justabbytobehere

10 YA Books by Black Authors Tackling Racism To Add To Your Classroom Library

It’s been a really long time since I’ve put together a blog post for this site. To be honest, I haven’t really been feeling like my voice matters. Who cares what I have to say? Well, now it’s time for me to use this (very small) platform that I have to speak up about something that’s important to me, and important for our students. Back in February I started a DonorsChoose project to get Diverse books for my classroom library. I got over 30 books featuring people of color, refugees, members of the LGBTQ community, Native Americans, people with disabilities and so much more. The need for diverse books is one of my hills I will die on. Our white students need to see characters that DON’T look like them. Our students of color need to see characters that DO look like them, as do our students with disabilities, our students with broken homes, and on and on. Each student deserves to SEE THEMSELVES in literature, and each student should also be able to learn about somebody else’s struggles through literature. It is so important.

Okay, off my soapbox (kinda) for now. I’m writing this blog today in light of what’s been happening around the country. Now is the time to take action and speak up for what is right. People of color are not treated equally in this country. I can go for a run and not worry about being killed. Amaud Arbery could not. I can get pulled over and not worry about being killed. Sandra Bland could not. I can relax in my house and not worry about being killed. Atatiana Jefferson could not. The list goes on and on. Long story short, as a white educator, it is my job to understand my role in the crisis this country is facing. It’s time for me to use my privilege to be an ally to my students who are black and people of color. I’ve seen it said many times over the last few days: race is not a political issue, it’s a human rights issue. I am using my white voice to be an ally for my students. Here are 10 books that you can add to your classroom library to not only help your black and POC students see themselves in books and see that their struggles are valid, but they also help show your white students the struggles that their black and POC classmates face everyday.

*Please read and vet these books yourself before giving them to students depending on their age and grade level!

**Descriptions and pull quotes taken directly from the back or inside cover of these books!

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi

“This is NOT a history book.
This is a book about the here and now.
A book to help us better understand why we are where we are.
A book about race.”

Buy it here:
https://bookshop.org/books/stamped-racism-antiracism-and-you-a-remix-of-the-national-book-award-winning-stamped-from-the-beginning/9780316453691
Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes

“A heartbreaking and powerful story about a black boy killed by a police officer, drawing connections through history, from award-winning author Jewell Parker Rhodes.”

Buy it here:
https://bookshop.org/books/ghost-boys/9780316262262
Dear Martin by Nic Stone

“Raw, captivating, and undeniably real, Nic Stone joins industry giants Jason Reynolds and Walter Dean Myers as she boldly tackles American race relations in this stunning #1 New York Times bestselling debut, a William C. Morris Award Finalist.”

Buy it here:
https://bookshop.org/books/dear-martin/9781101939529
Swing by Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess

“New York Times bestselling authors Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess (Solo) tell this lyrical story about hope, courage, and love that speaks to anyone who’s struggled to find their voice. And the surprise ending shines a spotlight on the issues related to our current social divide, challenging perspectives and inspiring everyone to make their voice heard.”

Buy it here:
https://bookshop.org/books/swing-9780310761914/9780310761914
Black Brother, Black Brother by Jewell Parker Rhodes

“From award-winning and bestselling author, Jewell Parker Rhodes comes a powerful coming-of-age story about two brothers, one who presents as white, the other as black, and the complex ways in which they are forced to navigate the world, all while training for a fencing competition.”

Buy it here:
https://bookshop.org/books/black-brother-black-brother/9780316493802
Genesis Begins Again by Alicia D. Williams

“This deeply sensitive and powerful debut novel tells the story of a thirteen-year-old who must overcome internalized racism and a verbally abusive family to finally learn to love herself.”

Buy it here:
https://bookshop.org/books/genesis-begins-again-9781481465809/9781481465809
On the Come Up by Angie Thomas

“Insightful, unflinching, and full of heart, On the Come Up is an ode to hip hop from one of the most influential literary voices of a generation. It is the story of fighting for your dreams, even as the odds are stacked against you; and about how, especially for young black people, freedom of speech isn’t always free.”

