August & September books helped me wrap up the summer with two months of hitting the road again. That’s right, this wrap-up is a double whammy month. Because I am so slow and so behind, August is paired with September this time around. A great deal of travel time always means reading time and I tried to make some additional progress on my ARCs that I have been so far behind on. I did ok, finishing four ARCs in August and I read six others as well over the two months and there were a couple DNFs that I put down without finishing. I just don’t have the patience to keep reading books I am not enjoying, not now, not ever. Life is too short and by TBR is too long to read books I am not liking.
Here is what I did read in August & September.
Hollow Bones – Jodi Picoult
Mollie lost her mother on 9/11 and that sets the stage for an anxiety ridden woman that constantly thinks of disasters. So much so, she has made it her job as the Rhode Island Department of Emergency Preparedness chief. Without saying too much, this is a very important book about mental health, specifically women’s mental health and is completely riveting.
One critique that affected me – the time jumping on audio was hard to follow. When there’s a dash/big space, etc in the written version to show a jump, why can’t we find a way to show that in the audio version?
🍷🍷🍷🍷1/2
This Book Made Me Think of You – Libby Page
This book was a warm hug that book lovers and the non-obsessed will likely all embrace. Tilly’s beloved Joe passed five months ago and it is quickly evident she is deeply wrapped in grief. She receives a phone call from a local bookshop that there is a package to pick up. She is shocked to learn that Joe has picked out a book for her and she will continue picking up books from him that he has chosen each month of the year. We follow her journey with Joe’s books, new friends and her path of grieving. Sometimes you pick up the right book at the right time. This was exactly that for me.
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Keep Them Close – David Ellis
Bingeable, high suspense / mystery is what you get from the next David Ellis book! Ever since Look Closer I have ran to grab the next Ellis book and this was not a disappointment. Here we have Allison, a highly successful lawyer and her husband Finley who struggles at success. Add in Luke, the hometown baseball prodigy that meets tragedy when a bike vs car accident causes his baseball dreams to fade away. And of course, what happens to every sports star that can no longer play? They coach. There’s more to this cast of characters and we have one big cat & mouse game as you race to turn the pages. I dabbled a bit with the audio book but preferred the print in this case. A very enjoyable read.
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Hungered – Amanda Rizkalla
A heart-wrenching emotional book about an unhoused family living out of their car – a mother and two young children – but from 12 year old Sofia’s perspective. Sofia is wise and insightful beyond her years as she brings us on their journey that will rip your heart to shreds. I specifically had so much empathy for the mom, who repeatedly is faced with decisions that seem completely impossible to make, and yet she does what she can for the sake of her children. The audio was very well done and was impactful. I will note that I finished Hungered prior to its announcement of being an Oprah pick for October (I read it in September). I also think that the cover illustration has been redone since the Oprah pick, this is the original cover art.
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The Secrets We Hide – Karin Slaughter
This is the second book in Slaughter’s North Falls series, and honestly book one was far superior. We meet up with Emmy, Jude and another large cast of characters – both law enforcement and citizens of North Falls. An ex cop of a neighboring town (but North Falls resident) has been murdered during Emmy’s mother’s funeral and she must compartmentalize her grieving to find the killer. A good page turner but somewhat forgettable.
🍷🍷🍷1/2
A Hundred Summers – Beatriz Williams
Knowing I am needing warm hug books right now, a couple of friends have suggested trying Beatriz Williams. I’ve been told she writes historical fiction that is also a cross between chick-lit/romance and intrigue. I did read Husbands & Lovers some time ago but this author keeps coming up in conversations, so I dove back in. I started here with A Hundred Summers. It was a quick easy read that was fine and enjoyable. Not particularly deep, which has been good for me right now. I will continue with her back list and see where it leads me.
🍷🍷🍷1/2
When You Loved Me – Beatriz Williams
I followed A Hundred Summers with another Williams book and this time jumped to her latest. While this one seemed heavier on the romance than the historical story, it again landed as a quick and easy read that was overall enjoyable. I still plan to continue with her backlist.
🍷🍷🍷1/2
The Midnight Train – Matt Haig
I have made no secret that Matt Haig is one of my favorite authors but this may be my least favorite. I am not sure what it was, but I just couldn’t immerse in the world he was sharing as easily as the past. As in other books, this may be more of a me problem right now but Wilbur and I just didn’t connect and while I did like the book, that was about it.
🍷🍷🍷1/2
Big Little Truths – Liane Moriarty
The kiddos of Big Little Lies are now in high school and intertwined in new and interesting ways. I think the tv series became an issue for me as I had a hard time imagining things differently than what we have now seen on the screen.
🍷🍷🍷1/2
The Last Mandarin – Louise Penny
This one was just ok for me. It was completely unrealistic and I was unable to suspend disbelief and engage with the story. I really was hoping for more and looked forward to the Louise Penny collaboration, but it was just ok in the end.
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