Today’s post covers the second half of the books I read in August 2022. I shared the first half of the books I read here. My top books of the month can be found here. I will be linking up with Lauren’s book link up, My Month Is Booked, on Tuesday! The Amazon links to the books I’ve read are affiliate links and if you use them and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. If you’ve read any of these books or are interested in them, I’d love to hear about it in the comments!
Title: The Best Is Yet To Come
Author: Debbie Macomber
Genre: Contemporary / Romance
Publisher: Ballantine Books, 7/12/22
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 3.5 Stars (Rounded up to 4)
Debbie Macomber is an author I remember reading and enjoying way back when, but when I found that I didn’t really love this one, I checked Goodreads and saw that I gave 3 and 2 stars to the ones I read more recently. This book is about Hope, who gives hope to Cade, an armed forces member who was injured while serving. He attends a counseling group and does community service at an animal shelter, where he meets Hope who also volunteers there. There is a dog at the shelter who is reactive, but loves Hope, and she adopts him with no issues. I didn’t find that incredibly realistic, but I liked the parts about the dog.
“A new beginning in charming Oceanside, Washington, is exactly what Hope Godwin needs after the death of her twin brother. There are plenty of distractions, like her cozy cottage with the slightly nosy landlords next door, and a brewing drama among her students at the local high school. Even having settled quickly into the community, Hope still feels something is still missing. That is, until her landlords convince her to volunteer at their animal shelter. There she meets Shadow, a rescue dog that everyone has given up on. But true to her name, Hope believes he’s worth saving. Like Shadow, shelter volunteer Cade Lincoln Jr. is suffering with injuries most can’t see. A wounded ex-marine, Cade identifies with Shadow, assuming they are both beyond help. Hope senses that what they each need is someone to believe in them, and she has a lot of love to give. As she gains Shadow’s trust, Hope notices Cade begins to open up as well. Finding the courage to be vulnerable again, Cade and Hope take steps toward a relationship, and Hope finally begins to feel at peace in her new home. But Hope’s happiness is put to the test when Cade’s past conflicts resurface, and Hope becomes embroiled in the escalating situation at the high school. Love and compassion are supposed to heal all wounds, but are they enough to help Hope and Cade overcome the pain of their past and the obstacles in the way of a better future?”
Hope is also a teacher and she does counseling with some of the students. We meet a few of these students – the smart boy who has a crush on the popular member of the dance team who would certainly only be using him – stereotypically I thought! Hope tells Cade everything about these teens, even though that would certainly be violating confidentiality! I found myself annoyed by Hope a lot of the time. I found myself missing the Debbie Macomber books that I used to read that gave me a sweet and cozy feeling!
Title: The Hookup Plan
Author: Farrah Rochon
Genre: Rom Com
Publisher: Forever, 8/2/22
Source: Publisher via Net Galley / Publisher Audio App
Why I Read It: Enjoyed the previous books in the series
My Rating: 3.5 Stars (Rounded up to 4)
This is the third book in the Boyfriend Project series. I liked the other two books and I remembered that the first was good on audio, so I decided to listen to this one as well. The book is about London, who reconnects with her high school nemesis, Drew, at their high school reunion. She is a pediatric surgeon and it turns out that Drew is in a position to hurt or help her job.
“Successful pediatric surgeon London Kelley just needs to find some balance and de-stress. According to her friends Samiah and Taylor, what London really needs is a casual hookup. A night of fun with no strings. But no one—least of all London—expected it to go down at her high school reunion with Drew Sullivan, millionaire, owner of delicious abs, and oh yes, her archnemesis. Now London is certain the road to hell is paved with good sex. Because she’s found out the real reason Drew’s back in Austin: to decide whether her beloved hospital remains open. Worse, Drew is doing everything he can to show her that he’s a decent guy who actually cares. But London’s not falling for it. Because while sleeping with the enemy is one thing, falling for him is definitely not part of the plan.”
I can’t say that this was my favorite of the series – that probably goes to the first book – and London annoyed me a bit. I would probably read more from this author in the future anyway though!