Buy it here:
https://bookshop.org/books/on-the-come-up-9780062498564/9780062498564
Just Mercy (Adapted for Young Adults): A True Story of the Fight for Justice by Bryan Stevenson

“In this very personal work–adapted from the original #1 bestseller, which the New York Times calls “as compelling as To Kill a Mockingbird, and in some ways more so”–acclaimed lawyer and social justice advocate Bryan Stevenson offers a glimpse into the lives of the wrongfully imprisoned and his efforts to fight for their freedom.”

Buy it here:
https://bookshop.org/books/just-mercy-adapted-for-young-adults-a-true-story-of-the-fight-for-justice/9780525580034
Black Enough: Stories of Being Young & Black in America edited by Ibi Zoboi

“Edited by National Book Award finalist Ibi Zoboi, and featuring some of the most acclaimed bestselling Black authors writing for teens today—Black Enough is an essential collection of captivating stories about what it’s like to be young and Black in America.”

Buy it here:
https://bookshop.org/books/black-enough-stories-of-being-young-black-in-america/9780062698735
It’s Trevor Noah: Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood (Adapted for Young Readers) by Trevor Noah

“Trevor Noah, host of The Daily Show, shares his remarkable story of growing up in South Africa, with a black South African mother and a white European father at a time when it was against the law for a mixed-race child like him to exist. But he did exist — and from the beginning, the often-misbehaved Trevor used his keen smarts and humour to navigate a harsh life under a racist government.”

Buy it here:
https://bookshop.org/books/it-s-trevor-noah-born-a-crime-stories-from-a-south-african-childhood-adapted-for-young-readers/9780525582168

I strongly recommend buying these books from the links I’ve provided through Bookshop, a website dedicated to raising money for local bookstores, instead of big box retailers. Local bookstores could really use the support due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic!

I also recommend checking out https://diversebooks.org/ for more information on how to diversify your classroom library.

#BlackLivesMatter
#WeNeedDiverseBooks
#ReadBlackStories
#SeeBlackPeople

My Favorite Martha’s Vineyard Spots

Edgartown Lighthouse, taken by me on Chappaquiddick.

Hi everyone,

It feels like forever since I’ve written something here. I’m happy to be back from a short vacation and I’m ready to grind out some blogs before I officially go back into school mode (it’s a touchy subject please don’t talk to me about it) in about a month. Last week I took a trip to Martha’s Vineyard, and if you read my last blog you know that that little island holds a huge spot in my heart. I’ve been vacationing with my family there for as long as I can remember. So, I’ve compiled a short list of some great tourist spots to check out in Edgartown and Oak Bluffs if you find yourself in the area at some point. Let’s get right into it!

Me, woofing down a cinnamon sugar donut from BDD.

