Tuesday, August 8, 2017

Show Us Your Books: August Reads


I feel like I spent the past few weeks cramming some summery reading in, and I have a few more I want to get in before Labor Day as if books that are reminiscent of summer expire like the white pants of yore. 

Linkup Guidelines:
This link up is the second Tuesday of every month. The next is  Tuesday, September 12, 2017 
Please: 
1. Visit and comment with both of your hosts, Jana & me
2. Display the button and/or link back to us on your blog post
2. Visit other blogs who've linked up and get some book talk going!

Here's what I've read from the last linkup.

Engrossing Reads


Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley - I don't know if it was the timing or what, but I could feel this book in my bones. It felt like swimming in pool water that feels the same as your skin temperature, like you are a part of the water. I loved the writing, the cover, the story, and the characters. I recognize that I have read books that have done a much better job in every area, but there's just something about some books, you know? That something existed in this one for me. hardback, own 

Little Broken Things by Nicole Baart - I liked how this was written and it totally pulled me in for a less than 24 hour read on vacation. free e-copy from Netgalley

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas - Read it. As soon as you can. And make sure your mind is open to something that is likely not your reality. hardback, own

Down a Dark Road (Kate Burkholder #9) by Linda Castillo - The latest in the series, very good. I also read the last two short stories, Seeds of Deception (KB #7.5) and Only the Lucky (KB #8.5) and continue to be meh on the short stories as always. Hard copy, own

Passed the Time Just Fine

The Fifth of July by Kelly Simmons - I had visions of reading this on the actual 5th of July like the dork I am but in my travel exhaustion I forgot that was the plan. It wasn't a bad read, it reminded me a little of Big Little Lies in the telling. free e-copy from Netgalley

Artemis by Andy Weir - To be fair, no character is living up to Mark Watney, okay? He is a once in a lifetime character for a writer. Weir did do it again - he made me read and enjoy a book with science as a main theme. free ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu - A Victorian vampire novella, only a little hurt by time and age. This came before Dracula, which I enjoyed - possibly enjoyed this a little more. This had to have been one of the first books ever to cover incorporate both vampires and lesbian lit. I do love a pioneer. paperback from Amazon, own

Dead Reckoning by Linda Castillo - I wanted to see if she had any chops outside the Kate Burkholder books. Not bad. paperback from Amazon, own

Stay With Me by Ayobami Adebayo - Lord, such terrible sadness. Like reading about 46 heartbreaks. A good read but not a bright one. Free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Best Day Ever by Kaira Rouda - I think this character aspires to be Joe of You fame but, while a total lunatic, he does not come close. Quick read that moved fast. Free from Netgalley

The Forever Summer by Jamie Brenner - This is the type of cliche chick lit book I typically don't like, and here I am, liking it. It might be that summer vibe. Free copy from Netgalley

Not Worth It

The Stars Are Fire by Anita Shreve - The title is awesome, the book not so much. I liked the writing, but everything about the entire thing pissed me off. library hardback

Girl in Snow by Danya Kukafka - This could very well be one of those books that I just don't get. I liked the writing - the author has a lovely turn of phrase - but the story, blah. Yet it is the book of the summer for many so it could just not be sitting well with me. Free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Between Lost and Found by Shelly Stratton - Deliver me. Lots of repetition and a struggle to get through which is a shame because the characters could have been likeable with a little more work and the story could have been better with the same. Free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Hope's Peak (Harper and Lane #1) by Tony Healey - The female detective calls her male partner Stud, okay? That's how not good this was. I believe this was a Kindle First pick gone very wrong

The Silent Girls by Ann Troup - This is the book that would not end. I'm not sure if it felt interminable because there was too much going on and it was cobbled together or if it was because I've been reading too much. e-copy, not sure where from

Before He Finds Her by Michael Kardos - Woof. This book has 99 threads and it was hard to grasp on to one. I thought I knew what it was about and had to revise my opinion at least eight times and not in an ooh, twisty type of way. Plus the main character needs a quick punch to the face. paperback, own, trading ASAP

Did Not Finish

Blessings by Anna Quindlen - It wasn't hooking me, so I stopped after 15 pages? It's my paperback, maybe I'd revisit, but I'll probably end up trading it instead. paperback, own

What are you reading?






