11 August 2020

Show Us Your Books - July 2020

And just like that, July is wrapped up. This summary of my books from July will leave me one shy of my reading goal for all of 2020 (and actually I've already finished a couple books after putting together this post, so I'm definitely done). While I'll keep reading, I'm not going to adjust my goal, because for goodness sakes - I have to feel like I've accomplished something in this heavy-on-misery year. Books have truly been my salvation, and will continue to be, I'm sure.

So join me now in sharing books read over the course of July 2020. I'm linking up with Life According to Steph and Jana Says. Click through to either of their sites to find a list of a bunch of other bloggers and their July reads. Cuz we know our TBR lists are always growing. All of my book title links go to Goodreads, and the link to my full review is either on Sweetly B Squared or Books I Think You Should Read. Enjoy!


Finished Reading:

Musical Chairs by Amy Poeppel - Bridget is excited for some grown-up time with her boyfriend Sterling at her families summer place. But before she's even unpacked, Sterling bows out of the whole picture, and instead Bridget's musical partner and kids are dropping in for an indefinite visit. Oh, and her father is getting remarried at his large property in the same vacation town. So much for a peaceful solitary summer! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review. I reviewed this one for Books I Think You Should Read and gave it 3.5/5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐

Mayhem by Estelle Laure - This one was compared to the Lost Boys movie from way back when in a lot of reviews. While I did love the movie when it was first released, I don't really remember it now. I enjoyed the book and want to compare. ;) Mayhem and her mother leave an abusive situation and return to her mother's hometown, where Mayhem is soon brought into the fold by learning about the power of women in her family from a nearby source of water that gives them powers. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review. Check out my full 3.5/5 star review here. ⭐⭐⭐

No One Saw (A.L. Kittridge #2) by Beverly Long - I reviewed Ten Days Gone (the first book in this series) in May and was happy to receive the second book.  We're back with A.L. and Rena, this time investigating a child abduction. Emma was dropped off at day care (according to her grandmother), but at pick-up time all of the staff say they hadn't seen her all day! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review. Read my full 4/5 star review here. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Fire and Vengeance (Koa Kāne Hawaiian Mystery #3) by Robert McCaw - I reviewed the second book in this series, Off the Grid last August and gave it 5/5 stars. I don't do that very often, but the descriptions of Hawaii and the involved crime plot were super cool. Fire and Vengeance was another great crime and police procedural, with an investigation of a deep political corruption at its roots. The crime they end up revealing seems far from where they started, but the explanations are thorough and clear. Thank you to the publisher for my copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review. I gave this book 3.5/5 stars in my full review. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Lives of Edie Pritchard by Larry Watson - I really liked Edie. I enjoyed her evolution from her first marriage (when she was Edie Linderman), to her second marriage and motherhood (as Edie Dunn), and back being true to herself and trying to help her granddaughter evolve while she's once again Edie Pritchard. The story rang true and was conversational, like hanging out with a good friend. Thank you to the publisher for my copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review. My full review gives it 4/5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld - This fanfic style memoir was interesting and quite entertaining for me. While I'm not sure how much of the early years are true or false, in this version Hillary Rodham never marries Bill Clinton. She is instead the one who ends up with the apparently successful political career. I gave this one 4/5 stars in my review on my blog. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Mall by Megan McCafferty - There's definitely a target audience for this one. With the whole story taking place in a mall in 1991, it's still a vivid memory for a lot of readers, including me. The name-dropping of the stores that were in every mall then leads right into a mystery involving - wait for it - Cabbage Patch Dolls! This was a fun 3.5/5 star read for those of us who remember our teenage (or beyond) mall years. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review. Check out my full review here. ⭐⭐⭐

Louisiana Lucky by Julie Pennell - What a fun premise! Three sisters meet up to hang out and try their luck at the lottery. After dreaming what they would do with such a windfall, they finally WIN! While I found the pregression of the story (more money = more problems) to be pretty predictable, the sisters were still mostly likable. The story was amusing to read and had the reader hoping things would resolve for the sisters. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review. Check out my full review of 3/5 stars here. ⭐⭐⭐

The Woman Before Wallis: A Novel of Windsors, Vanderbilts and Royal Scandal by Bryn Turnbull - I always love a good historical fiction, and this one was great. Wallis Simpson is infamous for being the woman who Prince Edward abdicated his throne for, but this book is about the prince's relationship before Wallis, with the woman who introduced them to each other. It's the roaring 20s, and the married daughter of an American diplomat takes up with Prince Edward. Oh, the married woman is also the twin sister of the widowed mother of Gloria Vanderbilt. So much historical trivia woven into a compelling story! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review. I gave this one 4/5 stars in my full review here. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lies Lies Lies by Adele Parks - Oh, what a tangled web we weave... I enjoyed all the twists and turns in this intricate plot. Simon and Daisy struggled to have their miracle baby, and then the car they are driving hits their young daughter as she's crossing the street! Life does go on, but it takes a while for the truths to come out so they can move toward a happily-ever-after. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review. My full review for 3.5/5 stars is on my blog. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Behind the Red Door by Megan Collins - This was another book I read last month with a complicated but predictable plot. Unfortunately for me, the main character got a bit annoying. I wanted to have more sympathy for her anxiety (mostly caused by her crazy father), but I eventually wanted to make her see sense. She's triggered when she sees a missing person/abduction case on the TV and swears she personally knows the victim. Everyone in her life tells her that's pretty unlikely, and her parents even deny being aware of the victim's much-publicized abduction 20 years earlier. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review. You can read my full 3/5 star review at Books I Think You Should Read. ⭐⭐⭐

With or Without You by Caroline Leavitt - The evolution of Simon and Stella's relationship stalls out while Stella is in a coma for two months. He then plans on things picking up where they left off, but Stella has changed while unconscious. The world has not left everyone at the same point through the spring of Stella's hospitalization. Simon, Stella, and Stella's best friend and doctor, Libby, are all different people than they were before it all happened, and they need to find their new way through it all. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review. My full 3/5 star review is here.⭐⭐⭐


Currently Reading: 

I just finished up A House is a Body last night (thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this great short story collection). I'm also reading (and liking more than expected!) Crave (thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my copies of this book in exchange for my unbiased review). 


Planning to Read:

On my list later this week are The Journalist: Life and Loss in America's Secret War (thanks to the publisher and Netgalley) and probably Station Eleven (that I'm finally getting from the wait list at my local library). 


I love your comments!! Have you read any of these? Loved them/hated them? What was the best book you read last month? Hope you're enjoying your blog browsing, and make it a great day. :D

12 comments:

Carly said...

I've heard mixed reviews about The Mall but I am so excited to read it. The Sloppy First books are some of my favorite of all time, so I think I will forever read anything she writes & the mall setting definitely sounds fun and nostalgic.

Kay R. said...

Looks like you had a good reading month. So many of these sound interesting.

SMD @ lifeaccordingtosteph said...

Heavy on misery year indeed. Keep that goal, I agree! We need something.

I've heard great things about Rodham. That's on my list!

NY Foodie Family said...

Lies Lies lies has been on my to read list. Louisiana Lucky sounds like a fun read.

Jana @ Jana Says said...

The Mall definitely has a target audience. I thought I was it. Turns out I was wrong. I loved the nostalgia factor but the rest of the book was not great.

Michael said...

Lies Lies Lies is on my TBR. It sounds like a great read. I just love twisty plots!

Shooting Stars Mag said...

Sounds like a mixed bag for you last month. I'm pretty sure I have an e-ARC of Behind the Red Door. Guess we'll see how I feel about it. hah

-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net

thecuecard said...

Congrats on finishing your reading goal # of books for the year ... already in July. Wow that's good. You probably liked the Rodham book better than I did ... though I liked parts of the novel. Enjoy the rest of your August.

Shea Lennon said...

Oh Musical Chairs sounds fun! I'm planning to read Limelight by that same author as soon as I finish my current read. I am so intrigued by Rodham, and have heard so much about it! I've never read anything by Sittenfeld before but I know I need to!

Dara @ Not In Jersey said...

I have Musical Chairs, Rodham, and The Mall on my list. I hope that I like them more than you did!

Fonda @Savvy Southern Chic said...

Those all sound like interesting books! Congrats on being one away from your goal. I haven't met mine yet, but I am 5 ahead.

Tanya said...

Thanks for all the recommendations. I've clicked several to add to my reading list. Thanks for stopping by my blog. :)