Title: Please Join Us
Author: Catherine McKenzie
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: Atria, 8/23/22
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 3 Stars
I used to really enjoy her Catherine McKenzie’s books but it seems that they are different now, maybe because she used to be with a different publisher. Please Join Us is about Nicole, who joins a women’s “networking” group that turns out to be something else. You are left wondering who is in charge and what they actually want from Nicole.
“At thirty-nine, Nicole Mueller’s life is on the rocks. Her once brilliant law career is falling apart. She and her husband, Dan, are soon to be forced out of the apartment they love. After a warning from her firm’s senior partners, she receives an invitation from an exclusive women’s networking group, Panthera Leo. Membership is anonymous, but every member is a successful professional. It sounds like the perfect solution to help Nicole revive her career. So, despite Dan’s concerns that the group might be a cult, Nicole signs up for their retreat in Colorado. Once there, she meets the other women who will make up her Pride. A CEO, an actress, a finance whiz, a congresswoman: Nicole can’t believe her luck. The founders of Panthera Leo are equally as impressive. They explain the group’s core philosophy: they’re a girl’s club in a boy’s club world. Nicole is all in. And when she gets home, she soon sees dividends. Her new network quickly provides her with clients that help her relaunch her career, and a great new apartment too. The favors she has to provide in return seem benign. But then she’s called to the congresswoman’s apartment late at night where she’s pressed into helping her cover up a crime. And suddenly, Dan’s concerns that something more sinister is at play seem all too relevant. Can Nicole extricate herself from the group before it’s too late? Or will joining Panthera Leo be the biggest mistake of her life?”
I have seen many people say this was page turning for them, but for me it wasn’t. Part of my string of books I didn’t love this month. Oh well.
Title: When We Were Bright and Beautiful
Author: Jillian Medoff
Genre: Contemporary
Publisher: Harper, 8/2/22
Source: Book of the Month
Why I Read It: Thought it sounded good
My Rating: 3 Stars
This month I chose When We Were Bright and Beautiful by Jillian Medoff as my BOTM selection. I had heard of it on a podcast and hoped for a fast paced, nuanced book about the family of a young man accused of rape. Instead, I found it slow and upsetting, a retelling of a famous case from the wrong side, and what seemed to be a glorification of abusers.
“Cassie Quinn may only be twenty-three, but she knows a few things. One: money can’t buy happiness, but it’s certainly better to have it. Two: family matters most. Three: her younger brother Billy is not a rapist. When Billy, a junior at Princeton, is arrested for assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Cassie races home to Manhattan to join forces with her big brother Nate and their parents, Lawrence and Eleanor. The Quinns scramble to hire the best legal minds money can buy, but Billy fits the all-too-familiar sex-offender profile—white, athletic, and privileged—that makes headlines and sways juries. Meanwhile, Cassie struggles to understand why Billy’s ex Diana would go this far, even if the breakup was painful. And she knows how the end of first love can destroy someone: Her own years-long affair with a powerful, charismatic man left her shattered, and she’s only recently regained her footing. As reporters converge outside their Upper East Side landmark building, the Quinns gird themselves for a media-saturated trial, and Cassie vows she’ll do whatever it takes to save Billy. But what if that means exposing her own darkest secrets to the world?”
The book is told from Cassie’s point of view, beginning when she is told that her brother was accused of rape. As a devoted sister, she defends him. As more of their childhoods are revealed, the reader is able to see how messed up their lives were, but no indication is given that Cassie understands this. I know some have appreciated this story, but I don’t think I was one of them.
Title: Andrea Hoffman Goes All In
Author: Diane Cohen Schneider
Genre: Historical (?) Fiction
Publisher: She Writes Press, 8/30/22
Source: Book Sparks
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 3.5 Stars (Rounded up to 4)
Andrea Hoffman is a quick witted and smart Jewish woman who works in the finance world in 1980s Chicago. This book is the story of her journey into the workplace, her adopted hobbies of drinking and drugs, and the relationships she develops with her co workers and business contacts. This is a character driven story that immerses the reader into Andrea’s life.
