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September Reading Wrap-Up

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September Reading Wrap Up

The month of September turned out to be a solid reading month for me.

I read 11 books. This is a solid number for me, especially considering I probably watched more TV this month than I did the entire first half of the year. Between hockey playoffs, football starting, and a Gilmore Girl rewatch I have zero regrets.

And, as always, it’s about quality over quantity here.

Thankfully, most of my reads were 4- and 5- stars for me, though there was one dud.

Alright, here are the books!

Books I Loved

1. Anxious People by Fredirk Backman

This was easily my favorite read of the month. I’ve been looking forward to it for ages and was so thriller to receive an ALC from Libro.fm so I could listen to the book.

Everything about this book was perfection. The audio was fantastic, the dark comedy masterfully executed, the characters deeply human and real.

Fredrick Backman again got right to the heart of human nature, at a time where we need to be kind and understanding of one another more than ever.

I went into this book not knowing much about the plot and I highly recommend that approach. Like the characters in the book, just buckle up for the ride. The magic is in the journey.

Go check out my full spoiler-free review here.

2. Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi

If I were handing out Superlatives for the month, Transcendent Kingdom would win “Best Writing.” I hung on every word Gyasi wrote in this lyrical novel.

The story centers around Gifty, daughter of Ghanaian immigrants who grew up in Alabama before moving to continue her education, first at Harvard, then at Stanford where she studies neuroscience.

This is a great work of literary fiction that gives readers a lot to think about on a number of subjects.

Listening to my favorite narrator Bahni Turpin tell the story only made it that much more incredible. Thank you to Libro.fm for providing the ALC.

3. The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas

This is one of those books I avoided reading because it was so hyped I figured there was no way it could live up.

I’m so glad I finally gave this book a chance- it’s defintely deserving of all the praise and buzz you’ve no doubt heard.

This YA novel is about Starr, whose best friend Khalil is shot multiple times by a police officer at what should have been a routine traffic stop. She watches him die on the street.

He’s unarmed, compliant, and sober.

He’s also Black.

As if witnessing that trauma wasn’t enough, Starr also has to deal with the normal trials of being a teenager; relationship drama with her friends, family, and boyfriend, and how being ‘the witness’ puts her in a difficult position with each of them.

Although I think I preferred Thomas’ other novel On the Come Up. this is a must-read.

4. When No One Is Watching

 A couple things that immediately elevate a book in my eyes is the ablitity trancend genre and discussing important themes in a genre book.

When No One is Watching did this masterfully, though unfortunately for other readers this has been a reason to give a critical review.

This book is categorized as a thriller. It’s definitely got elements of a slow-burn thriller with lots of domestic suspense. There’s also some romance going on.

What really takes this a step above is the way Cole incorporated a number of timely social issues into the story, as she tells of the gentrification happening in Brooklyn and the negative effects this has on long-time black residents.

The “worst-case scenario” Cole imagines is a true horror of a different kind- the monsters that are 100% human rather than supernatural. The tension is high all the way through while I listened to the book, but it’s the ending really blew me away.

This is definitely worth the read, however, I do suggest going into it with the above in mind- not when you’re looking for your typical thriller.

Thank you to Libro.fm for providing the ALC.

5. The Nothing Man

If you are on the lookout for a through and through thriller, The Nothing Man should definitely be on your TBR.

This is a bit of a slow-burn too, as we learn of horrific crimes- serial murders and rape that happened years ago, with no trace of the perpetrator left at any of the scenes.

I loved the book within a book element. The survivor of one of the Nothing Man’s crime writes a true crime book about him, and the dormant killer comes out of the shadows,.

The ending of this book really blew my mind and it’s probably the most satisfying thriller resolution I’ve read this year.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ALC. 


















Books I Enjoyed:















6. The Death of Vivek Oji 













This book was close to being a “loved it” book, but the way the timeline and perspectives jumped around were a bit tough to follow at times. That ultimately detracted from my overall reading experience. 





Still, it was a gripping story, beautiful and heartbreaking and I am so glad I read it. 





