1. Truly nothing makes me happier in life than this book reading season.

2. The most stunning strawberry tiramisu.

3. Max asked me seriously the other day if I “have to work in the summer.” Ha!

4. 10 ways to simplify your life.

5. TV things!! The end of Your Friends and Neighbors – perfect. Also watched Overcompensating and loved it. Oh also started The Better Sister!

6. Speaking of, the only reason I had any time to do any of those shows is because I had 1200 loads of laundry to fold. Why does kids laundry run my life?

7. Is there a time and a place to suck it up? Good read.

8. What to never take to a dinner party! From the goat.

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It’s one of my favorite reading months of the year! Ohhhh there are so many great books out right now. I am really looking forward to the summer months.

I read some wonderful ones this month. I also shared my giant summer reading list, which is my favorite thing ever.

Can’t wait to hear what’s on your list.

I do have a book of the month membership – I love it so much. I read SO many books from this box. I get so many of my new releases and debut author books there. You can sign up for one here.

Most of these books are linked through bookshop (if available!) and I highly suggest shopping through there because it will support your local indie bookstore. You can choose the local bookstore to support! I support Penguin Books when I buy which is my fave here in Pittsburgh.

Okay, keep me posted on what you’re reading below!

WHAT I READ IN MAY 2025

The Names – 4.5 stars

I ordered this in my book of the month box and it was excellent. This story is stunning and heartbreaking and one that I could not put down. I had to know what happened. We meet Cora who is trying to escape an abusive husband and has to name her newborn son. She and her daughter want different names and the book goes off based on which name the son would have. The storyline can be a little confusing and I really had to pay attention (I think it would be difficult on audio), and some scenes were absolutely hard to read and devastating.

One Golden Summer – 5 stars

O.M.G. – Every Summer After is one of my favorite books ever and I didn’t think this could compete. It absolutely did and I loved it JUST as much. This is Charlie’s story – the brother from the first book – and it is incredible. Funny, heart warming, a storyline with a grandma – it’s lovely and such a feel good and thoughtful book. I adored it and am so sad it’s over.

The Griffin Sisters Greatest Hits – 3.5 stars

Jennifer Weiner is a must read for me every summer and and has been for almost 20 years. This was super cute and I loved the 2000s nostalgia (obviously). We follow a pop star sisters who shoot to fandom and then break up and disappear. It does give Daisy Jones vibes but I loved the timing of it all and the 90s/2000s references. Cute and was definitely hard to put down.

My Favorite Bad Decision – 5 stars

Oh how I LOVED this. It was so, SO good. Our female lead is forced to climb mount kilamanjara by her father (right? weird?) and ends up on the trip with a previous crush. It’s an enemies to lovers, sort of a second chance romance (kind of) trope and I adored it. I was afraid I wouldn’t – the climbing storyline did not interest me – but oh my gosh it was FABULOUS. Spicy but not until at least 60%+.

The Last Trip – 4 stars

Oooh this is a twisty one. I was almost afraid to read it because the story follows a couple on their babymoon. It is definitely crazy and not something I would normally pick up but I was craving a thriller. There is a twist that happens with the husband, the owners of the cabin – it’s a bit crazy but definitely something you can’t stop reading. I had to know what happened!

Problematic Summer Romance – 4 stars

Just finished this over the weekend and I really liked it so much. At first I thought it was a little cringe – it is a (big) age gap romance and the constant talk of him knowing her as a child, her childish behavior, etc – I didn’t think I would get past it. It made me feel a little weird, ha. But I love Ali Hazelwood books soooo much and this one did not disappoint. The setting was stunning and incredible.

Definitely Better Now – 3 stars

Another book of the month find. In this one we follow Emma who is a year sober after she stopped drinking and following the program. She is very young so it is from a different perspective and at time it seemed all over the place but I ended up really liking the ending! The character development really is wild and the ending is promising after some trainwreck scenes (ha IYKYK). It was very raw and real!!

