Hi bookish friends! This was a slower reading month for me, with the graduation and a slightly distracted mind. In fact, all of my reading was via audiobooks. I enjoyed all of the books, although none of them earned a 5-star rating. Here's hoping that September brings some books that blow me away. I recommend all the books listed below, but they won't be in the running for favorite of the year!
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Summary: When a tragic accident sidelines Miley's dreams of Olympic gold, she takes a summer job at an Idaho mountain guest lodge. Miley’s plans take a terrifying detour when she’s abducted during a morning run. Held captive in a desolate off-grid cabin, she’ll have to use her athletic prowess, cunning mind, and courage to survive. Can she outwit her captors and survive the wilderness before it’s too late? Inspired by true events, Gray After Dark is a pulse-pounding psychological thriller with a finale that will leave you breathless.
What I Thought: After a bit of a slow start, this book took off at full speed and never stopped. This survival story is intense, and the violent captors are truly disturbing. I grabbed the audio version on Libby thinking it would pull me out of a slight reading slump. Wow, did it ever. The fast-paced action and well-developed main character were just what I needed! Now I need to google the background on the true story that inspired this book.
Read If You Like: survival stories, suspense and action
Backlist Readalike: The Quiet Tenant by Clemence Michallon
Notes: Available on Kindle Unlimited
Summary: In 1943, when a frail old white woman shows up in Red Clay, Alabama, at the home of a Black former slave—on the morning following his funeral—his family hardly knows what to expect after she utters the words “… a lifetime ago, my family owned yours.” Adelaide Parker has a story to tell—one of ambition, betrayal, violence, and redemption—that shaped both the fate of her family and that of the late Felix H. Parker. But there are gaps in her knowledge, and she’s come to Red Clay seeking answers from a family with whom she shares a name and a history that neither knows in full. In an epic saga that takes us from Red Clay to Paris, to the Côte d’Azur and New Orleans, human frailties are pushed to their limits as secrets are exposed and the line between good and evil becomes ever more difficult to discern
What I Thought: Since we just made a trip to Alabama for my son's college graduation, reading this book came at just the right time. We follow two families - one white and one black - from the Civil War through the 20th century. There are secrets that entwine the families, and this book immersed me into the struggles of the era. Excellent audio narration.
Read If You Like: historical fiction, stories set in the South
Backlist Readalike: Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson
Summary: Joe Pickett heads south to investigate crimes while his friend Nate Romanowski is coerced by agents into assessing a terror threat in Wyoming's Red Desert.
What I Thought: We listened to this audiobook while we drove to Auburn. We liked it even more than some of the other books in the series. This is book #16.
Read If You Like: Joe Pickett books, wilderness crime fiction
Backlist Readalike: any books from the Joe Pickett series
Summary: Joe Mitchell launches into space in 1968, and the world is watching. Then his spacecraft loses contact, and the astronauts onboard are feared to be dead. It’s his wife Vivian’s worst nightmare come to life, her grief suddenly taking center stage as the nation waits and mourns. In her quiet moments, Vivian relives their memorable story, unable to accept that this is the end to a love that felt as though it was written in the stars. As the investigation surrounding Joe’s lost spacecraft intensifies and the mishap is written off as an operator error, Vivian is determined to clear her husband’s name and uncover the mystery of what happened in space. When someone starts sending Vivian messages, she begins to wonder if their love is stronger than space and time, and she’ll do whatever it takes to bring her husband back to her.
What I Thought: This is a beautiful love story set in the 1960's. I felt like I was immersed in this era, and enjoyed learning more about the space program at that time. The romance between Vivian and Joe was believable and charming, and the dual timeline gives the perspective from the beginning of their relationship. We know from the description of the book that there Joe's space mission goes wrong, and Vivian works to find out what exactly happened. I won't give away any details, but there are speculative fiction/sci-fi elements to the story. Honestly, the romance parts of the book probably would have been five stars for me, but the speculative fiction aspect just didn't feel like it connected with the rest of the story. Still a very enjoyable book!
Read If You Like: romance that blends with historical and speculative fiction
Backlist Readalike: Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
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Summary: It’s the week after July 4th, and the Shipman sisters are returning to their summer home on the New Hampshire coast for what they believe is a family reunion, the first without their late mother. But their tranquil setting quickly becomes a stage for drama when their father, Calvin, drops the bombshell news that he plans to sell the cherished beach house. As old memories are stirred up and the sisters navigate both the packing of the house and their personal crises, the arrival of Calvin’s new wife pushes Jordan, Natalie, and Mae to decide how far they’re willing to go to preserve the Shipman bond.
What I Thought: This big, messy family drama set on the coast of New Hampshire provided a fun summer diversion. Each of the sisters is in a different phase of life, and these characters are the heart of the novel. The book is both a bingeable beach read and a deeper dive into family dynamics. I recommend for your beach or pool bag. I listened to the audio, and did not care for the narration.
Read If You Like: sister stories, family drama, beach reads
Backlist Readalike: Vacationland by Meg Mitchell Moore
Summary: A woman inherits a beach house on Fire Island, along with a series of weekend guests, while butting heads with the irritable (and irritatingly handsome) man next door.
What I Thought: I was happy to return to Fire Island (off the coast of Long Island, NY) after enjoying Rosen's 3rd book in the series. Some of the characters are familiar, and I found the female main character to be realistic and likeable. The cast of characters that come to stay at the house provide interesting side stories that add to the main romance of the book. This was a great summer/beach read with a little drama, a lot of romance, and a charming setting. The spice level was a little more than books I typically read.
Read If You Like: romance, Fire Island setting
Backlist Readalike: On Fire Island by Jane Rosen
Summary: A nearly divorced trophy wife from Jakarta enrolls in culinary school to win back her husband, only to find a fresh start in the unlikeliest of places. She thinks she is going to cooking school in France, but ends up in a village in England. Comedy ensues.
What I Thought: At first glance, this seems like a superficial story about a rich Indonesian wife dealing with her impending divorce. But the humor that comes from Ms. Mebel learning about the "real" world compliments the deeper themes of self-reliance, friendship, and resilience. This book was a delightful indulgence, and I highly recommend the audio. Sometimes a lighter read is just what we need!
Read If You Like: New beginnings, comic relief
Backlist Readalike: Mrs. Quinn's Rise to Fame by Olivia Ford, Vera Wong's Unsolicited Guide for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto
If you are a Prime Member, click here to select a free Kindle book for the month.
I picked Black Orchid, which has great reviews.
Bookish Links
You can go to my Amazon Storefront to see all my recommendations. This includes
5-star reads from previous years,
and a list of books from this month.
What have you been reading lately?
Ms. Mebel sounds cute!
ReplyDeleteSome good sounding books; I think I would like the first one, the thriller.
ReplyDeleteI think I may check out that Meg Mitchell Moore book- thanks for sharing your reads as always!
ReplyDeleteI loved Down With the Shipmans. I also read Seven Summer Weekends and I think I liked it less than some of her other books if I remember correctly!
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