Can I be honest for a second? Some months come with major book slumps – that’s just how it is. I know it doesn’t look like a book slump month when I finished nine books, but if I’m telling the honest truth, 8 out of these 9 books were on audio! I only picked up one physical book all month long (on the very last day of the month, no less)! I say that as a reminder that reading is reading is reading (audiobooks do count!), and not all months are the same.
I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai – 3 Stars
This book had so much potential, but I found myself zoning out just to get to the end and figure out who did it. It’s the story of a woman going back to her high school alma mater as an interim professor – the school where her roommate was murdered and the conviction never felt finished. Bodie encourages her class to create a podcast of their own, and when one of her students chooses to focus on the murder decades later, who is she to dissuade her from digging into the past?
The Astronaut Wives Club by Lily Koppel – 2 Stars
If I’m being honest, I grabbed this book from Once Upon a Time because the cover was just so adorable. And of course, what an interesting topic to learn about! The execution wasn’t great. It seemed to just be the recounting of event after event after event over and over with no true storytelling involved. I really wanted to learn about the women and their stories, but the book didn’t even focus on one wife long enough to remember their name before we were on to the next one.
Things We Do in the Dark by Jennifer Hillier – 4 Stars
Paris Peralta is arrested for the murder of her celebrity husband, but she’s more worried about the media attention that threatens to expose her past than the murder charges she’s now facing. Told from multiple timelines and perspectives, there’s plenty of twists and turns that will keep you guessing.
The Maidens by Alex Michaelides – 2 Stars
Ugh I was so disappointed by this one, and I know I’m in the minority on it. I loved The Silent Patient when I first read it back in the day, so I had high hopes! It was very reminiscent of The Secret History – very dark academia and such – but it just didn’t feel very believable to me. A Greek Tragedy professor at Cambridge potentially murdering his students? It’s definitely giving fall/winter vibes if that’s what you’re looking for!
The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand – 3 Stars
While this wasn’t my new fav Elin book, she sure does know how to create an atmosphere! Welcome to the Hotel Nantucket, the newest boutique hotel on Nantucket run by Lizbet Keaton. The stunning setting, descriptions of the rooms, amenities and decor, and the food kept me coming back for more! Of course, all of the staff, residents, and Nantucket guests have a complicated past that all become intertwined throughout the story. I could have done without the random ghost, though.
Little Secrets by Jennifer Hillier – 4 Stars
I’ve seen some rave reviews for Little Secrets, so I figured it was time! (Can you tell I get into these serious thriller-obsessed binges every once in a while?) It’s Christmastime, and Marin and her young son, Sebastian, are out and about in a busy place, when he seemingly vanishes before her eyes. After a manhunt, Sebastian isn’t found, and now it’s one year later, and Marin is still looking for her son. When she makes a discovery about her husband, her fire is reignited to find her son and get her life back, but you will not be prepared for what she discovers. I couldn’t stop reading!
The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen – 3 Stars
I historically really enjoy these authors’ books, and have seen a lot of hype for The Golden Couple. Focusing on a marriage that’s falling apart and a therapist who has her own secrets to keep, there’s twists and turns aplenty in this domestic thriller! I had a hard time getting into this one, and I felt like the storylines were just a little bit too far-fetched for me.
The Silver Star by Jeannette Walls – 2 Stars
The Glass Castle is one of my favorite memoirs of all time, so I was excited to pick up this fictional novel by the same author! I don’t know if it’s the audio version (it’s voiced by the author instead of a typical voice actor) or the story, but I just didn’t enjoy this story. It follows sisters Bean and Liz Holladay through their growing up after their mother abandons them and they’re forced to figure out life on their own.
Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez – 5 Stars
I LOVED THIS BOOK! Dr. Briana Ortiz is going through the worst of the worst when she’s introduced to Dr. Jacob Maddox. While their first impression went just about as bad as it could have, he surprises her by sending her a letter. When a friendship begins to blossom between the two, things get interesting! There’s donated kidneys, fake dating, a parrot that screams profanities. I seriously loved it so much, and want everyone to read it!
You can find all of the books I’ve read this year here:
What I Read in January
What I Read in February
What I Read in March
What I Read in April
What I Read in May
What I Read in June
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