Happy end-of-summer! It’s bittersweet for us. We shipped our youngest off to college, leaving our nest empty and quiet, except for the muffled sounds of a woman crying. Don’t worry, though. A funny “consolation” prize—I now care for a fish tank. Plus, I’ve funneled my energies into writing, author stuff, and my best summer reads. Keep reading to get to all the good stuff (that is, awesomeness).
One note about dropping your baby off at college… It may be why God created sunglasses. I mean, sure—sunglasses block harmful UV rays and make it easier to see on a sunny day. Yada, yada. But I have never been more appreciative of sunglasses than during the fifteen-minute walk from my daughter’s dorm room to the car after saying goodbye. Instead of witnessing a middle-aged woman and her embarrassing sob-fest, the crowds only saw a cool middle-aged chick smartly protecting her eyes from those vicious UVs. Thank you, sunglasses.
More things to be thankful for… check out my awesome news:
- My new contemporary romance, One Thing Better, comes out on October 24! Preorder now to lock in the eBook launch price of $.99!
- Prefer print? Preorder from Barnes & Noble. Or buy from Amazon on October 24th.
- Check out the glowing reviews! Here are some highlights from Goodreads reviewers:
- “Ben might be one of my top 5 favorite book boyfriends. Everything that comes out of his mouth is swoon-worthy and would make any woman weak in the knees.”
- “This is one of the more enjoyable romance novels I have read in a long time.”
- “WOWWWWW! I’m literally speechless over this book. I’m beyond thrilled that this books main character, Lena Buckley, was a woman with anxiety who was very open about it throughout the book. Anxiety is not talked about enough, so to be able to live through a character that has it makes me feel like I’m not alone. I’ve never related to a book character more than I did with Lena.”
- “If you read one book this year, make sure it’s ONE THING BETTER by Jessica Sherry. This book simultaneously broke my heart and soothed my soul. It was beautiful, captivating and utterly brilliant.”
- Speaking of Goodreads, win a free ebook in our giveaway!
- I’m an Insta-fan of Instagram! As someone with social media anxiety, finding my niche felt impossible… until now. Instagram is so positive and encouraging. This is where my book people are, and it’s easy to connect. Are you on it? Let me know so I can follow you, and follow me @ jessicasherry_books
- Is Delilah Duffy getting a facelift? Stay tuned for more on a rebranding of my favorite amateur sleuth… The complete series is now available, though, if you’re looking for an end-of-summer mystery binge.
And speaking of great books, here are my best summer reads:
- In Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan, a scriptwriter & divorced mom of two falls for a famous movie star. But can a relationship between a superstar and a small-town supermom ever work? Or make a great novel? Hmm… YES! Read my full review here.
- The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren is just FUN. When a romance writer who’s never been in love suffers from writer’s block, there’s only one thing to do—go on a dating reality show. Read more…
- The Night of Many Endings by Melissa Payne is The Breakfast Club for adults set in a library in a storm… Read more…
- All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover is a marriage-in-trouble story that’s gritty and heartbreaking. Colleen Hoover has, once again, monopolized my mental energy and left me unable to sleep (in the best way). Read more…
- Every Summer After by Carley Fortune is about the one that got away. And there are so many great tropes at play here… the girl next door, friends to lovers, second chance, soul mates, long-distance, coming of age. Read more…
- For more lighthearted romances, check out these fun escapes.
See? That’s what happens when your baby goes off to college—a serious book addiction. Help me feed it by sending me your recommendations.
Finally, here’s a quote that helped me this week:
“Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning.” – Gloria Steinem
Here’s what I’m planning/dreaming for next week… Let’s talk about Tangled, TikTok, & Other Places to Find Inspiration. Plus, more books. Always more books.
Stay Cool & Keep Reading,
Jessica
