What I Read in August 2023
Since we’re all in our Taylor Era this summer, I’ll start with a lyric from Ms. Swift herself:
August slipped away into a moment in time
'Cause it was never mine
I read more than I thought I would this month but it wasn’t my favorite month for reading. I’m starting to judge how successful I feel like my month was based on quality over quantity. A few 2-star reviews are more than I’d like to present you with in this newsletter!
Some quick stats for you:
9 books total
6 audiobooks
1 ARC
2 Book Clubs
Psst… if you find your next great read in this newsletter, consider supporting my work and keeping me caffeinated while I write.
Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity by Devon Price
Synopsis: For every visibly Autistic person you meet, there are countless “masked” Autistic people who pass as neurotypical. Masking is a common coping mechanism in which Autistic people hide their identifiably Autistic traits in order to fit in with societal norms, adopting a superficial personality at the expense of their mental health. This can include suppressing harmless stims, papering over communication challenges by presenting as unassuming and mild-mannered, and forcing themselves into situations that cause severe anxiety, all so they aren’t seen as needy or “odd.”
In Unmasking Autism , Dr. Devon Price shares his personal experience with masking and blends history, social science research, prescriptions, and personal profiles to tell a story of neurodivergence that has thus far been dominated by those on the outside looking in. For Dr. Price and many others, Autism is a deep source of uniqueness and beauty. Unfortunately, living in a neurotypical world means it can also be a source of incredible alienation and pain. Most masked Autistic individuals struggle for decades before discovering who they truly are. They are also more likely to be marginalized in terms of race, gender, sexual orientation, class, and other factors, which contributes to their suffering and invisibility. Dr. Price lays the groundwork for unmasking and offers exercises that encourage self-expression.
My Thoughts: While this book did make me feel validated, I didn’t get much out of it. The second half was drawn out and it seemed to be written towards a specific type of Autistic person rather than people across the spectrum. Overall, it felt very biased and not rooted in science and I was looking for something that was a bit more academic and less focused on activism. The book skewed heavily towards gender identity, sexuality, and race, perhaps even more so than autism.
The Idiot by Elif Batuman
Synopsis: The year is 1995, and email is new. Selin, the daughter of Turkish immigrants, arrives for her freshman year at Harvard. She signs up for classes in subjects she has never heard of, befriends her charismatic and worldly Serbian classmate, Svetlana, and, almost by accident, begins corresponding with Ivan, an older mathematics student from Hungary. Selin may have barely spoken to Ivan, but with each email they exchange, the act of writing seems to take on new and increasingly mysterious meanings.
At the end of the school year, Ivan goes to Budapest for the summer, and Selin heads to the Hungarian countryside, to teach English in a program run by one of Ivan's friends. On the way, she spends two weeks visiting Paris with Svetlana. Selin's summer in Europe does not resonate with anything she has previously heard about the typical experiences of American college students, or indeed of any other kinds of people. For Selin, this is a journey further inside herself: a coming to grips with the ineffable and exhilarating confusion of first love, and with the growing consciousness that she is doomed to become a writer.
My Thoughts: DNF @ 75%
I wanted to like this book and it’s exactly the sort of book I’d normally gravitate to but it is so incredibly tedious. I think there's some value to Selin's reflections on language but I couldn’t find an ounce of enjoyment in it so I stopped forcing myself to read further. There’s a lot of dry humor in the writing but not enough to redeem it. It’s a strange and awkward book and you need a decent working knowledge of Russian literature to be able to truly appreciate some of the themes and symbolism. Ivan is truly terrible and Batuman does a decent job at making the reader feel nostalgia for the hopeless longing that happens during a first love. I feel like I need to clarify that I usually love books that feature imperfect characters with messy lives and not much plot, but this was decidedly not for me.
