Show Us Your Books link-up

It’s almost officially summer and I am looking forward to more light, beach type reads. I read several new releases in May that fit the bill and overall I had a pretty good reading month. I’m hoping to continue the trend through the summer! I’m sharing my May Reads with Steph and Jana’s Show Us Your Books linkup.  

3 stars

The Guilt Trip by Sandie Jones (Mystery/Suspense, August 2021) Three couples take a trip to Portugal for a wedding. Will and Ali are getting married and have invited Will’s brother Jack and his wife Rachel and Rachel’s friend’s Noah and Page to stay at their villa with them. As the weekend unfolds, there are lots of secrets that are revealed. This book was just an okay read for me. I didn’t like any of the characters and wasn’t very invested in the story.

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (YA/Mystery, September 2020) Teen Avery Grambs sometimes sleeps in her car, lives with her half sister Libby and her boyfriend, and is trying to survive high school. Her life is changed when she inherits the fortune of billionaire Tobias Hawthorne. The one stipulation is that she must live in his residence for a year….which is currently inhabited by his four grandsons and their mother. They discover that the puzzle loving man left them a series of clues that will possibly explain why he left his fortune to Avery. I listened to this on book on CD. It was an okay read but I’m not sure that I enjoyed it enough to continue the series.

The Summer Place by Jennifer Weiner (Contemporary Fiction, May 2022) Sarah and her husband Eli have not been close for awhile. At the age of 22, Sarah’s step-daughter Ruby announces that she is getting married at her safta’s (grandmother’s) house on Cape Cod. Sarah’s mom is excited to have the family out for one last hurrah before she sells the house. There was a lot going on in this book with so many secrets and what I found to be unbelievable situations. Not my fave of Weiner’s.

4 stars

The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen (suspense, March 2022) Counselor Avery Chambers has new clients, Marissa and Matthew Bishop. They seem like, “the golden couple” but Marissa discloses that she’s had an affair. This isn’t the only secret that one of them has been keeping. I listened to this on book on CD and I found it fast-paced and engaging.

Sadie on a Plate by Amanda Elliott (Contemporary romance, March 2022) Sadie meets Luke on the plane as she’s flying to compete on her favorite cooking show Chef Supreme. But she gets a surprise when Luke makes an unexpected appearance. Foodies and fans of Top Chef will likely enjoy this book as much as I did! 

5 stars

Book Lovers by Emily Henry (Contemporary romance, May 2022) Literary agent Nora Stephens takes a month long vacation with her sister Libby. It took a lot of convincing by Libby, but the two end up in the small town of Sunshine Falls, North Carolina. She ends up running into Charlie Lastra, a book editor whom she had a not such a great encounter with back in the city. Somehow, they keep bumping into each other. I loved the chemistry and witty dialogue between Nora and Charlie. It was one of those books that I didn’t want to end. I’ve read and enjoyed Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation, but I think this is my favorite!

Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez (Contemporary romance, May 2022) Alexis Montgomery is an ER doctor, She is extremely wealthy and is expected to carry on her family’s legacy. She meets Daniel Grant, when he comes to her rescue and pulls her car out of a ditch, when she’s driving through the small town of Wakanda. He runs the local Bed & Breakfast, is a carpenter and is also the mayor of Wakanda. The two end up having great chemistry but Alexis knows that nothing can come of them starting a relationship, since their worlds are too different. Abby Jimenez is one of my new favorite authors. I’ve read all her books and they just keep getting better and better. Highly recommend her and this book if you enjoy contemporary romance.

Today I’m sharing my April reads. It was a pretty good reading month with seven books read, most of which were pretty good reads! Sadly, last month I missed linking up to Steph and Jana’s monthly Show Us Your Books linkup because we were on a Caribbean cruise celebrating my daughter’s 16th birthday. I guess that’s a pretty good reason to not be able to link up! But here’s my March reads, if you are interested in checking them out.

