My Month Is Booked: Books Read in July

I was really sad when Steph and Jana decided to end their book review link-up, but totally understood. I mean keeping a linkup running for 8 years is incredible! But since it's been such a part of my (blogging) life I decided to continue posting my reviews on the same day even without the linkup. So imagine my surprise when I saw that my friend Lauren had decided to start another book review linkup on the same day! Amen!! So without further ado, here are my reads from July. 

Island Time - Georgia Clark: 5 Stars
Netgalley

I absolutely loved how complex this story was, within a seemingly breezy rom-com! Even though there was quite a large set of characters, each one had a distinct voice and personality. I loved how the story unfolded from each of their perspectives. I wanted more from the epilogue (how far out was that set, about a week? too short), like how each member was faring in their new lives, but I really enjoyed how messy the author made these characters- as a family, and as individuals, and the pliability and realism in their relationships. I also liked how the author described everything; the island- I could actually feel the cool breeze off the beach(!), the terror during certain storm scenes, and resilience of each in the face of devastating and drastic changes. She also seemed to have a strong grasp of the ecology of the island and explained so without shoving climate change down the reader's throat and without standing on an environmentalist soap box, which I appreciated. 

The Woman in the Library - Sulari Gentill: 4.5 Stars

library hardback

I loved this reverse locked-room mystery! Basically, "Boston Public Library is quiet, until the tranquility is shattered by a woman's terrified scream...four strangers, who'd happened to sit at the same table, pass the time in conversation and friendships are struck. Each has his or her own reasons for being in the reading room that morning—it just happens that one is a murderer."

I immediately liked Freddie and Cain. I liked that Freddie was also an author who was in the library that day to work on her book. I loved that one of the other strangers sitting with her picked up on her nicknames for them (ha!). I found Marigold to be a bit too young and absolutely too intrusive in the others' lives. But I think my favorite part may have been learning about Freddie and her obsessive fan, who we only glimpsed correspondences of from him to her about her upcoming book. I knew at least two who DIDN'T commit the murder in the beginning, but was left guessing for anyone else, which leads to a solid murder mystery to me! 

Yerba Buena - Nina LaCour: 3 Stars

BOTM; Own

Trigger warning: addiction

In LaCour's first novel aimed at adults (as opposed to YA), she takes two women and tells us their story from teenagerhood through adulthood. These two women seemingly have nothing in common, except their experiences with addiction. I'm usually a big fan of FF romance, but something didn't sit right with me when progressing this one. Sara's life is complex and hard; Emilie is like a silly girl flitting around using her parents' money. Their "connection" felt too sudden and forced. I actually originally gave this 4 stars but I can't remember why, so I'm giving it 3. 

Landline - Rainbow Rowell: 3 Stars

Own

Oh, Rainbow. You've let me down again (but not as bad as you did with Fangirl). This was....fine.  Ok, maybe it wasn't you, it was me. I don't typically like stories involving science fiction, magic realism, or ::shudder:: time travel, and that's what you gave me. In summary, Georgie and Neal have been married for a long time, they're have some struggles, and then Georgie has to work over one Christmas vacation, when they normally got to Kansas to visit Neal's family. So Neal packs up the kids and goes without her. And then she calls his house, and *somehow* (through some "magic phone") gets to talk to a younger version of him. Like, when they first started dating version. I was intrigued by the premise but underwhelmed by the execution. I'm all for a HEA, but I would've liked some explanations. 

Currently Reading: The Last Anniversary - Liane Moriarty

Book Stats (recounted this month)
Total number read: 22
Owned: 14

Library: 8

E-book: 15

Physical book: 7
Non-Fiction: 3
BIPOC Author: 3 (same)

Given Away/Paperback Swap: 12

What are you reading?

Linking up with Lauren!

Books Read in June

I know the popular "Show Us Your Books" linkup is gone, but the second Tuesday of the month was just when book reviews got posted for the last 9 or so years, so I'm sticking to it! Not stealing the name, but here are the books I read in June. 