The Honeymoon Crashers by Christina Lauren
Synopsis: Ami is determined to break the Torres family wedding curse. Her own disaster of a reception ended with all the guests getting food poisoning, and she left her cheating husband soon after. But even though she’s still processing her own divorce, Ami won’t let her twin sister Olive’s day be anything but perfect. Olive may think she wants a private ceremony in Maui, where she and her fiancé Ethan first fell in love, but Ami knows better and secretly flies the whole Torres family out to surprise the couple. Now she and her meticulously organized binder have less than two weeks to get everything together for the big day, thousands of miles from home.
Enter Brody, Ethan’s best man, who happens to be living in Maui and insists on helping with the preparations. His playfully elaborate schemes and happy-go-lucky attitude are the last thing Ami needs. When sparks start to fly, could it derail all her carefully laid plans?
My Thoughts: This was my first time reading an audiobook-only production and I loved the full cast of characters and background noises. The sound of the ocean, clinking glasses, and music really set the mood for this romance. I didn't read The Unhoneymooners but now I want to go back and read it! I love Christina Lauren! I think the duo is great at writing realistic romances. There was just enough tension and the resolution of the main conflict at the end felt satisfying. Ami and Brody's romance was so swoon-worthy. Even though they had a rough start, they were able to communicate effectively throughout the story. It's a little predictable but oh so sweet! Highly recommend this quick listen.
Thank you Libro.fm and Simon & Schuster Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.
Wild Things: How We Learn to Read and What Can Happen If We Don’t by Sally Rippin
Synopsis: When Sally Rippin discovered her child was struggling to read, the best-selling children’s author assumed it would sort itself out over time. She couldn’t have been more wrong. Her son’s dyslexia and ADHD went unsupported for years, leaving him further and further behind his peers, and labelled as ‘difficult’ by an education system that couldn’t easily cater to neurodivergent kids. By the time Sally learned how to advocate for her child, it was – almost – too late.
This extraordinary book for parents is about how we learn to read and what can happen if we don’t, through the eyes of a parent who started out by doing everything the wrong way. Through meticulous research, interviews with educational experts and conversations with neurodivergent adults, Rippin shares her brilliant and eye-opening insights into how we can help all kids find the joy in reading, and advocate for them within our schooling system. After all, they say school isn’t for everyone, but if everyone must go to school – then why not?
My Thoughts: My daughter started Kindergarten this year and I went into this book hoping that it would offer some strategies for teaching her how to read. While it was an interesting book, I’d say 75% of it is a memoir of the author’s own experience with a child with dyslexia and ADHD and the challenges that come with those diagnoses. It was a very honest look at the frustrations of a school system that does not support neurodivergent children and I often found myself empathizing with Rippin’s pain as a mother— her guilt and feeling like she failed as an avid reader and writer. I did find a lot of benefit in her red flags and hope that I’ll be more aware of what to look out for if my own children need early intervention. She also provides a great list of websites and other resources for dyslexia in the end chapters. I would recommend this book to anyone working in the field of education.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
Synopsis: It is the morning of the reaping that will kick off the tenth annual Hunger Games. In the Capital, eighteen-year-old Coriolanus Snow is preparing for his one shot at glory as a mentor in the Games. The once-mighty house of Snow has fallen on hard times, its fate hanging on the slender chance that Coriolanus will be able to outcharm, outwit, and outmaneuver his fellow students to mentor the winning tribute.
The odds are against him. He's been given the humiliating assignment of mentoring the female tribute from District 12, the lowest of the low. Their fates are now completely intertwined -- every choice Coriolanus makes could lead to favor or failure, triumph or ruin. Inside the arena, it will be a fight to the death. Outside the arena, Coriolanus starts to feel for his doomed tribute... and must weigh his need to follow the rules against his desire to survive no matter what it takes.