“Andrea Hoffman is an overeducated, underemployed, and unmotivated recent college graduate—until an unexpected robbery blasts her out of her funk and into a job in the finance world of early-1980s Chicago. At first, it seems like a bad fit. But the world of finance has its own weird charm, and she grows increasingly fascinated by the strange language of trading, the complexity of the stock market, and her colleagues, who navigate it all with a ruthless confidence. Even though she has two strikes against her—Jewish and female—Andrea’s quick wit and strong work ethic propel her into an actual sales job and her career takes off. But this is the Wall Street of the eighties, and along with making a lot more money, Andrea adopts a new, fast life of cocktails, cocaine, and casual sex. Drunk on her achievements, she gradually realizes that at some point, she’s going to have to decide what success really means to her.”
I wasn’t a big fan of this one mainly because it was more character driven than I prefer. It did raise an important question that I debated with my Instagram friends – are books set in the 1980s historical fiction?
Title: My Plain Jane
Author: Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows
Genre: YA Historical Fiction / Fantasy
Publisher: Harper Teen, 6/26/18
Source: Library Audio App
Why I Read It: Buddy Read
My Rating: 4 Stars
In this creative take on Jane Eyre, Jane and Charlotte Bronte are friends who take on ghost hunting and mystery solving. I thought this was such a funny book and I loved all of the pop culture references that referred to things that take place much more recently than the story does!
“You may think you know the story. Penniless orphan Jane Eyre begins a new life as a governess at Thornfield Hall, where she meets one dark, brooding Mr. Rochester—and, Reader, she marries him. Or does she? Prepare for an adventure of Gothic proportions, in which all is not as it seems, a certain gentleman is hiding more than skeletons in his closets, and one orphan Jane Eyre, aspiring author Charlotte Bronte, and supernatural investigator Alexander Blackwood are about to be drawn together on the most epic ghost hunt this side of Wuthering Heights.”
This was a fun listen that I wouldn’t have picked up if not for a buddy read on Instagram, so I am glad I got the opportunity to check this one out!
Title: How To Fail At Flirting
Author: Denise Williams
Genre: Rom Com
Publisher: Berkley, 12/1/20
Source: Swap?
Why I Read It: Was waiting on my shelf
My Rating: 3.5 Stars (Rounded up to 4)
Being that Denise Williams has a new book out and I hadn’t yet read this one, I added it to my list for August. The weird thing is that it seemed to have the same plot as The Hookup Plan – which is a newer book, but I read earlier than this one. In both books you have a woman who hasn’t had a relationship in awhile who is encouraged by her friends to find a hookup. And in both books, the hookup ends up having a say in the future of the woman’s job.
“When her flailing department lands on the university’s chopping block, Professor Naya Turner’s friends convince her to shed her frumpy cardigan for an evening on the town. For one night her focus will stray from her demanding job and she’ll tackle a new kind of to-do list. When she meets a charming stranger in town on business, he presents the perfect opportunity to check off the items on her list. Let the guy buy her a drink. Check. Try something new. Check. A no-strings-attached hookup. Check…almost. Jake makes her laugh and challenges Naya to rebuild her confidence, which was left toppled by her abusive ex-boyfriend. Soon she’s flirting with the chance at a more serious romantic relationship—except nothing can be that easy. The complicated strings around her dating Jake might destroy her career. Naya has two options. She can protect her professional reputation and return to her old life or she can flirt with the unknown and stay with the person who makes her feel like she’s finally living again.”
The addition of a past abusive relationship with Naya’s ex made this differ from The Hookup Plan. It did have a bit of a white savior feel to it as Jake “rescues” Naya from a situation with her ex. I think having read both of these books in the same month made it harder for me to get into this one.
Title: The Prince of Steel Pier
Author: Stacy Nockowitz
Genre: Middle Grade Historical Fiction
Publisher: Kar-Ben Publishing, 9/1/22
Source: Book Sparks
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 4 Stars
This middle grade historical fiction takes place in the 1970s Atlantic City. Joey is the third of four brothers and he is spending his August at the hotel that his grandparents own on the Atlantic City boardwalk. He meets some unsavory characters at an arcade and they pay him attention, so he finds himself involved with their business – and in some difficult situations.
