I never was able to put together an August book wrap up so instead of writing two for August and September, I am putting together a double whammy. I did read a good amount in those two months – I finished 13 books and had 2 DNFs. Not bad for a bit of a crazy time period. I had a few trips including work and fun and those long plane rides always help with reading catch up. I had several books I liked quite a bit, a few more that were pretty good and just a couple that were Meh. And as you know, if I don’t like it, I don’t finish it – and there were just a couple of those.
Things You Save in a Fire – Katherine Center
I loved this book. I think Katherine Center is a clever, witty author that combines humor with tragedy and just shows how life is in all ways. She portrays her main character Cassie as a strong, independent woman who doesn’t shy away from the tough stuff in a man’s world, but reveals her emotional side as well. This book was tough to put down and I read it very quickly. I suspect it will remain on my top ten of the year.
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Maybe You Should Talk To Someone – A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed – Lori Gottlieb
This was an audible selection for me and I have to admit I had trouble with the first few chapters but once I got past that, I was hooked. The author wove her own grief into the story allowing us to meet Wendell her therapist and many of her own patients. And while we think it’s a book about them, it isn’t. It is about us.
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Lilac Girls – Martha Hall Kelly
I listened to Lilac Girls mostly on audible but did get the book out of the library as well. There were a few spots that I picked up the book and read it that way as I needed to move it a long a little bit. This book is hard. It is such an incredibly tough subject as we read about of Ravensbrück, a notorious Nazi concentration camp for women that many Polish women were sent to. I do have a deeper understanding now of some of the stories behind this part of history but it was a tough read and helped me make the decision to take a break form WWII historical fiction for a bit.
🍷🍷🍷🍷 1/2
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek – Kim Michelle Richardson
This was another historical fiction book that I learned a lot from. I really didn’t know much about the Pack Horse Library Project of Kentucky nor of the blue skinned people and their ancestry. I was engrossed in learning about Cussie who becomes a librarian and those that she brings books to through the woods on her dangerous route. It is a book that is heartbreaking, heartwarming and a mix of everything else in between.
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The Secrets She Keeps – Michael Robotham
I found this psychological thriller very well written but quite disturbing. It was not as violent as some of the other psychological thrillers I’ve read this year but a very, very messed up character is the main event in this 2 voice narration book. It truly was hard to put down, but also hard to read at times, if that makes sense…
🍷🍷🍷 1/2
Lock Every Door – Riley Sager
Desperate, broke and recently dumped Jules takes a job at a luxurious Manhattan famous apartment building as an apartment sitter. But there are rules. Don’t leave for the night, no visitors, don’t ask questions of the rich and famous residents. She starts to get to know another apartment sitter named Ingrid but then she suddenly disappears. This becomes a pretty dark story that was pretty unbelievable, however I couldn’t put it down. I wasn’t a big fan of the ending.
🍷🍷🍷 1/2
Never Have I Ever – Joshilyn Jackson
As I read most of this book I found my self liking it quite a bit. And then, something happens that changed it from me and I could not give it 4 🍷s. There are a few topics for me that generally ruin a book, especially depending on how they play out and unfortunately this was the case here. It was over the top and quite frankly unbelievable in the end to me.
🍷🍷🍷 1/2
Lady in the Lake – Laura Lippman
While I do remember liking this book while I read it, I have to say that it was a bit forgettable as I had to go back and see what it was about in order to right this. I only finished in 30 days, so it was pretty forgettable. Maddie aspires to be a reporter but is starting a bit late in life after walking away from her marriage of 20 years. She meets obstacles everywhere she turns but she is determined to find out what happened to a woman found in a fountain at the city park lake.
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Reconstructing Amelia – Kimberly McCreight
This was a tougher read for me as a mom of young adults that were teens not long ago at all. Kate is in an important meeting to be pulled to find out her daughter is in trouble at school, but by the time she arrives to pick her up she is dead. Even worse, she jumped from the roof of the building. Her daughter Amelia’s texts and correspondence of the time leading up to her death bring her through the events and remind us that not everything is as it seems. Or is it?
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The First Mistake – Sandie Jones
I found The First Mistake to be very predictable, but I still liked it. It was an easy quick read about Alice, her husband Nathan, and her best friend Beth. Throw in some stories about her dead first husband and a very successful business and you have an entertaining domestic thriller.
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Summer of 69 – Elin Hilderbrand
I am fairly certain this is my last Hilderrand book. I know she is wildly popular, but she just doesn’t do it for me. 3🍷s feels very generous as this woven tale that sprinkles in the tale of moon landing and Chappaquiddick feels so forced. There were parts I did like so I did rate it a three, but I think it is time for me to move on from this author for good. I think I have even said that before, but I did get sucked in to reading it anyway as I think the title drew me in.
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The Idea of You – Robinne Lee
The Idea of You was recommended a few times in a facebook book page. I picked it up at the library and whoa – so different than what I normally read. Its a very steamy, passionate affair between a mom, Solene, in her 40s and a very young (21-22) up and coming pop star, Hayes, in a boy band. Let’s throw in that Solene’s daughter has a very big crush on the boy band and everyone in it, but especially Hayes. Hayes feels to me like a Harry Styles rip-off. When I picked this up I had just finished a very heavy, hard book so I did decide to finish this as I needed a light palette cleanser. But then once I was finished with this, I needed a shower. A cold one.
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Did Not Finish – DNF
More than Words – Jill Santopolo
Jar of Hearts – Jennifer Hillier
August 2019 Favorite Book of the Month – Things You Save in a Fire
September 2019 Favorite Book of the Month – Maybe You Should Talk To Someone – A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed
