This month was slow, reading-wise… but busy, life-wise! Between work and some life changes, the reading fell to the side. I felt lucky to get a few chapters in before bed most of this month.
I know it’s incredibly unfair to just gloss over the life changes thing, but, maybe I’ll share more about it in essay form later. Until then, just know things are all good over here — we’re happy, exhausted, and our hearts are beyond full. 🥰
I’m going to jump right into this month’s selections, and skip additional reading recommendations since I am behind on all my ‘stacks. I’m hoping to be back to knocking through books quickly in August… mostly because my TBR is a mile long! (As if that’s anything new…)
As always, if you have a recommendation or something you know I’ll love to read, please put it in the comments, DM me, send a smoke signal, tell me on Goodreads — basically, whatever it takes to get the book on my TBR!
Also, you can always refer to the Instagram post on what my star ratings mean.
FICTION
DON’T OPEN YOUR EYES, by Liv Constantine
Who it’s for: Those who need a fun, quick summer thriller
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Popcorn. This was a fun summer read! I never miss a story by Liv Constantine anymore, and this one (while not my fave), did not disappoint. Anabelle has it all — a great job, a wonderful husband who is a doctor, two lovely girls… and then she starts having weird dreams that seem to be premonitions. I’ve seen too many Lifetime movies and I kept thinking it had to be like, her husband was giving her lobotomies (à la one of my faves, Not My Life with Meredith Monroe) or that she was being drugged. I was pleasantly surprised by how it twisted its way to the end and I was only slightly off with my predictions. Take this on your final summer getaway!
WHAT KIND OF PARADISE, by Janelle Brown
Who it’s for: People who love a mix of suspense + lit fic
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Gripping. I couldn’t put it down, but I expect nothing less from Janelle Brown. I had been waiting for this one to drop and I was not disappointed. Jane and her father have been living off the grid in Montana for as long as she can remember, after her mom died in a car accident. He is her sole provider of basic necessities and education, and one day, she’s introduced to the internet (the story takes place in the mid 1990s), to help her father publish his manifesto. After some things go awry, Jane flees for San Francisco, to find answers about the mother she never got to know. I won’t say more because I fear I’ll give something away, but trust me. Janelle Brown never flops.
THE WOMAN IN SUITE 11, by Ruth Ware
Who it’s for: Lovers of Ware & her prequel, The Woman in Cabin 10
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Solid suspense. I’ll be honest, I was stoked to read this because I love anything Ruth Ware writes. This was a 3.68 for me, rounded up to a 4, because of that and it was a decent thriller. But, I should have read the prequel, The Woman in Cabin 10, again before picking it up because I could barely remember a thing about Lo Blacklock and what happened to her on the cruise ship all those years ago. But, I do remember loving that one! That’s my only piece of advice for this one. Anyway, it’s ten years after the incident on the ship and she’s married with two children, living in America, when she’s ready to get back to work and finds herself invited to an exclusive stay for a new hotel in Switzerland. Lo attends the trip only to find herself reunited with people from her past and ends up on an eventful trip across Europe. Another good summer read!
NONFICTION
GIRL ON GIRL, by Sophie Gilbert
Who it’s for: Those who enjoy a critical assessment of pop culture topics
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Interesting. I really wanted to like this more than I did, but I will say it was well written and many interesting points were brought forward about how we, as women, have been taught to tear each other down through what we witness in pop culture. This critical view of the 1990s and 2000s as an age where “riot girl feminism” deteriorated into objectifying, over-sexualizing teen girls and young women, and how they are pitted against each other (think America’s Next Top Model, for one example). Media exploitation, women’s rights being reversed, and the pop-sociology of how feminism has changed through that period of time made this a solid read. Some of her points, though, I found myself thing “well, if a woman feels this is okay for HER and makes her own choice about XYZ, then I think that’s fine”. With that said, I understand Gilbert’s overarching goal of shining a light on how the media could have shaped those feelings/opinions. Anyway, it’s a decent read, if you’re into this kind of subject.
SO MANY STEVES, by Steve Martin and
Who it’s for: People who want to spend a little time with Steve Martin
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lovely. Oh, Steve Martin. An American comedic icon with loads of talent. This was a short audiobook, published by Pushkin, with Steve Martin and his friend Adam Gopnik having conversations about Steve’s many talents and gigs throughout his career. Most of us know Martin as a comedic genius, having been a prominent cast member during the early SNL days and iconic movie star, but he dives into his lesser-known talents (magic and playing the banjo) a bit in this one. It was a really fun listen and it honestly just made me love him more, which I never thought could be possible.
THIS AMERICAN WOMAN, by Zarna Garg
Who it’s for: Memoir + comedy lovers
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Delightful. This was such a fun listen! Zarna is hilarious, and if I’m being honest, she wasn’t on my radar until I saw her memoir pop up in a list somewhere. I am SO glad I got the audiobook — she included some jokes from live sets throughout, which was a lot of fun. Her story is very interesting — she left home as a young teen after her mom passed away because her father was attempting to arrange marriage for her. She found her way to America to live with a sibling and became an ~American Woman~ fully. Zarna talks about her childhood, how she met her husband (through an ad she placed and via email — the 90s were a different time!), the family they created, how she landed in comedy, and much more. I cannot recommend this one enough — many LOLs, some tears, and a wonderfully told story.
All the (non-affiliate) links for the books reviewed go to Bookshop.org, a wonderful site where you can purchase your books and support your local independent bookstore(s). 📚
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