1. Survive the Night by Riley Sager (Thriller) - This book was interesting, a quick read, and held my attention throughout, but it is not my favorite Sager novel (my favorite is still either Lock Every Door or The Last Time I Lied). My main issue with this one is how Charlie (our main character) made a lot of questionable choices. I definitely would not get in a car with someone I didn't know if there was a serial killer on my campus. That being said, it was twisty and the second half was especially action-packed, giving it a similar feel to No Exit by Taylor Adams. There were some unexpected twists throughout, including the last chapter. If you're a Sager fan, I would say it's definitely worth checking out his latest, even if it isn't my favorite of his work.
2. Sisters in Arms by Kaia Alderson (Historical Fiction) - I haven't read much WWII historical fiction, though I know there are a lot of books featuring this time period. I think this book is a worthy addition to the genre, as it talks about a specific group of Black female soldiers that I did not know anything about (6888th battalion - in charge of mail sorting and delivery). I liked the two central characters, Eliza and Grace. They were both strong characters and great military officers. They both cared a lot about their jobs there and were hard-workers. I enjoyed seeing their complex relationship with each other from when they first met in New York, which started very rocky but over time developed into a mutual respect and even friendship.
3. That Weekend by Kara Thomas (YA Thriller) - This is a fast read, with a lot of twists and turns. I was surprised by how everything played out. I liked the main character, Claire, and felt bad for her. I can't imagine being in her situation, and waking up with no memory of how you ended up injured and what happened to the friends she was camping with. A lot of the other characters in the book were not good people. Overall, this was a good thriller. It alternates between the present and past, gradually unveiling what happened to Claire. I always have liked all the books by this author that I have read.
4. The People We Keep by Allison Larkin (Contemporary Fiction) - This was a story about April, spanning her life from ages 16-19 in the mid-90s. She was a character who needed to learn how to let people into her life to stay, and I felt for her. She was left by both parents, and lived a nomadic life during her teenage years. When she met people who cared about her, it was hard for her to believe that they would be there to stay. I loved seeing the development of her finding the people that she could keep (as the title says).
5. Us Against You by Fredrik Backman (tr. by Neil Smith) (Contemporary Fiction) - I really liked this follow-up to Backman's novel, Beartown. A lot of tough topics were touched upon in Beartown and that continued in this book. The story focuses a lot on Benji and his character arc, and I enjoyed that a lot. My heart sometimes broke for what he was going through.
6. How the Word is Passed by Clint Smith (History) - This is a phenomenal and well-researched history book. I loved how Smith visited different tours at "living history" locations, as someone who has taken several trips to these type of locations. I found the information in the book to be very informative and enlightening. I read most of this in June, but took my time not to rush through the book too quickly to make sure that I could really absorb the content. Definitely a worthwhile read!
7. Somebody's Daughter by Ashley C. Ford (Memoir) - I was more invested in some parts of this memoir than others, but it was a powerful story overall. Ford went through a lot at a young age, and had a complex relationship with her family, especially her mother. Her father was in prison throughout her childhood and college years, and she had to wrestle with what that meant to her. She had complicated feelings on him, as she loved him, yet he had done something terrible. In this book, she finds herself and grows as a young adult.
8. The Guncle by Steven Rowley (Contemporary Fiction) - This was a sweet story focusing on Patrick, who is a former TV star, and his relationship with his niece and nephew. Patrick doesn't really have a clue of how to raise or talk to children, so it was enjoyable throughout the book to see him realize how much he does love his niece (Maisie) and nephew (Grant). This book is set in a hot location in California, and is a great summer read, with descriptions of days at the pool. The story does have some heavier moments as Patrick and the kids are both dealing with grief from the loss of their mother, who was good friends with Patrick. A sweet story!
9. A Girl Returned by Donatella Di Petrantonio (tr. by Ann Goldstein) (Contemporary Fiction) - This was my first recent Italian read, though I read the English translation. This was a somewhat melancholy, quiet story that focused on the characters and their life in the Italian countryside. The narrator is unnamed, and the story starts when she is "returned" from her adopted family to her biological parents at the age of 13. This of course leads to many feelings for her of where she really belongs and if anyone wants her. She develops a close relationship with her younger sister, Adriana, which was nice to see.
10. Aftershocks by Nadia Owusu (Memoir) - I found this to be one of my new favorite memoirs. This was well structured, shifting seamlessly between the present and the past. I enjoyed the structure of seeing moments in her life as aftershocks of the earthquake. Nadia struggles with her sense of her identity and home, due to moving around regularly and losing both parents at a young age (her mother to divorce and her father dying when she was 12). The memoir feels very genuine and honest, and Nadia is vulnerable and shows the reader her struggles with her mental health.
11. Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano (Thriller) - This was a story about a mom going through a divorce with her cheating ex-husband who is struggling to write her next mystery novel. She is mistaken for a killer by a woman who overhears a conversation about her book with her agent. This was a fun ride, though not necessarily particularly realistic. I tore through it quickly to figure out what would happen to Finlay, and if she would make it out of the messes that she inadvertently ended up entangled in. I am interested in checking out the next Finlay book to see what situations she gets herself into next.
12. Counting Descent by Clint Smith (Poetry Collection) - I have not really read any poetry in a long time (probably since high school English). I picked this book up after reading Smith's How the Word is Passed. I enjoyed the poems in this collection. They covered a handful of important current topics. I am interested in checking out some more recent poetry collections. I don't know if I fully "got"/understood all the poems, but I enjoyed the overall experience of reading these.
13. Cool for the Summer by Dahlia Adler (YA Contemporary Fiction) - This was a fun and quick read. It was overall a light YA story about relationships, though a bit angsty and drama-filled at times. We got to know some characters better than others in the story, but overall, there were no characters that I found unlikeable in the book. I especially enjoyed Larissa's perspective, as she figured out what she wanted for her future. I think this is a worthwhile addition to Adler's books.
14. Parachutes by Kelly Yang (YA Contemporary Fiction) - This was an awesome YA novel! While it was almost 500 pages, the chapters were short and the pages went quickly. The chapters alternated between Dani and Claire. Dani was a scholarship student at a prep school, and Claire was an exchange student from China that her family was hosting. The story deals with some serious issues, regarding sexual harassment and assault. I really liked both Dani and Claire, and enjoyed seeing their journeys through the book.
15. Stolen by Elizabeth Gilpin (Memoir) - This was a phenomenal book, and one of the best memoirs that I have read so far, but I am sad for Elizabeth that this book exists. No one deserves to go through what she experienced in the book. As shown in the book, Carlbrook seems to have been a terrible place, and not helpful to a struggling teenager, and I am very glad that it finally shut down in 2015. It is sad that so many people have had their lives affected by this place, many of them not surviving long after graduating. I think Elizabeth's experiences at Carlbrook led to more of her issues after leaving. The time in the woods before Carlbrook was awful as well. There are so many adults who were complicit in perpetuating these harmful programs, from the counselors in the woods to almost every staff member at the boarding school. Hopefully this book sheds light so that if any programs like these remain, they can be shut down, and also so that parents can truly be informed and not choose to send their children to these places. As an educator, there is no place in education ever to tell a student that they are worthless or to make their peers express these sentiments to them. This is cruel and unacceptable. I loved the book and appreciate Elizabeth's bravery in sharing her story, as saddening as it is. I think everyone should read this book!
16. Kate in Waiting by Becky Albertalli (YA Contemporary Fiction) - I have been enjoying the contemporary YA that I've been reading this month, and this book was no exception! I loved the romance that Kate ends up in. It was someone I hadn't initially expected, but I really enjoyed their interactions. This was also a very theater-y book, which I liked, as someone who enjoys going to musiclas and used to be in the musical in high school. This was a fun, sweet read.
17. Humiliation by Paulina Flores (tr. by Megan McDowell) (Short Story Collection) - Overall, this was not my favorite short story collection that I have read. I liked some stories, and some not as much. This collection took place in Chile, and many of the stories were told from a child's perspective and dealt with poverty. I am currently working on a reading challenge to read 2 books set in each continent, so I read this one as one of my books for South America.
18. Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls by T Kira Madden (Memoir) - Madden is a phenomenal writer, and this was a lovely, well-written memoir. She weaves her story together masterfully, dipping in and out of various timelines. This book feels very honest about her struggles with her family, while also showing how much she loves both parents, despite their mistakes. Part of this story is Madden finding herself as a teenager. Her journey is at parts sad, but at other parts heartwarming. I loved the part of the story with Marjorie.
19. She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen (YA Contemporary Fiction) - This was a quick and mostly light read that I really enjoyed. It involved fake dating and a good amount of drama. I liked the characters and their relationships. The author did a good job at putting in the right emotion at the right moments. This was a great mix of friendship, romance, and family relationship. I really liked Scottie's parents and sisters, and how much they cared.
Rereads:
1. Head Over Heels by Hannah Orenstein (Romance) - I reread this book due to the Olympics starting, and enjoyed reading it again!
