letters from rita

Summer 2023 Notable Reads

- Stephanie Leave a comment

THE CANDID LIFE OF MEENA DAVE – Namrata Patel
Loved this one and felt particularly connected to it because I am also a photographer in Boston haha 🙂

Meena has inherited a gorgeous downtown Boston apartment from someone she doesn’t know. She is a world-traveler, so she pauses her normal life and goes to Boston try and figure out why it was left to her. Along the way she meets a quirky collection of aunties, a cute dog and an even cuter guy across the hall.

There was grief, self-discovery, good food, found family, beautiful imagery of the best city, and a sweet, slow love story. Just all the good feels.

SOMETHING WILD AND WONDERFUL – Anita Kelly
Loved. Outdoorsy, adventurous, strangers to lovers, loving yourself, finding yourself, spicy moments, found family, healing from religious trauma. Probably my fave of the year so far. Lex+Ben forever.

LOVE INTEREST – Clare Gilmore
(Out in October 2023)
Cutie workplace rom com set in NYC. Casey + Alex were good leads, each with some baggage and things to figure out, but their chemistry was great/spicy. Good banter and pop culture references. Casey’s internal monologues were a bit melodramatic at points. I typically find workplace stuff boring, but this was interesting, a mix of finance and creative department shop talk. The side characters were great — Miriam and Brijesh deserve their own story. Appreciated the food allergy representation!

LEIGH HOWARD and the GHOSTS of SIMMONS-PIERCE MANOR – Shawn M. Warner
Viral TikTok sensation // Interesting premise – Leigh goes to live with her distant relatives and meets the fabled ghosts who live there. Leigh is trying to solve her parent’s murder. The ghosts teach her some life lessons along the way (though it was much less about ghosts than I anticipated, and more about solving the murder.)
I liked the main character. She had her flaws (like too quick to trust people), but overall she was likeable and root-for-able, though I wish she was 20 instead of 16, the things that happened seemed a little far fetched for a 16 year old (and the cover illustrates someone much older).
I thought there were too many side characters. We didn’t really get to know anyone else besides Leigh and the little ghost. I wish Myra had more of a presence, she seemed like a cool person.
A little unbelievable at times (and not the ghost parts), but overall it was action-filled and had a light mystery throughout.
TW: self-harm, attempted suic*de, murder (in the past), gun use.

Some Fave Summer 2022 Books

- Stephanie 1 Comment

Bend Toward the Sun – Jen Devon

Thank you, Netgalley, for an ARC! // I really enjoyed this one! I liked the main characters, Rowan and Harry, as individuals, and together. I liked the slow burn, and the pining from Harry. I liked that they were flawed, but hopeful. (And yes, probably individually could use therapy to talk out their pasts, but don’t we all.) The flourishy, descriptive writing was a little wordy for me at times, but in other instances was exactly right. Rowan and Harry had some steamy scenes, a lot of sweetness and caring, and some heartbreaking moments.

This book has lots of nature, a magical greenhouse, a new winery, a big, cozy family, supportive friends, and even a farm donkey. Definitely recommend.

Holding Her Breath – Eimear Ryan

Beth is a college student trying to heal from a mental health breakdown caused by the pressure of being an Olympic hopeful for swimming. She is hesitant to make friends, but her roommate is adamant about introducing her to more people. Because of Beth’s lineage – the granddaughter of a famous Irish poet – the literary students (and professors) want to be her friends. She doesn’t actually know much about her grandfather, but all their interest has her more curious. So she sets out on a quest to learn more about him, while also learning more about herself and her family in the process.

This was a slow read for me, but it felt good. It felt important. There were lots of inner thoughts from the MC, and it was one of those “you have to read every line or you’ll miss a lot” type of book. (Is there a word for that?) No skimming allowed on this one haha! I’d recommend it! Includes Irish poetry, family legacy and secrets, and finding yourself after a mental health crisis.

The Guncle – Steven Rowley

Cute, poignant, hilarious. Patrick, Maisie and Grant are the cutest family.

Patrick is an actor who has garnered a name for himself in Hollywood. He is taking a hiatus from jobs when his best friend from college, turned sister-in-law after she married his brother, dies from cancer. His brother is in no shape to take care of his kids (grief + drug use) and checks himself into a rehab center, after asking Patrick to take care of the kids.

