It’s sad that summer is unofficially over. While I had high hopes of getting a lot of reading done this summer, it just didn’t happen. Last month I only read 4 books! Here are my August reads that I’m sharing with Steph and Jana’s monthly book linkup:
3 stars:
The Summer of Good Intentions by Wendy Francis (Contemporary Fiction, July 2015) Three sisters make their annual summer trip to the family house on Cape Cod. This year brings many challenges as they each have a lot going on in their lives. I picked this book off the “Take a Book, Leave a Book” shelf at work and decided to read it since it had “summer” right in the title. Overall, it was an okay summer read.
4 stars:
Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo (YA/Poetry, May 2020) Told in verse, this YA novel tells the story of two sisters that don’t know about each other until their father dies. I think this may be one of the first books that I’ve read that is set (partially) in the Dominican Republic. This is my first book by the author, but won’t be my last.
For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing (Mystery/Thriller, July 2021) A teacher at a prestigious private school wins the Teacher of the Year Award. When a parent ends up dead, it looks like murder. But who did it? The book, told from multiple POVs had me guessing and engrossed to find out what was going on. This is my first book by Downing, though a couple are on my to read list. I just learned that this book is becoming an HBO Max series.
The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi (Historical Fiction, March 2020) At 17 years old, a young woman runs away from her abusive marriage and eventually makes her way to Jaipur where she becomes a well known and respected henna artist. She doesn’t know that she has a 13 year-old sister, until said sister arrives on her doorstep. She then struggles to raise her sister and keep her business prosperous. I enjoyed learning more about the significance of henna in the Indian culture. The sequel to this book was recently published, which I will have to read.
I hope to get to Clap When You Land soon. I liked the other book I read by that author.
I need to read her other book.
I’m listening to FOr your Own Good right now and enjoying it so far. It will make a good tv show!
Yes, can’t wait to watch!
For Your Own Good sounds right up my alley. I’ll have to read it before I watch the show.
Yes, I always try to read the book before I watch the show or movie.
For Your Own Good sounds like a book I’d enjoy.
It was a decent suspense/thriller.
For Your Own Good sounds like one of those books that would be hard to put down. I’m also pinning your light summer read for next summer’s book list. I grew up spending at least a week or two on Cape Cod every summer and love reading books set there.
There wasn’t too much about the Cape in the book, but it was a pretty good summer read.
Clap When You Land was beautiful, and I’m glad you enjoyed it.
I didn’t realize there’s a sequel to The Henna Artist! I read that a while ago. I’ve been meaning to read Clap When You Land. I wish my job would pay me the same but let me work less hours – they’re cutting into my reading time! LOL
I’m a sucker for books set on Cape Cod. I’ll need to read that even if it is just okay.
I have Clap When You Land and need to read that soon. I really want to check out For Your Own Good.
Clap When You Land has been on my list forever, i’ve borrowed it from the library so many times. Need to get to it, have heard nothing but good things!