“In The Prince of Steel Pier, Joey Goodman is spending the summer at his grandparents’ struggling hotel in Atlantic City, a tourist destination on the decline. Nobody in Joey’s big Jewish family takes him seriously, so when Joey’s Skee-Ball skills land him an unusual job offer from a local mobster, he’s thrilled to be treated like ‘one of the guys,’ and develops a major crush on an older girl in the process. Eventually disillusioned by the mob’s bravado, and ashamed of his own dishonesty, he recalls words of wisdom from his grandfather that finally resonate. Joey realizes where he really belongs: with his family, who drive him crazy, but where no one fights a battle alone. All it takes to get by is one’s wits…and a little help from one’s brothers.”
He learns that his own family is there for him, even as he is often overlooked as a middle child in the family. Joey’s family is Jewish and I enjoyed learning about the Jewish history in Atlantic City!
Title: The Thread Collectors
Author: Shaunna J. Edwards and Alyson Richman
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Graydon House, 8/30/22
Source: Get Red PR
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 3.5 Stars (Rounded up to 4)
The Thread Collectors tells the story of Stella, a Black woman living in New Orleans who is in love with William, a man who ran from enslavement to join the Union Army. Stella used her embroidery skills to create maps for other men who want to escape. The book also is about Lily, a Jewish abolitionist living in NY, while her husband Jacob is away in the army. She uses her skills to make quilts and bandages for the soldiers. William and Jacob are both musicians and end up forming a bond with one another.
“1863: In a small Creole cottage in New Orleans, an ingenious young Black woman named Stella embroiders intricate maps on repurposed cloth to help enslaved men flee and join the Union Army. Bound to a man who would kill her if he knew of her clandestine activities, Stella has to hide not only her efforts but her love for William, a Black soldier and a brilliant musician. Meanwhile, in New York City, a Jewish woman stitches a quilt for her husband, who is stationed in Louisiana with the Union Army. Between abolitionist meetings, Lily rolls bandages and crafts quilts with her sewing circle for other soldiers, too, hoping for their safe return home. But when months go by without word from her husband, Lily resolves to make the perilous journey South to search for him. As these two women risk everything for love and freedom during the brutal Civil War, their paths converge in New Orleans, where an unexpected encounter leads them to discover that even the most delicate threads have the capacity to save us. Loosely inspired by the authors’ family histories, this stunning novel will stay with readers for a long time.”
The characters in the book are based on the authors’ own family histories and was an interesting look at both Black and Jewish families at the time of the Civil War. I did find it a bit slow with not much happening until towards the end of the book.
Title: Just Another Love Song
Author: Kerry Winfrey
Genre: Rom Com
Publisher: Penguin Audio, 8/2/22
Source: Publisher Audio App
Why I Read It: Buddy Read / Liked her previous books
My Rating: 4 Stars
It feels like every romance I read this summer was a second chance romance! This one is about Sandy, who feels stuck in her small town and reunites with her high school sweetheart, Hank, who moved on and became a country star.
“Once upon a time, Sandy Macintosh thought she would have her happily ever after with her high school sweetheart, Hank Tillman. Sandy wanted to be an artist, Hank was the only boy in town who seemed destined for bigger things, and they both had dreams to escape town together. But when Sandy’s plans fell through, she stayed in their small town in Ohio while Hank went off to Boston to follow his dreams to be a musician, with the promise to stay together. Only that plan fell through, too. Fifteen years later, Sandy runs a successful greenhouse while helping her parents with their bed and breakfast. Everything is perfect…until Hank rolls back into town, now a famous alt-country singer with a son in tow. She’s happy with the life she’s built by herself, but seeing Hank makes her think about what might have been. There aren’t enough cliché love songs in the world to convince Sandy to give Hank another chance, but when the two of them get thrown together to help organize the town’s annual street fair, she wonders if there could be a new beginning for them or if what they had is just a tired old song of the past.”
There were parts of this book that made me laugh and I felt for Sandy, who was scared of going through another break up. I enjoyed this one, although my favorite by Kerry Winfrey is still Very Sincerely Yours!
There you have it, the rest of my August reading! As you can see, I wasn’t that thrilled with a lot of the books I read, and this month (September) I’m making more of an effort to set a book aside if I don’t feel connected to it. This post included 10 of the books I read in August. Of these books, 7 were print and 3 were audio books. Genres included contemporary, rom com, thriller, and historical. One was YA and one was middle grade.
Have you read any of these books or do you want to? What have you been reading lately?
