August slipped away into a moment of time
Welcome back to my newsletter which has swiftly gone from biweekly to monthly. Partially because life has been especially draining these past few months, partially because I am not reading enough to warrant two newsletters a month. Hopefully that changes soon, but in the meantime, let’s get into the fun stuff.
August Books
The Bookshop of Second Chances by Jackie Fraser This book was promising (the plot reminded me of Much Ado About You) but it didn’t have the spark that book did. I enjoyed the first 1/3 of the book, but the more I read, the less interest I had in the plot or characters. 2.5 stars
The Last Tang Standing by Lauren Ho This was on my TBR for months and it did not disappoint. I thought it was so fun. It is a TRUE slow burn but was mostly fine but I would’ve preferred more early connection between the main character and the romantic interest. 3 stars
Somebody’s Daughter by Ashley C. Ford I listened to this on audio (as I did the other two memoirs I read this month). I loved Ashley’s narration. This memoir was at times difficult to read but it was always unflinchingly real. 5 stars
Surviving the White Gaze by Rebecca Carroll This book made me feel so many things- anger, shock, sympathy, and so much more. Carroll’s memoir on growing up in rural New Hampshire as the only Black person was both fascinating and heartbreaking. Her upbringing with her hippie parents, her relationship with her birth mother, and her journey understanding her Blackness were both eye opening and heartbreaking. 4 stars
Aftershocks by Nadia Owusu: I am as we speak finishing this book up for book club tonight. So far I am loving Owusu’s memoir that delves into her familial relationships, struggles with mental health, and journey of understanding and accepting her identity. 4 stars (so far!)
And a whole bunch of 2022 romance ARCs:
Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon (1/11/22) I LOVED THIS SO MUCH!! Sorry for yelling but this novel, by the author of The Ex-Talk, was a delight. The story was perfect- a riff on the Parent Trap- two coworkers decide to matchmake and get their divorced bosses to fall back in love, but during all the scheming start to fall for each other. I loved the representation of having a depressed female main character and a romantic interest who is not straight sized. And yes, for those who care- it was steamy! 5 stars
How to Love Your Neighbor by Sophie Sullivan (1/18/22) The sequel to Ten Rules for Faking It, this book focuses on the brother of the romantic lead in the first novel. It was worth a read and I finished it, but didn’t find it particularly special. 2.5 stars
Hook, Line and Sinker by Tessa Bailey (3/1/22) The companion novel to It Happened One Summer, this story focuses on Piper’s sister. I may have loved this one even more. I enjoyed the connection between the two main characters more (and it’s somehow both steamy and a slow burn so that’s a plus!). 4 stars
Mr. Wrong Number by Lynn Painter (3/1/22) I saw this on Netgalley and downloaded it as a whim and it was totally worth the read! Olivia get a text from a wrong number and soon forms a relationship with the unknown Mr. Wrong Number. What she doesn’t know is that she is chatting with her brother’s best friend, who she has always despised. This is a classic enemies to lovers, mistaken identity, and close proximity HEA. It was a fun and easy read. 3.5 stars
A Few Links…
Will you be reading along in September with the Oprah’s Book Club selection?
The 100 Best YA Books of All Time
Helen Hoang’s new book was released today! Have you gotten a copy yet?
40 Books We Can’t Wait to Read This Fall Obviously I cannot wait to get my hands on the new Colson Whitehead.My copy of In Every Mirror, She’s Black just arrived and I cannot wait to dive in.
I have my eye on the Olive and June fall collection. The colors are definitely speaking to me! (Use SARAHC20 for 20% off)
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