3 stars

Bet On It by Jodie Slaughter – (Contemporary Romance, July 2022) c/o Netgalley – Aja moves to the small South Carolina town of Greenbelt. Walker is back in the town he grew up in, only to take care of his grandmother. The two meet and end up making a bingo-based sex pact. Yes, as in the game that the two play weekly and sometimes biweekly. The main character is a plus-sized woman. While I feel like the author wanted to showcase this aspect, it sometimes felt overdone. Aja suffers from anxiety which I thought was explored well. Warning, the sex scenes are pretty steamy.

The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo – (Contemporary Romance, May 2017) The book opens with Lucy having to make a huge decision. The story is the background leading up to this decision. Lucy and Gabe meet on 9/11, whose events shape their lives and the meaning they want them to have. The two eventually start dating but their career choices lead them on different life paths. However, the two remain connected, which ends up effecting Lucy’s life. I listened to this as a book on CD during my work commute. I didn’t like Lucy or Gabe and thought they were both selfish in their own ways. When the two main characters are unlikeable, it’s not a winning book for me.

The Therapist by B. A. Paris – (Suspense/Thriller, July 2021) Alice and Leo move into a gated community. Then Alice learns a secret about the house they are living in which changes everything. I listened to this on CD during my commute to work. I’ve had mixed reviews of the other B.A. Paris books I’ve read. Some I’ve enjoyed, some, like this one, were just okay.

Yolk by March H.K. Choi – (YA, March 2021) Jayne and June are sisters who both live in NYC but have been estranged for years. The two end up rekindling their relationship when June is diagnosed with cancer. I thought this book portrayed the realness and complexity of family relationships as well as the struggle Jayne has with her eating disorder.

4 stars

Home Made by Liz Hauck – (Memoir/Nonfiction, June 2021) After her father passes away, Liz Hauck decides to implement the weekly cooking program at the residential home where he worked. This was a project that the two had discussed and planned but were never able to get started before he died. Each week she shows up to the home to cook with the teen boys. Sometimes, she cooks and they just eat, but other times, they participate. Most of the time Liz used her own money to purchase the ingredients for the cooking program. Hearing some of the boys’ stories are heartbreaking. She really made connections with some of them over the three years that the program ran. I read this book for my local foodie book club. If it hadn’t been chosen, I would have never heard of it. I really enjoyed it, but it does make you think about our social welfare systems.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir – (Science Fiction, May 2021) Ryland Grace is on a suicide mission to save planet Earth…no big deal! The book alternates between past and present as we discover how he got to where he is. This was Goodreads 2021 science fiction winner and I can see why. For someone who doesn’t really enjoy sci-fi, Weir writes stories that suck me in! I do gloss over the technical/science-y talk, but this storyline was so intriguing. The movie, starring Ryan Gosling is currently in production and I can’t wait to see it!

The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain – (Contemporary Fiction/Mystery, January 2006)

From Goodreads, “In 1977, pregnant Genevieve Russell disappeared. Twenty years later, her remains are discovered and Timothy Gleason is charged with murder. But there is no sign of the unborn child. CeeCee Wilkes knows how Genevieve Russell died, because she was there. And she also knows what happened to the missing infant, because two decades ago she made the devastating choice to raise the baby as her own. Now Timothy Gleason is facing the death penalty, and she has another choice to make. Tell the truth, and destroy her family. Or let an innocent man die in order to protect a lifetime of lies…”

I found this book in the cruise library, when I discovered that I had failed to download all the digital books I had borrowed from the library, and was looking for something to read. I have not picked up a Chamberlain book that I haven’t enjoyed and this one was no exception.

While my January was a great reading month, I can’t say the same about February. Sadly, all but one of the five books I read were just okay, 3 star ratings. My reading has slowed down heading into March. I’ve been busy writing and blogging and I’ve been finding more calm in working on my paint-by-number and listening to podcasts, than reading. And I’m totally okay with that! Here are my February reads that I’m sharing with Steph and Jana’s monthly Show Us Your Books linkup.

