Total Number of Books: 16
Total Number of Pages: 6,291
Physical: 4
eBooks: 7
Audiobooks: 5
Favorite (New) Reads of the Month: One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid AND Bad Vibes Only by Nora McInerny
Physical:
One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
If We Were Us by K.L. Walther – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Two YA’s on my backlist and two anticipated adaptations. Let me just say, I cried so hard during One True Loves that I said aloud in my empty apartment, “Why is it so sad!?!” Honestly, I’d read Taylor Jenkins Reid’s grocery list at this point. Better Than the Movies was an absolute joy to read and really reinforced my love for the literal boy next door trope. And I just found out that there will be a sequel? Can’t wait! I have a K.L. Walther ARC on my TBR for next month so I wanted to read their debut. If We Were Us was a wonderful boarding school story with great friendships and the exploration of sexuality.
eBooks:
The Do-Over by Suzanne Park – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
For Her Consideration by Amy Spalding -⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Zora Books Her Happily Ever After by Taj McCoy – ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
What Have We Done by Alex Finlay – ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Missing Clarissa by Ripley Jones – ⭐️⭐️.5
The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth – ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Pieces of Me by Kate McLaughlin – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I absolutely loved the Do-Over! Such a sweet second chance romance with great friendships and reflection on how much we change over our 20’s. I kind of struck out when it came to mystery/thrillers this month. It was a real bummer to not enjoy What Have We Done because I loved Alex Finlay’s last book, Night Shift. I just didn’t care about any of the characters and only finished it because I wanted to know what happened. I was happily surprised with Amy Spalding’s debut adult romance book, For Her Consideration. I wasn’t a fan of her last few YA titles but I think this was such a strong adult sapphic debut. I loved that the story didn’t rely on the romance for our main character to grow and develop in her life. Kate McLaughlin always writes extremely hard hitting stories and Pieces of Me is know different. I was so fascinated by this exploration of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and how it was explained in a very clear and succinct way. How our minds can try to protect ourselves from trauma is absolutely wild. I think the format of The Soulmate was excellent. It was so smart to show the dual POV and dual timeline—especially having it from only the female perspectives. This went to places I wasn’t expecting but it was a really interesting ride.
Audiobooks:
Somebody’s Daughter by Ashley C. Ford – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My Mess is a Bit of a Life by Georgia Pritchett – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Educated by Tara Westover – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bad Vibes Only by Nora McInerny – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Brutes by Dizz Tate – ⭐️⭐️.5
The descriptions in Brutes were wonderful and I think the writing style was interesting, especially for a debut novel. However, nothing really went anywhere. The comparison to The Virgin Suicides was accurate but I didn’t get the same feeling. I think Nora McInerny just became a new favorite essayist and I can’t wait to read from her soon. Educated was a wild ride and Somebody’s Daughter was heartbreakingly beautiful. Good audiobook month!
Lindsay Glenne 