Backdoor Donuts, Oak Bluffs.
Have you ever had a donut that is hot and fresh right out of the oven? No? Well then you are missing out on one of life’s greatest pleasures. BDD is essentially a bakery window on the backside of Circut Ave in Oak Bluffs. You wait in line (it moves fast I promise) and are rewarded with delicious, hot, and buttery donuts. My favorite is the cinnamon sugar, but trust me when I tell you that no donut is a bad donut. They open at 7pm and they’re the perfect after-dinner and after-drinking snack. They even have gluten free donuts! If you take anything away from this blog, let it be Backdoor Donuts and thank me later.
Espresso Love, Edgartown.
There’s nothing worse than enjoying a lovely vacation and not being able to get a good coffee. As a coffee snob, I won’t drink hot coffee (if you drink hot coffee you are officially old, sorry) from the house or bad hotel coffee. I go out of my way to find the best local coffee spots and absolutely inhale that sweet, sweet nectar. I started drinking coffee at Espresso Love before coffee was even a daily necessity of mine. The cold brew coffee is so, so delicious. I hate when sugar is crunchy in my coffee. I know some people like that and that’s fine if you’re a sociopath. I, however, like my coffee to be smooth as ice because I am sane. E-Love (as the locals affectionally call it) has liquid sugar, honey, and agave that can be put in your coffee in place of crunchy sugar. Enjoy a cold brew and a snickerdoodle cookie and sit outside and enjoy the Vineyard-y scenes.
Nancy’s/Donovan’s Reef, Oak Bluffs.
This is the thing that everybody tells you to do when you mention you’re going to Martha’s Vineyard. “You have to go to Nancy’s and get a dirty banana!” says every human being who has ever been to MV once. Here’s the thing though, they are correct. However, a lot of people neglect to tell you that you DO NOT need to go into Nancy’s restaurant. You need to go to the little outside bar called Donovan’s Reef. Donovan is a Jamaican man who comes over to the Vineyard every summer to serve up about a million dirty bananas. Legend has it that he’s quite famous in Jamaica for his delicious drinks, and Nancy’s offered him the opportunity to come over to MV during their peak season (and Jamaica’s off season) to bring his drinks to the masses. I know this is cliche, but it really is one of the things you absolutely need to do on MV. Watching Donovan work is like watching an artist paint or a photographer shoot. It’s magic.
Edgartown Lighthouse, Edgartown.
Let me be honest with you, I hate exercise. Walking? On my vacation? No thanks. However, when I was a kid I had no choice but to walk around Edgartown because I was too young to drive. That’s how I got in the habit of walking out to Edgartown Light. (To be honest I’m not telling the whole truth here. The lighthouse is where I used to go to hang out with my friends to escape our parents when we were in our teenage years, so that’s how I got in the habit of walking out to Edgartown Light.) Walking down North Water Street is worth the extra steps. It’s picturesque Vineyard. It has hydrangeas and big houses and beautiful scenery. The green of the grass contrasts with the blue ocean and the blue sky, and that contrasts the white houses and purple hydrangeas. It is absolutely stunning. I love to take pictures and I actually did an engagement photoshoot on North Water street and at the Lighthouse. The actual lighthouse is nothing to write home about, but getting there is so beautiful. Take an hour out of your day to walk out to the lighthouse and enjoy the sights.
Katama Airfield, Edgartown.
h/t to my best friend Jack for reminding me to put this one on the list. The airfield is one of the coolest things on the island and people always forget about it (like I did while writing this blog…). They have an adorable little diner there that has fantastic breakfast. I recommend getting up early and heading over there for breakfast and watching the planes. When I was 13, my cousin Morgan and I went up in a biplane, which is basically a three-seat, all open plane. I haven’t felt an adrenaline rush like I did on that plane since that very day. If you can, I recommend it. You get to see the most incredible view of the island up on the plane.
Jaw’s Bridge at State Beach, Oak Bluffs.
You have to jump the bridge just once. It’s another crazy rush of adrenaline. It’s not incredibly high, you don’t need a lifejacket or water shoes, and you won’t die from doing it. It’s the perfect combo! The beach gets a little crowded, so get there early, but jumping the bridge is something you’ll never forget.
19 Raw, Edgartown.
If you like a good raw bar, 19 Raw is where it’s at. The oysters are absolutely delicious and the drinks are just as good. If you’re an espresso martini person like I am, treat yourself to one or two here. I like this place for more of a tapas/small plates/oyster bar vibe, but their regular plated food is to die for as well. Perfect for an afternoon pick me up or a date night.
CB Stark, Edgartown/Vineyard Haven.
Every year, I treat myself to a new CB Stark jewelry piece. For the past 5 years, I’ve had one small ring that’s shaped like MV and I get more compliments on it than I do any other piece I wear. It’s elegant and dainty and fits me like a glove. Since I got it a few years ago, I’ve added some rings underneath it to wear them as a stack. I never take these rings off and I now have a signature tan line on my left hand from where I wear them every day. The pieces are beautifully made, fantastic quality, and worth every penny. Take a quick trip in there and I promise you won’t leave empty handed.
Edgartown Books, Edgartown.
Would it even be a blog by me if I didn’t mention books in some fashion? This book store makes me happier than most places on planet earth. It was a staple of my childhood and I love the smell of a good bookstore. Stop in for a book or to just explore. They have a great section of just books about MV and it’s wonderful.
Behind the Bookstore, Edgartown.
Another great option for coffee, but also perfect for a light lunch. Try the No Way Rosé cocktail with the brisket sandwich for lunch. It’s a cute little outdoor patio behind Edgartown books. And it’s pet friendly! Sit outside and sip some coffee, or have a lovely dinner with the cutest atmosphere.

