Bookish and Black #57
Summer Reading Wrap Up
Hello and welcome to the new newsletter! I have toyed with so many ideas over the past few months to make this newsletter fit both what I want to talk about and what fits the community I’ve been working to build over past few years. I landed on this new format which I hope you all enjoy! As always, please share with a friend if you think they’d like it. For the 3 issues in the month of September, the newsletter will go to both paid and unpaid subscribers. Starting in October, only special issues and weekly previews will go to unpaid subscribers. If upgrading to a paid subscription is something you are a le to do (and interested in doing), your support would mean the world!
As always, thanks for being here
Vampires of El Norte wasn’t on my radar at all until it was recommended to me during book club last week (thank you Abby!). I immediately made it the book club selection for October. It has everything I’m looking for fall- romance, supernatural element, a gothic element mixed in with a thriller. And it takes place in the 1840s on the Mexico-Texas border.
I won’t lie, my summer reading is nothing to write home about. Don’t get me wrong, I read something every single day. But I mostly abandoned my TBR and all my physical books in favor of Kindle Unlimited. While there’s nothing wrong with this, a voice in my head kept reminding me that I wasn’t even enjoying half the books I was reading- they were just easy and smutty. This fall, I am trying to find my way back to my TBR and away from reading slightly problematic mafia romances that have nothing to do with my reading goals. That being said, I did read a few great books. Fourth Wing is as good as everyone claims it is, and Daughter in Exile is a beautiful portrayal of the immigrant experience- particularly a story of leaving a home you love to follow a man you love and what happens next. It was also weirdly a summer where I read multiple rom coms featuring a FMC who is on a road trip with the MMC to fulfill some mission for their grandparent/grandparent figure. But it worked both times so check out Mrs. Nash’s Ashes and You with a View.
And I can’t talk about all the Kindle Unlimited I read without leaving you with some recs. Here are the ones I’m not ashamed to say I read (and that are all actually really good):
Only For a Week | Out on a Limb | Whisky Business | Rein Me In | I Like You Like That | Baking Me Crazy | Mad About Ewe | The Lovestruck Series | Along for a Ride
My toddler is almost 2 (what is time???) and I can 100% say that my relationships have been impacted by becoming a parent. I’ve either grown closer or reconnected with some people, while I find myself drifting away from others. When I saw this article from the New York Magazine, it really struck a chord with me. I’ve been on both sides- the childless friend who doesn’t really get what their friend is experiencing and the parent who feels frustrated and disconnected at times. This is definitely a great read for everyone.
Okay I have been fully in fall vibes (mentally at least) since like mid-August. I am just so sick of the heat and humidity. Because of that, I find myself gravitating towards fall colors and styles. Gone are the bright colors of summer- I am currently wearing and loving neutrals like this nail color from Olive and June. It’s also finally cool enough to enjoy my daily walks. I recently got a pair Hoka’s and they are cute and actually comfortable. I walk between 2-3 miles on my walks each day and I feel no pain or discomfort.
In my cart are some Mary Janes for fall. I love this updated combo of the classic Mary Jane and ballet flat. Right now I’m debating between this pair from Madewell (they are leather but supposedly super comfortable) or this pair from Rothy’s (washable and made from recyclable materials). Let me know if you have tried either of these!
See you next week with the Fall Reading Guide!
Sarah
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