Best Books of August

As I say every month, I’m shamelessly stealing this idea from Jessica Lahey. She has a recurring monthly date where she reviews all the books she reads that month. Book reviews are important for authors, and I want to get better at doing this.

So. I’m going to review them here and also online, but I’m going to do it a little differently. I’m only going to review the stuff I really liked. I don’t see a reason to spend my time writing about something I didn’t love; it’s just using up more of my energy. So only positive reviews.

These are the books I liked (or mostly liked) from August.

Country People (Daniel Mason): This was my first Daniel Mason book, and it was very funny. It was a book that I liked and then I loved. The last 10th was so fantastic, infused with hope. Every single character in this book felt like someone I had encountered in Western MA. So in a word, it made me feel like walking into a hug at times.

Fortune Favours the Grave (E.S. Drake): There should be a word for the comfort that comes from spending time with characters you love in a world that you love. This is the second in a series, and I adored everything about it. The mystery, once again, wasn’t a mystery. You’ll guess the murderer super early on, but it doesn’t matter. Forget the mystery. Stay for the great world building.

Shrink Solves Murder (Philippa Perry): It’s hard to put into words just how much I loved this book. If there were the ability to give it extra stars, I would shower it with extra stars. As I was reading it, I said, “I like her writing as much as I like Janice Hallett.” If you know me, there is no higher compliment I can give another human being. I loved the setting, the characters (yes, evenly the thinly disguised Richard Coles), the plot. I didn’t guess the ending AT ALL. I was wrong wrong wrong, and I loved being wrong. Thank you for the most absolutely perfect book.

Be Yourself and Other Bad Advice (Meredith Walker): The title says for teen girls, but I would argue that this book is a yearly must-read for kids AND adults. As in everyone. The yearly part? People change. Maybe not drastically, but we should always be changing and growing, and this book is about getting to know yourself again and again. She doesn’t just tell you to be self-aware. She tells you HOW to be self-aware. The questions you should ask yourself. The way you figure out what is important to you. And she does it with personal stories and funny asides and interesting facts. Extremely well done.

It Could Have Been Her (Lisa Jewell): 3.5 rounded up. Not my favourite of her books. The writing itself is still great. You fly through the pages. But the coincidences strain credulity. And the clown stuff was a distraction. It took me a while to get through, and then I just wanted to be done even though I normally love her books.

Esther Is Now Following You (Tanya Sweeney): This is a funny book to review. It’s well written but uncomfortable. Thought provoking but maybe not the right book for me at this moment. It’s heavy. And a bit devastating. Tread carefully with this one if you’ve been through pregnancy loss.

What did you read last month?