August 2022 Reads
Well, since it’s ~LinkedIn official~ now, I’m excited to share that I started a new job as the Digital Marketing Manager at the end of August at a local investment firm! It was a busy month of getting everything in order during the last two weeks at my last job, but luckily, I managed to sneak in a week and a half of staycation before starting the new gig.
Although I felt like I was in a reading slump at the beginning of August, by the time my time off came around, I was ready to get some reading accomplished. It helped that I did a lot of commuting that week because I flew through some audiobooks.
Plus, I attended an event that week that was hosted by the Grand Rapids Public Library with one of my best friends where we got to watch an in-person interview with Silvia Moreno-Garcia and had a copy of her book Mexican Gothic signed. (My review is in this post!)
As an avid reader, it was so cool to hear her talk about her books, writing techniques, and overall goals for some of her future novels.
All righty, let’s get to everything I read in August. :)
*All summaries are taken or paraphrased from Goodreads.
In the Weeds by B.K. Borison
IN THE WEEDS by B.K. Borison
Rating: 4/5 stars
Summary: Evelyn St. James isn’t the kind of woman you forget. Beckett Porter certainly hasn’t. One incredible weekend in Maine, and he’s officially a man distracted. He’s not unfamiliar with hot and heavy flings. He knows how it goes. But Evie wove some sort of magic over him during their tumble in the sheets. He can’t stop thinking about her laugh. Her hand pressed flat against his chest. Her smiling mouth at his neck. Also, her eyes. And her legs. So when she suddenly appears on his farm as part of a social media contest, he is… confused. He had no idea that the sweet and sexy woman he met at a bar is actually a global phenomenon: social media influencer Evelyn St. James. When she disappears again, Beckett resolves to finally forget her and move on. But Evelyn St. James has a problem. Feeling disconnected from her work and increasingly unhappy, she’s trying to find her way back to something real. She returns to the last place she was happy, Lovelight Farms and the tiny town of Inglewild. It has absolutely nothing to do with the hot farmer she spent two incredible nights with. Nothing at all.
My Thoughts: Well if this wasn’t the sweetest, steamiest second chance romance I’ve read in a while! This story had a gentle approach to Beckett and Evie finding their way back to each other after experiencing an amazing weekend together as strangers a few months prior. There was a warmth and promise to this developing relationship as they navigated their feelings and dynamics of being in each other’s daily orbit. The author’s writing was delicate in a way that made the harder moments feel like solid growth for this unexpected love match, and I appreciated how much the visual descriptions pulled me into the Lovelight Farms and surrounded me with its small town charm. This was a feel-good read in all the ways you hope for with these characters, and I definitely recommend giving it a try if you love a good second chance romance!
Becoming by Michelle Obama
BECOMING by Michelle Obama
Rating: 5/5 stars
Summary: In a life filled with meaning and accomplishment, Michelle Obama has emerged as one of the most iconic and compelling women of our era. As FLOTUS - the first African American to serve in that role - she helped create the most welcoming and inclusive White House in history, while also establishing herself as a powerful advocate for women and girls in the U.S. and around the world, dramatically changing the ways that families pursue healthier and more active lives, and standing with her husband as he led America through some of the most harrowing moments. Along the way, she showed us a few dance moves, crushed Carpool Karaoke, and raised two down-to-earth daughters under an unforgiving media glare. In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her - from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world’s most famous address. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it - in her own words and on her own terms. Warm, wise, and revelatory, Becoming is the deeply personal reckoning of a woman of soul and substance who has steadily defied expectations - and whose story inspires us to do the same.
My Thoughts: Wow if I couldn’t love the Obamas more than I already do! Michelle really pulled back the curtain in this memoir and gave such genuine, raw insight into her life. Although I have the physical copy of this book, I decided to listen to it on audiobook and am so glad I did. With Michelle as the narrator, it was so much easier to connect with her story and all of the emotions she felt throughout the various anecdotes. She gives an in-depth look at her life growing up in the south side of Chicago, introduces standout people who helped shape the woman she is today, and reflects on a variety of memories including going through law school, meeting her husband, life as the first Black FLOTUS, her experience as the spouse of a political figure, the passion behind her initiatives while Barack was in office, and more. Honestly, if you haven’t read her book yet, I cannot recommend it enough!