The post What I Read In May 2025. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

With my three favorite cuties.

Last day of school for this little nugget!

He LOVED school this year.

And loved even more when I could come to his parties.

He got so big!

No idea how this is my BABY.

Speaking of babies… little ducklings on our morning walk!

Floor is lava in the gym.

Start ’em young!

Jordan is obsessed with doing the laundry. LOVES it.

Summer hockey!

End of school celebrations!

Love.

He kills me.

And then… LAST DAY OF SCHOOL for the big kids! I swear Max is thrilled.

Emilia just loves him SO much.

Basically an adult!

Likes to act like a granny. Thanks Bluey.

Lovebugs.

Friends birthday celebrations!

And baby BFF dance recital!

Cutest.

<3 <3 <3

The kids’ newest favorite place is the cheesecake factory. Is it 2003?

Oh well I don’t mind!

Seeing the Skenes rookie card.

This girl lives for Claire’s junk.

Eddie requested steak sandwiches!

Annnnd night game baseball in the super cool weather. Feels like fall!

The post A Week In The Life, Vol 22. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

A peek at everything I loved in May 2025!

FOOD

Go raw snacking granola. My favorite granola is still the cookie granola, but this comes in as a close second. It is SO good! Super crunchy, tastes amazing. The kids love it too.

San pellegrino CIAO sparkling waters. I think I’ve mentioned different sparkling waters every month recently, but we are all loving these ones. They are san pellegrinos version of spindrift and so delish.

Johnnypops rainbow popsicles. My kids adore these! They are so refreshing. We are fans of every flavor.

HOME

Dock and Bay beach towel. My favorite quick drying towel that I take EVERYWHERE. It folds up so small and can go in any bag for the kids.

Wood serving bowl board. Got this a few weeks ago and used it all weekend for hosting. It’s so nice.

Clipa bag hanger. Many times, I forget about my favorite bag hanger! But this is a must if you have a top-handle bag that doesn’t have a strap – it’s perfect for hanging the bag right next to you so you don’t have to put it on the floor.

Hulken bag. End of the school year when I remind you just HOW MUCH I love this freaking bag. It does everything and is also great for travel. I got them for the end of year teacher gifts this year again. Huge hits!! Costco apparently has a dupe, but I haven’t tried it yet.

BEAUTY

Laniege lip glaze in strawberry sprinkle. Another month, another mention of this. It’s my go-to right now. I have one at home, my car, in my bag, etc.

Byoma nourishing body oil. Basically I want to say Byoma everything!

Prequel moisturizing milk. This lotion is SO smoothing. I wouldn’t suggest using it right after shaving (def burned my legs!) but otherwise it’s incredible. And so light but moisturizing at the same time.

JVN Blowout styling milk. More milk… ha. This is for hair and it’s super lightweight – I use it on both my own hair and Emilia’s. I take a small amount and work it through when damp before blow drying. It doesn’t weigh hair down at all.

FASHION

Wide leg palazzo pants. Obsessed with these pants with a tank top or tee. They are so comfortable, flattering and not too long! Being only 5″1′ that is key. If you’re tall they might be too short, just FYI.

Crochet tank tops. Super cute for the season – I got one in black and pink!

Tie dye summer maxi dress. I’ve found a lot of easy casual dresses on amazon this month that I love, and this is my fave. I live in dresses in the summer and I’ve found a ton that are just simple, light and flowy and that I can throw on. They are polyester so it’s not the best material but it feels fairly silky and looks cute and flowy!

Slim nude flip flops. These are SO comfortable – they are the slim flip flops but with memory foam! So much more comfortable than other versions I’ve tried over the years.

MEDIA

My Favorite Bad Decision. Best read of the month, hands down. And I read SO MANY GOOD ONES this month!!

The Dating Detectives podcast. One of you recommended this to me last month and I LOVE it.

KIDS

Girl’s athletic shorts. Emilia needed new gym shorts for school and I ordered a pair of these – she ADORES them! They have tights under, a tennis ball pocket and are so super cute.

