August was a bit of a weird month for me, book wise. I did have a good amount of reading time – or I should have. We wrapped up one short getaway on August 1 and another that was a tad longer mid month. I don’t usually like to travel so close together like that but the first trip was moved from mid month due to a conflict that came up for my husband. That did make it feel a bit like a 4 week period as we ended July and entered August was a vacation month – which I did not mind at all! The empty-nester dream!
With that, you would think I was cruising through these books on both coasts with the soft ocean breeze. I think my body just craves the salt, winds, sand and sea so much that I just wind up staring out and decompressing. I did read, but not as much as I planned. But what I did read was mostly pretty good – lots of 3.5’s. Which for me is better = it was pretty ok, but I didn’t quite fall in love with it either. Worthy reads but most likely not sure memorable down the road in the long term.
We Must Not Think of Ourselves – Lauren Grodstein
This was a WWII historical fiction novel set in Warsaw that is based on the real life interview archives detailed by those that wanted to be sure their stories were recorded and told. Adam becomes a prisoner of the Warsaw ghetto and is requested to interview and record the stories of other’s in the ghetto to preserve the truth of what is happening. At the same time, he becomes roommates with Sala, her husband and her two children. The entire story is heart wrenching, heart stomping, mind blowing, yet totally readable. I don’t want to say much more but this one thing – History Matters.
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Middletide – Sarah Crouch
A solid debut author. I look forward to seeing what she does next and how she grows in her writing. It’s a bit of a far fetched book about a far fetched book that started very strong. Entertaining enough to keep me engaged.
🍷🍷🍷1/2
Same As It Ever Was – Claire Lombardo
This is a very long, very sad and very depressing book. It is well written but I had to keep putting it down for a day at a time as it was mentally exhausting. I both listened and read a physical copy and time changes were even more abrupt on audio.
🍷🍷🍷1/2
A Talent for Murder – Peter Swanson
This is Swanson’s 3rd book in the Lily Kitner & Henry Kimball series, which I have enjoyed. I can’t say it was as good as #1, The Kind Worth Killing – which remains as one of my favorite dark, twisty, crazy, unhinged books of all time – but it was pretty good. I can’t even describe what happens, it’s best to go in blind. But I would also recommend you read the first two books prior – or at least the first.
🍷🍷🍷1/2
Red River Road – Anna Downes
This one started out strong for me and then went a tad off the rails. Katy is searching for her sister Phoebe, a van-lifer that went missing a year ago. She is using her social media posts as a map to find clues and people she may have met. Her path crosses with Beth and she joins Katy on the search, but Beth is keeping secrets. And this is where everything gets a tad wonky. It was entertaining enough to keep me going. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance e-copy. Red River Road is now available.
🍷🍷🍷1/2
The Ex Vows – Jessica Joyce
Second chance romance + forced proximity + communication breakdown + all the other tropes. It was sometimes cute & fun, sometimes you want to throw the book across the room (just talk to each other, people!) – but a good palette cleanser from the more intense books. Definitely some spicy scenes.
🍷🍷🍷1/2
The Axeman’s Carnival – Catherine Chidgey
Tama the magpie has been taken in and cared for by Marnie who lives with her abusive husband and about to become an internet sensation. There were parts of this book I loved but the underlying abuse was so much for me to keep reading that I had a hard time getting past it. The book is narrated by Tama, who also imitates the people around and often is quite funny and snarky. Tama’s understanding of the world and what is happening is eye opening and. the writing does shine here. I am not sure why I didn’t love this one as much as others have, but if you enjoy animals as a main character you are sure to fall in love with Tama. Thank you to NetGalley and Eurpoa Editions for an advance e-copy. The Axeman’s Carnival is now available.
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Morbidly Yours – Ivy Fairbanks
I am not 100% certain why I requested this but it was not a great fit for me. Quite a bit spicier than I normally read and the main female character, Lark was a bit much. Bad communication tropes are not my jam and that is 100% what this one is. Slightly entertaining but otherwise just ok. Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Brothers Publishing to an e-copy. Morbidly Yours is now available.
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A Great Marriage – Frances Mayes
This one was pretty rough for me and super choppy throughout. I had a very hard time connected with the characters due to the writing style. Thank you to NetGalley for an advance e-copy and Ballentine Books for both a hard copy and copy! A Great Marriage is now available.
🍷🍷1/2