46 comments:

  1. I felt the same way about The Forever Summer. I guess the summer vibe got me too. Haha. I really need to read The Hate U Give.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am on the waiting list for The Hate U Give, so eager to read it. I didn't know Weir had a new book coming out. Mark Watney was a fabulous main character and he would be hard to follow-up. Adding Artemis to my TBR.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I read Before He Finds Her, too, and was not a fan. The weird 'end of the world' twist just kind of threw me off and I just wanted the book to end, haha. It did keep me reading, though, just because I wanted to know what actually happened, even if it wasn't the most enjoyable read.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I've been trying to read more books that open my mind to something not my reality. I thought Between the World and Me was so excellent for that, and I most definitely have The Hate U Give on my list - just have to wait a teeny bit longer to get to it, because I've read more YA than usual lately and I'm afraid if I read another YA too soon I won't appreciate it quite as much...

    ReplyDelete
  5. Bummer that an Anita Shreve and an Anna Quindlen weren't the greatest. I can usually count on them. I am in line for The Hate U Give at the library.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sorry to see you had so many not-so-great reads this past month. I own The Hate U Give that I HOPE to read really soon.

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

    ReplyDelete
  7. I dont think I've heard anything bad from anyone about The Hate U Give.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Stud? Gross. I didn't know Girl in Summer was the it book of the summer. I'm looking into it, though I need to stop with hyped books. I liked The Hate U Give for what it was, but due to hype, I was expecting it to be more than that.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I am definitely intrigued by your engrossing reads. If the writing in the books
    is as good as your words in the reviews , I may be hooked back into fiction. Love. Your. Momma. #losingyourselfinbooks❣️

    ReplyDelete
  10. Alright, a few people from this linkup have recommended The Hate U Give so I guess I will have to read it! Funny, I also read a book called "The Silent Girls" but it was by a different author. I didn't care for it much either, though!

    ReplyDelete
  11. totally know what you mean about the 'something' in some books. added that one to my list. i am still on the wait list for the hate u give. it makes me happy that so many people in louisville are reading it though? lol. the fifth of july sounds good and omg i didn't know andy weir wrote another book! cool! i just requested it from netgalley (i love when SUYB shares books that are still on netgalley lol) of course nothing can compare to the martian, but still. the cover for dead reckoning looks interesting lol. adding it to my list. 'That's how not good this was' hahaha skipping the Stud book. ew.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Yay for Words in Deep Blue, love it when everything just "clicks." I am not sure I'm ready for The Hate U Give...not that I think it's exaggerated or I'm scared of the message. Just feel like it might so true & important that it would be too heavy for me at the moment.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Words in Deep Blue has a gorgeous cover and the story sounds good. Little Broken Things is also going on my list. I finished The Hate U Give this month, too, and I agree that possibly the greatest thing about it was that it showed me things from a viewpoint I've never known. The Fifth of July has an interesting plot so I'll check it out, and Artemis has been on my list.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I really want to read the hate you give!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hate u Give just came in for me and I can't wait to read it.

    ReplyDelete
  16. If I could make The Hate U Give required reading for everyone in the country I would.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I still need to read The Hate U Give! So many books, so little time! I also think that The 5th Of July and The Forever Summer both sound like great books! Too bad you couldn't read The 5th Of July on the actual 5th!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I need to get more summer reads in the next few weeks, too! We are headed to the beach in October, though so I'll use that as my expiration. ;) Still have The Hate U Give on my list!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Lots of good things to add to my list. Very interested in Words in Deep Blue.

