August 2019 Book Releases

Just when I feel like I’m ready to completely give up YA fiction, a book like 100 Days of Sunlight comes along to remind me of the beauty of the genre. A car accident leaves Tessa blind, but her doctors think it is only temporary. Into her life strolls Weston, a double amputee determined to lift Tessa out of her depression and help her see the joy in life. The catch, he won’t let anyone tell Tessa that he has lost his legs. A brilliantly sweet and endearing story that I read in one sitting, bawling my eyes out at times. The story is really about Weston – not only how he lost his legs and how he put his life back together but also about his eternal optimism and inner fears. A poignant read, this darling love story is perfect for teens and adults.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 7 August 2019
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In 1969, Ginny Richardson gives birth to a beautiful baby girl named Lucy whom the nurse instantly whisks away. For Lucy has Down’s Syndrome, and her father immediately sends her to Willowridge, a school for the “feeble-minded.” Two years later, Ginny discovers Lucy abused and neglected, and she must fight to keep Lucy against all costs. Similar in scope to The Memory Keeper’s Daughter, though not as well-written, the story served as an awful reminder of how poorly people treated special needs children. A solid 3 star read for me.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 6 August 2019
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After hitting it big with The Woman in Cabin 10, Ruth Ware returns with another summer thriller. Rowan Caine is ecstatic to receive a high paying live-in nanny position at a remote, but high tech, Scotland estate. However, she never expected to end up in prison for the murder of one of the children. Written in the form of a letter to her lawyer, The Turn of the Key slowly unravels what happened to Rowan – her secrets as well as those of the family who employs her, of the handsome gardener she feels drawn to, and even of the house itself.

If you like being enveloped in a creepy atmosphere, The Turn of the Key certainly delivers. While the plot might not be the best developed you’ve ever read, I found this book to be a fun read perfect for the last days of summer, or to cuddle up with this fall. The story will scare you just enough to keep you engaged without making you too terrified to sleep at night. The ending felt a bit rushed, and I doubt it will be as well regarded as her other books. Yet, I enjoyed it while I read it, and would not be surprised to see it turned into a movie someday.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Gallery Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 6 August 2019
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In an age of increasing awareness of the plight of refugees, Christy Lefteri’s new novel focuses on the path of two Syrian refugees, Nuri, a beekeeper, and his wife Afro, an artist. The novel splits into two timelines: each chapter begins with their life in the UK awaiting a decision on their asylum request and then shifts to their journey from Aleppo to England. Despite covering such an important topic, for most of the book, I felt bored. Many chapters failed to progress the story, aiming for a reflective tone and landing on dull instead. While I appreciated Nuri and Afra’s struggles, I didn’t feel any connection to them. In conveying their refusal to process the emotions of their trauma, Lefteri ended up also failing to convey any emotion to me as a reader. Sadly, this is one of the August 2019 book releases I suggest passing on.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Publication Date: 27 August 2019
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In 1962, wealthy Southern belle Eve Whalen meets her college roommate Daniella Gold and they quickly become best friends. Daniella begins to open Eve’s eyes to the injustices of the world which the well-meaning but naive Eve thinks she can change in an instance. Over time, Daniella works hard to change the world from within the current social system, while Eve becomes extremely radicalized.

A tale of two women trying to fight justice in a harsh world, We Are All Good People is in many ways similar to Mrs. Everything, yet since its scope is a bit narrower, I enjoyed it much more. I loved the contrast between the two women – the pragmatic Daniella and the suggestible Eve and particularly liked that in the end that each had to take stock of the good they did, but also the opportunities they let slip by. A strong book, it loses steam at the end talking about Eve and Daniella’s children, but all in all, I’m glad I read it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Atria through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 6 August 2019
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After making millions selling essential oils, Lindsay Teague Moreno found her true passion in life in inspiring female entrepreneurs. In her new book, she takes the lesson she learned as a serial entrepreneur to share her 10 successful philosophies to help other mothers realize their dreams.

What I first fell in love with was her discussion on finding your thing and thinking long-term. She perfectly explains how to figure out what you want to do and how to think ahead towards scaling up to a multimillion-dollar company. I took pages of notes on these topics, and I think my business will be better for it. After that, many of her success philosophies get more into ideals than actual items.

I’m a checklist kind of girl, so I grew tired of the vagueness and would have loved a bit more concrete “Go get them” attitude. All in all, a decent starting point for female entrepreneurs (moms or not) that gave me some great ideas for my blog.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 6 August 2019
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This list of August 2019 book releases wouldn’t be complete without this suspenseful thriller. After the death of his wife, Tom Kennedy moves his young son Jake to the won of Featherbank. But Featherbank has a dark past – a serial killer nicknamed “The Whisper Man” who lured his victims by whispering at their window at night. When a young boy disappears and Jake begins to hear whispering outside his window, the police must figure out if they caught the right person, or if a copycat or accomplice. Reviews are coming in solidly in favor of this summer thriller, so we can’t wait to snag a copy.

Publication Date: 20 August 2019
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