In August, my beloved aunt Sissy received a diagnosis of Stage IV lung cancer. The news turned my whole world upside down, and naturally, my reading slowed way down. I only read nine books, compared to 33 in July.
Aside from not reading very much, I also wasn’t in a headspace to really process what I was reading or enjoy very much of it. Such is this season of life. Reading just isn’t a priority right now. Nothing, aside from family, is a priority right now. That said, let me tell you what I read this month.
Fiction
Literary Fiction
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
I loved The Correspondent, a heartfelt epistolary novel about nine years in the life of a woman who connects with people – friends, family, celebrities – by writing letters.
It took me a little while to get into, but that may have just been my own poor concentration at the time I read it.
I’ve seen it described as similar to Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, and I can sort of see that. But the highs in this book aren’t as high, and the lows aren’t as low. Overall, I’d describe it as an even-keeled and thoughtful book that many, if not most, readers will connect with in one way or another. This is the rare super-hyped book that lives up to expectations.
Romance
Exit Lane by Erika Veurink
Exit Lane, the latest novella from 831 Stories, is a spicier and sadder version of When Harry Met Sally. It’s about Teddy and Marin, strangers with mutual friends who road-trip from Iowa City to New York City the day they graduate from college and remain in each other’s lives for the next decade or so.
It’s told in dual perspectives, which kept me from ever getting tired of one character’s voice. I say that because both characters are a little thinly written and sketched out—understandable in a book this short.
This was definitely less spicy than other 831 books, which I appreciated because I often feel like characters in these books jump into bed together within minutes of meeting. That wasn’t the case here, which made this one of my favorite 831 books to date.
Exit Lane will be a great read for romance lovers, 831 obsessives, and fans of When Harry Met Sally.
Note: Thank you to NetGalley and 831 Stories for providing me with an Advanced Reading Copy.
Mystery/thriller/suspense
If You’re Seeing This, It’s Meant for You by Leigh Stein
If You’re Seeing This, It’s Meant for You by Leigh Stein is a gothic novel about a hype house of influencers living in LA and the adults trying to turn their work into a business. It’s told from two perspectives: Dayna, an OG millennial creator now living in the house and working as a producer, and Olivia, an orphaned young creator who was drawn to the house.
Both women are a little obsessed with Becca, a creator who lived in the house before them and mysteriously disappeared. Can they and the other creators get to the bottom of what happened to Becca? And what’s going on with the house itself, which is spooky in its own right? There are definitely shades of The Haunting of Hill House.
This book was a little slow-moving for me, and the characters weren’t exactly likable, but I still found myself getting hooked and wanting to keep turning the pages to find out how it all ended.
This creepy, slow-burn story is perfect for anyone who loves gothic novels and is fascinated by influencer culture. A great read to ease you into fall.
Note: Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for providing me with an Advanced Reading Copy.
Non-Fiction
Memoir
Matriarch by Tina Knowles
I listened to Matriarch, a memoir by Beyoncé’s mother Tina Knowles, not really as a big fan of Beyoncé but as a fan of memoirs. Which was good, because this book won’t give you much insight into Beyoncé’s life. It’s her mother’s story, and it’s a fascinating one.
The book is long. It clocks in at 432 pages but feels longer, because Knowles goes into great detail about so many aspects of her life. Once I settled in and accepted that this lady was going to tell me a really long story, I came to love the details. They painted such a full picture that I felt like I knew Knowles by the end.
She is a great storyteller and narrator for the audiobook. My only complaint is that the last 15–20% of the book, covering her second marriage and more recent years, felt pretty rushed.
I would highly recommend this – one of my favorite memoirs of the year.
Awake by Jen Hatmaker
Awake is bestselling Christian author Jen Hatmaker’s memoir about the end of her marriage and how she survived the months afterward.
I’m a Christian and I love memoirs about tough women, but this story didn’t resonate with me, perhaps because I didn’t grow up in the same conservative faith background that Hatmaker did.
But I think this book will be a hit for Hatmaker fans (this was the first of her books I’ve read), fans of Glennon Doyle, those with similar faith backgrounds, or people who have experienced similar divorces.
Note: Thank you to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for providing me with an Advanced Reading Copy.
My Good Side by Scheana Shay
I did not need to read former Vanderpump Rules “star” Scheana Shay’s memoir My Good Side, and neither do you.
She was annoying, vapid, and insufferable on the few seasons I watched of Vanderpump Rules, and nothing is different in her book.
It seems like she wrote this for four reasons:
- To share a definitive list of all the celebrities she’s ever hooked up with
- To share her side of the Scandoval story
- To tell the world that her husband cheated on her while she was pregnant
- To make some money now that she’s no longer on TV and needs to supplement the income from her podcast
There is no need for anyone reading this review to pick up My Good Side.
Note: This book is now available on Kindle Unlimited!
Biography
Gwyneth by Amy Odell
I’m not someone who has ever had strong feelings about Gwyneth Paltrow. I’ve enjoyed a couple of her movies (Emma and Sliding Doors), and I’ve long given her the side-eye for her business, Goop, which preys on many women’s fears relating to health and wellness – a precursor, in some ways, to the MAGA movement.
So I guess it’s no surprise that I didn’t feel strongly about Amy Odell’s new eponymous biography of Gwyneth either. I thought it was fine, but a little thin since Odell wasn’t given access to Gwyneth or anyone in her inner circle. If you really like or dislike her, you’ll probably enjoy this book more than I did.
MISCELLANEOUS Non-Fiction
Big Friendship by Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman
Big Friendship had been somewhere on my extended TBR (‘to be read’) list since it was released five years ago. As a single woman in my 30s, my female friendships are incredibly important to me, and I was excited to read a book centered on how to strengthen those relationships.
While I enjoyed reading it – and there were a couple of facts I’ve thought about since – this is mostly a book I don’t remember a month later.
At the time of reading, I ranked it four stars, but the fact that I’ve already forgotten most of it knocks it down to three. Ultimately, it just felt a little light. I wanted more.
Also, candidly, I can’t stop wondering: are authors Ann Friedman and Aminatou Sow still in a “big friendship” five years after the book’s release and four years after the end of their podcast? I can’t tell, and that adds another layer to the book for me, whether or not it should. It’s almost like reading a book about how to have a great marriage written by a couple who may have divorced afterward.
Setting the Table by Danny Meyer
Even the most food- and restaurant-obsessed reader doesn’t need to read Setting the Table. Danny Meyer, the restaurateur behind Eleven Madison Park, Shake Shack, Gramercy Tavern, and others, writes about his many years in the restaurant business.
There is so much to learn from a businessperson like Danny, but you won’t learn much from this book. It’s overly focused on generalities, like it could be about any restaurant owner. A shame.
While reading won’t be a priority in September either, there are a couple of advanced copies that I’m really excited to read and let you know if they should get a spot on your fall reading list. Stay tuned!
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