Books I Read: August

What a crazy month of reading. I didn’t do much at all at the beginning of the month, then went on a trip and plowed through four in five days! Reading so many books while on book deadline truly kept me sane.

I did complete any audio books, which I think was mostly due to not having a commute for two weeks (my office was being remodeled) and not walking much in August. I expect both will pick up in September.

August Reads

Tell Me Three Things: This YA book came highly recommend in my favorite Facebook group, The Book Club, so I thought I would give it a whirl. Here’s what I learned (again) – YA is not the genre for me. Tell Me Three Things revolves around a girl, Jessie who has recently lost her mother and her father remarries. They move across the country and start a whole new life. A boy starts messaging her and they become friends, though he keeps his identity a mystery. The writer does a good job navigating loss and the youthful character voices.
3 stars

The Almost Sisters: Another read that I picked up at the recommendation of so many others, including my trusted literary kindred spirit Amy Allen Clark. The book opens with Leia Birch Briggs, a graphic novel artist, pregnant after a rendezvous at a comic book convention with a guy that she only knows as Batman. But before she can tell her family, her sister’s marriage has a catastrophe, and they discover their grandmother has been hiding her rapidly progressing dementia from them. Leia heads home to the deep south to make arrangements for her grandmother. While there she discovers a skeleton hidden in her grandmother’s attic. Yes, it’s a crazy storyline, but I promise it somehow works. The story is rich with conversations about racism, family and the secrets we keep. Though I found the beginning a bit slow, I ended up crying at the end of the book. The characters are wonderfully developed and the story is touching.
4 stars

Setting Free the Kites: I absolutely loved this book and want every person I know to read it. I found it on the “new” shelf at the library and the cover copy piqued my interest enough to borrow it. Little did I know that once I started it, I would not be able to put it down. The story is about two boys who are both impacted by tragic circumstances in their childhood, the friendship they forge and the impact of family. I don’t want to give anything away, but trust me. You will love this book. It will certainly be on my top 10 books of 2017.
5 stars

Of Mess and Moxie: It’s not secret that I adore Jen Hatmaker. I believe in her message and am honored to call her a friend. This spring she shared with us that Of Mess and Moxie was her favorite thing she had ever written, and after reading it, I understand why. Never have I laughed and cried while reading a book as much as I did this one. It will resonate deeply with women of all life stages. It is poignant and silly, wise and relatable. Read this book.
5 stars

Not a Sound: I read this book on my flights back home from Cancun. A thriller mystery where the lead character is a deaf nurse who is on the hunt for a killer in her small town, this book did not disappoint. A great, easy read. Though a bit predictable, I still really enjoyed it.
4 stars

Ready Player One: This is one of those books that everyone has been talking about so I felt like I had to get in on the buzz. Set in 2044, a world where people spend their days in the OASIS, a virtual reality utopia, the book follows teenage Wade Watts’ journey to win a contest that has captivated the world. Chock full of 80s trivia and nostalgia, this book is fast-paced and brilliantly written. Steven Spielberg is directing the movie based on the book, which is set to release at the end of the year. Definitely outside my typical read, I really enjoyed this book.
4 stars

Slow Down (owned): Nichole Nordeman’s new gift book for moms reads like a best friend telling you stories and giving advice. It’s moving, vulnerable and honest. This book proves that Nichole’s chops as a writer extend far beyond songs. I truly loved this book. Go on Amazon and buy two copies because you are going to want to give one to a friend.
5 stars

Book of the Month Selects

Oh my goodness, the Book of the Month selects are SOOO good. It’s rare that I want to read ALL FIVE, but that is totally the case this month. Book of the Month is the best $15 I spend on myself each month. If you are not a member and you love to read, I can’t recommend it enough.

Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

Sourdough by Robin Sloan

Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker

Lies She Told by Cate Holohan