Funny Feelings by Tarah Dewitt
FUNNY FEELINGS by Tarah Dewitt
Rating: 4/5 stars
Summary: Farley Jones is being forced to date Meyer Harrigan, the man she has come to love, in order to make all of her stand-up dreams come true. It’s agony - a tragedy, even. In lieu of flowers, please send cash… Meyer and his daughter Hazel have been everything to her since they came into her life three years ago. So, all joking aside, the stakes are really high when it’s not only her career, but both of those relationships on the line. A former stand-up star himself, Meyer has helped the trajectory of her career take off since he began managing her… Since he became her closest and most treasured friend, in the process. This is the only reason why, when the biggest opportunity of Farley’s career includes thrusting him back into the spotlight to stir up publicity, he agrees - despite his grumpiness, his protectiveness over Hazel, and his disdain for public attention. When helping her includes taking those barriers down, all those funny feelings start coming out into the open, and it quickly begins to feel like anything but a joke.
My Thoughts: Y’all know I love some top notch banter in a rom-com and this book DELIVERED. Farley and Meyer are both in the entertainment industry as comedians and although Meyer is retired, the well-timed and placed jokes throughout their conversations was *chef’s kiss.* On the romantic side of things, I was obsessed with their friendship/relationship. After walking into Meyer’s and his daughter, Hazel’s, lives three years ago, Farley has become a staple presence in their daily lives (and them in her’s). I loved that the timeline bounces between the present with Farley on tour and the past when she first met the father/daughter duo because we got a glimpse of how their relationship has evolved and could see how long these characters had been pining for each other. The pure adoration Meyer had for Farley had me swooning and I absolutely LOVED how much he was rooting for her professionally. I think in real life, most men might feel intimidated or emasculated by having a partner who shares the same career and is absolutely killing it while the guy’s career is at a standstill. There is an age-gap trope to this rom-com, and though I usually don’t love those, it honestly wasn’t as exaggerated as gaps in other books I’ve encountered. I think Meyer is 9 or 10 years older than Farley and she’s in her mid-twenties, so I could dig it. Anyway, if you’re looking for a laugh-out-loud rom-com with top tier banter, I highly recommend giving this one a try!
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
ANXIOUS PEOPLE by Fredrik Backman
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Summary: Viewing an apartment normally doesn’t turn into a life-or-death situation, but this particular open house becomes just that when a failed bank robber bursts in and takes everyone in the apartment hostage. As the pressure mounts, the eight strangers begin slowly opening up to one another and reveal long-hidden truths. First is Zara, a wealthy bank director who has been too busy to care about anyone else until tragedy changed her life. Now, she’s obsessed with visiting open houses to see how ordinary people live - and, perhaps, to set an old wrong to right. Then there’s Roger and Anna-Lena, an Ikea-addicted retired couple who are on a never-ending hunt for fixer-uppers to hide the fact that they don’t know how to fix their own failing marriage. Julia and Ro are a young lesbian couple and soon-to-be parents who are nervous about their chances for a successful life together since they can’t agree on anything. And there’s Estelle, an eighty-year-old woman who has lived long enough to be unimpressed by a masked bank robber waving a gun in her face. And despite the story she tells them all, Estelle hasn’t really come to the apartment to view it for her daughter, and her husband really isn’t outside parking the car. As police surround the premises and television channels broadcast the hostage situation live, the tension mounts and even deeper secrets are slowly revealed. Before long, the robber must decide which is the more terrifying prospect: going out to face the police, or staying in the apartment with this group of impossible people.
My Thoughts: I think I’ve said this before, but if not, take note: listening to Fredrik Backman books is the move. Every audiobook of his that I’ve listened to so far has never disappointed and Anxious People is no exception. This book unapologetically shows the imperfections and struggles that make us so human in the most humorous and melancholy of ways. The plot was as bananas as this eclectic group of characters, and all of it was utterly beautiful. I loved that the more we learned about each character and their background, the more we saw how they’ve each experienced something similar in life. It provided a sense of community amongst these random apartment-viewers and connected them in ways they couldn’t imagine. There are even a couple of storylines that intertwined from almost a decade ago through the present. This book provides multiple laugh out loud moments while balancing those with comfortable, melancholy conversations too. If you haven’t read this book already, I urge you to try listening to the audiobook!
Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall
HOOD FEMINISM by Mikki Kendall
Rating: 5/5 stars
Summary: Today’s feminist movement has a glaring blind spot, and paradoxically, it is women. Mainstream feminists rarely talk about meeting basic needs as a feminist issue, argues Mikki Kendall, but food insecurity, access to quality education, safe neighborhoods, a living wage, and medical care are all feminist issues. All too often, however, the focus is not on basic survival for the many, but on increasing privilege for the few. That feminists refuse to prioritize these issues has only exacerbated the age-old problem of both internecine discord and women who rebuff at carrying the title. Moreover, prominent white feminists broadly suffer from their own myopia with regard to how things like race, class, sexual orientation, and ability intersect with gender. How can we stand in solidarity as a movement, Kendall asks, when there is the distinct likelihood that some women are oppressing others?
My Thoughts: Wow, this audiobook was a wake up call. Mikki Kendall does a phenomenal job explaining why the feminism movement is failing those who need its support most and how women (especially white women) need to start taking an intersectional approach to tackling various issues in our country. This book provides concrete stats and figures while also interlacing real life anecdotes to make each point she’s explaining more applicable and easier to understand. I will say I wish I had a physical copy of the book as well so that I could go through and make notes/highlight key ideas and actions the author hit on while I was listening to it. That said, if it wasn’t already obvious, I highly encourage everyone to pick up this book because it was excellent.
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
BOOK LOVERS by Emily Henry
Rating: 5/5 stars
Summary: Nora Stephens’ life is books - she’s read them all - and she is not that type of heroine. Not the plucky one, not the laidback dream girl, and especially not the sweetheart. In fact, the only people Nora is a heroine for are her clients, for whom she lands enormous deals as a cutthroat literary agent, and her beloved little sister Libby. Which is why she agrees to go to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina for the month of August when Libby begs her for a sisters’ trip away - with visions of a small-town transformation for Nora, who she’s convinced needs to become the heroine in her own story. But instead of picnics in meadows, or run-ins with a handsome country doctor or bulging-forearmed bartender, Nora keeps bumping into Charlie Lastra, a bookish brooding editor from back in the city. It would be a meet-cute if not for the fact that they’ve met many times and it’s never been cute. If Nora knows she’s not an ideal heroine, Charlie knows he’s nobody’s hero, but as they are thrown together again and again, in a series of coincidences no editor worth their salt would allow - what they discover might just unravel the carefully crafted stories they’ve written about themselves.
My Thoughts: Wow Emily Henry really knows how to make you feel all the feels in her books, huh? I definitely understand the hype with this story though. I was obsessed with Nora and Charlie’s dynamics. Both are unapologetically career-driven city people and though their initial meet-cute wasn’t very cute, the second time they collide in a charming little town called Sunshine Falls, all bets are off. Nora is a strong and resilient main character who has a tendency to put the ones she loves ahead of her own needs - even if that means putting her own dreams on pause while she makes sure her sister is happy and supported. The frustration Nora felt when she realized how misunderstood she was with people in her industry - described as a shark - was palpable. However, with Charlie’s help, she takes pride in her driven work ethic while learning how to humanize herself as a person too. Speaking of Charlie, we love a male MC who is written by a woman, do we not? Charlie knew ALL the right things to say, and tamed that “is there going to be a miscommunication?” anxiety in me with his words every time. It was so freaking refreshing, I cannot describe. Emily Henry’s writing is addicting and really peels back the layers of a reader with her words until you feel as vulnerable as the characters. At one point, she described heartache as a bruise you can’t help but press, and I really connected with that. This book is written for book lovers by a book lover and I just can’t recommend it enough!
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
MEXICAN GOTHIC by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Rating: 5/5 stars
Summary: After receiving a frantic letter from her newly-wed cousin begging for someone to save her from a mysterious doom, Noemi Taboada heads to High Place, a distant house in the Mexican countryside. She’s not sure what she will find - her cousin’s husband, a handsome Englishman, is a stranger, and Noemi knows little about the region. Noemi is also an unlikely rescuer: She’s a glamorous debutante, and her chic gowns and perfect red lipstick are more suited for cocktail parties than amateur sleuthing. But she’s also tough and smart, with an indomitable will, and she is not afraid: Not of her cousin’s new husband, who is both menacing and alluring; not of his father, the ancient patriarch who seems fascinated by Noemi; and not even of the house itself, which begins to invade Noemi’s dreams with visions of blood and doom. Her only ally in this inhospitable abode is the family’s youngest son. Shy and gentle, he seems to want to help Noemi, but might also be hiding dark knowledge of his family’s past. For there are many secrets behind the walls of High Place. The family’s once colossal wealth and faded mining empire kept them from prying eyes, but as Noemi digs deeper, she unearths stories of violence and madness. And Noemi, mesmerized by the terrifying seductive world of High Place, may soon find it impossible to ever leave this enigmatic house behind.
