Recent Reads

I’ve been reading a lot lately, and I’m already past my goal of 35 books for the year with two months to go! I’ve said it before, but reading for me is an escape. I love few things more than curling up under the covers and getting lost in a story. A good book also makes my commute on the subway a lot more pleasant! Today I’m sharing brief reviews of eight recent reads, but feel free to comment if you want more information and follow me on Goodreads for more of my favorites!

Swear on This Life by Renée Carlino: What happens when there’s truth to fiction? This is the issue main character Emiline confronts when she finds out her childhood best friend co-opted their story for his first novel. This one tugged at my heartstrings and made me feel all the feelings. I couldn’t put it down, and I loved all of the twists and turns.

Our Little Racket by Angelica Baker: When a powerful investment banker faces scrutiny, it’s not just his life that changes. Although this book is definitely on the lighter side, it was interesting to think about how the choices we make affect those who love us.

The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo: If you believe in fate, destiny, or the concept of soulmates, you’ll fall hard for this love story. Lucy and Gabe have the kind of love that’s twisty and complicated, the kind that you can never quite get over, no matter how hard you try. It’s fascinating to see how this all-encompassing love impacts their lives, the decisions they make, and the people they become.

Hello, Sunshine by Laura Dave: I had really high hopes for this one, because I really loved her previous book, Eight Hundred Grapes. I wouldn’t say I loved this one, but it was pretty good. The story is a bit predictable, but I enjoyed seeing how the protagonist was forced to re-examine her life choices and the person she had become. I was a little sick of her by the end, but appreciated Dave’s clever writing style.

The 100 Year Miracle by Ashley Ream: This book was interesting, but strange. The main character is a quirky scientist studying a rare natural occurrence on a remote island. There are definitely some compelling moments in the story, but overall, it didn’t really do it for me.

Miss You by Kate Eberlan: A bittersweet story about two people who keep crossing paths without knowing it. Tess and Gus are both trying to be the people they think they should be. They both deal with tragedy and face challenges as they live their separate lives for many years, until fate finally intervenes. Definitely interesting to follow their journey.

The Dazzling Heights by Katharine McGee: This was the second book in The Thousandth Floor series, and I couldn’t wait to read it! The first book was one of my all-time favorites, and this one did not disappoint. The story continues to follow a group of New York City teenagers who live in a futuristic world, surrounded by incredibly advanced technology, but still coping with typical teenage issues. It’s written like a smarter version of a soap opera, but so compelling that you won’t be able to put it down. The worst part was when I was finished and realized I had to wait to find out what happens until she writes book #3!

The Whole Thing Together by Ann Brashares: I was a big fan of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, so I was looking forward to reading this book by the same author. The story focuses on a complicated family trying to figure out how to co-exist after a difficult divorce divides them. It’s told from a number of different perspectives, and is beautifully written, like all of her books. I could really relate to a lot of what the characters were going through, so I think I may have appreciated this book a little more, but definitely worth a read regardless.

What are you reading? Always looking for recommendations for what I should read next!