Aaaannnddd… we’re back with more *~*socially acceptable dissociating*~*!
I briefly flirted with the idea of simply not keeping track of the books I read this year, but then I realized I have some pretty strong opinions about some of the books I read, and I really enjoy recommending good books to my friends.
So with that said, I do have some books to recommend this month!
(As a reminder: I always track my reading on Goodreads.)
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My Friends by Fredrik Backman
Recommend
I don’t think it’s possible to read a Frederik Backman novel without tearing up! This gorgeous book weaves together the present-day narrative of homeless teenager Louisa, the decades-old narrative of four best friends in a rough seaside neighborhood, and the renowned painting that ties them all together. Like most of Backman’s novels, it’s a slow, character-driven piece filled with nuggets of wisdom and raw emotion. It’s not quite up there with “A Man Called Ove” for me, but I still loved it so much.
The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters
Recommend
Two indigenous narratives collide in a novel that floats between 1962 and the present day. As six-year-old Joe grieves the disappearance of his four-year-old sister Ruthie, a young Norma grows up under the tutelage of her affluent family. There aren’t any surprises in this book at all — the narrative is made very clear from the beginning. With that said, I did still love this book. I thought the relationships between the characters were complex and well-written, and I especially loved the chapters told from Joe’s perspective.
Finding My Way by Malala Yousafzai
Recommend
Full disclaimer: I’m a huge Malala fangirl. I gave Yousafzai’s “I Am Malala” four stars when I read it several years ago, which meant “Finding My Way” was an automatic five-star read because it’s even better. Education activist Malala Yousafzai details her college years, her struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety, and her conflicting feelings on relationships and marriage in her latest memoir. “Finding My Way” benefitted from its author’s more mature perspective, and I sped through this book in a handful of days.
The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods
Don’t recommend
I wanted to love this novel. A disappearing shop, an Irish setting, all the books?! Unfortunately, it just fell flat for me. It’s told from three perspectives — one past and two present-day — and none of the characters had any personality. It was hard to keep the two present narrators straight, and the past narrator made so many questionable decisions that just left me shaking my head. It felt like the author was going for twists and turns, shock and awe, and it all left me just rolling my eyes.
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
Recommend
I did, however, like this similar book. In “The Lost Apothecary,” a heartbroken Caroline throws herself into a research project centered around a long-forgotten London apothecary on her 10th wedding anniversary, after discovering her husband’s infidelity. “The Lost Apothecary” has three narrators — two past and one present — and while this book wasn’t stunningly spectacular, I did really enjoy the plot and the strong feminist undertones.
Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid
Recommend
This was our book club pick for February’s meeting! We are not immune to the hype. I’m not usually a *~*smut*~* type of person — I much prefer a slow burn kind of romance novel — but I actually really, really enjoyed this one! The relationship was really different from what I’m used to: Shane and Ilya were in bed with each other within the first two chapters of the book, but the relationship didn’t develop emotionally until the last quarter of the novel. With that said, I adored Shane and Ilya! Ilya’s quips had me laughing, and Shane’s inner monologue was so sweet.
Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything by Alyson Stoner
Recommend
I absolutely loved Alyson Stoner as a kid growing up in the ’90s, and — as such — I really enjoyed their memoir. Alyson talked a good bit about their struggles with mental health and anorexia, as well as their struggles with queerness and faith. Growing up, I always wondered why Alyson somehow had a role in just about every family-friendly movie and yet, was never a lead, so it was really fascinating to read about that. It was also interesting to learn about Alyson’s experiences growing up as a child star and the ensuing trauma, and about all the work they’ve been doing to heal.
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