4 Great Book Recommendations with "One" Theme: Drather B Reading Book Club #4

I’ve had a lot of book recommendations before, but how fun to have a themed book recommendation.

In this post, all these titles have ONE thing in common. I’ll give my top recommendation at the end.

A DIFFERENT BOOK REVIEW THIS MONTH

This summer has been crazy, and I could not settle on a book to do for the Drather B Reading Book Club this month. I thought about doing a Terry Brooks fantasy or an historical nonfiction by Corrie ten Boom, but nothing jived for me. In looking through the books I’ve read so far this year, I was shocked that it totaled twenty-one.

I said to myself, “Irene, (that’s what I call myself) what if you listed all the books you’ve read, and gave a top three?” I answered myself, “Self, that’s a great idea.” As I sat down to start writing and noticed the themes from the beginning of my summer reading, I changed my mind.

ACCIDENTAL THEME

In looking for a summer-reading book on Amazon Prime (free books. Yeah, baby!), I came across a book called “One Day Last Summer”. I really enjoyed it and decided to read another free book by Shari Low, “One Day with You”. Upon finishing that book, I found another book that sounded interesting, by Samantha Tonge, “Under One Roof”. At this point, I did not see the connection. When I went to my library and saw all the book covers lined up together, I laughed. They all had ONE thing in common. So I had to choose one more just for the fun of it: “In Just One Day” by Helen McGinn.

Here’s a little about each book and a short review. I’m not going to give a bio on the authors this time, just to save writing time. Goodreads is a great place to find out more about authors and keep track of your reading. I highly recommend it.

“ONE” THEME BOOKS

Here are four stories that are all book recommendations for your reading list.

“One Last Day of Summer”

Shari Low tackles multiple point of view like nobody’s business. In this story, an airplane takes off for St. Lucia. Four strangers sit next to each other, not by choice, but by chance and a last-minute change of seats. Their destinies get intertwined as they realize they have more in common than they expected. I wrote my own version of this book description, because I wanted you to know more than the author gave out on other websites.

Tadge is a rock star, traveling to meet his fiancé for their wedding at a fancy resort, but an intercepted text message from her leaves him wondering if her vows have been broken before they’re even spoken.

Bernadette, a middle-aged woman, is taking a trip her controlling ex-husband planned (unbeknownst to her) before his death. Her kids convince her to go with a friend, but when that friend cancels, she’s left to face this adventure alone.

Dev is taking his future in his hands. He’s writing his first book about a guy who travels to an island to chase down a woman he fell in love with at first sight. That guy is him. Will she return his affections and create a happy ending for his book?

Hayley can’t get pregnant, and she’s married to a top fertility doctor. When he changes seats to sit in first class, her new seatmates come to her rescue. Although her flight is saved, can her marriage be?

I loved the premise of this book — how the entire story takes place in one day and mostly one flight. The characters, and voice of each, are very well done, considering they’re so different. How their lives intertwine is very imaginative. There’s a very interesting twist at the end with Dev that I did not see coming. Her supporting characters are also interesting and add depth to the story.

“One Day with You”

Another multiple point of view book that will leave you desperate for every character in the story. The ending is unexpected!

One day, five lives, but whose hearts will be broken by nightfall?

It started like any other day in the picturesque village of Weirbridge.

Tress Walker waved her perfect husband Max off to work, with no idea that she was about to go into labour with their first child. And completely unaware that when she tried to track Max down, he wouldn’t be where he was supposed to be.

At the same time, Max’s best friend Noah Clark said goodbye to his wife, Mya, blissfully oblivious that he would soon discover the woman he adored had been lying to him for years.

And living alongside the two couples, their recently widowed friend, Nancy Jenkins, is getting ready to meet Eddie, her first true love at a school reunion. Will Nancy have the chance to rekindle an old flame, or will she choose to stay by Tress’s side when she needs her most?

One Day with You – two fateful goodbyes, two unexpected hellos, and 24 hours that change everything.

This is an emotional read — at least for me. If you know me, you know I hate lies more than probably anything else. You might have a different perspective from your point of view. It is heartbreaking on so many levels. I ask myself, what would I do if I were in the shoes of any of these characters? I’m an empathic reader. I can only include this as one of my book recommendations to those who don’t get all worked up over cheating. It can be a trigger, for sure.

“Under One Roof”

This human-nature/romance/family relationship work of fiction story by Samantha Tonge is a full-circle story that leaves you analyzing the relationships in your life.

One forgotten discovery will change three women’s lives for ever…

Robin hasn’t been home for decades. After running away to London, she never expected to see her cantankerous mother, Faye, again. But when Faye has a fall, the two women are thrown together once more.

The years apart have not made their hearts grow fonder and the ground between them is unsteady. Then Robin finds an unopened scroll – the last of the treasure hunts her much-missed father used to take them on every Sunday. A hunt he believed might change everything.

Yet, not even this gift from her beloved father can smooth the way until Robin’s daughter, Amber, arrives to meet her grandmother for the first time. Amber is determined that the decades-old mystery be solved.

Can a 30-year-old treasure hunt really ‘change everything’?

I loved these characters so much! How much does the way we were raised influence the way we raise our kids? Do we emulate our parents or try to do the opposite? Are we bound to repeat the past even if we don’t intend to? These are all questions I asked as I read this book.

I have to add that the romantic subplot is just as dicey as the main plot. It’s not listed as a romance novel because that’s not the main storyline, but I think you’ll like it.

“In Just One Day”

Helen McGinn’s story of love, family relationships, loss, and forgiveness is definitely a book recommendation I can whole-heartedly give.

Everything can change – in just one day.

Flora has always adored her brother Billy. Born just 18 months apart, their childhood was spent like two peas in a pod – no one could separate them. Now, as adults, they remain the best of friends. And as Flora is immersed in family life, Billy is always there to lend a hand.

But, in just one day, everything changes.
In just one day, Flora’s life falls apart.
In just one day, Flora has to learn how to live again.

From the nostalgia of seaside Britain to the breathtaking beauty of Venice, in tears and laughter, join Helen McGinn for this emotional, uplifting and joyful story about love in all its guises. But above all, this is an unforgettable story of one little girl and the brother she adores.

I’ve experienced the death of a brother. The emotions depicted in this story are real. More family dynamics that leave you wanting to hug your family. As a side note, I want to learn more about wine, now.

MY TOP CHOICE BOOK RECOMMENDATION

Drum roll, please!

“One Last Day of Summer”

Although I enjoyed them all, this novel inched past the others for the top spot. I loved the twists and the ending. It was a bit more lighthearted than the others, and the main character’s defense of Hayley had me cheering.

THEME READING LIST

I realized there’s another theme to these book recommendations. They’re all British. It was fun reading different phrases and scenes in another country. If you’re looking for a theme reading list, I can recommend giving this ONE a try.

This theme was simply that all the titles had the word “ONE” in them. But you can choose other themes, as well. Books by one author. Stories that are all set in one setting, like outer space or on a deserted island. Maybe you’d like to set a theme of books where the main character has your name. I’ve never read with a theme in mind before, but maybe the next twenty-one books I read will have a theme. We’ll see.

YOUR TURN

Have you ever chosen a theme for the books you’re reading? What theme interests you? Here’s a suggestion: Choose a theme together as a family, and have each member select a book — picture book, middle grade, fiction, nonfiction. Whatever they like.

4 Great Book Recommendations with “One” Theme: Drather B Reading Book Club #4

A DIFFERENT BOOK REVIEW THIS MONTH

ACCIDENTAL THEME