JUNE & JULY READING LIST REVIEW

Here is a recap of the books I read in June & July! If any of these books catch your interest please consider purchasing them through your local & independent bookstores. You can follow my book reviews in real-time on the Goodreads app too. If you want to see past book lists you can find those here: May | April | March | February | January

Three Women by Lisa Toledo: I’m not entirely sure that I knew what I was getting myself into but I’m glad I did. Lisa’s writing, though non-fiction, read a lot like fiction to me & I enjoyed her unique writing style. While I have just about nothing in common with these women on the surface, there were themes of my experiences as a woman that resonated & related to me. I felt a lot of sadness, particularly for Maggie, in these pages & actually quite appreciated the opportunity to expand my perspective of the female experience.

All Adults Here by Emma Straub: I thoroughly enjoyed this adult-coming-of-age read. The family dynamics were interesting & I really adored the fictional town where the story took place. I didn’t want this book to end. I read this book in the final weeks of my pregnancy & I feel very sentimental about this book specifically.

This Book is Anti-Racist by Tiffany Jewell: I love how this book presents a balance of straightforward information (quick but critical glimpses of history & systems) with action items & work-book style reflection prompts. This book is great for any age & is also a wonderful tool for parents/educators to engage in conversations & actions around racism & identity. I plan to revisit this book over & over again as a personal tool for doing anti-racist work & as a parenting guide. 

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett: This book has received a lot of hype & in my opinion, it’s worth it. The story was fascinating & completely unique. I was turning the last few pages about 6 minutes before I ushed our 3rd baby out at the hospital!

Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner: This one kept me entertained & interested even in the wee hours of the night through drowsy eyes as I nursed a newborn. I appreciated both the social media & body-positive commentary the most. There are several surprise twists in the plot so the less you know going into it, the better in my opinion.

The Guest List by Lisa Foley: This may very well be my favorite thriller I’ve read yet, it CONSUMED me!! A fast page-turner that helped me stay awake through the middle of the night nursing sessions with my newborn. I loved the haunting narrative of the island paired with the wedding details & the multiple points of view. The build-up of the story was delightfully entertaining & surprising!

Beach Read by Emily Henry: This book majorly exceeded my expectations! Becah Read has so much to love about it— the witty dialogue between the main characters, the quaint & dreamy little lake town, & the emotional yanks at the heart. I consider this a very well-rounded read!

The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré: I’m so in awe of how Abi Daré’s composed the writing of this book in such an authentic voice, she is very talented! This was a fascinating story— heartbreaking, emotional, & steeped in so many themes. Adunni is one of my favorite fictional characters of all time