Barre with Justine

One of the benefits of an 18 hour drive to your holiday destination is the chance to read! When the kids were quiet or when my husband didn’t need me to talk to him to keep him awake, I was able to sneak in some great books. If you love historical fiction, twisted romance, fitness, or beauty, one of these reads is for you!

The London Seance Society by Sarah Penner

This is a wonderful exploration of love, grief, and the spiritualism craze that swept 19th and early 20th century England and France (think of the movie “The Others” or “The Awakening”…both brilliant films that highlight the collective grief of loved ones lost during the First World War and the efforts to reconnect and bring peace to loved ones. Penner’s novel is set a little earlier but deals with those who are grieving as they try to make peace with the violent ends of their loved ones. Vaudeline is a beautiful woman who is able to make contact with the spirit of those who have been murdered, and is training an apprentice, Lenna, so that she can connect with her late sister, killed on All Hallow’s Eve. Vaudeline does not employ any of the tricks that many other mystics use, relying on seances held at the site of the murder and a specific ritual to protect the living from the multitude of spirits that mingle all around.

I loved the twists and turns of this novel and I loved it so much more than The Lost Apothecary because I could never quite relate to the main character. It’s definitely worth a read if you love being swept up in mystery and romance.

The Good Girl by Mary Kubica

I stayed up late into the night on holidays to finish this book. On the surface, it’s about a kidnapping told from the perspective of the woman, Mia, her captor, Colin, and her mother. But it’s also an exploration of the ways our childhood shapes who we become and the risks we are willing to take. It examines why and how we fall in love, even in the most unhappy of situations. I admit to feeling an aching sense of sadness for Colin as well as Mia. If you love the tension of a thriller coupled with a deep dive into human emotions, this is a great summer read.

Gua Sha and Crystal Massage Techniques by Julie Civelo Poirier

This book is an excellent overview of techniques for using various gua sha tools on the face and neck. The author is a celebrity facialist who incorporates gua sha to increase the benefits into the beauty treatments she offers. She goes over a variety of tools such as rollers, the flat stones and even spoons with easy to follow illustrations. This is a great way to start with gua sha and gain a better understanding of the history of the practice and information about the varieties of crystal used in the tools. I learned some new ideas with this book!

Built to Move by Kelly and Juliet Starrett

I think this is a must read for anyone interested in mobility, which truly should be ALL OF US! In this book, Starrett offers 10 physical practices to live a stronger and better life. As a barre and yoga devotee, I love that they stress the importance of being able to balance, get up and down off the floor, breathe well, and the functional movement of squatting (among other life skills). My experience of teaching older adult fitness really opened my eyes to the issues that affect us as we get older and I feel passionate about encouraging people to practice balance, build muscular strength, and just move as much as possible so that we can age well!

What are you reading this summer?