3 Stars

I Know You by Claire McGowan (Suspense/Thriller, October 2021) Rachel finds a body in the woods on her morning walk. Instead of calling for help, she runs back home. Twenty years ago, her name was Casey and she was a nanny for a family in LA. They were brutally murdered and she was the prime suspect and spent time in prison. Now out and trying to start a new life for herself, she wonders if someone is setting her up. Overall, I found this to be just an okay read. I’ve only read one other book by this author and wasn’t wowed, so I’ll likely pass on reading any of her other stuff.

The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris by Jenny Colgan (Contemporary Romance, February 2014) Anna works in a chocolate factory. After an accident she ends up moving to Paris to work at a chocolatier that her hospital roommate, Claire, knows. The story alternates between Claire’s past and the present, focusing on her relationship with the chocolatier. This was a light read that includes recipes. This was the first book pick of the local Foodie Book club that I joined. We all agreed that overall it was an okay read.

My Darling Husband by Kimberly Belle (Suspense/Thriller, December 2021) Jade is happily married to her husband Cam, chef and restaurant owner. They have two young kids and Jade thinks all is good. Until she is confronted by a masked man in her garage who holds her and the kids ransom. If her husband doesn’t come up with over $700,000 by the end of the day……..I think that I need to take a break from the suspense and thriller genre for a little while. I have been very disappointed with the last several that I’ve read, including this one.

Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins (Suspense/Thriller, January 2022) Lux’s boyfriend Nico is hired to sail two college-aged girls to Meroe Island in the South Pacific and she is invited to tag along. When they arrive at the island they discover another boat there and the four become friends with the other couple. The I enjoyed The Wife Upstairs but this book just wasn’t all that

5 Stars

Know My Name by Chanel Miller (Nonfiction/Memoir, September 2019) Chanel Miller was sexually assaulted by Stanford student, Brock Miller. This book tells her story of the events of that night and the psychological and emotional effects that resulted. This book was emotional to read. It had me in tears but also got me so angry. It is ridiculous what women who have been sexually assaulted have to go through to get justice.

How is January already over?! The first month of 2022 flew by so quickly. I surprised myself by reading 7 books this month. They were all great books that I would recommend and include two of my favorite authors, Colleen Hoover and Jodi Picoult. I even had my first 5 star read of the year. Here are my January reads that I’m sharing with Steph and Jana’s monthly book link up.

4 stars:

Heart Bones by Colleen Hoover (Contemporary Romance, August 2020) Beyah has grown up poor and basically raised herself, since her mother is always high on drugs. She is spending the summer with her father, a man she hardly knows, and his new wife and stepdaughter at their summer house on the Texas shore. There she meets Samson, a rich boy she has nothing in common with. As the two become closer, they realize that they have more in common than they think. But they agree that they will only have a summer romance and then he will answer all of Beyah’s questions that he has left unanswered. But the truth comes out sooner than he anticipates and both their lives are changed. If you’ve never read a Colleen Hoover book, I high recommend giving one of her books a try. This was another great book of hers.

My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan (Contemporary Romance, April 2018) Ella Durran has a Rhodes scholarship and is spending a year studying in Oxford. She has a rough first encounter with Jamie Davenport, whom she soon discovers is her English Literature professor. The two start a romance but then Ella discovers Jamie has a secret, which will ultimately affect her future plans. I read this book not knowing much about it and honestly, didn’t have high expectations. But I was surprised at how enjoyable I found it to be.

The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin (Contemporary Fiction, June 2021) Lenni is seventeen and living in the terminal ward of a hospital. She ends up meeting 83 year-old Margot at an art class. The two become fast friends and decide to embark on an art project where they paint events for each year of their lives, creating 100 pieces in total. As they paint the pieces, we learn more about each of them and their lives. This was such a great book about friendship and love.

The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams (Contemporary Fiction, August 2021) Aleisha works at the local library. Mukesh is a widower and begins to visit the library in hopes of connecting with his granddaughter through her love of books. When he asks for a book recommendation, Aleisha gives him books off a reading list that she finds left inside a book. The two end up reading through the books together, forming a friendship in the process. I had never heard of this book but am reading through some of the goodreads Choice Awards 2021 nominees and this one was a fiction nominee. While I haven’t read all of the books on the list, it was fun to read a book about books and book lovers.

