It’s the second Tuesday of the month, and you know what that means; it’s time for another edition of Show Us Your Books! Compared to last month, which included a couple 2-star reads and a couple of DNFs, this one was AMAZING. I had 6 -- yes, SIX -- 4-star reads, which is pretty unheard of, for me. I love great reading months!
But I’m also a little bit sick this week (I’m blaming it on the abrupt transition to fall from a week of suffocating 90 degree weather…), so I’m keeping my blurbs short and linking to full reviews in lieu of blurbs where I can. Know that I 100% recommend any of the 4-star books, and honestly, you should go read them now, if you haven’t already… Let’s get to it!
Linkup Guidelines:
This linkup happens the second Tuesday of every month. The next is Tuesday, October 9, 2018.
1. Please visit and comment with both of your hosts, Jana & Steph
2. Please display the button or link back to me and the linkup hosts on your blog post
3. Please visit a few other blogs who've linked up and get some book talk going!
Last Month’s Edition & What My Ratings Mean
4-Star Reads ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Immortalists - I am beyond happy that this lived up to my expectations, and it was even better that we got to discuss it in a book club. Because I really needed to discuss it. review + recipe
The Late Bloomers’ Club - This book is cozy as heck and perfect for fall. I’m seeking out Louise Miller’s other novel immediately! review + recipes
Vox - As far as feminist dystopias go, this one’s a good one! Cautionary, haunting, riveting. Because this one didn’t have great food tie-ins, I published my thoughts on it for my first review as a contributor on Literary Quicksand -- you can check it out here.
An American Marriage - Everyone is talking about this novel (or was… I was a little late to the game), and while I wasn’t immediately in love with it, I found it utterly captivating. It’s an important story and we need more voices like Jones’. review + recipe
Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore - I love a good book about books! And this one was a thriller to boot, so I couldn’t have put it down if I wanted to. review + recipe
There There - This was a slow start, possibly because of the multiple POV format, but it gained momentum, especially halfway through, and I was glued to it for the last 50 pages. I’ll be posting the review on this one later this week, so make sure to come back and check it out.
3-Star Reads ⭐⭐⭐
*The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle - This novel had an interesting concept (sort of Groundhog Day meets Life After Life) and engaging writing, but the execution kept me from rating this higher. There was a LOT going on in the story, and I struggled to keep track of the characters, plus the ending didn’t blow me away (and actually confused me a bit more…). Fun fact: In England, this book is called The 7 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, but in the US, because of obviously similarities to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, they had to add the ½.
The House on Mango Street - I read this book as part of my office’s Diversity Book Club, which is celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month. The vignettes (most chapters were only a page long) read sort of like poetry, which isn’t my thing. Most of them didn’t make a whole lot of sense to me and few of them related to each other. I think a lot of people read this one in school, and I think it’d definitely benefit from being taught and/or discussing. I didn’t love it, I didn’t hate it. I’ll be interested to see what the conversation is like in book club this week!
2-Star Reads ⭐⭐
Summer Sisters (2.5) - I was not a fan of this novel’s format, in which secondary characters had random third person interjections, but also I had a hard time relating to (or liking) the main characters past the first 25% of the story. I wanted this to be better, but it was mostly just frustrating.
Did Not Finish
The Queen of Hearts - People really love this novel, so I felt weird not finishing it, but after the first 7 or so chapters, I still wasn’t hooked (and I had Vox on my shelf…) so I just gave up. I found the dialogue to be unrealistic and the plot/character motivation remained too ambiguous for too long to keep me interested.
Currently Reading
*The Dream Daughter - I’m only a quarter of the way through this one, which I picked up on Sunday night, but so far I’m into it. I love a good “realistic time travel” book, and this one seems to fit the bill! I’m interested to see where it goes.
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*I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the reviews. Great list. Please keep them coming.
The Immortalists is on my list, I have heard mixed things but I'm curious so can't wait to see which side I fall on lol. Summer Sisters is one of my old favourites, as in loved it at the time but not sure I'd ever reread it because my tastes have changed as I've gotten older.
I was kind of nervous about The Immortalists myself because of so many mixed reviews, but I ended up being one of the ones who liked it. It definitely had some flaws, but I loved the concept and thought it was well-done.
I like the cover of the late bloomers! That alone might lure me in. I still haven't read An American Marriage.
Aw, I loved Summer Sisters.
Isn't it gorgeous?! ????
So many good ones to add to my list!
You just reminded me to add An American Marriage to my hold list at the library. I was going to buy it, but I'm barely reading right now so I figure I can patiently wait for it, lol. The House on Mango Street has been on my list to read forever, but it's never one I think to pick up. A diversity book club sounds so awesome!
The diversity book club is awesome! I don't always like the books, but I always think the discussion is worthwhile ????????
I really liked The Immortalists too and I'm going to check out your full review of it. I've been Vox all over the place and somehow that book never hit my radar until now so I'll have to check it out. I also haven't read An American Marriage but it's definitely gotten some stellar reviews. I'll get to it ... eventually! 😀
I'm glad you had such a great reading month. I really loved Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore too, and I do want to read An American Marriage at some point.
-Lauren
If you're in an book clubs, An American Marriage would be a great book for discussion.
I wanted to like Summer Sisters too, but I just couldn't get into it! I may try again though. I didn't know that about the 7 1/2 Deaths- how interesting! I have that on my Kindle app but haven't had much interest after learning it was similar to Groundhog Day. Vox, Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore, and The House on Mango Street are also on my TBR! I'll get to them, eventually lol.
7 1/2 Deaths is more similar to Life After Life than Groundhog Day, honestly... the only similarity to Groundhog Day is that the day repeats over and over again, but it's from all different perspectives (not the same guy, doing the same thing) and you learn new stuff about the characters constantly. I think you should give that a try more than Summer Sisters (again).
Do Vox first! Can't recommend enough.
Midnight at The Bright Ideas Bookstore sounds right up my alley! I'm also excited to read Vox, and I want to give the 7 1/2 Deaths a chance!
I hope you get a chance to read all of them!!
Oooooooh - "The Dream Daughter" looks so good! Ughhhh now I have more books to add to my ever-growing TBR list!! Dying to read "Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore" and Vox now! (Actually planning on reading Vox this weekend!)
So many good ones! I read Late Bloomers too and liked it quite a lot. Can't wait to read her other one as well! I want to read Vox. I haven't read dystopian in a while! 🙂 XO - Alexandra
Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things
I hope you like Vox! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Most of your four-star reads are on my TBR - I can't wait to pick up An American Marriage (don't worry, I'm a bit behind the times, too). And really loved your fun fact re: 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle - normally, I'm not a fan of publishers changing titles between regions ("Sorcerer's Stone" is an abomination!) but I *totally* thought it was some kind of sequel to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. So, good call on their part!!