So there you have it! A list of my top 10 favorite things to do when you’re in the Edgartown/OB area of The Vineyard. I love this place and could talk about it forever, so if you want any more recommendations please let me know!

Thanks for reading, you guys!

Make good choices, be a friend, and don’t go to the bathroom alone.

XOXO,

Abby

I Read All 23 of Elin Hilderbrand’s Novels. Here’s How They Rank in My Book.

When I was younger, we used to spend almost a month on Martha’s Vineyard every summer. We had no cable, no computer, and definitely no Wi-Fi. I had always been an avid reader, but these summers became my time to take my love of reading to the next level. I would devour books. I’d start a book when we woke up and read as my parents had their coffee. I’d read in the water at the beach. I’d come home and read while my parents were cooking dinner. I’d read as we sat and watched the sunset. More often than not, I’d finish the book that evening, and I would ask my dad for $20 for a new book and some ice cream in Edgartown. We repeated this process for about two weeks of the vacation until finally my dad said, “You’re reading me out of house and home! Pick a book that we have here at the house.” And it was the best thing he could have ever done for me. I walked over to the shelf of older dog-eared paperbacks at the beach house and I picked up a book that changed my life. I was probably too young to be reading it, but by chance I picked up an Elin Hilderbrand book, and the rest is history.

Since then, I have read every single book by Elin, I have met her once, and I like to believe I’m one of her biggest Instagram fans (I comment YAS QUEEN on far too many of her pictures). I’m now a high school English teacher, and every year I have my kids make a heart map. If you don’t know what a heart map is, it’s when you draw a heart and break it up into sections and label each section with what takes up space in your heart. (It’s a cute activity, try it sometime if you’re feeling conflicted about your life. It helps.) Anyways, Elin Hilderbrand’s novels always take up a very large chunk of my heart map. If you don’t know about Elin Hilderbrand, all of her novels take place on Nantucket (except for her most recent winter story, Winter in Paradise). She has been called the “queen of beach reads” and what makes her so great (in my opinion) is that she writes what she knows. A lot of times authors write stuff out of their realm of knowledge, and I hate that. Elin nails it every time with her beautiful writing about the island she calls home.

Elin, if by any chance you read this, thank you for the joy that you’ve brought into my life. My love of reading grew tenfold when I started reading your novels that summer day on Martha’s Vineyard, and I’ll forever be indebted to you. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

So without further ado, here is my definitive ranking of all of Elin’s 23 books:

23. A Summer Affair: Claire is a mother of four living on Nantucket. She begins an affair with a friend’s husband while planning an annual gala held on the island. I’m not a mom, but I’m sure I could relate to a lot of Claire’s struggles if I did have kids. This story has drama and a lot of heart. I read it in one beach day, and it was wonderful!

22. The Beach Club: This is Elin’s first ever book that she published. Spanning the course of the summer season, this book follows the staff at the Nantucket Beach Club and Hotel. This book takes a lot of turns that you don’t expect, and follows characters with stories that leave you wanting more. Each character is more relatable than the last in this one, and the book is filled with emotion.

