Which books are worth the read and which should you skip? Find out what books I’ve been reading lately and whether I recommend them.
You know how sometimes you read that book everyone is talking about and roll your eyes at how over-hyped it was?
That was NOT me this month!
I read this summer’s most popular book and last year’s most critically acclaimed book, and I can completely understand the hype for both of them.
It’s funny because they are very different books. One’s a steamy fantasy about a girl becoming a dragon rider, fun but not particularly deep, while the other is a classic retelling set amid the opioid epidemic, deep but not particularly fun. For their genres, they are both fantastic books.
Add in several beach reads, a novel about a dying philanthropist, and a few terrifying reads set at Christmas, and I’m realizing I had a very eclectic reading month.
Scroll down to hear my thoughts and, as always, be sure to let me know in the comments what you’ve been reading lately!
August 2023 Reading List
Fourth Wing
Rebecca Yarros
Violet Sorrengail is all set to live a quiet life among her books until her mother orders her to become a candidate for the highly competitive dragon riders. But dragons usually prefer to kill rather than bond with weak humans like Violet. With half the competition willing to kill her to improve their odds and the other half hating her because of her mother, Violet must use all her wits to survive the war college.
Fourth Wing has taken the book world by storm this summer, claiming a place atop the New York Times bestseller list for most of the summer. From the very first page, Yarros throws you into the action and the intensity never lets up throughout the entire book. Reminiscent of Veronica Roth’s Divergent and Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses, fantasy readers will love this adult fantasy romance with heartstopping action and an enemies-to-lovers storyline with plenty of spice. I devoured this book in two days, and my only complaint is that there was way too much Twilight-style pining between Violet and Xaden. Luckily, you don’t have to wait long for the sequel: Iron Flame comes out in November.
My Rating:
Publication Date: 2 May 2023
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The Five-Star Weekend
Elin Hilderbrand
A popular food blogger, Hollis Shaw’s life is not as picture-perfect as it seems. When her husband is killed in a car accident after an argument and her daughter pulls away, Hollis decides to try a “Five-Star Weekend.” She gathers her best friend from her teens, 20s, 30s, and midlife together for a weekend on Nantucket. But the perfect weekend might turn sour when her friends don’t all get along and her childhood friend invites Hollis’s first love along.
I generally avoid most standard beach reads, but I figured it was time to give Elin Hilderbrand a chance. And I’m very glad I did. I found The Five-Star Weekend to be a delightful look at midlife and how female friendships impact our lives. With well-rounded characters, you get glimpses of the different work, marriage, and health issues that affect women. Although I would have preferred a more nuanced ending, The Five-Star Weekend wraps up with a hastily put-together happily-ever-after which is characteristic of the beach read genre.
My Rating:
Publication Date: 13 June 2023
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My Darling Girl
Jennifer McMahon
Alison has always hated Christmas, but her holiday season gets worse when her mother calls and tells her she only has a few weeks to live. Wanting to repair their relationship, Alison agrees to take in Mavis despite Alison’s traumatic memories of her abusive alcoholic mother. Instead of healing the relationship, Alison begins to realize her mother is not who she thought. Suspecting her mother is possessed by a demon, Alison must decide how far she is willing to go to save her family from this nightmare.
Jennifer McMahon has penned an atmospheric slow-burn horror story that will give you chills. At first, Ali discards her worries since everything is just a shade off, desperately wanting to believe she’s imagining it. By the time Ali realizes the truth, everyone now thinks that Ali is the problem, setting up a cat-and-mouse psychological game that keeps you on edge throughout the second half of the novel.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Gallery/Scout Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
My Rating:
Publication Date: 3 October 2023
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Christmas Presents
Lisa Unger
As a teenager, Madeline Martin was the only surviving victim of Evan Handy, who was convicted of murdering her best friend Steph and suspected in the disappearance of two other friends. Now Madeline runs a thriving bookstore while caring for her aging father, the former sheriff. When true-crime podcaster Harley Granger arrives just before Christmas, he suspects there is more to the story. Women are still disappearing and Harley wonders if Evan might have had an accomplice.