So Patrick does it. And as heavy and troubled as that premise sounds, this book was actually pretty funny. The way that sarcastic, cultured Patrick converses with his young niblings (Grant is 6, Maisie is 9) is hilarious. He teaches them about pop culture while learning how to care for their needs, from basic sun-screening, to dealing with big feelings and grief. And Patrick has his own history with losing a loved one, so he is an empathetic teacher.

Overall, a really great book.

The Summer of Broken Rules – K.L. Walther

This was such a fun, sweet, easy read, I flew through it in like 2 days. It was summer on the Vineyard, nostalgia, fun big family antics, sweet crushes, midnight hangouts, and a little sadness all mixed together.

Meredith visits her family’s vacation property on Martha’s Vineyard for the first time since her sister passed away. It’s her cousin’s wedding week and there are lots of new people to meet and hang out with. She is reluctant to be social, still feeling some grief of being there without her sister. But she meets the groom’s stepbrother, Wit, under funny circumstances, and they form a bond almost immediately. And boy, were Meredith and Wit sweeeeeeeet sweet sweet together.

Despite the grief involved, this book managed to feel like a breath of fresh air and nostalgia for those summer days of crushes and unfiltered family fun.

What have you read lately that you liked a lot?!

2022 Spring Reads

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Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo – Taylor Jenkins Reid
I finally jumped on the Evelyn Hugo bandwagon and she didn’t disappoint. I thought it was a fascinating story of career, love and trueness of self. I didn’t guess the twist exactly, but I had a feeling something was connected!

After I finished it, I couldn’t stop thinking about how, as humans, we truly have no idea what other people are going through unless they choose to tell us. It was a great reminder to take the media headlines with a grain of salt.

Ties that Tether – Jane Igharo

Almost immediately upon starting it, I really liked this book with it’s interesting, layered, diverse characters. Azere and Raphael’s chemistry was great from the start, especially when they reconnect at work.

The middle third of the book was hard to read. It is obvious that Azere respects her Nigerian culture, her mother and her late father, but also obvious that those things have a lot of boundaries and rules. At many points, her and her mom’s relationship was so toxic that it was uncomfortable to read about. I really wished Azere would have stood up for herself earlier on in the book.

Azere often goes back and forth in her thoughts about should she/shouldn’t she be with Rafael based on their cultures, race, ect, and that results in her and Raphael going back and forth in their relationship status. It takes both of their sisters and a best friend to encourage them to get their shit together and figure it out. And finally, she listens, and the scene when she confronts her mother is a turning point (but again, it felt like it happened too late in the book.)

The book ends hopeful, with strength and real connection. I recommend it.
The Magnolia Palace – Fiona Davis

Fiona Davis does it again! Her signature style of an impeccably-researched, dual perspective/timeline that eventually comes together answering all the many questions she has created through the story. I never fail to want to know more about the subject once I’ve finished reading, and the Frick Collection is no different.

I’ve read almost all her books (except the Address, but it’s on my shelf) and this wasn’t my fave fave of hers (those would be the Chelsea Girls and Lions of 5th Ave) but still such a good story with generous New York city history and big characters, like Lillian and Helen, who you want to know more about.
The Unsinkable Greta James – Jennifer E. Smith

This book was a lot of things, and when I was done, I was sad it was over.

Greta has finally made it as a rock star when her mom suddenly passes away. Her mom was her biggest fan and closest friend. Her dad was neither of those things for Greta. But her dad is still here and they are both grieving, so she reluctantly joins him on what should have been her parents’ 40th anniversary cruise in Alaska.

This is a story of stories. Of how Greta got to where she was in her career, of her upbringing and relationships, and through the stories of her past she is able to see how she can forgive her dad now. And he does some work on himself, too. Their conversations towards the end made me tear up. Simple words, but big feelings and breakthroughs.

Great side characters, a little bit of just-met-you-on-a-cruise lust, and lots of gorgeous Alaskan scenery imagery.

Creating just for yourself

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I had a moment the other day, while I was doodling in my sketchbook, when I realized how fresh, freeing and joyful it is to make stuff that you have no intention of sharing with the Internet. I was simply having fun on a Saturday afternoon, feeling the joy and freedom of experimenting and learning and making something with my hands.