While it’s obvious going into the book that Vivek dies- it’s not clear till the end how and why, and at whose hands. While some of my suspicions about the details were correct, it was a joy getting to know the person Vivek was through his eyes and the eyes of those who loved him. 










7. The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory 













This was an example of the perfect book at the perfect time for me. 





Jasmine Guillory’s books are comfort reads for me and I had so much fun im her world wtih these characters and all the descriptions of clothes and food. 





This was the steamiest book of The Wedding Date series that I’ve read so far, but I was here for it- along with the fun enemies to lovers trope. 










8. Punching the Air by  Yusef Salaam and Ibi Zoboi













This is my first experience reading a novel in verse. Despite hearing so many of you rave about various books and enjoying modern poetry I was very hesitant about trying this format. 





Punching the Air is a YA novel in verse and it made me fall completely in love with the concept.





Hearing it is spoken word narrated by Ethan Herrise was a wonderful experience as he tells the story of Amal, a wrongfully convicted teenager.





There is so much emotion and movement within the story and the verse excels at everything modern poetry sets out to do.





The story is trying, heartbreaking, yet so beautiful as Amal tries to hold on to hope despite dire circumstances and use his art- his words to rise.





This book is a must-read … and it’s a quick one, so there’s no reason not to add it to your TBR.





Many thanks to Harper Audio and NetGalley for the advance copy.










9. One by One by Ruth Ware 













I’m a HUGE Ruth Ware fangirl, so despite hearing lukewarm feedback about One by One, which was one of my most-anticipated books of the year. 





And overall I enjoyed it. It has Ware’s trademark atmospheric vibe, as the characters find themselves snowed in at a luxury ski chalet. There are some decidedly unlikable- though interesting- characters here, which made it a fun read. 





My main issue with the book was the pacing. 





I don’t mind a slow-burn thriller at all– and this one certainly started out in that direction. 





The tension built well enough, but unfortunaltely for me the climax came way too soon, and then things fizzled out and dragged on for too long for there. 





If you’re frustrated with thrillers that end abruptly or with too many loose ends you may appreciate this aspect more. Personally, I’d have preferred less. 










10. Shut Up You’re Pretty by Téa Mutonji’ 


















This collection of stories is captivating, intimate, and beautiful- even as it deals with a number of difficult and unsavory subjects.  





It’s a collection of short stories about a girl who is trying to discover and understand herself as she grows up.





The writing was great and the narrator brought it to a new dimension withthe rhythm of her storytelling.





This is a great book for those looking for stories that deal with a broad range of themes that involve Intersectional Feminism.  





Many thanks to Bespeak Audio Editions and NetGalley for the ALC. 





Did Not Like:















11. The Less Dead by Denise Mina


















I went into The Less Dead with high hopes after enjoying a crime thriller from the same author last year. Mina’s Conviction was a Reese’s RBC pick and I thought I was in for another good read.





I was wrong.





Guys, I hate writing negative reviews, but there just isn’t a lot of good to say about this book.





An attempt was made to humanize sex workers and get readers to consider what may lead a person to that life. I appreciate that.





Unfortunately, it wasn’t entirely convincing and the book as a whole was a bit of a mess.





Also, the book has essentially EVERY trigger warning/ content warning imaginable.





Many of these difficult elements seem to be there for shock value and have no bearing on the plot.





You can check out my full review here. 










There you have it, friends!





Ten hits and one miss to close out the month. 





Now on to ALL THE SPOOKY READS for October! 





Have you read any of these books yet?





Which ones will you be adding to your own TBR?


The Stationery Shop by Marjan Kamali


       milelongtbr       2 Comments


The Stationery Shop Reviiew







 Last week I read The Stationery Shop by Marjan Kamali, a novel weaving the history of Iran with a love story that spans decades. 





The anniversary of  one of the pivitol events is today, 19 August, so first let’s take a look at some of the lesser known history and then read on for a full review of The Stationery Shop. 










The History:





The only thing new in the world is the history you don’t know. 
Harry S. Truman






This quote is part of the epigraph for The Stationery Shop, which is very fitting considering the history surrounding the story. 





