Hello Reader,

August always makes me want to hold onto summer just a little longer. The sweet corn and tomatoes are at their best, there are still plenty of warm afternoons for reading, and I’m not quite ready to start talking about falling leaves and pumpkin spice. (Although I know some of you are!)

This week’s Friday Finds turned into a celebration of those simple late-summer pleasures.

📚 From My Reading Chair, I’m sharing two very different books. Surviving Summer Camp by Paul Breau is a funny, adventurous middle-grade story about family, courage, and discovering you’re capable of more than you thought. The Missing Episode by Tom Hobbs takes us in a completely different direction with a psychological thriller that kept me reading well past bedtime.

🌟 Mark J. Engels is this week’s Featured Author, with a little twist. Mark joined me earlier this week for Behind the Book, where he shared the places, research, history, and personal connections behind his Forest Exiles Saga. I loved how his feature came together, so I’m giving Mark—and Behind the Book—another moment in the spotlight.

🌽 And because it’s August, Sip & Savor is headed straight to the garden. We’re making a fresh corn and cherry tomato salad with basil and serving it with homemade bread and something cold to drink. Simple summer lunch perfection.

🌿 My Featured Find continues the garden theme with a charming set of herb markers made from upcycled vintage silverplate. I may have fallen for those just a little bit.

And before you go, I have a question for you:

Are you still savoring summer, or are you already secretly ready for fall? 🍂

Come see everything I found this week and tell me which team you’re on!

​Read Friday Finds →​

Have a wonderful weekend filled with good books and a few little things worth savoring.

Gina 💛

P.S. There’s also a new Community Corner find for parents, grandparents, and teachers—Ellwyn Autumn is sharing Pre-K through Grade One learning resources, many of them free. So be sure to look for that while you’re there.