Several People Are Typing - Calvin Kasulke: 4.5 Stars
library e-book

What a weird f*ckin book! The description states "A work-from-home comedy where WFH meets WTF" and YES. I couldn't agree more! Basically "Gerald, a mid-level employee of a New York–based public relations firm has been uploaded into the company’s internal Slack channels—at least his consciousness has." (sorry, not sure how else to rephrase because that's exactly what happens). The whole story is told through Slack (or iMessage/chat, for anyone who doesn't know Slack) messages. So his body is in his apartment, but his non-physical self gets sucked into Slack, and he spends the whole book trying to figure out "live" there, and tell his friends/coworkers that he's trapped there and talks to them through Slack, but from the inside, and please take care of his body and rent LOL. He makes friends with the Slack Bot, and there's even some romance (I'm aware how weird that sounds, but trust),  but honestly some of the convos has me literally LOL'ing which is why it got 4 stars (particularly the part about bodegas, if you decide to read it).

Pradeep: I dunno man, maybe I should just bring you to a hospital or call Slack tech support or something

Eight Perfect Hours - Lia Louis: 4 Stars

Netgalley

I'm not entirely sure why I gave this one 4 stars (as I write this review nearly a month later), other than it gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling at the end. Ohhh, that camera, though!

This was cute, but ENTIRELY TOO PREDICTABLE. Noelle meets Sam first while trapped in a snow storm on a highway, but then again at a hospital soon after. After giving him her number at the hospital, she finds it balled up next to a trash can. How rude! Then her mom's friend recommends her for a job, and lo and behold, Sam is there!  I mean really?! But what romance lover doesn't love the meet-cute trope? This whole book was a bit cheesy, but it did give me all the warm and fuzzies. And though the whole "secret held within in the camera" was a bit EXTRA, at least it made sense (but honestly, extraneous). 

 

The Big Rewind - Libby Cudmore: 4 Stars

Own

I picked this up randomly at a bookstore because it was marketed as "Nick Hornby's 'High Fidelity,' but for women." Jett, our MC, receives her neighbor KitKat's mail (which happens to be a mixtape) and when she goes to return the mail, she finds her neighbor dead (recently because she still has brownies burning in the oven), bludgeoned with a rolling pin - so she goes on a mission to find the killer, using the mix tape and a single picture KitKat's sister provides from her phone,  as leads. This was a cute murder mystery, but I think creating a Spotify playlist and listening to all the songs listed/mentioned in the book definitely enhanced the experience. Jett's interwoven love story was a bit unrealistic and unnecessary, but I did enjoy all the nods to 80's culture- it felt very nostalgic.

Orpheus Girl - Brynne Rebele-Henry: 3 Stars

Own

I was really excited to get this one on Paperback Swap but was disappointed overall because it stated that it was a reimagined story about Greek Orpheus myth, and it really wasn't. In fact, even though Raya (one of our MCs) LOVES Greek Mythology, she also hardly ever mentions Orpheus or any other Greek mythology at all. Basically Raya and Sarah live in a small 

(-minded) Texas town, and when outed they are both sent to the same "re-education" camp to make them straight. Unfortunately, I couldn't connect with any of the characters, and so when they were undergoing severe "treatments," I felt nothing (but maybe that says something about me more than the story?). 

The Smash-Up - Ali Benjamin: 2.5 Stars

Netgalley 

There are several  separate storylines:

• Husband Ethan, co-founder of a marketing company, with college buddy Randy
• Randy, who may/may not have done something to involve himself in #MeToo movement and wants his buddy E (Ethan) to hook the big fish who may come out and say something
• Wife Zo, who has become an activist for the #MeToo movement along with her merry band of All These Witches 
• Daughter Alex with ADHD

There was just too much going on in this novel; it needed more focus. For instance, the whole episode with the mushrooms was extraneous and didn't serve any purpose other than to take up more pages. Also, an epilogue should wrap things up, not introduce new issues. The reader is still left wondering a lot of questions [possible spoilers in white]: like where Maddie went, or more importantly, what happened to/with Randy after that last call, because it sounded like he was about to commit suicide. Also, Zo's character COMPLETELY turns around during/after that trip with Alex to the Boston Children's Hospital- how? Why? And who is "Jarret"/ not Jarret - where did he come from? Why was he there? 

I'm rounding up my review to 3 stars, but it was really 2.5.

Summer 2022 TBR

My summer TBR is filled with books for my favorite book challenge, the Book Challenge by Erin, which starts on July 1st! But I would also like to read all mostly books I already own. (Those marked with an asterisk are one I don't own, but really want to read!) So without further ado...

