It is the first Monday in August! For those of you that don’t know, yesterday marked 2 months until my due date! It is strange to think that we will have a baby in no time.
Anyway, it’s Monday and I want to know what you’re reading! This meme began on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila at Book Journey, who then passed it on to Kathryn at The Book Date. It’s a chance to check out what others are reading and maybe (who are we kidding? probably) add to your tbr. All you have to do to participate is let us know what you finished reading recently, what you’re reading now, and what you plan to read next.
Recently Finished:
I’m not sure how, but I managed to finish 5 books in the last week. I generally read 3-5 books at once, so I often finish in batches rather than spaced out through the month.
Empire of Gold is one of the best series conclusions that I’ve ever read. It ranks up there with Deathly Hallows and Kingdom of Ash. If you’re at all into fantasy or historical (speculative) fiction, City of Brass is a series you NEED to read.
I reviewed this book for Once Upon a Book Club Box, but haven’t shared my thoughts on here or Goodreads. This story had an interesting (albeit cliché) synopsis. However, the writing was quite amateur and the MC was endearing, but not very likeable. I don’t recommend this one, but if you have children age 8-12 years they may enjoy this easy read.
II read Red Rising for an Instagram book club last month. It was my first time reading it although it had been sitting on my shelf for over a year. I was skeptical at first since it comes across as a dystopian YA ala Hunger Games or The Maze Runner, but it quickly became clear that it is so much more. I’m looking forward to continuing the series, but I don’t feel any urgency to do so. Still, I highly recommend this for Sci-Fi fans.
I was hoping to read more Contemporary Romance this Summer, so yesterday I started The Bride Test. I ended up finishing it around 3 AM this morning. I really love Helen Hoang’s writing style and characters. It’s been a year since I read The Kiss Quotient and I’m not sure which I loved more, but I am eagerly awaiting the third installment in this series. (Though this is considered a series, The Bride Test and The Kiss Quotient can be read independently of one another).
Yes, I’ve finally finished the Snow Like Ashes trilogy, another series that has sat on my shelf for too many years. Was it ground-breaking? No. Did I enjoy it? Yes. Would I recommend it? It’s complicated. I think there are people who would enjoy this series. It was an entertaining read, but it really could have been a duology. This series is on the older side now and I think there are far more interesting recent releases that I would recommend ahead of it. However, if you are looking for an interesting YA series that is COMPLETE, this one deserves to be on your radar.
Currently Reading:
I just finished Frost Like Night tonight, so I am actually, honestly between reads at the moment. By tomorrow, I’ll be reading 3 or 4 books, but, as of now, I have no current read.
Reading Next:
They killed my mother.
They took our magic.
They tried to bury us.
Now we rise.
Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls.
But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope.
Now Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.
Danger lurks in Orïsha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers and her growing feelings for an enemy.
I am planning on joining Haley and Her Book Club again. This month, the selected book is Children of Blood and Bone. I have owned this one for over a year and am looking forward to finally reading it.
Linus Baker is a by-the-book case worker in the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. He’s tasked with determining whether six dangerous magical children are likely to bring about the end of the world.
Arthur Parnassus is the master of the orphanage. He would do anything to keep the children safe, even if it means the world will burn. And his secrets will come to light.
The House in the Cerulean Sea is an enchanting love story, masterfully told, about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place―and realizing that family is yours.
This month, I will be joining BAB Book Club once again. The book selection for the month is House In The Cerulean Sea. I am excited to read this because I have seen nothing but rave reviews about it. I hope it lives up to the hype!
Augustus Everett is an acclaimed author of literary fiction. January Andrews writes bestselling romance. When she pens a happily ever after, he kills off his entire cast.
They’re polar opposites.
In fact, the only thing they have in common is that for the next three months, they’re living in neighboring beach houses, broke, and bogged down with writer’s block.
Until, one hazy evening, one thing leads to another and they strike a deal designed to force them out of their creative ruts: Augustus will spend the summer writing something happy, and January will pen the next Great American Novel. She’ll take him on field trips worthy of any rom-com montage, and he’ll take her to interview surviving members of a backwoods death cult (obviously). Everyone will finish a book and no one will fall in love. Really.
I am finally going to start reading Beach Read. This is my next Contemporary Romance on my list and yes, I picked it up for the hype, but I’m hoping it ends up being another amazing hate-to-love story like The Unhoneymooners or The Hating Game.
Loving is hard when you’re about to die.
What happens when a call girl and a death row prisoner fall in love?
Violet Pham can see sounds. The brown chirps of the sparrows dance with the colors of their feathers. The green blobs from her mother weave into her squeaky berates.
She believes she was born to become a painter but after being labeled as a burden by everyone around her, she questions that belief. The colors around the sounds become a curse rather than a gift. With her future unsettled and her family mired in debt, there is only one solution: run away from everything.
That’s when she meets Turner Nguyen. He’s everything she wishes she could be—an iron will and a flint heart. There’s only one thing wrong with him. He’s at the center of gang wars, uses his fists to collect debts, and makes his money off the addiction of others.
Soon, the sound of his words paints Violet’s world with the ugly shade of disaster. Where will they go from here?
My next review read (unless I magically get another NetGalley approval) will be The Color of Your Voice. I had every intention of reading this last month, but time got away from me. Expect a review from me sometime this month.
I have yet to select my next audiobook and my next buddy read with my mom, but I’ll be adding those to this list too!
Have you read any of these books? What are you currently reading? Feel free to drop your It’s Monday! post links in the comments.
I loved the Red Rising series so much!
I have heard such good things about it! I loved book 1!
Congratulations on the expected little one!
So many good books on your list! I LOVED The House on the Cerulean Sea. I listened to The Kiss Quotient recently and immediately added The Bride Test to my list. I just downloaded The Empire of Gold from the library so it’s ready to go as soon as I finish my current book. I thought I would have to wait months for it! I’ve only heard good things about Children of Earth and Bone. Enjoy your week!
Thank you so much! Empire of Gold was amazing, I hope you enjoy!!