My Thoughts: There may be some light spoilers in this review because I have some things to SAY, so proceed with caution. First off, I literally could not have predicted what happened in this book if you paid me. Even as we were getting more clues halfway through the book, I was kind of like “meh. Are we really going to leave it at that?” Then Ms. Moreno-Garcia said, “Hold this giant plot twist for me, won’t you?” I absolutely adored Noemi as the MC and heroine of this story. She is badass to a T in an elegantly scrappy type of way. She knows how to play people’s games and adapts some rules of her own, if you know what I mean. Francis honestly served as a beacon of hope for me throughout this terrifying experience and I’m so glad he didn’t disappoint. I obviously had trust issues with him, but people’s intentions are in their actions and his actions all provided some light in this dark mansion. We truly love an underdog moment. The author does an amazing job sucking you into the story and giving specific details that cause a physical reaction. For example, at one point, it’s torrentially raining and there’s no way to leave this dreary house in the mountains. I felt SO trapped and claustrophobic, my friends. It was insane. Last thing I will say, and this is the mild spoiler alert, I was obsessed with the fact that she literally and figuratively burned the racism right out of that family. If you can’t tell, I thoroughly enjoyed this gothic thriller and highly recommend it if you’re looking for something a little different.
The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi
THE HENNA ARTIST by Alka Joshi
Rating: 5/5 stars
Summary: Escaping from an abusive marriage, seventeen-year-old Lakshmi makes her way alone to the vibrant 1950s pink city of Jaipur. There she becomes the most highly requested henna artist - and confidante - to the wealthy women of the upper class. But trusted with the secrets of the wealthy, she can never reveal her own… Known for her original designs and sage advice, Lakshmi must tread carefully to avoid the jealous gossips who could ruin her reputation and her livelihood. As she pursues her dream of an independent life, she is startled one day when she is confronted by her husband, who has tracked her down these many years later with a high-spirited young girl in tow - a sister Lakshmi never knew she had. Suddenly the caution that she has carefully cultivated as protection is threatened. She still perseveres, applying her talents and lifting up those that surround her as she does.
My Thoughts: Y’all know I love a good historical fiction book and this novel hit the SPOT. Although I have a paperback copy of this book, I decided to listen to the audiobook and I’m so glad I did. The narrator was phenomenal, giving voices to all of the different characters. The first-person perspective made getting sucked into this story effortless. Lakshmi has put her nose to the grindstone over the last decade trying to make a stable life for herself in a society and culture that expects most women to surrender their independence to marriage. She’s created a successful henna business, painting wealthy women and providing special herbs to other patrons on the side. I loved how resilient and carefully planned her character was. You could feel how much self restraint she practiced daily to preserve her lifestyle. Which brings me to Radha. I know she’s only 13-years-old, but my god she needed a HEARTY reality check a few times throughout this book. Some of the things she did to throw a wrench in Lakshmi’s plans were out of pure naivety and I was so frustrated with her character lol. That said, we do clearly see her character development through various actions much later in the book when she makes some mature decisions, but it took a minute to get there. Overall, I absolutely adored this story and think you could easily enjoy it in any form.
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
THE RAVEN BOYS by Maggie Stiefvater
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Summary: It’s freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive. Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them - not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her. His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble. But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all - family money, good looks, devoted friends - but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little. For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.