Dinosaur autobrush. Jordan has loathed brushing his teeth from day one. This doesn’t replace his regular brush, but this has made him LOVE brushing his teeth in the morning and night! I wish I had found it two years ago.

The Lord of the Rings box set. Max is currently reading this and this is the set we have. We have the paperback, but I kind of want to get him the hard copies!

The post May Favorites. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

1. Obsessed with these key lime pie bars!

2. I am still in love my with oura ring. Just an FYI.

3. How to slow down your summer. Obsessed.

4. I want to make a goal of eating outside at least three times a week this summer.

5. I totally agree that jalapeños seem less spicier these days.

6. TV things!! I watched all of Sirens – oh so good! I love Julianne Moore. And the episode of Your Friends and Neighbors was so good!

7. A working mom’s tips on how she reads so many books!

8. New podcast love alert: The Dating Detectives. One of you mentioned it and I almost binged the whole thing already. It’s like really excellent versions of catfish.

9. I live in dresses in the summer (they’re just so easy) and have found SO many good ones on amazon the last two seasons. Very pleasantly surprised at how these fit + the quality!

The post Tuesday Things. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

And we had a packed one.

On Monday I got to go on Emilia’s field trip.

We went to a dairy farm and it was awesome.

Super fun learning about everything!

Festive season.

The kids’ favorite night. I put this in front of them and they all eat 2 to 3 tacos each.

We also had our school field day… which got rained out and ended up in the gym.

Hockey always!

Obsessed with this boy.

End of school conferences!

Love.

Got a hot chocolate and muffin treat!

Max requested legit breakfast.

Still making my lemon butter chicken from everyday dinners constantly.

Baby Lucy!

She is absolutely obsessed with Max.

Snacks I made for the weekend.

And red white and blue candy salad.

The real MVP of the snacks though.

Cousin lunch.

Today we went to our annual memorial day parade.

Parade ready!

Red white and blue!

Cousins brought donuts!

Almost all the cousins.

Our weather has been so beautiful this weekend!

Jordy looooves watching this.

Then more snacks.

And all the picnic food!

Summer food season!

Cutie cousons.

Just a casual cook. And now we’re into our last few days of school!

The post A Week In The Life, Vol 21. Memorial Day Weekend! appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

It’s time! I love to kick off Memorial Day Weekend with my summer reading list.

This is one of my favorite days of the year. Oh my gosh – there are SO many great books this year. My list doesn’t even cover them all. I am so excited about all of these reads for the season! I reference this list all summer long and it saves me if I’m unsure of what to start reading.

The first half of the list is full of books that are already released, with the second half in order by release date. There are some weeks where I just can’t even wait for a new release. I have 99% of the books linked below to bookshop.org. If you are able to purchase the books through bookshop, it would mean so much to me! Bookshop supports YOUR local independent bookstore. To me, bookstores are MAGICAL. I walk in and instantly feel like I’m in a Nancy Meyers movie and could stay there all day.

If you prefer to purchase on amazon, I’ve also made a 2025 summer reading list shop here for easy access.

Also! If you’re new around here, my go-to reads and favorites picks are most types of women’s fiction. Light, fun, beachy reads are my #1 choice. I love to listen to nonfiction, memoirs and autobiographies on audible. I like thrillers, but have a few triggers that I stay away from. I read to escape, to get lost in the story, to feel like the characters are my friends. And I actually love the day after I finish a great book and can’t even stand to start a new one because I’m mourning my new (character) friends. It’s the best worst feeling.

I can’t WAIT to hear your recommendations in the comments, what you’re reading now and what’s on your list!