Book Challenge by Erin 17.0 – Categories
• 5 points: Freebie – Read a book that is at least 200 pages: Milk Fed - Melissa Broder

• 10 points: In a time of war, disease, mass murders, and natural disasters, we'd like to promote a little positivity. Read a book that you predict will bring you joy and happiness (for example, can be a favorite author, a self-help book, one from the humor shelf, or one deemed inspirational): Landline - Rainbow Rowell (favorite author)

• 10 points: Read a book that’s set in Canada: 

The Day The World Came To Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland - Jim Dede

• 15 points: Read a book by an author who is of a different race/religion than you: 

Everything I Never Told You - Celeste Ng

• 20 points: Read a book with a flower in the title or a picture of a flower on the cover: 

Yerba Buena - Nina LaCour

• 20 points: Read a book with book, books, bookstore, bookshop or library in the title: 

The Woman In the Library - Sulari Gentill*

• 25 points: Read a book published the year of a significant event in your life: 

The Last Anniversary - Liane Moriarty (2006- year I graduated college)

• 30 points: (selected by Danielita) – Read a book that is recommended by the librarian or a book store employee or you discover on the "staff recommendations" shelf: 

Song of a Captive Bird - Jasmin Darznik*

• 30 points: Read a book that includes a trip or a vacation/holiday: 

Island Time - Georgia Clark 

• 35 points: Read a book a with one of these five words in the title: earth, air, fire, water or space: Unaccustomed Earth - Jhumpa Lahiri

What are you hoping to read this season?

Linking up with Jana! 

Show Us Your Books

I'm not gonna lie... my love of reading has certainly taken a nosedive in the last few months. We all have highs and lows even when it comes to hobbies, right? I just couldn't find my groove until recently, but better late than never! Here's what I read since the last time I linked-up: 

In Her Boots - K.J. Dell'Antonia: 3 Stars
Netgalley

I liked that the focus in this one was female friendship and mother-daughter issues versus romance, but Rhett was very immature and naïve for being nearly 40 years old. A lot of the drama could have been avoided easily by just talking. I think the best part was the Emily twist. I was really looking forward to this one, but it was a little too predictable and I found it dragging.

Almost Romance: A Memoir - Nancy Balbirer: 2.5 Stars

Kindle Unlimited

I liked this story- after 30+ years, these once lovers reunite. Yay. (That is not a spoiler, it's in the description.) I just didn't like the author's writing style. Too many Yiddish words that made following difficult without having to look them up, and other words that made it seem like she was trying too hard (ex: soupcon, just say a small amount! or heretoupon, etc). For a book less than 200 pages, there was a lot of "fluff" and it took me a lot of willpower to get push through this one. 

We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves - Karen Joy Fowler: 3 Stars

library e-book

What a weird little book. I was completely enthralled until about 24%, when we learn a fun fact about the MC's sister, Fern. And then the whole story changed course and I no longer loved it. I did enjoy the the dry humor and side characters, and support what the author clearly wants me to support, but can't say too much else about the story without giving away spoilers. If you want to know what I'm talking about, highlight below!

[spoiler]: There’s something you don’t know yet about Mary. The imaginary friend of my childhood was not a little girl. She was a little chimpanzee. So, of course, was my sister Fern. Some of you will have figured that out already. Others may feel it was irritatingly coy of me to have withheld Fern’s essential simian-ness for so long.

 

DNF: Exciting Times - Naoise Dolan

I did NOT have an "exciting time" reading this one. I usually try to give a book at least 20% before giving up but honestly, I don't even think I made it that far before marking this "nope, not for me, maybe for you." 

"I wasn’t good at most things but I was good at men, and Julian was the richest man I’d ever been good at."

Currently reading: The Smash-Up - Ali Benjamin

Book Stats 
Total number read: 16
Owned: 3 (same)

Library: 7 

E-book: 8

Physical book: 5 (same)
Non-Fiction: 1 (same)
BIPOC Author: 3 (same)

Given Away/Paperback Swap: 10

What are you reading?

Linking up with Steph and Jana! 

Prime Purchases

It's that time of month again... time to see where I spent all my money at Amazon with Prime Purchases!