Secrets of a Charmed Life by Susan Meissner (Historical Fiction, February 2015) Two sisters, Emmy and Julia Downtree, are evacauted during the bombings in London during WWII. When Emmy returns to London with Julia for an appointment she doesn’t want to miss, the two end up separated and their lives are transformed. The book is told between present day and 1940’s England. If you’re a fan of WWII historical fiction, like me, I recommend this book.

Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult (Contemporary Fiction, November 2021) Diana O’Toole works at Sotheby’s. Her boyfriend Finn is a surgical resident at a NYC hospital. They are planning a vacation to the Galapagos but then COVID hits and Finn is needed at work. He tells Diana to go on the trip without him since the trip is nonrefundable. While in the Galapagos she befriends a teen girl and becomes close with the girl’s father. While on the trip, Diana starts thinking about her life choices. It was weird reading a book about COVID while still living through COVID. For some people, the hospital scenes in this book may be too difficult to read. However, Picoult is an excellent storyteller and this book is another example of her well researched work.

5 stars:

Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover (Contemporary Romance, January 2022) After a tragic accident, Kenna spends five years in prison. When she is released from prison she returns to the town where the accident took place, in hopes of reuniting with her daughter. However, her daughter’s grandparents will do everything to keep the two apart. Can Kenna be forgiven for a mistake that happened many years ago? Or will she have to leave town without her daughter? Hoover tells a good story and this one did not disappoint. It is very rare nowadays for me to be able to read a book in two days. But I couldn’t put this one down. I haven’t cried while reading a book in awhile but this one had me grabbing the tissue box.

Welcome 2022! I finished 2021 reading 80 books, five more than my goodreads goal of 75. This year, I set a goal of 52 books. It’s much less than my usual 75 or 100 books. However, it’s an attainable goal since I know that I can read one book a week. This year, I plan to work on some other projects and don’t want the pressure of feeling like I have to read to meet some unattainable number that I’ve set for myself. December was good reading month with a mix of okay and great reads. Check out my December reads that I’m sharing with Steph and Jana’s monthly link up.

3 stars

Eight Perfect Hours by Lia Louis – (Holiday/Romance, September 2021) A girl and guy meets during a blizzard, spending “eight perfect hours” together. But they keep running into each other and discover that perhaps fate has brought them together. This was a sweet, feel-good read.

Love From Scratch by Kaitlyn Hill – (YA/Romance, c/o Netgalley, April 2022) Reese and Benny are two high school students interning at an online culinary network. They end up doing a video together that goes viral, leading to a regular segment that they star in. But they are both competing for a job with the company in the fall, so despite the chemistry heating up between them, Reese wants to keep it platonic. As a food lover, I enjoyed the cooking and behind the scenes aspects of a culinary network. Overall, this was a cute read.

The Road Trip by Beth O’Leary – (Romance, June 2021) Two exes share a car ride with some friends on their way to a mutual friend’s wedding. I really liked O’Leary’s The Flatshare but this book just didn’t do it for me. If Goodreads allowed half stars I’d probably give this 2.5 stars. It was a slow read for me and I just wasn’t interested in the characters.

Such a Good Wife by Seraphina Nova Glass – (thriller, August 2021) Wife and mom of two ends up having an affair with a local author. But when he ends up dead, she has to cover her tracks and attempts to figure out who killed him. I thought this had a pretty unbelievable plot and I found Melanie, the main character so unlikeable.

4 stars

Cuba In My Pocket by Adrianna Cuevas – (Middle Grade/Historical Fiction, September 2021) A 12 year-old boy has to leave his family in Cuba behind and move to Florida to avoid being recruited into the Young Rebels. There he is confronted with the challenges of adapting to a new culture while worrying about his family back in Cuba. I didn’t know much about this time period and it was interesting to see it from a child’s perspective.