On 19 August 1953 in Iran there was a coup overthrowing Prime Minister Mosaddegh, the democratically elected leader of Iran. Close to 300 were killed as a result of the violence that day. 





The US CIA would not publicly acknowledge their involvement until 60 years later, after decades of denial. Britain’s MI6 was also involved.  





That day’s events were said to have “left a profound and long-lasting legacy” on the country of Iran. 





I’ve included some videos that go into more detail about the coup and the political and economical factors which lead to it. 








Breaking news in 2013 when US involvement in the coup was confirmed.








This video goes more in-depth about the coup and the political and economical situation that lead up to it. 










Synopsis:





For the characters in the book, that fateful day in August 1953 forever changed the course of their lives.





Before: In the months leading up to the coup Roya, a teenage girl living in Theran is dreaming of a bright future. Her father wants her to be independent and educated in a time and place where this is not the norm for women. The Stationery Shop is her refuge, filled with books and kind shopkeeper who always let her sit and read poetry. 





Then she meets a boy. Bahman, a boy with high hopes as well, a boy who will change the world.  Roya falls in love with him. 





Unfortunately, forces beyond their control threaten their blossoming relationship. 





Analysis:





This book was absolutely beautiful. It’s drawn comparisons to both Khaled Hosseini’s novels and Nicholas Sparks’ The Notebook. While there are certain similarities, The Stationery Shop is something unique and mesmerizing, but just as sure to tug at your heartstrings as those books. Like with A Thousand Splendid Suns I sobbed through the final pages of The Stationery Shop, though the story was not nearly as harrowing. 





I loved reading this book for so many reasons. The characters were so enderaring, and I especially loved Roya’s relationship with her father. 





The discussion on the treatment of mental health and women’s health issues in Iranian culture was also insightful and important. It’s something that I haven’t seen much about, and I was thankful to see Kamali’s treatment of these subjects. 










Takeaway:










The Stationery Shop is a beautiful five-star read. It blurs the lines between the historical fiction, contemporary fiction, and romance genres, making for an unforgettable story that will stay with you. 













Content Warning:





miscarriage, death, death of child, mental illness, violent death, abortion, 


What’s Problematic With One Year With Ugly (and Own-Voice Latinx Stories to Read Instead)


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Earlier this week I posted in support about One Year of Ugly, a book which I later realized contains content that harms multiple marginalized communities. 





Thanks to Jennifer at Blunt Scissors Book Reviews for taking the time to bring this to my attention and discuss some of the problems with me.





I listened to this book on audio while working on other projects and completely missed a paragraph where gender identity is reduced to the punch line of a joke and a marketing device to sell novels. This is definitely not something I’m ok with and cringed when I saw the passage. 





Additionally, some own voice reviewers have said this book is not an accurate description of their culture and perpetuates certain stereotypes.  





I apologize for endorsing a book with content that goes against my values and is harmful to those communities which were misrepresented. 





For anyone who saw my recommendation, I definitely am not in favor of reading or purchasing the title based on that content.





I was just starting a reread of the book because I knew there were parts I missed but never imagined there would be something so blatantly insensitive in these pages. I’ll definitely be reading and examining more closely before supporting a book, particularly one which is not an own-voice narrative. 





While I think that writers can write all kinds of different stories and characters, I have definitely put an emphasis on own voice writers in my TBR as I think that they are best suited to tell their own stories. 





Mackenzie simply failed at her purported mission of shedding light on the difficulties and mistreatment the Venezuelan immigrants in Trinidad face due to her lack of sensitivity and respect for marginalized groups. 





Please consider in joining me in emailing the editor with questions regarding how the harmful content made it to print and calling them to employ editors who look for authenticity and sensitivity when authors portray demographics they don’t personally represent. 










My personal reading is sadly lacking in Venezuelan literature. Though I’ve since added a few titles to my TBR, I’ll keep my recommendations of Own Voice Latinx books to books that I’ve personally read. 





These titles were all standout reads for me and all have great writing as well as representation of different parts of Latinx culture with authors from various countries.  










1. Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton













I love Cleeton’s writing and recommend all of her historical fiction books. If you’re looking for the forbidden love element and a story of people leaving their home country in search of better opportunities, Next Year in Havana is a great starting point. 










2. You Had Me At Hola by Alexis Daria













This steamy romance also addresses elements of Latinx culture such as familial expectations and gender roles. If you’re looking for a book that is fun and entertaining but has great representation and something important to say this is the book for you. 










3. I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter













Part coming of age, part family drama, with some humor and mystery thrown in, this Young Adult Novel explores a number of aspects of Mexican culture. The discussion of mental health was especially insightful. 





4. Running by Natalia Sylvester 













This book about a Cuban American teen whose father is running for president and the complications that arise in her life due to his campaign. 





I loved absolutely everything about this book from the writing, to the story, Mariana’s character, and the fact that parts of the book are based on real events. Mariana’s disillusionment with her father was really well captured and a great exploration of growing up and seeing things as they are. 





I also love the message in the book about the importance of speaking up for what you believe in. 










Thanks for sticking with me!





I hope these books give you a good starting point for own voice Latinx books to read! For additional own voice recommendations look here. 





Let me know in the comments if you’ve loved any of these titles, or if you have other own voice recommendations from Latinx writers. 







Review: The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert


       milelongtbr       1 Comment


The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert Review





The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert, out earlier this week, is a great contemporary YA novel that weaves important and relevant topics into a fun and fresh story about two teens on election day. 





In today’s world, it is increasingly important for teens and young adults to take a stand and get involved in conversations about important matters. And it’s important for adults to have better insight into these topics as well. 





Discussion of the importance of voting? Voter suppression? No uterus, no opinion? How to be a better ally? Check, check, check,  and check.





Keep reading this review of The Voting Booth to see why it’s such an important book to add to your TBR. 





Synopsis:





The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert is a fast-moving YA novel that provides timely commentary on why it’s important- especially for young people- to use your voice in voting. 





It’s election day and Marva is here for it. She’s a warrior for social justice and using her voice and vote to speak up for what she believes in. When Duke gets turned away from the polling place and Maya intervenes in to make sure he isn’t being prevented from casting his ballot. Even if that means skipping school. 





When it turns out he’s at the wrong polling place it unfolds into an all-day adventure to try to get Duke’s vote counted amidst a host of obstacles. Marva’s got her own set of problems- a missing cat and a boyfriend who doesn’t quite ‘get it’. 





Analysis:





I love this book for the Own Voice YA representation, fast-moving story, and the way it tackles a bunch of important topics. There’s a lot of insight and real talk here. I appreciated it, but I feel like it’s especially important for younger audiences right now.  Being that Maya is Black and Duke is mixed there’s a lot of insight into how this impacts their daily lives and interactions with these communities. 





A few of the things that didn’t work for me:





Unfortunately, while the characters did have layers and I admire their passion and dedication to the things that are important to them, the didn’t really come alive for me in this book. This may have had something to do with the choice of narrator. 





Also, I didn’t really feel that the flashback scenes flowed as well as I’d like.





 And then there’s the romance aspect.





 I wasn’t quite feeling it, and my general opinion is to either go for it or leave it alone when it comes to romance. This book stayed kind of in the middle. I found it so refreshing that the book was more about the teens’ passions and activism than their love lives and wish we could see Maya and Duke remain platonic to really let this shine. 





Takeaway:





But, even with those few technical things, this is still a solid four-star book for me. I’ve seen a lot of praise for The Voting Booth and it is definitely worth reading- and putting in the hands of young voters this year. 





Many thanks to Book Group, Disney-Hyperion and NetGalley for the advance copy. 





Also, a huge thanks to Dreamscape Media and Libro.fm for the ALC. 










Review: A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry + Author Bio


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Author Bio & Review of A Rasin in the Sun





I’ve been making an effort to be on my phone less lately,  and  unfortunately, this meant that I didn’t know about the Instagram challenge by @thereadingchemist  and @allegedlymari until Friday afternoon when all the posts started showing up in my feed. 





This challenge is about celebrating the contributions and accomplishments Black people have made in our world. I may be late to the challenge, but it’s definitely not one I could sit out on. 





