• Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
Up North Parent

Up North Parent

Simple Advice to Grow Your Business

  • Business
    • How to Start X
    • Productivity
    • Work From Home
  • Blogging
    • Blogging Advice
    • Social Media
  • Balance
    • Work-Life Balance
  • Kids

Our Summer Reading List Picks | Up North Parent Book Club

Books for Parents

Pin
Share

**These posts often contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy for details.**

The UpNoPa moms are all avid readers, even though our busy schedules oftentimes don’t allow for that luxury as often as we’d like! From fantasy to self-help, we all have varying tastes when it comes to reading material.

With that in mind, every month we’d like to share what is on our “already read” or “in the process of reading” lists to help you find new titles to add to your summer reading list. Enjoy!

Becky’s Picks and Past Favorites:

Wild by Sheryl Strayed (non-fiction): I love, love, LUV this book by Cheryl Strayed. If this doesn’t make you want to strap on a backpack and head for the Pacific Crest Trail to find yourself, I don’t know what will! Cheryl’s story of rising above devastating grief, divorce, addiction and poor self image via the rugged (and long) PCT trails is true inspiration and a killer read.

Wild by Cheryl Strayed

 

The Unmistakable Touch of Grace by Cheryl Richardson (non-fiction): This book is currently my book club’s choice and I haven’t had the chance to dig into it as much as I’d like. This book talks about how grace has transformed the author’s life and the stories shared throughout the pages are so inspirational! This book also helps the reader dig into their spiritual path; something that is harder for me than I thought!

Te Unmistakable Touch of Grace

The Shape of Us by Lisa Ireland (fiction): This book is EXTRA special to me because it was written by a long-time bestie who lives in Australia. Lisa and I have never met in person (we are working on changing that!) but we’ve remained friends for over 15 years. Lisa and I met via an online forum on miscarriage and loss and even became diet buddies. Lisa has pursued and mastered one of my life dreams of being a published romance writer. Though her books don’t have U.S. distribution yet, I was honored when she sent me her latest best-seller, The Shape of Us.

The Shape of Us

“A wonderful story, full of emotional depth and heart.” Rachael Johns

  • FOUR DIFFERENT WOMEN. THE SAME BIG PROBLEM. ONE MAGICAL SOLUTION?
  • Mezz is overweight and overworked: she’s convinced it’s only a matter of time until her husband starts to stray.
  • Jewels is fat and fabulous, but if she wants the baby she craves, the Tim Tams have to go.
  • Ellie’s life looks perfect to her London friends on Facebook: she keeps her waistline out of the photos and her loneliness to herself.
  • Kat will do anything to keep her daughter Ami happy and safe. If she can just lose that baby weight, she’s sure Ami’s dad will stick around.

In this heartwarming, heartbreaking story, four women who meet online in a weight loss forum learn that losing weight might not be the key to happiness, but believing in the ones you live – and yourself – just might be.

THANK YOU Lisa for being my friend and inspiration. Love you, girlfriend!

 

Believe, Ask, Act by Mary Ann DiMarco (non-fiction): This book is more “woo-woo” then I would normally read but so far this book is my FAV of 2017. Do you believe in spirit, signs and guardian angels? I always have and DiMarco’s book gave me insight and intuition about those three that I didn’t know I had! Plus it validated some pretty cool things that I already did know. Two thumbs up for Believe, Ask, Act!

Believe, Ask, Act

Beth’s Picks and Past Favorites:

Rising Strong by Brene Brown (non-fiction): I’ve got so much going on in my life right now, but this book is really helping me figure things out. I am becoming a braver woman, and calmer mom and just a better person. I also am part of the Rising Strong course, but haven’t worked through that as much (there’s so much more material to read through and ponder and WORK on!)

Rising Strong

Earth’s Children Series by Jean M. Auel (fiction): I started reading this series many years ago. I’ve always been drawn to that time in history and the story line kept me hooked from beginning to end. I recently found almost the entire series at a garage sale, so I am slowly working my way through them again. 

Clan of the Cave Bear Series

Never Unfriended by Lisa-Jo Baker (non-fiction): I’ve “known” Lisa-Jo for several years. She started Five Minute Fridays way back when, and I participated several times. She’s also very active with (In)courage. I knew I had to have this book when I heard about it because I grew up friendless, and as an adult, find it extremely difficult to have successful in-real-life friendships. A few of my online friends purchased the study guide for me, and we are going through that as a group each month. I wish every book came with a study guide! 