One More For Christmas by Sarah Morgan – (holiday/fiction, October 2020) An estranged mother and her daughters reconnect after she has an accident. They all end up spending Christmas together in Scotland. This was the fourth book by Morgan that I’ve read, and the third holiday themed book, and I have enjoyed every one of them.

The Secret of Snow by Viola Shipman – (Holiday/Romance, October 2021) A middle-aged meteorologist is replaced by an AI robot at the news station she works at in California. She ends up returning to her home in Michigan, in the midst of winter, to figure out what’s next. She gets a job at the local news station and reconnects with her home town and the winter season, which she has tried to avoid for a very long time. Viola Shipman is the pen name of Wade Rouse. I have read several of her books and have enjoyed all of them. This is her first holiday themed read and is based on real people and events in the author’s life.

You may enjoy reading:

November 2021 Reads

October 2021 Reads

The year is almost over and I’m so close to my Goodreads goal of 75 books. My November reads included a lot of holiday reads, a classic and some suspense books. There were even 2 Netgalley ARC reads. I read a total of seven books this month which I’m sharing with Steph and Jana’s monthly Show Us Your Books linkup.

3 stars:

The Lifeguards by Amanda Eyre Ward (Fiction, April 2022) (c/o Netgalley) Three teenage boys are best friends and so are their moms. They are spending a summer as lifeguards. But when they end up finding a dead body, it’s every family for themselves. I found the ending of this book to be very unsatisfying. It felt disjointed and I felt like things went unanswered.

The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer (Holiday, 2021) A Jewish girl secretly is a famous Christmas romance novelist. When tasked with writing a Hanukkah romance, she decides she must attend The Matzah Ball. This is the sold out, biggest Hanukkah celebration in the city and she will do anything she needs to, to attend. Even though it’s run by her summer camp archenemy. I think this may be the first Hanukkah holiday fiction book that I’ve read. I felt the author made every Jewish food and culture reference possible, which was over the top. But I did like how the book shed light on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, something I was not very familiar with.

Passing by Nella Larsen (Classic/Historical Fiction, April 2003) The edition of the book I read was published in April 2003, however, the book was originally published in 1929. Passing tells the story of an African American woman “passing” for a white woman. But when a friendship with a childhood friend is reignited, the woman realizes that she wants to be part of her old community. I read this book because it was the first pick of the Netflix Book Club. I can’t say that I loved it but I thought the storyline was progressive for the time.

4 stars:

Always in December by Emily Stone (Holiday, October 2021) Girl meets boy in a literal collision. Neither are looking forward to Christmas and they end up spending the holiday together. But then he leaves for New York and she doesn’t see him again…..until she does several times over the next year. It seems they are destined to be together……While this book looks like a light, romance read, it is not! It’s a well-written, enjoyable but. But beware that it’s a heavier read that had me in tears at the end.

In a New York Minute by Kate Spencer (Romance, 2022) (c/o Netgalley) On the day she’s laid off a young woman is saved from potential embarrassment, due to a subway mishap, by a handsome young man. The two end up becoming a meet-cute internet sensation. Although they never exchange contact info, the two keep running into each other and become friends that may lead to more. I listen to Kate Spencer’s podcast, Forever35, and enjoyed this book a lot.

The Mothers by Genevieve Gannon (Fiction, May 2021) Two women are trying to conceive. One woman ends up getting implanted with the other woman’s embryo, which has tragic consequences. This was a heartbreaking story as I imagined how difficult the situation was for both women involved.

Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney (Mystery/Thriller, September 2021) A husband and wife are spending a weekend in Scotland, hoping this time away will help their marriage. I didn’t know anything about this book before reading which I recommend. It’s filled with so many twists and I found it to be a great read. The husband has prosopagnosia (facial blindness), which before reading this, I had never even heard of. I also really enjoyed Sometimes I Lie by this author.

Another month, another book review post. I read a surprisingly higher number of books than usual in October, with a total of seven books read. Unfortunately, they weren’t all great reads. Here are my October reads, which I’m sharing with Steph and Jana’s monthly Show Us Your Books linkup.