21. The Rumor: Listen, I love mess. I’m like that Marie Kondo picture where she straight up just says, “I love mess!” because I love messy and drama filled situations. Gossip (or hot gossy as we affectionally call it in my family) and scandal fill this book. Madeline is messy and it helps drive the story to a very interesting plot. I know all of Elin’s books are great summer reads, but this one is the perfect can’t-put-it-down, read-it-in-one-day kind of summer read, especially if you’re like me and love the gossy and the drama.

20. The Island: In my family we have a habit of saying, “sisters, sisters!” to highlight just how crazy our relationships are with our sisters. We stole this from the song Sisters in White Christmas. Look it up if you have to. Especially if you have a sister. It will make much more sense when you see it. Anyways, this story is about sisters and mothers and daughters and the crazy relationships we all have with the women in our lives. Between Tate and her sister Chess, and Bridie and her sister India, the sister drama and mom drama is enough to keep this story fresh and interesting all the way through.

19. Here’s to Us: This is my sister Mollie’s favorite of Elin’s books. If you’ve ever seen The Other Woman with Kate Upton, Leslie Mann, and Cameron Diaz, it’s kind of like that but way better. When three women head to Nantucket to say their goodbyes to their ex-husband, they find out secrets and truths are revealed. Elin’s the queen at managing to tell the stories of very different women without pitting them against each other, and that’s another reason why she’s my favorite author.

18. Barefoot: This was the first book of Elin’s I ever read. The one that I picked up on The Vineyard that day and never looked back. I was too young to truly grasp the severity of the book when I was younger, but once I read it for the second time I found even more reasons love Elin’s books and what it was that drew me to them in the first place. This story finds three women on Nantucket for the summer. One with breast cancer, one pregnant, and one jobless. As they all try to navigate through their own problems, they come together in a sad but sweet story of love and loss. (Sorry, that sounds cliché but it’s true.)

17. The Castaways: When Cheif of Police Ed Kapenash (a staple in a few of Elin’s books and a true and genuine precious gem of a man) has to investigate the death of his best friends Greg and Tess, secretes and lies come to light in a way that he never thought possible. I love teaching dramatic irony to my students, and this story has plenty of it. You want to shout to certain characters, “BUT YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED! I KNOW!” throughout the course of the book. It’s a twisty story about four couples and the tangled webs they weave.

16-13: The Winter Series: In Hilderbrand’s four books in this series, she tells the stories of the members of the Quinn family. The first three books in this series were so good, that Elin’s publisher convinced her to write a fourth one! The patriarch of the Quinn Family, Kelley, owns the Winter Street Inn on Nantucket. The novels follow Kelley and his four children and the complicated lives they lead. Unlike all of Elin’s summer books, this one is best read on a cold December night with a fuzzy blanket and some hot chocolate. Wait to read these until the time of year is right. You can thank me later!

12. Nantucket Nights: This was the last book I had to get ahold of to finish my Elin collection (aside from her newest one that came out last month)! Three lifelong friends have a once a year ritual of drinking on the beach and swimming under the stars. But during their most recent jaunt, one friend doesn’t return to shore. This dark and twisty story is different from a lot of Elin’s books and I loved it. The secrets come in droves with these ladies, and it makes every moment interesting. The mess is never ending!

11. The Love Season: This one JUST missed my top ten and it was hard for me to put it at 11. I believe it’s honestly one of Elin’s most underrated books. This book takes place over the course of one day, but goes back years and years to tell the story of Marguerite Beale and her estranged goddaughter, Renata. Renata wants to know more about her mother who passed away years ago, and while on Nantucket with her fiancée, decides to contact Marguerite to fill in the blanks for her. If you love food, love, sadness, and friendship (and who doesn’t?) this one is for you.