Over the weekend I reread A Raisin in the Sun for the first time since it was assigned reading for school. I enjoyed reading it more this time and loved learning more about  Hansberry and her fascinating life for the challenge. 





Lorraine Hansberry was a Black American playwright, journalist, &activist. I’d like to take some time to introduce you to her to #normalizeblackhistory. Lorraine has the distinction of being the first Black woman to write a play produced on Broadway. This makes her a trailblazer in Black storytelling, and the play, A Raisin in the Sun was a financial and critical success. For it, Lorraine became the first Black winner of the Play of the Year Award and at  29 she was also the youngest winner and only the 5th woman to receive this accolade at the time. 





Keep reading for :





  •  author bio of Lorraine Hansberry
  • full review of A Rasin in the Sun
  • YouTube links to a great stage adaptation
  •  the poem that inspired the title of the play. 





About Lorraine Hansberry 










Lorraine Hansberry was born in segregated Chicago in 1930. Only two generations before, her family had been slaves. After her father moved the family to a designated ‘white neighborhood’ when she was 8 white neighbors tried to force the Hansberrys out and threw a brick through a window of their home, which almost hit Lorraine. 





In 1940 Hansberry v. Lee went to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Illinois court system ruled the family could be forced to leave their home and had to move back to a “Black neighborhood.” The Supreme Court ruled in Hansberry’s favor. Though residential segregation was unfortunately not outlawed with this ruling, the case was instrumental in setting precedent and made it harder for local restrictive covenants to restrict people of color from living in predominantly white neighborhoods. 





Lorraine was interested in writing from an early age, and poet Langston Hughes, a prominent figure in the Harlem Renaissance visited the Hansberry home when she was growing up.  A line from his iconic poem Harlem would later be borrowed in Lorraine’s classic play which centers around a Black Family chasing the American Dream and explores topics such as cultural assimilation, and residential segregation.





Harlem by Langston Hughes 





Lorraine’s early life and politically active family influenced her writing as well as her work as an activist for women’s, gay, and civil rights.





She wrote for both Black and lesbian news publications after dropping out of college. These jobs helped her develop her voice in writing. Though many of her articles and personal writings discuss gay rights and her being a lesbian, Hansberry never spoke openly about her sexuality.  She married Robert B. Nemiroff, a white Jewish man in 1953 after they met while protesting racial discrimination in NYC. They later divorced, though remained friendly. 





In 1957 Hansberry wrote A Raisin in the Sun and two years later it started its run on Broadway with Sidney Poitier playing the male lead. The play was later adapted into a musical and had TV and big screen adaptations, one with Denzel Washington taking the role. 





Hansberry went on to write four other plays, three of which were published posthumously with the help of her ex-husband. Lorraine died in January 1965 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She was 34 years old. 










Review of A Raisin in the Sun





Synopsis:





This play is about the Youngers, a multi-general  working family living together. 





The matrich Lena  recently recieved a sizable life insurance payout after the death of her husband. This might be enough to change the lives of this struggling family 





Her son, Walter Lee is a chauffer with big dreams and his wife Ruth is trying her best to keep it together for everyone. Their school-aged son Travis 





Walter’s sister, Beneatha is the first of the family in college. She plans on becoming a doctor and is more interested in forging her own path than finding a man. 





The adults in the family all have their own ideas of what should be done with the money.  Ultimately, Mama Younger decides to buy a home for the family so they don’t have to share the cramped apartment. The house she wants to buy is in a white neighborhood in Chicago, and the residents don’t take well to the news a black family is moving in. 





This is far from the only obstacle in the Younger family’s fight for a better life. Will they be able to achieve their dreams, or will they be again deferred for another generation?





Analysis:





A Raisin in the Sun has stood the test of time and is widely considered a classic work of both literature and theater. 





Hansberry acknowledged that her early family life served as inspiration for the plot and characters, and particularly saw herself in Beneatha. 





The work explores a number of important themes such as intersectional feminism, systematic racism, and cultural assimilation. Though some things are different than they were when this was written, the social commentary still feels relevant in 2020. 