    ReplyDelete
  20. You had a lot of not worth it books this month! I have Hate U Give and Words in Deep Blue on my TBR, I need to get around to them. Adding Little Broken Things.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Yes, The Hate U Give was so good! Words in Deep Blue sounds like my kind of read.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I got about 10% into Girl in Snow and then actually forgot about it. The writing reminded me of Megan Miranda and seemed all over the place. I thought it might be interesting because it takes place in CO but maybe I'll go back to it eventually.
    Mark Watney is an amazing character. Looking up Artemis.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Already on the waitlist at the library for The Hate U Give. Disappointed to hear about Girl in Snow because it's currently sitting in my Kindle. I love stories set in bookstores and YA so adding The Words You Keep.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I need to suggest the Hate U Give for my more serious book club, I think that could lead to an amazing discussion. I am putting Words in Deep Blue on my hot list, your description of it and the synopsis sound right up my alley. I am currently reading Islands by Anne Rivers Siddons at your suggestion.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Loved Hate U Give - so good. Adding Words in Deep Blue to my list!!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Loved The Hate U Give (looking forward to the movie too, they've started announcing the cast). Read Small Great Things immediately after it because the library drew my number. That was intense couple of weeks that really made me do a lot of self-reflection

    ReplyDelete
  27. Wow, I hadn't heard of The Hate You Give. That sounds like an amazing book. Very timely for 2017.

    ReplyDelete
  28. You're actually ahead of me now - I haven't got to Down a Dark Road yet! In fact. I am only up to After The Storm. Shocking!

    ReplyDelete
  29. I'm sorry but I stopped after The Hate U Give. HOLY SHIT THAT BOOK WAS AMAZING. And I think it needs to be required reading. Why did we not discuss this already?

    ReplyDelete
  30. I loved The Hate U Give! I'm adding Little Broken Things, Best Day Ever, Stay With Me, and of course, Artemis to my list!

    ReplyDelete
  31. I love your description of Words In Deep Blue. I love that connection with a book/story/words. It doesn't happen very often (for me) so I totally get the pleasure when it does! And your post is a reminder I need to read an Andy Weir book. I'm the only one in my family of readers who hasn't read The Martian. I think I'm just intimidated by the science aspect.

    ReplyDelete
  32. The first two sound right up my alley! Definitely putting them on my to read list. And judging by the comments I can't pass up The Hate U Give.

    ReplyDelete
  33. I've been feeling like I want to read The Hate U Give again already (and I rarely reread), because I feel like there's more to get out of it. I just got Artemis from Netgalley and am cautiously excited to read it.

    ReplyDelete
  34. To me, repetition is one of the worst sins an author can commit. I can't stand the same thing being explained to me over and over.
    Words in Deep Blue and Carmilla definitely sound pretty good to me!

    ReplyDelete
  35. I didn't get my shit together to link up today, but I'm currently listening to The Hate U Give and loving it.

    ReplyDelete
  36. I rarely love "the book of the summer", "book of the year", etc. When books are that hyped up they need to be super awesome, and they just seldom live up to expectations.

    ReplyDelete
  37. You know I enjoy supporting the Australian author community, so I will definitely be reading the Cath Crowley book. I enjoyed one by her that I've previously read - Graffiti Moon. In fact, I just paused on writing this comment to go put it on hold at my library.
    The Hate U Give is already on my bookshelf waiting to be read.

    ReplyDelete
  38. I think every review I've seen of The Hate U Give is a total rave, so must pick it up!

    ReplyDelete
  39. I would've tried to read the Fifth of July on July 5th also. Maybe it's just a reader thing! ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  40. I need to read The Hate U Give. It's so high on my list. I'm glad that you liked and are recommending it. Bummer about the DNF, but yeah you can always come back to it if you want to! XO - Alexandra

    Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things

    ReplyDelete
  41. I cannot wait to read The Hate U Give. I hope the people ahead of me in the hold list hurry the heck up and read it!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Words in Deep Blue is up next for me. I have really gotten into YA this summer.
    Pam :)

    ReplyDelete
  43. Ok this is like the 5th rec for the hate you give that Ive gotten. Buying today.

    ReplyDelete
  44. You have me intrigued with The Hate U Give. I remember stumbling over it on Goodreads awhile back and thinking it could be good.

    ReplyDelete
  45. I'm mesmerized by the cover of Words in Deep Blue. Mom and I are going on a cruise in October, and I might save it for then. The Hate U Give needs to be on my list, too.

    ReplyDelete
  46. I'm going to need to get The Hate U Give from the library.

    ReplyDelete

Tell me what you think, leave a comment! I'll reply to you via email if you have an email associated with yourself, otherwise, check back here for my reply. Your data will not be used to spam you or sold for others to contact you.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
Blogging tips
Pin It button on image hover