I haven’t published any “what I read” posts for a while, so I’m here today to make up for it with a post about what I read in July and August. I’ll just be posting on those that I really enjoyed (some 3 star books, and all 4 and 5 stars books), and I’ll leave a list at the end of the others I read, in case you’re interested.

Turtles All The Way Down by John Green

Sixteen-year-old Aza never intended to pursue the mystery of fugitive billionaire Russell Pickett, but there’s a hundred-thousand-dollar reward at stake and her Best and Most Fearless Friend, Daisy, is eager to investigate. So together, they navigate the short distance and broad divides that separate them from Russell Pickett’s son, Davis. Aza is trying. She is trying to be a good daughter, a good friend, a good student, and maybe even a good detective, while also living within the ever-tightening spiral of her own thoughts. 

Oh, I loved this book. I thought the character of Aza was SO well done, and it was beautiful and heartbreaking to read her story. John Green isn’t my favorite author, but I was surprised by how much I liked this one, and how much I wanted to share it with everyone once I read it.

4 stars.

*I Was Anastasia by Ariel Lawhon

Synopsis: Countless others have rendered their verdict. Now it is your turn. Russia, July 17, 1918 Under direct orders from Vladimir Lenin, Bolshevik secret police force Anastasia Romanov, along with the entire imperial family, into a damp basement in Siberia where they face a merciless firing squad. None survive. At least that is what the executioners have always claimed. Germany, February 17, 1920 A young woman bearing an uncanny resemblance to Anastasia Romanov is pulled shivering and senseless from a canal in Berlin. Refusing to explain her presence in the freezing water, she is taken to the hospital where an examination reveals that her body is riddled with countless, horrific scars. When she finally does speak, this frightened, mysterious woman claims to be the Russian Grand Duchess Anastasia. Her detractors, convinced that the young woman is only after the immense Romanov fortune, insist on calling her by a different name: Anna Anderson. As rumors begin to circulate through European society that the youngest Romanov daughter has survived the massacre, old enemies and new threats are awakened. With a brilliantly crafted dual narrative structure, Lawhon wades into the most psychologically complex and emotionally compelling territory yet: the nature of identity itself. The question of who Anna Anderson is and what actually happened to Anastasia Romanov creates a saga that spans fifty years and touches three continents. This thrilling story is every bit as moving and momentous as it is harrowing and twisted.

I’ve been obsessed with all things Anastasia and the Romanov family since I was in 3rd grade, so it’s no surprise I had to read this book, and that I loved it. It toggles back and forth between Anastasia’s childhood, and Anna Anderson’s life as she claimed she was Anastasia. The timeline made me confused at first, but it all made sense in the end. If you’re a fan of the story of Anastasia, this is a must-read!

4 stars.

*Lying In Wait by Liz Nugent

Synopsis: My husband did not mean to kill Annie Doyle, but the lying tramp deserved it. On the surface, Lydia Fitzsimons has the perfect life—wife of a respected, successful judge, mother to a beloved son, mistress of a beautiful house in Dublin. That beautiful house, however, holds a secret. And when Lydia’s son, Laurence, discovers its secret, wheels are set in motion that lead to an increasingly claustrophobic and devastatingly dark climax.

This book was seriously cray. Most of the characters are despicable, but it draws you in from the first line and doesn’t let go until the very end. The ending is shocking and will stick with you for quite a while.

4 stars.

*The Summer List by Amy Mason Doan

Synopsis: Laura and Casey were once inseparable: as they floated on their backs in the sunlit lake, as they dreamed about the future under starry skies, and as they teamed up for the wild scavenger hunts in their small California lakeside town. Until one summer night, when a shocking betrayal sent Laura running through the pines, down the dock, and into a new life, leaving Casey and a first love in her wake. But the past is impossible to escape, and now, after seventeen years away, Laura is pulled home and into a reunion with Casey she can’t resist—one last scavenger hunt. With a twist: this time, the list of clues leads to the settings of their most cherished summer memories. From glistening Jade Cove to the vintage skating rink, each step they take becomes a bittersweet reminder of the friendship they once shared. But just as the game brings Laura and Casey back together, the clues unravel a stunning secret that threatens to tear them apart.

This book was probably my top book of the summer. It was perfect. The characters were well-rounded and likable, the underlying theme of friendship was wonderful, the side romance was great and not overdone, and there was the perfect amount of mystery. The writing was great, the story was great, it was all great. I don’t want to compare it to Liane Moriarty’s books, because it’s not quite the same feel, but if you enjoy her books, I think you’d like this one, too. It was just beautiful.

4 stars.

*Stronger, Faster, and More Beautiful by Arwen Elys Dayton

Synopsis: For fans of television shows Black Mirror and Westworld, this compelling, mind-bending novel is a twisted look into the future, exploring how far we will go to remake ourselves into the perfect human specimen and what it means to be human at all. Set in our world, spanning the near to distant futures, Stronger, Faster, and More Beautiful is a novel made up of six interconnected stories that ask how far we will go to remake ourselves into the perfect human specimens, and how hard that will push the definition of “human.” This extraordinary work explores the amazing possibilities of genetic manipulation and life extension, as well as the ethical quandaries that will arise with these advances. The results range from the heavenly to the monstrous. Deeply thoughtful, poignant, horrifying, and action-packed, Arwen Elys Dayton’s Stronger, Faster, and More Beautiful is groundbreaking in both form and substance. 

Holy shiz this book was FASCINATING. I loved it, I loved it, I loved it. Just read it.

4 stars.

*Sadie by Courtney Summers

Synopsis: Sadie hasn’t had an easy life. Growing up on her own, she’s been raising her sister Mattie in an isolated small town, trying her best to provide a normal life and keep their heads above water. But when Mattie is found dead, Sadie’s entire world crumbles. After a somewhat botched police investigation, Sadie is determined to bring her sister’s killer to justice and hits the road following a few meagre clues to find him. When West McCray—a radio personality working on a segment about small, forgotten towns in America—overhears Sadie’s story at a local gas station, he becomes obsessed with finding the missing girl. He starts his own podcast as he tracks Sadie’s journey, trying to figure out what happened, hoping to find her before it’s too late.

This book was nuts. I loved how a podcast was utilized as part of the narrative. I loved Sadie and her tenacity. I loved learning more and more about the sisters. I loved the writing. I hated the ending. I get why the author ended it like that, and can’t think of a better way to end it, but it hit me hard and I hated that. It was a book I loved, but it wasn’t tied up in ribbons and bows, and so I felt icky and sad after I finished it, so I just couldn’t give it 4 stars. Yet, it was a book for our time, it’s very relevant, it makes you think, so really, it’s a must read. Such conflicting feelings!

3 stars.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Synopsis: In the year 2045, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he’s jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade’s devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world’s digital confines, puzzles that are based on their creator’s obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them. When Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade’s going to survive, he’ll have to win—and confront the real world he’s always been so desperate to escape.

This hovers somewhere between 3 and 4 stars for me. It was such a unique book, a fun read, and I really enjoyed it, but there were a few things I didn’t love (which to be honest I don’t even remember now…), which is why I  gave it 3 stars. I would definitely recommend it, though!

3 stars.

Other Books I Read: 

*Not Her Daughter by Rea Frey (3 stars).

Wicked by Gregory Maguire (3 stars).

*Nightingale by Amy Lukavics (2 stars).

**The Guineveres by Sarah Domet (3 stars).

Currently Reading: The Psychology of Time Travel by Kate Mascarenhas.

On My Bookshelf: Too many! 🙂

*I received free product from NetGalley in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
**I received free product from the published in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.