 “There isn’t any real progress … only one large circle that we march in. ” – Lorraine Hansberry, A Raisin in the Sun





Still, A Raisin in the Sun is not only a story of the Black struggle. This book took the Black story quite literally to center stage and proved that even White audiences will pay to  listen. 





This is also a story of Black joy, of Black, love, of Black family. It’s a story of Blacks embracing their cultural roots while simultaneously reaching for big dreams that were out of reach for many at the time. 





Takeaway:





While I rated the book five-stars, I still feel that there is a lot to be gained by seeing the play performed on stage. I watched this portrayal of A Raisin in the Sun by The Harvard Black Community and Student Theater Group. The players gave an excellent performance and I highly recommend watching it or looking into the 1961 version with Sidney Poitier. Check out the trailer here. 





Whether you’re looking to explore classic theater, classic literature, read more diverse stories, or learn about Black experience in history A Raisin in the Sun is a great title to add to your TBR.










June Reading Wrap-up


       milelongtbr       1 Comment


june stack @milelongtbr










June ended up being a pretty good reading month for me, especially because when the month started I’d been in a bit of a slump. 





I ended up reading 9 books, though I included Jane Eyre on my wrap-up stack because I’ll be finishing it soon and it’s my classic book pick for the month. 





Of the 9 books I finished, so many of them I absolutely loved, and while a few of them I struggled to give some of them a starred rating, they were all four and five star reads for me. 





My June reading goals took a dramatic shift, because while I initially thought this would be the month of the thriller for me, I  didn’t finish a single one. Instead, I reassessed my reading, prioritized books by BIPOC authors, LGBTQ perspectives, and I unexpectedly fell in love with YA again. It had been a year since I’ve read a YA book, and I read three this month!





Despite my reading plans changing, I’m very happy with everything I’ve read and several of the titles have the potential to change ratings and earn my “all the stars” rating. 





June Five-Star Reads





Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender 













This book spoke to my heart more than I could ever have anticipated and also helped rekindle my love for the YA genre. 





You can’t help but love Felix and root for him as he tries to navigate high school, his future, and figuring out who he is. And as a trans-boy none of that comes easily. 





This is my first time reading a book from a trans perspective and as much as I loved the character, voice, and story, this book will forever stand out to me for the insight it provides about identity, marginalization, and how much the same we all are, despite our differences. 










I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown














I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness is a powerful book that explores author  Austin Channing Brown’s experiences with racial inequality.
⁣
⁣ From her upbringing in a white neighborhood in Ohio to her career working in predominantly white offices she’s dealt with it all; microaggressions from “nice” white people, discrimination, being the target of racial slurs, and looks of disbelief that she is, in fact, the person in charge. 
⁣
⁣While I classify the book as a memoir, this isn’t merely a personal account of one Black woman. That’s not to say that all Black stories are the same, but rather that  Brown has done a phenomenal job of discussing the broader scope of how these experiences are shared in the Black community, and examining why these problems exist & why they’re harmful.
⁣
⁣This book reaffirms so much of what we’ve been hearing over the past month about structural racism,  white fragility, & social justice. ⁣It’s a must-read for these times and those working to be a better antiracist ally. Check out my full review of I’m Still Here.










Beartown by Fredrik Backman













Beartown was one of those books I knew I was going to love, but put off actually reading for way too long. 





Well, luckily I recommended it to a friend, which gave me the motivation to finally take it off my TBR. 





Leave it to Fredrick Backman to give us characters that take up your heart, and a story that utterly destroys it. 





This small hockey town will never be the same after what happens, and neither will I. Backman’s simple prose cuts right to the core and the book made me feel the full spectrum of emotions in such a visceral way. I look forward to reading more in this series. 










On the Come Up by Angie Thomas













Despite reading nothing but rave reviews about On The Come Up, I didn’t think it would be a book that interested me. I haven’t been reading much YA, I’m not especially a fan of rap music… blah, blah. 





Well, I’m happy to say I could not have been more wrong. I absolutely adored this book, especially listening to the rap parts on audiobook. 





