It’s been a hot minute since I’ve written an ‘Everything I Read This Month + Currently Reading‘ post. I believe the last one I did was in February? And I call myself a book blogger… Well SIX MONTHS LATER I’m going to post one massive roundup. It’s going to cover everything I’ve read this summer.
Note: I’m counting summer from the correct astronomical dates, June 21-September 22. Going from Memorial Day to Labor Day is incorrect and purely for fashion purposes. OK let’s get into it!
READ THIS SUMMER
In the Woods by Tana French
French is an excellent writer and I’m totally hooked on her Dublin Murder Squad series. Entire post here. Verdict: Read It.
Sleeping Beauties by Stephen King and Owen King
I really enjoyed this book, but I know a ton of hardcore Stephen King fans were like WTF is this? I read a ton of mixed reviews on this book, but I liked it enough to post about it. I also listened via Audible and the narration was excellent. Verdict: Read It.
Mystic River by Dennis Lehane
YES! Another excellent Dennis Lehane. As soon as I finished, my husband and I watched the movie. Two thumbs up for the book and a big mehhhh for the movie. Verdict: Read It.
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
It took a while for me to get into this book, but once I did, I was totally sold. The ending, oh my god the ending. Know that this is nothing like Hannah’s The Nightingale. Verdict: Read It.
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
I’m going to be honest here and say I wasn’t a huge fan. It took nearly 200 pages for me to enjoy this, which is a really slow and painful start to a book. I very much enjoyed the premise of the book but man I had a tough time getting through until the very end. Verdict: Skip It.
Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
I LOVED this book. You can’t go wrong with a Jodi Picoult. This book, Small Great Things, might be one of my new favorites from her. More here. Verdict: Read It.
How To Be a Good Wife by Emma Chapman
Super creepy and short book, I really enjoyed it. Even with a frustrating lead character and a aggravating ending. More here. Verdict: Read It.
Misery by Stephen King
Very well written but I didn’t really see the point of it. Like at all. My husband said the same thing about the movie (which I have yet to see). Verdict: Skip It.
30 Things Every Women Should Have and Should Know by the Time She’s 30 by Pamela Satran
So heartwarming and great. I really enjoyed this book, and it’s a very short and easy read too. More here. I definitely recommend to all women! Verdict: Read It.
The Murder House by James Patterson
My very first James Patterson book! I didn’t think it was mind blowing but it was good enough to keep the pages turning quickly and I very much wanted to figure out who the killer was (spoiler alert: I didn’t). It was an enjoyable book. Verdict: Read It.
The Oracle Year by Charles Soule
Started off so strong and then it tapered off somewhere in the middle. The ending was borderline lazy and just plain horrendous. I did enjoy reading it to you, but mainly because of how effing stupid it got I can’t recommend this to you. Verdict: Skip It.
The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager
Perfect book to bring with you on vacation. I enjoyed the mystery and the characters. The writing was decent and even if there were some questionable plot elements, it was forgivable enough. Verdict: Read It.
Flesh and Blood by Patricia Cornwell
My first Patricia Cornwell and will probably be my last. You can tell this book is like the 30th book she’s written for her Kay Scarpetta series and Ms. Cornwell is getting tired. It felt lazy and many of her characters made me ragey. She also had like 15 threads of mini-mysteries to solve in this book, maybe half were resolved. It was a painful book to get through. Verdict: Skip It.
PLANNING TO READ THE REST OF THE SEASON
Presence by Amy Cuddy
This has been in my reading pile for-freaking-ever and the August / September book for one of my book clubs. I haven’t started it yet but plan on binge reading it soon. It’s based around Amy Cuddy’s famous TEDTalk from a few years back.
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
My husband bought me this years ago and I’m finally getting around to reading it. I’m about halfway through and loving it so far.
Circe by Madeline Miller
Another book club pick for my second book club that I haven’t started yet. I’m excited to read it, I really like the idea of a book centered around Greek Gods and Goddesses.
The Book of Essie by Meghan Maclean Weir
I want to get through all my BOTM books this summer so I can update you on this post.
And yeah, I only plan on finishing four more books for fun before the end of summer. Mainly because I have like 30 books on childbirth and breastfeeding to get through by the time my baby comes. TBD on whether or not I’ll post about which childbirth and breastfeeding books I found useful or not. Obviously won’t know until after I give birth — that’s how this works, right?