I did a LOT of organizing last month! These seems to happen every time I switch over my wardrobe for the season. I got two shoe organizers, one for 4 pairs of boots and one for the 12 others! I normally only wear sandals and maybe one pair of sneakers in the warmer months, so I put all the others away. I like that this one has compartments and a clear plastic cover (so I can see them all easily if I need to)... and both fit perfectly right under my bed! 

I purchased this 3-piece sweater storage organizer to replace the broken luggage and the giant plastic bin that I usually put them, both of which were taking up way too much space in my closet. I like that it they have clear panels so I can see what's inside, they stack easily, and of course you don't have to use them for just sweaters! 

Did you know you could purchase JUST the Pyrex replacement lids? I had a few that got lost or melted in the microwave or dishwasher. Love that I can just buy the lids.

Speaking of lids, I bought this lid organizer for my cabinet (you know, so they don't get lost and/or fall all over the place). 

Instagram knows me well... this 7-pocket accordion document organizer looks perfect for the recipes I want to put somewhere, and for only $8 the price was right!

 Rebecca Jo shared this neoprene iced coffee insulated sleeve and I thought it was so smart! I hate it when my iced coffee drips all over the place!

Blue requested these as house slippers after she saw them on The Today Show, but they could be great for the pool too!

I got this for my mom since often she only needs to cook one (or two) eggs for herself, so this seemed quick and easy. 

Since we were going to visit a llama alpaca farm on our family vacation, I got this cute little stressball llama for the little one!

 

What are you buying this month?

Linking up with Tanya!

Currently: June

Reading: In Her Boots - KJ Dell'Antonia

Watching: Well all of my favorite prime time shows' season finales! Also just started Stranger Things S5 (Netflix) and Hacks S2 (HBO Max)

Listening to: Hello June - Mars

Celebrating: my niece's 30th birthday! We just got back from a few days at the beach  celebrating her birthday and just relaxing. More on that in a sec!

Giving: away books on Paperback Swap- I just recently mailed Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan, Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews, Jonny Appleseed by Joshua Appleseed, The Perfect Wife by JP Delaney and Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker.

Taking: Too many pics?! And a much-needed week long vacation! Blue booked the whole family a private tour at an alpaca farm, complete with meeting, greeting, petting, and feeding them! We made our way to a brewery (or two!), had a feast at MudHen Brewing where we basically got one of everything off the menu, and visited the Cape May Lighthouse before Blue and I took an extra solo night at the Hard Rock in Atlantic City. I also found my new favorite used bookstore where I may have totally bought too many books, but I couldn't help myself! Though it sounds like a lot it was spread over a few days, so it was quite relaxing. 

Trying: Some new recipes! I made this chili cheese hot dog bake, taco stuffed shells, and this creamy ground beef, spinach, and pasta dish that was really good but I can't find the recipe - oops! 

Wearing: my new rain coat! I've been wanting a short khaki raincoat for a really long time, and I finally found this one on Poshmark. I didn't realize it had a yellow trim when I purchased it, but I kinda dig it! 

What's currently going on with you?

Linking up with Anne! 

TTT: Books I Was SUPER Excited About But Haven't Read Yet!

Oops, a few days late this time! Anyway, sometimes getting a book is more thrilling than actually reading it, as told by my physical bookshelf which has close to 40 books on it that I haven't gotten around to reading yet! Here is a short list of ones that I was so anxious to read, the reason/how it was acquired, and recalled the date/year I got it.

Surprise Me - Sophie Kinsella: Nov 28, 2017 (arc)

The Family Upstairs - Lisa Jewell: Sept 24, 2019 (arc)

The Dry - Jane Harper: June 2020 (book to movie)

Luckiest Girl Alive - Jessica Knoll: May 2017 (book to movie)

Sometimes I Lie - Alice Feeney: June 2020 (friend's copy- luckily she didn't want it back!)

Everything I Never Told You - Celeste Ng: June 2020 (classic!)

Malibu Rising - Taylor Jenkins Reid: May 27, 2021 (BOTM)

The Therapist - B.A. Paris: March 17, 2021 (arc)

Any Way The Wind Blows - Rainbow Rowell: July 6, 2021 (last in series)

The Day The World Came To Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland - Jim DeFede: Dec 2021 (became available on Paperback Swap!)

What's on your list?

Linking up with Jenna!