On The Come Up has so much to say, and the message is especially relevant to the conversations about white privilege as Bri is profiled and mistreated by the security officers at her school. 





This book is funny and full of heart as much as it is hard truths. I loved the characters Thomas gave us and especially that Bri is more focused on pursuing her passion than she is on boys. I’m looking forward to reading more from her. 






⁣










The Last Train to Key West













I am a huge fan of Chanel Cleeton, so it should come as little surprise that I loved The Last Train to Key West and binged it in under 12 hours.






 Cleeton has quickly become one of my favorite writers in the historical fiction genre, so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on The Last Train to Key West and see what her latest adventure has in store for us.






As a Florida girl, I loved that Cleeton explored a little-known part of our state’s- and country’s history in the book. She brings us to the Great Depression Era and the Labor Day Hurricane that devastated the Keys in 1935, while the three women are under pressure from both natural and other destructive forces in their lives. 










The Half Sister by Sandie Jones













“It’s funny what we thought the other one had.”  





The Half Sister by Sandie Jones is a gripping domestic suspense novel perfect for fans of her earlier books and those who enjoy fast-paced novels exploring the dark secrets and inner workings of families. 





 Kate and Lauren have never been the closest sisters, but the months after their fathers’ death has only brought them further apart.  Then one day a young woman shows up with the news that they share the same father, something confirmed by an online DNA test, and these four women; Lauren, Kate, their mother Rose, and half-sister Jess try to make sense of the man they knew and find the truth.  





But with each of them guarding secrets from one another, will they ever find out what really happened? Or will they end up destroying each other in the process?





 Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press; Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for the advance copy.










June Four-Star Reads





The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochan 













A strong lead, supportive female friendships, and plenty of steam… what more could you ask for from a contemporary romance?





Not only is the book a fun read, it also explores some important and relevant themes like the discrimination faced by black women in the workplace and the pressure society places on women to be with a man. 





This book had great character development! I loved seeing Samiah and Daniel come together and look forward to reading the next books in this series. 





Many thanks to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for the advance copy. Check out my full review of The Boyfriend Project here. 










Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall













Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall is a fun, flirty romance about Luc, a man finding himself in a bit of a mess. Though only peripherally famous- his parents were rock stars decades ago- the paparazzi still to catch him at his worst moments, much to the dismay of his job at a charity where he’s expected to appear to have it together for the donors he’s courting.  To improve his image and keep his job, Luc needs the right man on his arm- so he sets out to find someone to be photographed with and take to his work fundraising event as his “boyfriend.” 





The only person he can find is Oliver- the last person on earth he wants to spend time with. The complete opposite of Luc, Oliver has it all together. A rising career as a lawyer, a perfect body, a socially conscious world-view.  They reluctantly begin “dating” but realize they may enjoy spending time with each other more than either of them realized. 





 While this book initially appears light and fun, there is some great character development here as Luc and Oliver both come to realize things about themselves that’s more than you’d expect from the average romance novel.  There’s also the discussion of the homophobia and mistreatment the men are subject to in their personal and professional lives, making this a book.  





While you’ll enjoy the fake-dating trope, British humor, and witty banter, this book has a lot more substance and is definitely one to read and think about.  





Many thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for the advance copy.










By the Book by Amanda Sellet













By the Book by Amanda Sellet is a charming modern retelling of Persuasion, and the YA book is sure to be enjoyed by teen and adult readers alike.  





Mary Porter-Malcolm lives her life by the book, always looking to classic literature to find answers about life. While this is something many bookworms can relate to, she finds that her books don’t all translate well to public high school, and when she finds herself after a career at a smaller school. She’s got a lot to learn if she’s going to make it through high school in one piece. and with the new group of friends she sets out to learn about normal teenage experiences while introducing the girls to the lessons she’s learned from her beloved books.  Some things, though, you just have to experience for yourself.  The book is filled with quirky characters, myriad literary references, and plenty of moments that will make you laugh.





  Many thanks to HMH Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for the advance copy.










Well, there you have it: my June Reading Wrap-up! I loved each of these books, and if any of the titles sound interesting to you definitely add it to your summer TBR!





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