Make, do, create … all while knowing that you’re not obligated to share every single thing with anyone. Art is for you, so get messy, experiment, have a grand old time without the fear of “who is going to like this?”.

photo: max vandenoetelaar

Napa Trip 2021

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Nate and I snuck out of town for 4 days in November. to one of our favorite spots, Napa Valley wine country. First time on a plane since January 2020, first time away from home for more than a night since January 2020. WOW. The feels.

I had gotten a quick tip from a friend who had been there a month before us that every winery was requiring reservations to visit. Some of them do anyways, even in precedented times, but in unprecedented times, they all did. So we called the hotel concierge and honestly, they did all the work for us. Booked wineries, booked restaurant reservations…. and yes, it was a little stifling for me knowing that there was no room for spontaneity, but I kept a clear head and it all worked out.

We arrived Thursday evening, got settled in our room, and then set out for Shadowbox. It was on a side road of downtown Napa, with couches on the sidewalk set up in a nice way. It was loud because of the nearby Main Street, but not annoying. Each wine was paired with gourmet savory chips – Hawaiian sea salt, Gouda, ribeye flavors – which are made in super small batches and hand-picked by the winemaker (who was the one serving us). We took home a chardonnay that was light and bright.

Our first stop on Friday was Model bakery in downtown Napa for an egg sandwich, after which we headed off to Inglenook. It was a lovely spot with pretty terraces and a large fountain in front of the huge stone building. We sat inside cellar-type room with a gorgeous glass/mosaic wall mural (still not sure what it was made if, but cool nonetheless). We had a bit of an awkward/over talkative host, but other than that, it was a good experience. They even checked our vax cards (the only place to do it). We bought a Cabernet, which was our 2nd favorite… our very favorite one was too expensive haha.

Then we hit up Heitz, which had unexpected farm vibes, and sheep welcoming us in. Our host brought us a glass of chardonnay upon parking, and then led us up to the tasting room on the second floor of the main barrel room. The space had nice tables, a big barn door and cool arched window. Our host was friendly, and even gave us an extra pour of the expensive cab. We brought home the 2015 cabernet.

Last on Friday was AlphaOmega, which we first visited in 2019. It was busier than last time, but still a relaxing experience in their large outdoor space near the fountains. We also saw the best sunset of the trip here. We brought a bottle home last time, so we didn’t get anything this time.

Started Saturday super strong with another egg sandwich from Model, and then a pretty drive to Tres Sabores. The garden/backyard vibes were immaculate, and it was overall just super gorgeous. We sat with the vineyards right in front of us and enjoyed the sunshine. It’s a woman-owned operation and all the staff are women as well. It was fun because the sheep and dogs were just hanging around, so we walked around in between pours and enjoyed the ambiance. Annnnndddd, we became club members 🙂 Our first club!!

Then we visited Bell. We had a tour and walked through the barrel room to learn a bit about their process. For the tasting we sat on patio, with the vineyard nearby. Honestly, it was kind of generic, and whenever I try to remember it, I have to really think about it. But we had a very friendly host who told us all about his origami hobby 🙂 And we bought a Merlot to take home.

Sunday began with a delicious brunch at Petit Soleil, UGH SO GOOD. And then went to Robert Sinsky winery. It was fancy, a little dressed up, but still felt laid back. We were sitting in a fig grove, and could see lemon trees and a ton of different flowers around us. It had a decent view, too. The wine was paired with a plate of fancy finger food made in-house by their chef. Got a bottle of Orgia and Pinot to take home.

After that, we had a reservation at Cade, which was wayyyy up the mountain, a twisty drive! It felt exclusive, but still comfortable. The main building had clean lines & cool design, like mid-century with a minimal nature look. Great view of valley and personable host who answered a lot of general wine country questions for us.

Our last winery visit was Peju. They outside was cool and had French castle vibes, but the tasting was inside and ended up being my least fave vibe. We sat on uncomfy stools and there were lots of fruit flies. But the host upgraded us to reserve wines because it was the end of the day, so that was cool. We got a unique red/white blend for home. We ended up having the hotel ship our 10 bottles home to us which was super easy and convenient to do!

Overall we had a great trip, much-needed for sure. It was weird to have to schedule everything, but we ended up doing most of what we wanted to do. And on top of the great wine, we ate a LOT of great food (shout out to Gott’s Roadside for the fish tacos thank you amen).

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