Sincerely Reading

Sincerely Reading is a reoccurring feature on the blog. When it’s not one of my book recommendations, it will be a friend’s. This week I’m sharing a Here’s to Us book review.

Title: Here’s to Us by Elin Hilderbrand

Summary: Three romantic rivals. One crowded house. Plenty of room for jealousy.

Laurel Thorpe, Belinda Rowe, and Scarlett Oliver share only two things; a love for the man they all married, Deacon Thorpe–a celebrity chef with an insatiable appetite for life–and a passionate dislike of one another. All three are remarkable, spirited women, but they couldn’t be more different. Laurel: Deacon’s high school sweetheart and an effortlessly beautiful social worker; Belinda: a high-maintenance Hollywood diva; and Scarlett: a sexy southern belle floating by on her family money and her fabulous looks. They’ve established a delicate understanding over the years–they avoid each other at all costs.

But their fragile detente threatens to come crashing down after Deacon’s tragic death on his favorite place on earth: a ramshackle Nantucket summer cottage. Deacon’s final wish was for his makeshift family to assemble on his beloved Nantucket to say good-bye. Begrudgingly, Laurel, Belinda, and Scarlett gather on the island as once again, as in each of their marriages, they’re left to pick up Deacon’s mess. Now they’re trapped in the crowded cottage where they all made their own memories–a house that they now share in more ways than one–along with the children they raised with Deacon, and his best friend. Laurel, Belinda, and Scarlett each had an unbreakable bond with Deacon–and they all have secrets to hide.

Before the weekend is over, there are enough accusations, lies, tears, and drama to turn even the best of friends–let alone three women who married the same man–into adversaries. As his unlikely family says good-bye to the man who brought them together–for better or worse–will they be able to put aside their differences long enough to raise a glass in Deacon’s honor? (via Amazon)

On a Scale of “Don’t Bother” to “Couldn’t Put Down”: Pack it for vacation.

Why? This book is a quick read but will keep you entertained as you turn the pages. I had specific characters that I liked best and kept barreling through to try to get to their chapters again so I could check back in on their grieving process. (It might be a quick read, but it’s not exactly light! Everyone is battling their own inner demons.)

I also was interested in the story because the main character was a reality star before “reality TV was a thing.” Since I’m a reality TV-aholic, I enjoyed this fictional character and imagining what people knew about his real life through his TV shows, then getting a peak into his real life through the book.

If someone likes ________, they’d like this book:

• Books told from multiple POVs. Each chapter is narrated by a different character and gives you a peak inside their grieving process and connection to the deceased main character.
• Cooking. Being that the book is about a famous chef, there are multiple recipes scattered throughout the book that actually sound quite good! Bring this along on vacation and whip something up that’s reminiscent of Nantucket summers, as described in the book.

Drop me a note if you’d like to review a book in an upcoming post. You can find more of my book recommendations on my Goodreads page. Follow along!