3 stars

Brunch and Other Obligations by Suzanne Nugent (Contemporary Fiction, May 2020) When Molly dies, she leaves a request that her three friends (who are not friends with each other) meet up for brunch, once a month for a year. She also leaves them each an inexplicable gift. Although the friends seem to have nothing in common with each other, they follow through on their friend’s request. Through the process they learn that Molly may have known what was best for them after all. This was an okay book about female friendship that was fairly predictable.

The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller (Contemporary Fiction, July 2021) After having sex with her best friend since childhood, Elle must decide if she is going to stay with her husband and three children or leave to be with him. The main storyline takes place over 24 hours with flashbacks to show how Elle’s life has evolved to the present. I read this book because it was a Reese’s Book Club Pick and she usually chooses books that I enjoy. Unfortunately, this wasn’t one of the books that I loved. I found it to be slow and the ending confusing.

The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth (c/o Netgalley) (mystery/thriller, April 2022) The story opens with a wedding, where a tragic event takes place. Rachel and Tully’s mother is in a nursing home with dementia. Their father is dating and soon engaged to a much younger woman. Each of the women have their own struggles that they are secretly hiding. Each of their stories brings light on the surprising conclusion. I have been a huge Hepworth fan. This was an engrossing, fast-paced read. However, I just didn’t love this one though as much as her others.

4 stars

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner (memoir, April 2021) At the age of 25, Michelle learns her mother has terminal cancer. Although they didn’t always have the best relationship, they always connected through their shared love of food. Faced with losing this part of her Korean American identity, Zauner learns to cook some of the traditional dishes she grew up eating with her mother. I heard about this book after hearing Zauner on a couple of different food podcasts talking about her memoir and Korean food. I haven’t read a memoir in a long time and this was a good one.

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave (mystery/thriller, May 2021) Hannah’s husband disappears, leaving her a note to protect his sixteen-year-old daughter. When the FBI start investigating her husband’s disappearance, she realizes that she didn’t really know him. This was an enjoyable, fast-paced read that more mystery than thriller.

Maangchi’s Real Korean Cooking by Maangchi and Lauren Chattman (Cookbook, May 2015) I’m counting reading Maangchi’s Real Korean Cooking as a book towards my goodreads reading goal because I did read this cover to cover. I am looking to learn how to cook Korean food and this is where I started. I know Maangchi has a big YouTube following and I’ll likely check out her videos. I just find cooking with a printed recipe easier. I wish she had cooking times listed with the recipes. Plus, most of the recipes in this cookbook were meat-based. So far, I’ve only tried one banchan vegetable side dish and it didn’t turn out great. But there are a couple of more recipes I hope to try out before it’s due back to the library.

The Seven Day Switch by Kelly Harms (Fiction, July 2021) Two neighbors, one a working mom, the other a stay-at-home mom end up waking up in each other’s bodies and get to see how the other mom lives. This was a good look at “the mommy wars” and how we all are just doing the best that we can. I’ve enjoyed all of the books by Harms that I’ve read, including this one.

With the kids back at school last month and their sports and activities in full swing, I’ve had very little reading time. I somehow still managed to read five books but I know that my reading will continue to slow in this busy season. Here are my September reads that I’m sharing with Steph and Jana’s monthly Show Us Your Books link-up. What was your favorite September read?

3 stars:

Not A Happy Family by Shari Lapena (Thriller, July 2021) Three three siblings attend Easter dinner at their parents’ house. Their very wealthy parents, who are found murdered the next day. Each sibling has secrets and their own motive to kill them. I wasn’t a fan of this book and didn’t like the ending. I have to stop reading Lapena’s books because I’ve read a lot of them and have been disappointed in most of them.

