My summer has been NONSTOP. I was in Austin, then New York, then Savannah, then San Diego. Now we're a week into August (as I prep this post), and I've been entertaining visitors for over a week and a half. None of these are complaints, but they are definitely excuses as to why my summer reading successes have been dismal. Whereas most people use the summer to make up for lost time and binge books, I'm falling behind!! When I started the summer, my Goodreads tracker said that I was 6 books ahead of schedule for my reading goal, now I'm only 3 books ahead of schedule (still on track, just slowing the pace).
I truly loved these top 3 books. I went so far as to post about them on my IG stories (which is rare). I think I'd even want to buy Love Life and Shark Heart hard copies! I want to be able to go back and reference these over and over again!
Love Life: Ok, so as a perpetually single person who is absolutely exhausted by dating (especially app-based) dating, this book was the breath of fresh air that I needed. It gave tips that ranged from intentional dating, navigating and knowing your worth, as well as exploring what it means to be "happy enough." I needed this. It wasn't campy or buzzy, but actually practical. I told my therapist about it, she liked it, and she recommended it to other clients. I'd say, that's a big win.
The Rom-Commers: Okay, we all know how a rom-com contemporary romance is going to end. BUT, Katherine Center does such a great job layering complexity while also adding uncertainty that you'll want to keep reading to understand how we reach that happy ending. This story features tropes such as force proximity, grumpy-sunshine, and enemies to friends to lovers.
Shark Heart: This book is a whole lot of "not"s. I promise this is not sci-fi! It's poetic but not poetry. It's beautiful to read and not overly dense literature. It's a love story! It's multiple love stories. True love, partner love, parent love, chosen-family love.
Loved (Recommend to anyone for any reason)
Love Life: How to Raise Your Standards, Find Your Person, and Live Happily (No Matter What)- Matthew Hussey (I told my therapist about this and she has already read it and recommended it to several clients. I Discovered MH through episode of The Blonde Files podcast)
The Rom-Commers- Katherine Center
Shark Heart- Emily Habeck
Really Liked (Top choice recommendations)
Butts: A Backstory- Heather Radke
Darling Girls- Sally Hepworth
The Last Word- Taylor Adams (okay, it wasn't that I liked this book, so much as it was a compelling, quick-paced read)
Lady Tan's Circle of Women- Lisa See
Pretty Good (Recommend lite)
Love, Off the Record - Samantha Markum
Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies (The Vacation Mysteries, #1)- Catherine Mack (It's giving White Lotus but in the literary world)
What Happened to Nina- Dervla McTiernan
Okay (Fine- Liked enough)
Freedom from Fear: The American People in Depression and War, 1929 -1945- David M. Kennedy (This 900+ page tome was required reading for a summer workshop, great for my career, but not a recommended book for casual nonfiction readers)
Real Americans - Rachel Khong (If it wasn't for part 2 of this book, I would've hated it. Still have lingering questions about the magical realism aspect [for what reason? no follow thru])
The Soulmate- Sally Hepworth
Not For Me (Wasn't the intended audience or did not like)
You Only Call When You're in Trouble - Stephen McCauley
Honey- Isabel Banta (After much anticipation, based on the cover and description, this plot-less book was a flop for me. It had so much potential too! Spoiler alert: She gets famous, but that's really background story stuff, and nothing happens)
When the Emperor Was Divine- Julie Otsuka
DNF (Did Not Finish)
Fifty Beasts to Break Your Heart: And Other Stories - GennaRose Nethercott
Hotel Splendide- Ludwig Bemelmans
The Last Word- Emily Griffiths
Rebel Girl: My Life as a Feminist Punk- Kathleen Hanna
Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice (Finlay Donovan #4)- Elle Cosimano
Masquerade- O.O. Sangoyomi
Chain-Gang All Stars- Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah (SORRY, @MYBOOKCLUB)
Very Bad Company- Emma Rosenblum
All the Light We Cannot See- Anthony Doerr
Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake- Sarah MacLean
How to Solve Your Own Murder - Kristen Perrin
The Power- Naomi Alderman
Housemates- Emma Copley Eisenberg
Dating Dr. Dil (If Shakespeare Was an Auntie #1)- Nisha Sharma
Final Reflection:
Overall, I think I'm most disappointed in myself based on my DNF list. I think since I had such limited time for reading, I did not have the patience to let some books marinate, I had to keep it moving!
Also, a day late and a dollar short- I'm mad this took me til Sept 20 to publish! The start of the school year rolls in like a tidal wave and I was drowning!
For further reviews of each book, check out my Goodreads account!
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