MY 2025 SUMMER READING LIST

Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune

Parents Weekend by Alex Finlay

Crash Landing by Annie McQuaid

Summer Light on Nantucket by Nancy Thayer

Back After This by Linda Holmes 

The Page Turner by Viola Shipman

My Friends by Fredrick Bachman

A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay

The Seven O’Clock Club by Amelia Ireland

The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner

Love Camera Action by Noel Stark 

The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff

Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

The Love Haters by Katherine Center

You Make My Heart Stop by Becky Hunter

Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez

Swept Away by Beth O’Leary

Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory

Dying to Meet You by Sarina Bowen

The Last Ferry Out by Andrea Bartz

What Happens in Amsterdam by Rachel Lynn Solomon

What Will People Think? by Sara Hamdan

Wild and Wrangled by Lyla Sage

What If I Never Get Over You by Paige Toon

Can’t Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan

My Best Friend’s Honeymoon by Meryl Wilsner

The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits by Jennifer Weiner

Home of the American Circus by Allison Larkin

Saltwater by Katy Hays

Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall 

The Tenant by Frida McFadden 

Fun for the Whole Family by Jennifer E. Smith

Maine Characters by Hannah Orenstein

The Influencers by Anna-Marie McLemore

Speak to Me of Home by Jeanine Cummins

The Names by Florence Knapp

What If It’s You by Jilly Gagnon

The Guilt Pill by Saumya Dave

One Death at a Time by Abbi Waxman

The Perfect Divorce by Jeneva Rose

Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt

The Death of Us by Abigail Dean

We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough

Disco Witches of Fire Island by Blair Fell

Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle

 I Want You More by Swan Huntley

The Last Session by Julia Bartz

Tell Them You Lied by Laura Leffler (5/27)

The Busybody Book Club by Freya Sampson (5/27)

The Guest Cottage by Lori Foster (5/27)

The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly (5/27)

Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood (5/27)

Beach House Rules by Kristy Woodson Harvey (5/27)

Mansion Beach by Meg Mitchell Moore

It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan (5/27)

Worth Fighting For by Jesse Q. Sutanto (6/3)

So Happy Together by Olivia Worely (6/3)

The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater (6/3)

We Don’t Talk About Carol by Kristen L. Berry (6/3)

What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown (6/3)

Atmosphere: A Love Story by Taylor Jenkins Reid (6/3)

A Family Matter by Claire Lynch (6/3)

The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark (6/3)

Battle of the Bookstores by Ali Brady (6/3)

Eat Post Like by Emily Arden Wells (6/3)

The Other Side of Now by Paige Harbison (6/3)

Park Avenue by Renée Ahdieh (6/3)

The Catch by Yrsa Daley-Ward (6/3)

Flashlight by Susan Choi (6/3)

With a Vengeance by Riley Sager (6/10) 

The Last Illusion of Paige White by Vanessa McCausland (6/10)

Welcome to Murder Week by Karen Dukess (6/10)

The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb (6/10)

Confession of a Grammar Queen by Eliza Knight (6/10)

Great Black Hope by Rob Franklin (6/10)

Last Night Was Fun by Holly Michelle (6/10)

Far and Away by Amy Poeppel (6/10)

This Is Not a Ghost Story by Amerie (6/10)

The Nimbus by Robert P. Baird (6/10)

The Bachelorette Party by Camilla Sten (6/10)

Never Been Shipped by Alicia Thompson (6/10)

Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston (6/17)

Murder Takes a Vacation by Laura Lippman (6/17)

The Ripple Effect by Maggie North (6/17)

The Poppy Fields by Nikki Erlick (6/17)

Don’t Open Your Eyes by Liv Constantine (6/17)

I Did Warn Her by Sian Gilbert (6/17)

Someone Knows by Vi Keeland (6/17)

Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell (6/24)

Cruel Summer by Maisey Yates (6/24)

Finders Keepers by Sarah Adler (6/24)

The Accidental Favorite by Fran Littlewood (6/24)

Happy Wife by Meredith Lavender and Kendall Shores (6/24)

Sunny Side Up by Katie Sturino (6/24)

The Dark Library by Mary Anna Evans (6/24)

Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox (7/1)

The Art of Vanishing by Morgan Pager (7/1)

Summer on Lilac Island by Lindsay MacMillian (7/1)

The Spirit of Love by Lauren Kate (7/1)

Our Last Vineyard Summer  by Brooke Lea Foster (7/1)

The Woman in Suite 11 by Ruth Ware (7/8)

These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean 7/ 8 

Darling Beasts by Michelle Gable (7/8)

Totally and Completely Fine by Elissa Sussman (7/8)

The View From Lake Como by Adriana Trigiani (7/8)

This Stays Between Us by Sara Ochs (7/15)

Love is a Warsong by Danica Nava (7/22)

Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson (7/22)

Gracie Harris Is Under Construction by Kate Hash (7/29)

You Belong Here by Megan Miranda (7/29)

Mean Moms by Emma Rosenblum (7/29)

The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen (8/5)

Anywhere With You by Ellie Palmer (8/5)

Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings (8/5)

Too Old for This by Samantha Downing (8/12)

The Incredible Kindness of Paper by Evelyn Skye (8/12)

For the Record by  Emma Lord (8/12)

All the Tomorrows After by Joanne Yi (8/19)

One Dark Night by Hannah Richell (8/19)

The Battle of the Bookshops by Poppy Alexander (8/19)

Forget Me Not by Stacy Willingham (8/26)

The Academy Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham (9/16)

P.S. FOR OTHER READING RECOMMENDATIONS:

you can check out all of my reading lists here!

Especially my 2024 summer reading list, my 2023 summer reading list, 2022 summer reading list, 2021 summer reading list, 2020 summer reading list, 2020 fall reading list, 2020 winter reading list, 2019 fall reading list, 2019 winter reading list, my 2018 summer reading list and my 2017 summer reading list!

The post My Summer 2025 Reading List! appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

1. I can’t get enough of the trader joe’s aglio olio seasoning. I could probably go through one jar every two weeks.

2. These look like the most perfect migas. Making them!

3. It’s summer reading list week! Oh my gosh, maybe my favorite week of the year? Coming soon!

4. Sometimes I put this on a post it: buying stuff won’t make you happy!

5. TV things!! Your Friends and Neighbors is getting crazy!

6. Open calendar space is life-changing for me.

7. Jordan’s birthday is coming up and he keeps saying he wants a “head cake.” A cake with his face on it. Well okay!

8. Who to thank for diet coke. Hello, yes.

The post Tuesday Things. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

We had a packed one!

Little trip to the aviary!

He loves it so much.

Eggplant parm!

Rainy field trip for Max!

Jordan FELL ASLEEP IN THIS LAUNDRY BASKET!! He was playing and just took a nap…

Hockey camp!

Planting season.

The prettiest.

After school snuggles.

About to get a haircut.

Then we planted some herbs.

Obsessed with her.

Brunch picnic in the garage.

Fishing birthday party which he loved!

So super fun.

Many house salads this week.

First time in hot rollers!

I can’t handle it, haha.

But the curls fell out immediately!

Baby Lucy love!

We celebrated my niece’s first communion!

But Jordan had tickets to monster jam!

Highlight of life.

These cutie cousins!

Ice cream date.

And back on the birthday party circuit. New week loading!

The post A Week In The Life, Vol 20. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

1. I think we are eating two cantaloupes and two watermelons every week, at least. Whole family is obsessed.

2. All I want to make are these shiny crinkly brownies!

3. We’re having family reading time every morning as soon as school ends and I am so excited about it. 30 minutes every day… and I can’t wait.

4. Speaking of, I’m reading Carley Fortune’s newest and loving it! What are you reading? My summer reading list drops in less than two weeks!

5. I totally forgot about Target food courts!

6. TV things!! The end of Your Friends and Neighbors… ahhh! I also watched Nonnas (so cute) and the Deadly American Marriage on netflix.

7. What interior designers really think of Nancy Meyers!

8. I ask this like twice a year – what are your current favorite podcasts?! Esp true crime. Ha.

9. The melamine lazy susan above is something I use almost every single day. Major fave! I even take it on vacation now.

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