What’s that song that goes “second verse, same as the first. A little bit louder and a little bit worse”? I feel like that’s every month since March 2020, with this past month being extra because Texas. Sigh. Since this is about books, I don’t want to go into how fucking horrendous and horrific what Texas has done actually is on so many levels, and if you think it’s truly about abortion, I don’t know what to say and this isn’t the forum to discuss it. But I’ll say this – agree to disagree.
Moving on.
Last month, I read a bunch of books. I think it’s around 9. Quit on one, Dream Girl by Laura Lippman. It was decidedly not a dream. More of a nightmare and I quickly put it in the trash pile next to Ron DeSantis’s humanity.
The Unseen World by Liz Moore. I learned about this one on Twitter, and it’s from the same author as Long Bright River. I liked that book more, but this one is quite good. About an orphaned girl trying to piece together her father’s life, it’s heartwrenching and lovely and well written but also a little tedious at times.
Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau. This book was good but not necessarily GOOD. It was fun, enjoyable, a little weird, and even with the occasional anti-Semitism, it’s a solid pass the time on a weekend read.
Every Vow You Break by Peter Swanson. I found this book to be a good thriller but also a serious wreck. It was kind of a mess at times but super solid at others. I loved Eight Perfect Murders and I recommend that one instead. I’m not quite ready to give up on Swanson but if this is the first one his you plan to read, prepare for disappointment.
What’s Mine and Yours by Naima Coster. Another good but not great book. I liked the story a lot, it dealt with some pretty relevant themes, and the writing was good. It started off really strong, tapered off, and then came back around. There was a twist that wasn’t really a twist, and it keeps you engaged, but it’s not that big of a shock. It’s kind of easy to figure out, really, although it does keep you hooked.
The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave. Deserving of all the good reviews. I read this right after the Swanson book and THIS is how you do a domestic-type thriller. Fast read, super solid plot and I finished it in about a day.
False Witness by Karin Slaughter. Meh. Yet another 3.5-star read. It started out awful. Just awful, and that doesn’t even include the unnecessary shitting on cheerleaders. But it picked up and got way better. Especially the end. I liked when it ended. And how it ended. However, if you read it, note that she really loves to drive home the fact that this takes place during COVID (it’s super tedious to read) and like many stand-along Slaughter books, it deals with a host of triggering topics (sexual abuse, drug use, rape).
Write My Name Across the Sky by Barbara O’Neal. Not quite as great as When We Believed in Mermaids, but probably the best one I read this month. It centered on family, loss, love, friendship – all the things. She put it together around a creative and engagingly written plot and I definitely need to read more of her books at some point.
Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson. This book is HARD to read. I mean, she’s a great writer, but it’s not an easy read at all. Imagine if season 4 of The Wire were a book. It’s that difficult. The timelines get a little muddy and hard to follow at times, though, but it’s worth figuring it out because this book will punch you right in the stomach.
Dead of Winter by Stephen Mack Jones. This is the third book in a series and according to Goodreads, I read the first one and gave it four stars but I have no recollection of reading it at all. This one works as a standalone so you don’t have to have read the first one for this book to work. Which it sort of does. Sometimes. It’s fine. Not great, not bad. Mediocre. Not must-see TV.
Currently reading Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir.
Now it’s your turn. Link up and show us your books! Don’t forget to visit my co-host Steph and some other bloggers, and don’t forget to join us on October 12 for the SEVENTH anniversary of Show Us Your Books. I’m not quite sure how we’ve been doing this for seven years. Crazy.
That song makes me think of girl scout camp. And Texas – ugh! I was a bit amused at a meme a friend shared – “If you are a man who gets a woman pregnant in TX to claim the $10K, you’re gonna die first. She’s already going to prison for the abortion, murdering you is a BOGO and we live for that shit.” Sometimes if you don’t laugh, you have to cry (again). It is so not about abortion.
Becki recently posted…Show Us Your Books – August 2021
Every Vow You Break and The Last Thing He Told Me sound like really good thrillers!
Congrats to you and Steph on 7 years of hosting an amazing link up.
The Last Thing He Told Me looks really good.
Confuzzled Bev recently posted…What I read in August 2021
OK I need to check out that Liz Moore book too – enjoyed Long Bright River immensely. I echo your thoughts on Laura Dave (such an engaging read!) and the new Barbara O’Neal and I definitely want to get to her backlist too. Taking note of your Peter Swanson Thoughts and I will start (and maybe end LOL) with Eight Perfect Murders. I can’t believe it’s been almost 7 years!
Heather recently posted…Fall Into Reading With Me – I can feel the cozy blanket now 🙂
None of this shit is humorous but the DeSantis humanity line made me LOL. Him and Abbott can both go screw
I’ll try the Liz Moore, I like her writing. The cover looks familiar to me but I didn’t have it in goodreads. The Barbara O’Neal is on my list.
I just read Long Bright River. I’ll have to giver her other books a try too!
Jill recently posted…September 2021 Show Us Your Books
Monday’s Not Coming was so good! I need to read The Last Thing He Told Me. I also read Write My Name Across The Sky this month.
Dara recently posted…As If On Cue Blog Tour
the amount of times I have almost picked up “the last thing he told me” also, SEVEN YEARS! that’s wild! and exciting! also I’ve been dying to read project hail mary! excited to see what you think about it!
Kasey recently posted…Show Us Your Books: August 2021!
Man, people love The Last Thing He Told Me. I didn’t read it in time for my book club and just kind of forgot about it because thrillers aren’t my thing… but I might have to read that one anyway.
Audrey recently posted…What I Read…
I liked Swanson’s Eight Perfect Murders but I had heard this latest book of his was a bit of a mess. I haven’t read it yet.
Loved the Last Thing He Told Me – and am interested in the O’Neal. Loved Mermaids, so I’ll give this one a shot. I couldn’t put Project Hail Mary down, even though I didn’t love the ending.
I loved The Last Thing He Tole Me too. I think I’ll add the Barbara O’Neal to my list.
Sarah recently posted…Tuesday Book Release Day
I really enjoyed The Last Thing He Told Me and I want to read Write My Name now as I too enjoyed When We Believed.
I’m waiting for The Last Thing He Told Me to come in from the library. I just added Mary Jane to my to read list. Sounds like a book I’d enjoy.
Seven years is quite a milestone – congrats! I really enjoyed The Last Thing He Told Me. Might give Mary Jane a shot.
I’m curious about Every Vow You Break, but I do want to read Eight Perfect Murders more so I’m glad you enjoyed that one at least.
ShootingStarsMag recently posted…Show Us Your Books and an HP TikTok
hmmmm i am curious about the liz moore book. i liked long bright river, but it was… not tedious, but slow for me. i still liked it a lot. but, hmm. glad you liked the last thing he told me! it was a good one. i just finished write my name across the sky, very good. think i clicked with mermaids more, but that might have been just because i clicked with books better pre covid lol. can’t wait for your thoughts on project hail mary!
kristen recently posted…Books Lately