Lisa Unger can certainly set a scene with this novella about a decades-ago murder at Christmastime. Christmas Presents had a good mix of tension and twists to keep you wanting more. The novella’s short length made it a very quick read; however, it didn’t leave as much time as I would have liked for character development.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Penzler Publishers through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
My Rating:
Publication Date: 24 October 2023
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People to Follow
Olivia Worley
Ten teenage influencers are invited to a remote island to film “In Real Life,” a reality show where they live unplugged for three weeks. With several friends-turned-enemies invited, the influencers quickly realize that the producers are looking for maximum drama. When the production crew fails to show on the first day and one influencer dies, they realize they are trapped on the island without any way to escape. A mysterious “Sponsor” is pulling strings backstage, revealing their secrets to the entire world as more influencers end up dead.
People to Follow was an over-the-top young adult thriller that was still an addictingly good read for me. At first, I had to make a cheat sheet of all the characters but, once I sorted them all out, I was completely hooked. Worley masterfully manipulates this isolation thriller, adapting the And Then There Were None trope to a younger generation of readers. With plenty of drama and a few excellent twists, People to Follow has all the delicious beach read vibes that make it a quick fun read.
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: 31 October 2023
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From the Backlist
Demon Copperhead
Barbara Kingsolver
In a modern-day version of David Copperfield set in the Appalachian Mountains, Demon Copperhead speaks of how institutional poverty and the opioid epidemic damaged an entire generation of children. A child of a single mother living in a single-wide trailer, young Demon must survive foster care, child labor, poor schools, addiction, success, and failure in this epic tale perfect for book clubs who love thought-provoking topics.
Barbara Kingsolver’s masterpiece gives a voice to a modern generation while still echoing that not much has changed for marginalized portions of America. Full of realistic characters, Demon Copperhead isn’t afraid to shine a light on some of the darkest topics. Yet, Demon’s unending resilience carries you through the heaviest sections of the book. A completely engrossing read, Demon Copperhead breaks your heart while still making you laugh.
My Rating:
Publication Date: 18 October 2022
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Summer Sisters
Judy Blume
During the summer of 1977, Vix Leonard’s world changes forever when she is swept into a world of unimaginable privilege after she becomes best friends with Caitlin Summers. For years they are inseparable, growing up together and spending each summer on Martha’s Vineyard. Even though they haven’t been close in years, Caitlin begs Vix to be her maid of honor at her wedding. Vix agrees, hoping to discover what caused the rift between them that summer long ago.
For her August book club pick, Jenna Bush Hager picked an old favorite as the perfect beach read about female friendships. I was less enthralled with Judy Blume’s adult novel than Jenna. Summer Sisters starts as an erotic coming-of-age story with a stereotypical cast of characters. By the second half of the novel, Vix matures more than Caitlin and her teenage boyfriend, creating a push and pull that shows the destructive side of childhood friendships.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Random House. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
My Rating:
Publication Date: 1 January 1998
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Dava Shastri’s Last Day
Kirthana Ramisetti
One of the wealthiest women in the world, Dava Shastri is used to getting her way. When she is diagnosed with a terminal illness, Dava gathers her entire family to her private island, and then leaks an early press release announcing her death. Instead of accolades, Dava is stunned to see articles revealing hidden secrets, which she now must explain to her children and grandchildren.
Dava Shastri’s Last Day just didn’t strike the right cord with me. Although the premise is spectacular, the execution was so full of unlikeable characters that it was difficult to feel an emotional connection to the story. Dava, herself, was an intriguing character: selfish in her personal life yet truly invested in making a difference in the world. Dava’s obsession with her legacy made her a poor matriarch to the family, which showed in her four children who were extremely hard to like.
My Rating:
Publication Date: 30 November 2021
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Currently Reading
I always seem to have multiple books going at once. Here’s a peek at what I’m currently reading.
My To-Read List
What’s up next for me? Before I let you go, here are a few of the titles I’m hoping to get through this upcoming month.
Be sure to come back next month to see which ones I read.
Which Books Did You Read in August?
What books did you love this month? Which books can you not wait to read? As always, let me know in the comments!
More Book List to Enjoy:
Chris says
I enjoyed so many:
Go As a River, Vera Wongs Unsolicited Advice…,,,Hello Beautiful ,No Two Persons;
The Collected Regrets of Clover, The Wishing Game ( just loved this), Hamnet,
I read many others which were just average.
Currently reading : Tom Lake and The Covenant of Water ( I always have multiple books going
I will be curious to read to your review of Yellowface which i also read…
Happy reading…
Rachael says
Oh, your reading list looks a lot like mine! I’m curious to hear what you think about Tom Lake and The Covenenat of Water since I haven’t read either yet. Yellowface is an interesting read. I’m still early on, but the main character makes for an interesting character. It makes for an interesting read when you want bad things to happen to the narrator because you dislike her so much.