10. Summerland: Young Adult novels are some of my favorite ones to read. The lives of teenagers are often more complicated than they appear, and Elin highlights that in this complex story about four teenagers and how their lives are changed forever in the blink of an eye. This book is so compelling. I love that word, and now that I’m writing this I feel like I need to go back and read it again. I also feel like I wish there were more numbers so I could rate this book higher. I ALSO feel like I want to give my students a hug so they know that I get how hard it is to be a teenager sometimes.

9. Summer of ’69: This is Elin’s most recent novel that came out this summer. Her books always come out around my birthday, so I always get the newest one as a present to myself. Unfortunately, I usually finish them in about a day so then I’m forced to go without a new story of hers until at least October when her winter book comes out. This story is set in, you guessed it, 1969 on both Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. It talks about civil rights, women’s rights, and the infamous Ted Kennedy scandal that took place on The Vineyard that summer. The Levin family is complicated and lovely, and each character comes into their own in this fantastic story.

8. Summer People: I’ve said it before, but I love young adult fiction. I think a part of me loves it because I can then recommend the books I read to my students. This story follows a family with teenage twins who take in Marcus, the son of their dad’s client, to live with them for the summer on Nantucket. (The Blindside vibes, IMO.) As the three teens try to deal with their emotions and issues respectively, they come together to repair what’s been broken in all of their lives.

7. Silver Girl: For this one, think of a story about Bernie Madoff told from his wife’s point of view. This story about greed and betrayal leads Meredith Delinn down a road of exile, until her old friend agrees to take her to Nantucket for the summer. The two learn to cope with loneliness and sadness together in another beautiful story by my girl Elin.

6. The Perfect Couple: My guy, Chief of Police Ed Kapenash, is back in this exhilarating murder mystery story. The morning of Benji and Celeste’s wedding, the bride finds her MOH dead. Elin does such a wonderful job placing red herrings and clues throughout the book. Few books have endings that surprise me, but this one REALLY did.

5. Winter in Paradise: This book is the most recent Winter book. It takes place on the island of St. John, and follows a widow as she sorts through the details of her husband’s mysterious death. Her life intertwines with some St. John locals, and that makes this story all the more interesting! This is the first book of what I believe is going to be a trilogy, and just so you know it does end off on a cliffhanger. A lot of my friends who read it were confused because that’s not like Elin to leave us hanging, but book #2 comes out this coming October!

4. Beautiful Day: I cried the entire way through this story. Seriously. I mean if you know me you know it’s not hard to make me cry, but this one had me bawling. Jenna is getting married, and before her mother passed away she wrote out a notebook with all of the details of what the wedding should look like. It would be a fantastic Lifetime movie. (@Elin, make it happen my queen!)

3. The Matchmaker: This story is about Dabney Kimball Beech, who has set up 42 couples in her lifetime that all managed to stay together. This is a heartbreakingly beautiful story about a woman who has always been able to control things around her, and suddenly finds it all slipping away. It’s incredible and unforgettable, and if you’ve never heard of Nantucket’s Daffodil Weekend you’ll find yourself wanting to suddenly book a trip to the island at the end of April just to eat a ribbon sandwich.

2. The Identicals: I mentioned at the beginning of this blog that I used to spend my summers on Martha’s Vineyard, so it’s no surprise that a book set on both Nantucket and The Vineyard is in my top two. Think Parent Trap of the 21^st century: two twins switch up locations for the summer, with one sister on Nantucket and one on The Vineyard. Tabitha and Harper have been at odds for almost 15 years when tragedy tore them apart. But then tragedy brings them back together. With a side plot about Tabitha’s 16-year old daughter, it has a gripping young adult quality to the story as well.

1. The Blue Bistro: Here we are! My number one Elin book of all time. I may have been influenced the first time I heard Elin say that this book is her favorite, but it is by and large the best of all of her books. Elin, if you ever stumble across this blog, please make a sequel. I need to know more about Adrienne and Thatch. This story is beautiful from beginning to end. I won’t say too much because if there’s one book I want you to find out about for yourself, it’s this one. However, I will tell you that The Love Season was written because Elin had so much left over material from The Blue Bistro that she decided to write another restaurant book!

