Our dear friends joined us for our last day at the lake. We played so hard all day and watched the sun set over the lake. Forever grateful for the best of friends.

Sunshine, family meals with everyone pitching in, playing games, rock paper scissors on the dock, playing pass, floating in the water.

I love lakes so much. Summer isn't summer without dedicated water time, especially in Washington. I love watching my kids play in the water, I love being in the water! What a lovely trip we had. And the weather was incredible!

One of my favorite things to do for the 4th of July is go to the Tricities and hang with our friends. Parade, BBQ, fireworks, movies, games, pool... everything wonderful! The kids all get along so incredibly well and despite the combined 9 children, Conor and I felt so relaxed all weekend. I'm so grateful for good friends!

• "The Other Mothers" by Katherine Faulkner
• "Woman of Light" by Kali Fajardo-Anstine
• "Welcome Home, Stranger" by Kate Christensen
• "The Fake Mate" by Lana Ferguson
• "This Time Tomorrow" by Emma Straub*
• "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho
• "Let Us Descend" by Jesmyn Ward
• "The Berry Pickers" by Amanda Peters*
• "The Last Love Note" by Emma Grey
• "How to Be Perfect" by Michael Schur
• "Part of Your World" by Abby Jimenez
• "A Heart That Works" by Rob Delaney
• "One Summer in Savannah" by Terah Shelton Harris
• "The Switch" by Beth O'Leary*
• "Cutting for Stone" by Abraham Verghese*
• "Family Family" by Laurie Frankel*
• "The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store" by James McBride*
• "Pineapple Street" by Jenny Jackson*
• "The Covenant of Water" by Abraham Verghese***
• "Becoming" by Michelle Obama*
• "Reign" by Katharine McGee
• "The House of Eve" by Sadeqa Johnson***
• "Beyond the Wand" by Tom Felton
• "In the Dream House" by Carmen Maria Machado
• "Just for Summer" by Abby Jimenez
• "Black Cake" by Charmaine Wilkerson*
• "The Henna Artist" by Alka Joshi
• "The Secret Keeper" by Alka Joshi
• "Funny Story" by Emily Henry
• "The Women" by Kristin Hannah*
• "The Perfumist of Paris" by Alka Joshi
• "Meet the Benedettos" by Katie Cotugno
• "I Have Some Questions for You" by Rebecca Makkai*
• "Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone" by Benjamin Stevenson
• "Within Arm's Reach" by Ann Napolitano*
• "The Invisible Hour" by Alice Hoffman
• "Rift" by Cait West**
• "North Woods" by Daniel Mason
• "Eligible" by Curtis Sittenfeld*
• "You Think It, I'll Say It" by Curtis Sittenfeld

Recording the books I've read every 6 months brings me so much joy! I looove to read! 2024 is off to a great start with 40 books read! And so many amazing books on this list. "The Berry Pickers" was so poignant.