We Ride Upon Sticks by Quan Barry – (fantasy/historical fiction, March 2020) Set in Danvers, MA (which in 1692 was Salem Village) this story is about a field hockey team that believes they are channeling the powers of witchcraft to help rid themselves of their losing streak and take them to the state championship. I originally got this book for my daughter to read since she plays field hockey. She tried it but gave up after a few chapters. So I decided to give it a try. Overall it was an okay story, but was a slow read.

4 stars:

The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon (Contemporary Romance, January 2021) Two employees at a radio station end up fake dating for a radio show they are hosting but end up actually falling for each other. This was fun, light read.

The Guncle by Steven Rowley – (Contemporary Fiction, May 2021) Gay Uncle Patrick ends up taking care of his niece and nephew after their mother passes away and their dad goes to rehab. Having no experience with kids, he learns that parenting is no joke, but that he is capable. While the cover of the book makes it look like a light read, there was actually some depth to this story. There were even some LOL moments for me. While I read this book, I pictured Robert Brotherton, from the Netflix series My Unorthodox Life, as GUP!

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston – (Romance/Science Fiction) August Landry moves to NYC knowing no one. She finds some eccentric roommates and gets a job at a 24-hour pancake diner while also going to school. But then one day on the Q train she meets Jane. She falls for Jane fast but discovers that Jane is displaced from the 1970’s and stuck on the Q train. Through the course of the book August finds herself and her tribe in NYC. With the help of her new friends, August will try everything to help Jane. I didn’t really know anything about this book before reading it and was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it.

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 can’t believe that it’s August already. Summer is halfway through and I don’t feel like I did everything I wanted to! Sadly, my reading hasn’t been great this summer.  I feel like I’ve read a lot more in past summers than I have this one.  Here are my July reads:

3 stars:

The Kindred Spirits Club by Amy E. Reichert (contemporary romance/paranormal, April 2021). Sabrina is jobless and has to move back home, working for her childhood enemy. She and the women in her family can see and talk to spirits, which has always made her feel like a freak. Then she meets Ray, owner of a local restaurant. The two realize that they can help each other out….but will it turn out to be more? This was my first Reichert book. I wasn’t sure about the paranormal aspect of the book, but it somehow came together.  I’m not sure if all of her books have a fantasy aspect, but I may give some of her others a try.

The Other Wife by Claire McGowan – (Thriller, October 2019) Suzi is pregnant, living with her husband in a cottage in the middle of nowhere. She’s very excited when new neighbor, Nora, moves in next door. Then there’s Elle, who pretends to have a perfect life but feels like a prisoner in her home. But they all have their secrets and their stories end up intertwining. The book is told from the perspective of these three women and I found it a bit confusing to keep track of their stories. The storyline was a bit unbelievable to me and overall I was just underwhelmed with this book.

You Knew Me When by Emily Liebert – (Fiction, September 2013) Two childhood best friends are reunited when their beloved former neighbor passes away, leaving them both an inheritance with stipulations.  The book alternates between the past and present, showing how the friends became estranged. This was an okay book about female friendship.

4 stars:

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry – (contemporary romance, May 2021 ) Poppy and Alex met in college. Although complete opposites, the two formed a a fast friendship. Even though the two live busy, separate lives, for over a decade, they have taken an annual week long vacation together. But then two years ago something happened that ruined their friendship. Now Poppy is adamant about trying to fix their friendship. This was a fun, light summer read!

Too Good To Be True by Carola Lovering – (Suspense, March 2021) I went into this book, not knowing anything about it, as is recommended by many reviewers. So, I won’t get into too much detail here. However, this thriller kept me interested in reading! The story is told from three different POVs and you don’t know who to believe. Throw in some plot twists and you have decent thriller.

5 stars:

When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed – (graphic novel/middle grade non-fiction/, April 2020) This graphic novel is about two brothers growing up in a refugee camp in Kenya.  It’s an informative, inspiring and fairly depressing read, as I had no idea that refugee camps are like this.  The story is based on co-author Omar’s actual experiences. The book gives readers an insight into the struggles going on in the world. I learned about this book from a previous linkup and am glad I gave this a read!

Sharing with Steph and Jana’s monthly Show Us Your Books!