So there you have it. My heart and soul poured into one blog. Thanks for reading with me, and if you’re looking for an Elin book to read start with this list. You won’t be disappointed.

Make good choices, be a friend, and don’t go to the bathroom alone.

xoxo,

ABBY

Is Fashion Pass worth the money?

Hi friends,

I posted some stories on Thursday talking about FashionPass and the clothes that I got from my first order. I’m going to link the items I got below so you can get them too! To be honest, I wouldn’t have bought these items on my own so I’m glad I got them through FashionPass. I’ll post the links and reviews of each item below, then I’ll answer some questions I received about FashionPass and its process! Here we go:

The first item I got is this romper from the brand Minkpink. I love this piece. I, unfortunately, don’t have anywhere to wear it but I may be able to get it again from Fashion Pass if I find something it would work for. This romper retails for $99. Sadly, this romper isn’t available on the Minkpink website anymore, but here’s the link to a dress with the same pattern.

https://www.minkpinkworld.com/products/wild-coast-mini-dress

2. The next piece is the one that I ended up wearing to my sister’s surprise 30th birthday, and I got SO many compliments! All night people were asking me where I got it from. This piece was a bonus from my stylist Jennifer. I didn’t choose this piece but I’m SO glad she sent it! I paired it with some tortoise shell earrings and some platform sandals that I love. I posted a picture from the party at the top of the blog and on my instagram (@justabbytobehere) so you can see how I styled it. This dress retails for $120. The brand is also Minkpink but here’s the link to it from a boutique that carries it.

https://lilacandlilies.com/products/to-the-coast-broidery-mini-dress

3. I got this dress to potentially wear to a wedding this weekend and I’m obsessed with it. If it weren’t so expensive I would probably keep it, but I also hate wearing things more than twice which is why FashionPass is perfect for me. I’ll post pictures this weekend of how I style it for the wedding! This dress is from French Connection and retails for $148 and I’m linking it from their website.

https://usa.frenchconnection.com/product/71liz/whisper-color-block-dress.htm

4. The last thing I received was a very cute bralette from Free People. It’s a very popular piece that I see a lot of people wearing but I wasn’t willing to spend the money on it so I figured I’d try it this way. It’s very cute and I may end up buying it if I get a chance to wear it and love it. It retails for $38 and I linked it below from the Free People website.

https://www.freepeople.com/shop/fp-one-adella-bralette/

Here are some of the questions that I got about FashionPass:

Q: How does this even work?!
A: Basically, you pick a plan based off of how many items you want to take out at a time (my plan is two items and one accessory at a time) and then you can choose your items. Then once you wear them, you send them ALL back together, and you can choose more items! You can do this an UNLIMITED amount of times a month! It’s actually crazy. The shipping is free and they send you a prepaid mailer to send it back in, just drop it in a FedEx box. It’s so easy. If you choose to keep one item, just don’t send it back with the rest of your stuff and they’ll charge your card for it. You even get a discount if you choose to keep it.

Q: Do you have to wash it when you send it back?
A: NO! They dry clean it for you. It’s so easy and it comes with insurance in case something happens to the dress. The insurance is included in your monthly membership cost so you don’t have to pay extra for it!

Q: Do you have a referral code?
A: Yes I do! It’s ABIGAIL1D and you get $35 off your first month with my code!

Q: Is it worth the money?
A: In my honest opinion, ABSOLUTELY! I love this service so far and I can’t wait to see what else I get from them. I’ll be sure to update you guys on my next set of clothes after I return this set.

Any other questions about FashionPass? Send me a message and I’d be happy to help you out! Don’t forget to visit fashionpass.com for more information.

Thanks for reading! Make good choices, be a friend, and don’t go to the bathroom alone.

xoxo,

ABBY

Vacation Book Rankings!

Hi guys!