My Thoughts: When I say I was absolutely HOOKED on this paranormal fantastical story, I am not exaggerating. This audiobook sucked me into its hold and I was instantly a part of this adventurous quest led by an addicting group of characters. Though a couple of characters are a little off-putting, *cough Ronan cough* I loved how you can easily feel the camaraderie between the Aglionby boys and how quickly they absorbed Blue into their group. The side characters of Blue’s family such as her mom and aunts were so quirky, fun, and whimsical. I kept looking forward to what their ~third eye~ had to say about any given situation. Aside from the characters, the plot was addicting and kept me guessing as to what would happen next in Gansey’s endless search for Glendower. PLUS, this audiobook threw in some plot twists that made me gasp because I didn’t see them sooner. Overall, I definitely understand why so many people love and obsess over The Raven Cycle series and am for sure hooked.
Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare
QUEEN OF AIR AND DARKNESS by Cassandra Clare
Rating: 5/5 stars
Summary: What if damnation is the price of true love? Innocent blood has been spilled on the steps of the Council Hall, the sacred stronghold of the Shadowhunters. In the wake of the tragic death of Livia Blackthorn, the Clave teeters on the brink of civil war. One fragment of the Blackthorn family flees to Los Angeles, seeking to discover the source of the disease that is destroying the race of warlocks. Meanwhile, Julian and Emma take desperate measures to put their forbidden love aside and undertake a perilous mission to Faerie to retrieve the Black Volume of the Dead. What they find in the Courts is a secret that may tear the Shadow World asunder and open a dark path into a future they could never have imagined. Caught in a race against time, Emma and Julian must save the world of Shadowhunters before the deadly power of the parabatai curse destroys them and everyone they love.
My Thoughts: I’ve said it before, but I’m going to say it again: Cassandra Clare can WRITE. Like she really went all out on this third book of The Dark Artifices trilogy. Especially after the way the second book ended… I was ready to be wrecked again lol. I loved how thoroughly the plot for this specific book was planned because it was so detail-oriented and pulled important pieces not only from the first two books, but also from the The Mortal Instruments series. Although there is so much going on with literally every character, the format makes it easy to keep up with the chaos packed into each chapter. I was especially interested in the parabatai curse storyline following Julian and Emma because they had figured out a solution at the end of the last book, but that got thrown to shit immediately in this one. Like the hopelessness they felt was palpable. I will say, I also enjoyed that not everything panned out the way I was expecting it to. Specifically with Kit and Ty. The direction of their relationship felt unfinished, but I think that made me realize how much I had become invested in it. There was a turn of events I was HOPING would happen with Kieran, Cristina, and Mark, but wasn’t sure if we were going to get there or not. Literally every protagonist - big or small - in this series stole my heart and I was incredibly satisfied by the time I turned the last page. If you’ve read any of the Shadowhunters series and enjoyed them, then I highly recommend trying The Dark Artifices trilogy.
The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater
THE DREAM THIEVES by Maggie Stiefvater
Rating: 4/5 stars
Summary: Now that the ley lines around Cabeswater have been woken, nothing for Ronan, Gansey, Blue, and Adam will be the same. Ronan, for one, is falling more and more deeply into his dreams, and his dreams are intruding more and more into waking life. Meanwhile, some very sinister people are looking for some of the same pieces of the Cabeswater puzzle that Gansey is after…
My Thoughts: Holy hell. It took a moment, but Ronan finally solidified his place in my heart. This book was a huge plot twist in and of itself. I literally could not have predicted ANY of this happening based on what occurred in the first book. We not only get to learn more about Ronan’s background and secrets about his family, but also how the ley lines are affecting his dreams and that this isn’t the first time odd things are happening. I love how far this group of friends will go for each other to ensure they’re safe and cared for. Although Adam is going through a rough time dealing with the repercussions from his sacrifice in the previous book, he learns a big lesson in “found family” and what it means to have people love you. Of course I’m obsessed with the storyline following Gansey and Blue as they develop feelings for each other lol. Blue’s mom, aunts, and cousins came through with the dynamic side character presence that continued to add just enough depth to this paranormal book. The only thing that bothered me about this audiobook is the voice the narrator used for one of the newer characters. It was so annoying lol which is why I’m only giving it 4 stars. Would I have rated it higher if I read the physical book? Maybe. Who’s to say? I definitely recommend continuing through The Raven Cycle series if you already started it though!
That’s my August Wrap-up!
I cannot believe we’re almost to fall, but I also can’t wait for sweater szn because that means I get to turn up my cozy level to a 10 when I’m reading lol.
2022 Book Count: 145
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YOUR TURN! What author would you like to see speak in-person?
