Sunday Book Club: August 2019 Reading List

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Oh my gosh guys, I was staring at this list two days ago and couldn’t figure out why it looked weird. I had left books off! Apparently I took lazy summer to heart and didn’t track my books as well. Don’t worry though! I remembered what books I missed on the list and everything made it on to my August 2019 Reading list.

August 2019 Reading List

Waiting for Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey

This book was so cute! It was the perfect light read. It centers around Annie, a woman who absolutely loves rom coms and wants to be a screen writer. Which happens to work out perfectly for her when a rom com comes to film in her town! Like all rom coms, there’s a super cute boy, a love triangle, a quirky best friend, and a big mess up. If you love rom coms, this is the perfect one for you.

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

With Fire on High was so wonderful! I loved the mouth-watering descriptions about food (and the sprinkling in of a few recipes). One of the things I really appreciated though was that it really took a straight forward approach to teenage pregnancy. It didn’t scold or preach, it just said here is what happened, and here is how Emoni is working with it in her life.

Stepsister by Jennifer Donnelly

I love any sort of fairy tale retelling. As you could probably guess, this one centers around one of the Stepsisters from Cinderella. Except this takes place as Cinderella is ending and then goes on to show the Stepsister’s life. The twist? Fate and Chance are fighting over the future of the Stepsister’s life and if she can change what could ultimately end in her ruin. It sounds a little wonky, but it’s so good.

City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert

Sometimes I forget that Elizabeth Gilbert was an author before Eat, Pray, Love. But don’t let that book turn you off from this one. Because if you do, you’re going to miss out on a fun and interesting book that follows a 20-something girl in the 1940s as she moves to New York City to start her life. Now, I really enjoyed this book, but I will say that there were a few points where all I could think was “this book seems to be wandering and have gotten a little off track.” But by the end, it got back to wear it needed to be.

Recursion by Blake Crouch

Okay, this is the book that I wanted Come Away With Me to be. It’s all about playing with time and if you had the opportunity to go back in time and change something from your past, would you? I found the book absolutely fascinating. I honestly wasn’t sure how it was going to resolve itself, but it was an incredibly satisfying ending.

Somewhere Only We Know by Maurene Goo

When I started this book, I knew that it was not going to be one of my favorites of Goo. However, by the time I finished it, it was definitely higher up on the list than I expected. I liked that it didn’t just deal with the superficial idea of popstars, but also digging deeper into the idea of never really feeling like you fit in wherever you live.

The Rest of the Story by Sarah Dessen

Does anyone else get excited when they hear a new Sarah Dessen book is coming out? It’s like the highlight of my summer when a new book is out. This one didn’t disappoint! I was surprised when it didn’t take place at a North Carolina beach, and instead at a lake, but it was a nice twist. And don’t worry, Spinnerbait makes an appearance (Hate Spinnerbait!).

Deadly Little Scandals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

I knew a sequel to Little White Lies was coming out, but I had no idea when. So it was an exciting surprise when I came across the advanced copy at the American Library Association conference! I snatched it up right away, of course. I won’t spoil it for you, since it doesn’t come out until November 5th, but I will tell you that this one is just as juicy as the first. There are less girl fights, but the family drama is turned up to a 10 in this one.

American Royals by Katharine McGee

Another advanced copy from ALA! I am SO EXCITED for you all to get your hands on this one in September. I read this one in almost one sitting, I just couldn’t put it down. The plot? Imagine that back in the 1700s when they asked George Washington to be the King of America, instead of saying no, he said yes. Now fast forward to 2019 where we get to follow the royal family of America. They’re just as fun and juicy as you would imagine. Plus, the author, Katharine McGee, confirmed on my instagram that the sequel is already planned for release September 2020! Which, when you read the book, you’ll understand why that’s so exciting.

Pre-order this book now!!

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

You’ve read The Night Circus, right? How could you not have? Well, Morgenstern is finally back with her second novel and I can tell you, it was worth waiting for. It’s long, sprawling, beautiful novel about a secret underground world and a graduate student who is pulled into the world to discover it. It feels just as magical as The Night Circus did and I can’t wait for everyone to read it as well.

The Starless Sea comes out on November 5, 2019