My Thoughts: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes follows a teenage Coriolanus Snow as he becomes a mentor to Lucy Gray, a girl from District 12, during the 10th annual Hunger Games. Coriolanus and 23 other elite students from the Academy have been chosen to reinvigorate the games. The Snow family has fallen on hard times and Corio plans to redeem their reputation by guiding his tribute to victory through any means necessary. Lucy Gray is a singer and performer and she captivates the audience just as much as Coriolanus. As far as a villain story is concerned, this one is rather weak and unconvincing. Not much happens to move the plot forward and the games themselves are only 1/3 of the book. At least in the Hunger Games series, you get inside Katniss’ head through a 1st person POV. We’re just outsiders to Snow’s life in this prequel. Maybe because I’m a good bit older than when I read the original Hunger Games series but the nods to Roman Imperialism are much more obvious, especially through the Capital’s use of Roman names. Other than that tiny tidbit piquing my interest, it’s a dull book. I would have preferred to read about Haymitch or another character with a bit more personality. Somehow I managed to avoid spoilers for 3 years but I wish this one had just stayed on my TBR shelf. At least I’m prepared for the movie. Maybe this story will translate better on screen.
Cassandra in Reverse by Holly Smale
Synopsis: Cassandra Penelope Dankworth is a creature of habit. She likes what she likes (museums, jumpsuits, her boyfriend, Will) and strongly dislikes what she doesn't (mess, change, her boss drinking out of her mug). Her life runs in a pleasing, predictable order…until now.
• She's just been dumped.
• She's just been fired.
• Her local café has run out of banana muffins.
Then, something truly unexpected happens: Cassie discovers she can go back and change the past. One small rewind at a time, Cassie attempts to fix the life she accidentally obliterated, but soon she'll discover she's trying to fix all the wrong things.
My Thoughts:
“Ideally, I'd be paid money to sit in a dimly lit room, reading and talking to nobody. Apart from maybe on the rare occasion where I'm wheeled out to talk at someone about something I'm interested in, and everybody is forced to listen but not allowed to respond.”
I love a book with a time travel element and all the glowing reviews about Cassandra in Reverse caught my eye. While the Groundhog Day trope does get a bit drawn out in the middle, I enjoyed seeing the way Cassie developed through the storyline. I started out thinking this was going to be a typical romance but it became so much more. This story is about second chances, discovering yourself, finding confidence in your self-worth, sisterhood, and learning to navigate the world as an Autistic adult. Cassie is such a unique heroine and I’m so glad that Holly Smale wrote this story for the world to enjoy. I related to the main character in so many ways but I especially enjoyed her special interest being mythology! If you’re looking for a realistic look into the inner dialogue of someone who is neurodivergent, I can’t recommend this book enough. It’s excellent on audio as well— the narrator captures the characters’ quirkiness and delivers a fun and joyful listening experience. It got me out of a book rut.
CW for death of a parent, toxic workplace, misogyny and sexism
Hooked by Emily McIntire
Synopsis: James has always had one agenda: destroy his enemy, Peter Michaels. When Peter’s twenty-year-old daughter Wendy shows up in James’s bar, he sees his way in. Seduce the girl and use her for his revenge. It’s the perfect plan, until things in James’s organization begin to crumble. Suddenly, he has to find the traitor in his midst, and his plan for revenge gets murkier as James starts to see Wendy as more than just a pawn in his game.
Wendy has been cloistered away most of her life by her wealthy cold father, but a spontaneous night out with friends turns into an intense and addictive love affair with the dark and brooding James. As much as she knows James is dangerous, Wendy can’t seem to shake her desire for him. But as their relationship grows more heated and she learns more about the world he moves in, she finds herself unsure if she’s falling for the man known as James or the monster known as Hook.
My Thoughts: This Peter Pan retelling had me hooked! I'd use the retelling loosely because the book really only had little elements of the original Peter Pan story. I went into it expecting a fantasy romance but it’s literally set in Florida. Was this a great book? No. Did I still eat it up? Of course!
What to expect:
-elements of dark romance (it's fairly tame)
-good girl/bad boy
-Dual POV
-Insta Love
-Drug ring/crime boss/mafia vibes
-good on audio (James’ British accent was swoon-worthy but the transatlantic accent for some of the side characters drove me nuts)
Check the content warnings on the author’s site for mature themes.
Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll
Synopsis: January 1978. A serial killer has terrorized women across the Pacific Northwest, but his existence couldn’t be further from the minds of the vibrant young women at the top sorority on Florida State University’s campus in Tallahassee. Tonight is a night of promise, excitement, and desire, but Pamela Schumacher, president of the sorority, makes the unpopular decision to stay home—a decision that unwittingly saves her life. Startled awake at 3 a.m. by a strange sound, she makes the fateful decision to investigate. What she finds behind the door is a scene of implausible violence—two of her sisters dead; two others, maimed. Over the next few days, Pamela is thrust into a terrifying mystery inspired by the crime that’s captivated public interest for more than four decades.
On the other side of the country, Tina Cannon has found peace in Seattle after years of hardship. A chance encounter brings twenty-five-year-old Ruth Wachowsky into her life, a young woman with painful secrets of her own, and the two form an instant connection. When Ruth goes missing from Lake Sammamish State Park in broad daylight, surrounded by thousands of beachgoers on a beautiful summer day, Tina devotes herself to finding out what happened to her. When she hears about the tragedy in Tallahassee, she knows it’s the man the papers refer to as the All-American Sex Killer. Determined to make him answer for what he did to Ruth, she travels to Florida on a collision course with Pamela—and one last impending tragedy.
My Thoughts: I don’t read a ton of thrillers and I’m not a true crime junkie so trust me when I say you must read this book! I went into it not knowing it was based on the infamous American serial killer, Ted Bundy. To be completely honest, the cover was what made me pick this book up. The novel is split between two narratives and alternating timelines. Pamela is an ambitious pre-law sorority president at FSU and Ruth is a queer divorcee creating a new life for herself through the friendships she creates in grief counseling. When two of Pamela’s sorority sisters are murdered and others are brutally mutilated, she embarks on a journey to find the killer with the help of a stranger named Tina who is convinced she knows who the suspect is. The characters in this story are incredibly fleshed out and believable. Their dialogue creates this tension that can’t be cut throughout the entire novel. I kept reading chapter after chapter because I could not put the book down. Bright Young Women is a dark story but it’s also one of resilience, friendship, and sisterhood in the midst of tragedy. Knoll expertly brings a voice to the victims without being overly graphic. I really appreciated that the perspective highlighted the women’s stories instead of glamorizing their killer. This would be a great mystery/thriller/true crime pick for a book club. Especially due to the 1970s setting, there’s a lot to digest in regard to the way that women were portrayed and treated.
I borrowed an ARC of this book from my local indie bookstore as part of my Patreon membership. Out soon!
Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon
(Outlander #2)
Synopsis: For twenty years Claire Randall has kept her secrets. But now she is returning with her grown daughter to Scotland's majestic mist-shrouded hills. Here Claire plans to reveal a truth as stunning as the events that gave it birth: about the mystery of an ancient circle of standing stones ...about a love that transcends the boundaries of time ...and about James Fraser, a Scottish warrior whose gallantry once drew a young Claire from the security of her century to the dangers of his ....
Now a legacy of blood and desire will test her beautiful copper-haired daughter, Brianna, as Claire's spellbinding journey of self-discovery continues in the intrigue-ridden Paris court of Charles Stuart... in a race to thwart a doomed Highlands uprising... and in a desperate fight to save both the child and the man she loves...
My Thoughts: While I wait on Netflix to get Outlander Season 6, I figured I'd dive into reading the books. I forgot just how much action takes place in Dragonfly in Amber. They are such long books but for the most part, I've been able to fly through all the subplots thanks to Diana Gabaldon's attention to detail. 38 hours on audio was no small feat. I really enjoyed the France storyline but parts of the Battle of Culloden were harder to get through. There are so many heartbreaking and devastating moments in this story. Without any spoilers, a few scenes were just hard to read so be sure to check content warnings. The ending is one of the biggest and most shocking plot twists ever. I'm hoping to eventually pick up Voyager but I probably won't read into the American Revolution timeline. I can't get enough of Claire and Jamie's passion. This is so much more than a love story. The perspectives and alternating timelines, historical fiction, and time travel elements are all flawless.
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