Never Unfriended

Laura’s Picks and Past Favorites:

Grace Not Perfection by Emily Ley (non-fiction): I have followed Emily Ley on social media for years, and love her approach to parenting and life in general. I was not disappointed with this book! Not only is it beautiful (it’s on display in my home), but it’s filled with simple, practical, and grace-filled words that breathed life into my weary soul. Motherhood is hard and amazing, and Emily gets it. I loved her clear writing style and practical life advice. I closed it, breathing a big sign of relief. I felt uplifted and encouraged after reading.

Grace Not Perfection by Ann Voskamp | Summer Beach Reads | Book Recommendations from Up North Parent | Summer Reading List

1000 Gifts by Ann Voskamp (non-fiction): I’ve been on a journey to live more intentionally and mindfully the last few years. Cultivating gratitude is a necessary part of that journey. That’s why I wanted to read 1000 Gifts by Ann Voskamp. I had heard wonderful things about it from my social media circles. It took me a few chapters to get used to Ann’s lyrical writing style, but once I did, I adored this book. It’s one of the few that I have on display on the bookshelf in my living room, along with Grace Not Perfection.

1000 Gifts by Ann Voskamp | Summer Beach Reads | Book Recommendations from Up North Parent | Summer Reading List

Anything by Kristin Hannah, but specifically Magic Hour (fiction): Kristin Hannah writes in a way that captivated me from the very first chapter I ever read from her. She came highly recommended to me from my mother-in-law, and she was right. I LOVE anything that Kristin Hannah writes. I’ve read many of her books, and loved them all. One that continues to stand out in my mind, even though I read it a handful of years ago, is Magic Hour. I still find myself thinking about it years later. Maybe it’s time I reread it?

Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah | Summer Beach Reads | Book Recommendations from Up North Parent | Summer Reading List

The Sisterhood Series by Fern Michaels (fiction): I LOVE reading books that are in a series. Once I get to know and love a character, I want to read more about them! I’ve read and loved many different series in my lifetime, but one of my all time favorites is The Sisterhood Series by Fern Michaels. I picked up my first copy at the small clubhouse library at the Florida country club where my grandparents used to spent the winters, when I was in high school. By the end of that book, I was hooked! I read every other book in the series, and then anxiously waited for Fern Michaels to write more. I haven’t had as much time to read in recent years (#motherhood), and I just realized that she’s written a handful of books that I haven’t even read yet! Score! I know what I’m adding to my to-read list!

Up North Parent Book Club; the books that are on our summer reading list. Both fiction and non-fiction titles, perfect for the beach!


Woah, there's more! You'll love these too!

  • When a Summer Bucket List Turns Into a Fall Bucket List
    When the Summer Bucket List Turns Into a Fall Bucket List

    Raise your hand if you can't believe it's nearly the end of August! (Everyone in…

  • How to Start a Book Club _ Everything You Need to Know About Book Clubs
    How to Start a Book Club | Everything You Need to Know About Book Clubs

    Both of us moms here at Up North Parent love to read. I'm not sure…

  • Summer Bucket List for Toddlers
    Summer Bucket List for Toddlers

    Summer is right around the corner and if you're like me, you're READY. The winter…

Pin
Share

July 11, 2017 · 1 Comment

Previous Post: « The Up North Parent Summer Launch Giveaway
Next Post: The Dichotomy of Parenthood | How is it so GOOD and HARD at the same time? »

Reader Interactions

Trackbacks

  1. Slow Your Roll | Downtime Tips for Busy Moms | Self Care Tips says:
    April 19, 2018 at 5:17 am

    […] an amazing way to get lost in a story or travel the world without leaving your couch. Check out our Summer, Fall and Winter Reading Recommendations for some new title […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Looking for Something?

Welcome to Up North Parent! We’re here to give you simple advice to grow your business.

Ditch the complicated advice from experts who make you feel inferior; we’ll help you go from struggling to successful with simple business advice that works.

Curious to know more? >>>

Connect with Us:

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

Footer

© Up North Parent

This site is copyright protected. Please don’t use content without permission. Ads, affiliate links and sponsored posts are used within.

Looking For Something?

Copyright © 2025 · Up North Parent