it now. Lisa-Jo Baker welcomes us to midlife and shares why this part of life may be the best! 

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