August Reads

August was a really good reading month for me! I exceeded my monthly reading goal by three and really enjoyed every book I read! I highly recommend every single one of these books! And I’m not at all ashamed of my young adult reading game.

More Myself by Alicia Keys

I’m not the biggest fan of memoirs in general, but when my Instagram book club, @4readingwomen, chose this as our August book; I have to admit I was intrigued. I’ve been a fan of Alicia’s music for years and celebrity gossip being what it is, I was curious to find out more about her life. I listened to the audible version, and I’m really glad I did. We all know she’s an incredible singer, and yes, the singing parts of the audio were amazing, but even her speaking voice is incredibly soothing. And there is just something so powerful about hearing someone tell their own story.

I very much enjoyed this memoir that reads as somewhat of a spiritual/self-help book. Much of what Alicia shares in this book is about her own journey to finding her voice and being true to herself. Though as much as I loved it, I give it 4 out of 5 stars because I was hoping she would share more honestly about how her relationship with her husband began. Her husband’s ex-wife has shared quite a bit on twitter in the past, and I was hoping Alicia would address some of that drama. Obviously I respect her privacy and she doesn’t owe anyone an explanation, but I was hoping for a slightly more raw, real, and unedited memoir from the woman who boldly made makeup-free a movement.

The Beautiful Ones – Prince

In Alicia’s book, she mentions meeting Prince and the influence he had on her artistry. The things she wrote about him piqued my interest, so I immediately ran out and grabbed this memoir that was released last fall.

And if you count yourself a Prince fan, you absolutely need to get this book because it’s as visually beautiful as it is lyrically. This is definitely the kind of book you’ll want to keep out on your coffee table, not just for guests to flip through, but so that you can easily revisit these gorgeous pages.

Last year when this memoir was released I had mixed emotions about it because in a way it felt like an invasion of privacy since he wasn’t alive to approve the writing. Before he passed he had been working on a memoir, and the first part of this book shares a bit of the behind the scenes of the writing process.

Now that I’ve read it, I see it as a respectful tribute to the life and memory of one of the greatest artists of our time. And I truly believe he would have loved everything about how this book was presented to the world.

I will always be grateful that my first (and most favorite) concert was to see Prince.

5 stars

Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer

Yes, I did. I read it in three days. And I loved it so much. For those that aren’t in the know, Midnight Sun is the book Twilight fans have been anticipating for 12 years. Twelve! And it did not disappoint! It’s Twilight from Edward’s point of view, and it revealed quite a few plot points that were missed in Bella’s perspective. I’ve always loved it when an author tells a story from different points of view because it adds so much more depth to the story. Revisiting this vampire romance through the vampire’s perspective was exactly what I needed in 2020. Thank you, Stephenie Meyer!

4 1/2 stars – Some descriptions just felt a little too long.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

I have wanted to read Little Women for years. But it’s long and antiquated, and every time I’d pick it up to read, I’d get distracted by a new release. But I finally decided to just read the thing. And I’m so glad I did. I now understand why this novel about four ordinary sisters is so beloved. And I find it crazy amazing how a book about family, love, and normal, everyday living, one that was published all the way back in 1869, could still feel so relevant today.

Of course after finally reading the book I had to watch the movies. So far I’ve watched both the 90s version with Winona Ryder and the 2019 remake. And my 14-year-old daughter and I both agree that the 2019 version is our favorite. Saoirse Ronan plays Jo so perfectly! And I also really loved the creative liberties director Greta Gerwig took with the movie. She weaved the author’s personal life into the narrative in such a perfectly beautiful and powerful way.

5 stars for the book and the 2019 movie. I give the 90’s movie 4 stars. Don’t hate me.

Everything Happens For A Reason: And Other Lies I’ve Loved by Kate Bowler

It was the And Other Lies I’ve Loved part of the title that caught my attention and made me want to read this memoir. In this book, theology professor, Kate Bowler, dives into the hard questions her cancer diagnosis brought up in her life, exploring why we go through hard things from a Christian perspective. She writes about her Mennonite upbringing and her research on the prosperity gospel, and throughout the book, she reevaluates what she’s been taught and grew up believing.

Does the idea that God has a plan for us actually mean that everything happens for a reason? Or is that just something we tell ourselves and others in an attempt to make sense out of tragedy? Why do so many Christians believe that sickness is the result of unconfessed sin?

Kate Bowler boldly questions the toxic positivity that is rampant in church culture, and I found this memoir to be especially poignant as I too once believed everything happens for a reason. The ending of this book felt unfinished in a way as Kate just sort of leaves you, the reader, to ponder. But maybe that was intentional? If you’ve struggled with understanding why hard things happen or how to comfort a loved one walking through a tough situation, I highly suggest giving this book a read.

4 stars – Really great but it does kind of jump around a bit.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

This was another book that’s been sitting in my to-read pile for years. I’ve never watched the Netflix show based on this book because I’m mostly on team read the book first. But because 2020 has prompted me to finish Netflix 😉 I figured it was time to sit down and knock this off my list, so I can start watching the show.

I knew Thirteen Reasons Why was about teen suicide, and I was aware the book and show have been at the center of debates on censorship as some have felt that this book glamorizes suicide. But even having a general gist of what to expect out of this young adult novel, I wasn’t prepared for the heaviness of this fictional story.

I found it to be supremely thought-provoking and heart-wrenching, and none of it felt glossy or glamourized in the least. It depicted the good and the bad parts of the high school experience, and I found this book to be more of a call to action to take responsibility for the way you treat people than a story about suicide. But I’m an adult, my high school days are far behind me, so I read this story through the lens of lived experience and maturity.

As a mother of two teenagers, I don’t think it’s a good idea to censor books. That being said, I do think the subject matter of this book could be very triggering. I’m 41, and I’m still processing my thoughts on this one.

I struggle with rating dark books. ?

Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han

After the heaviness of Thirteen Reasons Why, I needed something light and sweet. So I switched to the polar opposite end of the young adult fiction world and read the third and final book in the To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before series. And Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Hann did not disappoint!

My 14-year-old daughter turned me onto this series, and I’m not ashamed to admit I absolutely loved it so much. This coming of age high school romance series reads like a classic John Hughes movie, but there are some deeper layers underneath all that teen angst. And in this last and final book author Jenny Hann crafted the perfect ending!

Netflix has already turned the first two books of this series into movies, and I’m now anxiously awaiting the third. You might remember my daughter’s wall mural was inspired by the main character’s bedroom in the movie.

Growing up in the 80s and 90s I myself didn’t see a lot of people that looked like me in movies. Latinx and Asians weren’t well or accurately represented, and mixed families really didn’t exist on screen at all. So this last book left me with a giant smile on my face. Not just because it was the perfect ending, but because I’m just so grateful a romance series with a Korean girl as the female lead exists in today’s pop culture.

5 stars

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So, what have you read lately? Anything you feel like I should add to my fall reading list? Any other adults here that enjoy adding young adult books into their reading mix?

If you want to read along with my Instagram book club in September, we’re reading The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd, and we’d love for you to read with us!