My August 2024 Reads
I don’t know about anyone else, but August absolutely kicked my butt with travel, surprise illnesses, hospital visits and more - hence this blog not going out until almost halfway through September.
Even so, I managed read some fabulous books last month that I wanted to be sure to share with you all! Check them all out below.
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Something about a book about a sad girl struggling with her depression and self worth calls to me, and Kathleen Glasgow delivered. This was one of those books that, heartbreaking as it was, I couldn't put down. As someone who's struggled with self harm, depression and anxiety in the past, I saw so much of myself in Charlotte's story. I loved her messy fight to healing and the end of the book couldn't have been more perfect, in my opinion.
Trigger warning: This book is heavy. Expect self harm, suicdal thoughts, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, rape, and other really tough topics. I'd recommend reading only if you're in a good place.
Interested? Grab your own copy here.
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This book is perfect for those who love TJ Klune's House on the Cerulean Sea. This story is similar, but replace the grumpy human with a mistrusting witch and the monsters with 3 more young witches working against a deadline to ensure they're not found out. Mandanna's book was sweet, heartwarming and like a warm cup of tea on a crisp fall day. I loved the themes of found family and finding your place in the world.
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This is one of those books that's been on my TBR since high school, when all my friends read and loved it. This memoir follows Jeannette's life with well-meaning though neglectful and at times abusive parents. She lives through some horrific things, starting with one of her first memories as a 3 year old healing from severe burns she got while attempting to cook hotdogs by herself. As you read you begin to see Jeannette process and learn that her life isn't quite normal, until she manages to get herself out of the dangerous situation.
The story was heartbreaking but captivating and I sped right through it. Some trigger warnings to be aware of: alcoholism, child abuse, addiction, sexual assault, sexual harassment and racial slurs.
Interested in a copy? Send us a message to see if we have a used copy in stock or to have us order you a new one!
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Funny You Should Ask is a "then and now" telling of a Hollywood journalist aspiring for more and an actor who cross paths on the cusp of both of their careers. They spend an unforgettable weekend together that's left a lasting mark for both of them, but they haven't spoken in nearly 10 years when a magazine publisher reaches out to both to try to recreate the magic of the first article. Since then things have changed drastically for both of them, but they agree to meet again.
Overall I enjoyed this! It wasn't the most mind-blowing story I've ever read, but I thought the writing was humorous and it was a great palette cleanser.
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I'd say I'm a moderate John Green fan. I think often of Paper Towns, The Fault In Our Stars made me sob and I believe Turtles All The Way Down is one of his more underrated books. But this short story collection sealed the deal for me. Throughout his musings on the the planet, humanity, our past and our future, I was filled with dread, hope and inspiration. I found myself laughing at times and tearing up at others. This collection made me respect John Green even more as an incredible writer and master of his craft, and made me empathize with him as a human being struggling with a whole lot of the same shit all of us are struggling with. Short story and essay collections are often a hit or miss with me, and this one was a total hit. If you need your faith restored in humanity, pick this one up.
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What a masterpiece of a novel. Full disclosure: I attempted to listen to this book on audio when it was at the height of it's popularity. I didn't realize until about halfway through that all of the characters interconnected, and at that point I was beyond confused. I found it much more enjoyable to read the physical copy, which also allowed me to underline and star some of my favorite passages, of which there were many. Orange's writing is beautiful and brutal, and his ability to interweave the story together seamlessly was impressive. I absolutely LOVED this book and only regret not picking it up sooner.
If you're ready to pick it up, you can get a copy here.
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I firmly believe this is a book all white feminists need to read in order to understand the harm we cause women and people of color through our well-meaning ally-ism. Juliet Takes A Breath follows a young woman, Juliet, as she comes out as gay to her family the day she's set to travel across the country to work for a white author whose known as the ultimate authority on feminism. Throughout her summer she deepens her understanding of her sexuality and her radical feminism, heals from heartbreak and expands her horizons all while learning that even heroes who seem untouchable and kind can be problematic and harmful. I devoured this book and thought the story was brilliantly written. I'll be recommending this for a long time to come.
We have copies for sale, and it's a graphic novel, too!
Need other recommendations? Ask me for some ideas!