Toni Anne Agnese says
I’m reading “All The Light We Cannot See”. Netflix has the movie coming out soon and I want to read the book before I see it.
Rachael says
Do you love it? I hope you love it. It’s one of my favorite books and I am excited to see what Netflix does with their adaptation.
Judy Johnson says
Rachael,
Thanks so much for your reviews. I’m as grateful for the books you have steered me away from as those you have steered me towards. I want to share the best book I read this month. I needed something lighter. I’ve read some heavy books lately, including some I did not expect to be such downers, such as The Direction of The Wind. When I “googled” light-hearted books The Audacity of Sara Grayson was on the list. It was available from my library on Hoopla, so I downloaded it. I would count it as “warm-hearted”, because it tackles some serious issues that aren’t “light” to me, but it is a five star read in my opinion. If you haven’t read it, you should put it on your list.
Rachael says
I love that you found the perfect read for your mood! Sometimes you just need something a little lighter.
Ann says
I started Last House Before The Mountain by Monika Helfer an award winning Austrian author whose story Die Bagage was her first work translated to English on July 31st. I have been loving the sub genre of women in translation. This was an easy read at 192 pages. Set in Austria during WWI, a husband must go off to fight and leave his beautiful wife behind. He asks the town mayor to keep an eye on her. I loved this book. Some reviews complained about the structure of the story, but I thought that was what made it so special. The narrator is the Grandaughter of the couple and is actually based on the author’s real family story.
Next another fun micro genre (to lighten things up) that I picked up from Sarah’s Bookshelves Live podcast was “Romances that deal with fame.” What a fun idea for a Summer read! They recommended Nora Goes Off Script and it was such a cute story! Like a Hallmark movie. I am now on a wait listed for Same Time Next Summer the latest by Annabel Monaghan.
I had also read another of their recommendations: The Idea of You by Robinne Lee in July, but it is a much racier version in this category. Open door, is the term being used these days. Let’s just call it what it is!! It was sexually explicit. I did not mind, but in case others do, I feel it is only fair to mention. The author loosely based her male character on non other than Mr. Harry Styles. I was 100% into it.
I also read a book off of Obama’s Summer Reading List: Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane. A strong 5 stars for me. I am really proud of the variety of books I managed to read in August. This was a very gritty story about South Boston during the Summer of
1974 on the eve of mandatory school busing. The main character of Mary Pat Fennessy will stick with me. This contains subject matter dealing with racism, violence and drugs. It was extremely thought provoking and very relevant today.
I did things backward when I stumbled upon the movie Mothering Sunday, before realizing it is based on the book by the same title by author Graham Swift. I believe the book was originally written in 1950. Another small gem. Set on Mothering Sunday, which apparently was the day that estate workers in England were given the day off to spend with their Mother’s. Housemaid Jane Fairchild is actually an orphan and her plans for the day change when she receives a call from her lover. I actually enjoyed seeing the movie first in this case, as it helped me understand the book better.
Lastly, I am finishing The Cutting Season by Attica Locke tonight (it is due back at the library!). This is my second time reading this historical fiction mystery thriller. I visited southern Louisiana last month & the entire time I kept thinking about this book. I love the way the story unfolds. A body is found on the grounds of a restored sugar cane plantation. Attica is the sister of Tembi Locke, author of From Scratch, which was made into a Netflix movie of the same title. They are native Houstonians.
Okay, I better finish my book!!!!!! Honestly these were all 4 & 5 stars for me. It was a good August.
Rachael says
I really need to read Small Mercies. I keep hearing great things about it!
Susie Morehart says
Just finished Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano and loved it. I missed being with the characters when it was done! It was so well written and lovely. I had read Dear Edward by her and liked it but this was even better.
Rachael says
Yes! I think Hello Beautiful will stay with me for a very long time. Just loved all the characters.
Anonymous says
Just finished KALA by Colin Walsh. So well written and although a bit distressing in parts it tells the story of a group of Irish teenagers involved with solving the murder of one of their friends .
The characters are so well portrayed and I could not put it down – well worth putting on your reading list.
Of course, HELLO BEAUTIFUL is still my favourite read for 2023 – loved it!
Not impressed with Lisa Jewels new book NONE OF THIS IS TRUE however and also disappointed with The Whispers by Ashley Audrain.
Thanks for your wonderful book reviews – always look forward to your comments.
Jackie Potter
South Africa