I just got back from a week long vacation on the Cape and it was absolutely perfect. Not only did I get to spend time with the BF and his family, but I got to read four books that I was absolutely engrossed in. I couldn’t put them down! Here are the rankings of the books that I read.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid: This book may have been the best book I have ever read. I’m usually VERY good at predicting the endings to books, and this book threw me for a loop that I genuinely never expected. It was beautiful, sad, happy, and eloquently written. Taylor Jenkins Reid wrote this book in the most beautiful fashion. I sat on the beach with this book and cried for Evelyn and for Monique. I won’t say too much more because I don’t want to spoil anything, but if you choose to read anything this summer, make damn sure it’s this book.
Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid: After I fell in love with Evelyn Hugo, I figured I would give Daisy Jones (another character by Taylor Jenkins Reid) a shot. Let me tell you, I was not disappointed. Reid writes this story in interview format from start to finish. It provides a fresh format and helps highlight multiple narrators and a specific point of view from each character. This is the kind of book that I stayed up until 2:30 AM reading just so I could finish it before I went to bed. You know that kind? No? Just me? Okay that’s fine but this book was great. I can’t wait to read more books by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
Summer of ’69 by Elin Hilderbrand: It’s no secret that Elin is my favorite author. I’ve actually read all of Elin’s 23 books that she’s written. Her newest book quickly cemented a spot in my top 5 favorites of hers. The book follows a family from Boston as their only son gets drafted and deployed to Vietnam. All of Elin’s books take place on Nantucket (except for her newest winter series but that’s neither here nor there) and the Levin family leaves Boston to spend their summer on the second most beautiful island in Massachusetts (everyone knows I’m a Vineyard girl). However, one of the Levin daughters spends her summer on Martha’s Vineyard, the superior island, and even has a run in with Senator Ted Kennedy and Mary-Jo Kopechne. This story was sad, complicated, and wonderful. I’m obviously biased because I love Elin so much, but it’s definitely worth the read!
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens: Listen, this is my blog so I’m going to be honest. This book did not live up to the incredible hype surrounding it. It was good, but I didn’t love it. It was far fetched. I found myself saying “Really?” a lot. But if you’re into reading what everyone else is reading, you might like it. It was definitely one of the saddest books I’ve read in recent memory, which isn’t really my vibe. Either way, it wasn’t the worst book ever but it certainly wasn’t the best book I read this week.

So there you have it. I know what you’re thinking “This chick read 4 books in a week?” Yes, yes I did. I am (humble brag) the fastest reader I know. I absolutely devour books. That being said, if you have any recommendations send them my way!

Thanks for reading!

Make good choices, be a friend, and don’t go to the bathroom alone.

xoxo,

ABBY

Welcome To My Blog!

Hi everyone!

Welcome to my first ever blog post on my brand new blog! I’ve decided to aptly title it “Just Abby to Be Here” because I love a good play on words and chances are I am currently happy to be wherever I am. I’m going to be posting all kinds of stuff here, but mostly books, fashion (or lack thereof), home decor, and other lifestyle type things! A lot of my friends have been pushing me to start a lifestyle blog for some time now, and now that I’m on summer vacation from school I’ve finally found the time to start it up! This really has been a dream of mine for a long time and I’m glad to have some old friends and new readers along for the ride with me. If you’re an OG follower, you know that I’ve been vlogging on my Finsta (if you know you know) for a long time now. It was only a matter of time before I took my vlogs to the next level with a real mass-market approach. Either way, I’m happy you’re here and I’m happy to be here! (Get it…)

I’m always looking for suggestions as to what people want to see on my blog and on my Instagram account. Feel free to reach out with anything you might want to know or anything you want me to talk about!

Thank you all again for following along!

My signature sign off is none other than my phrase that I say to my students every day as they walk out the door of my classroom: make good choices, be a friend, and don’t go to the bathroom alone! (that last part comes from my mother)

xoxo,

ABBY