August is off to a decent start regarding my reading life. I have an interesting mix of young adult, nonfiction, comics, dystopian, and romance going on so far. That covers a few of my favorite genres and also has me branching out into areas I haven’t read lately.
I’m sharing this mid month glimpse into my reading life as part of Modern Mrs Darcy‘s Quick Lit Link Up. You can read all about why I love Modern Mrs Darcy in my first quick lit post. Every month on the 15th, she hosts a blog post where the bookish community can share and link what they’re reading lately.
What I’ve Been Reading Lately in August:
Once Dead, Twice Shy by Kim Harrison
Kim Harrison is a new author for me. My cousin recommended a different series of hers for me to check out. When my library had this series available instead I decided to check it out.
This is a young adult paranormal fantasy series. The first book, Once Dead Twice Shy, introduces Madison Avery, a soon to be senior in high school who actually died on Prom Night but still exists on our plane thanks to a stolen amulet.
The first few chapters hooked me as I tried to figure out the rules and beings in this paranormal universe Harrison creates. For me the middle was very slow going with little action or character development. Fortunately it was a short book and a quick read. The last quarter of the book might have made up for the middle. I may continue on with this series. I found the paranormal elements Harrison introduces interesting and original.
Don’t Overthink It: Make Easier Decisions, Stop Second-Guessing, and Bring More Joy to Your Life by Anne Bogel
From Modern Mrs Darcy herself! This is Anne Bogel’s latest nonfiction work, Don’t Overthink It. I’ve been waiting for my library hold to come through but then my best friend saved the day and lent me her copy.
I suffer from overthinking. I often say I get stuck in my own head. I’ve experienced analysis paralysis where you have too much information. Yet you feel the right decision can be made if only you could find that best bit of information to help. You just keep searching and get overwhelmed. I also play conversations over and over in my head wondering if I should have said something different even when the conversation went well. So I was very excited to dive into this book.
It did not disappoint! Bogel breaks down complicated thought patterns into relatable concepts. While her strategies to combat overthinking are simple, she says herself simple is what works best. Her tips and advice give a clear concrete place to begin changing your mind. This allows you to conserve mental energy for the things you want to spend it on. My favorite chapter was “Limit Yourself to Free Yourself” with tons of strategies and ideas for streamlining decisions, preventing information overload, and simplifying the areas of everyday life that aren’t your passion.
The Mighty Thor, Volume 1: Thunder in Her Veins written by Jason Aaron, illustrated by Russell Dauterman
This is a comic series that keeps popping up in my bookish go-to resources, especially Book Riot. When I was in need of a new graphic novel or comic and saw it available on Libby, it seemed time to check it out.
My only exposure to Thor has been through the Marvel movies so the spin on having a female Thor didn’t bother me at all. I thought it was awesome! The Mighty Thor starts out darker and a little more raw than I was expecting. Jane Foster is “a Thor” although she’s battling cancer when in her human form. Nobody knows where the original Thor is.
The art introducing us to her undergoing chemotherapy and also later with mutilated bodies is what I found raw but very moving. The illustrations are gorgeous. I enjoyed the twists of the story, the different characters, and learning more about the 10 realms. I hope my library gets further volumes soon!
The Testaments by Margaret Atwood
I was immediately engrossed by this follow up novel to The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. The Testaments takes place about sixteen years after the cliff hanger of the first book. It is told by three female characters’ perspectives.
It definitely wasn’t the best book to pick up right before bed which I should have known. I’ve seen the TV series on Hulu. I really enjoyed this addition to the world Atwood has created. If you haven’t seen the show, some of the excitement of learning more about these women may be lost. The show adaptation gives a lot more exposure to some of these characters than the first book.
The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams
I’m about two thirds of the way through this contemporary romance. The Bromance Book Club has been popping up all over my bookish sources as one to be sure to read. I was very excited to see it available through my library when I was in the mood for something a little different. I haven’t read much romance in the past year or two.
This book is amazing! I’ve read parts out loud to my husband because he wondered why I was laughing so much. The story follows a major league baseball player whose wife has just asked for a divorce. His teammates and various friends bring him into their secret romance book club. Turns out they’ve all been in similar situations and turning to romance helped them learn their wives’ languages. They give him a historical romance to study and apply to win his wife back.
Not only is it funny, it also contains just enough steam for me and I have a little crush on our hero. I’m rooting for our main characters to put their marriage and family back together! I can’t wait to check out the second book in this series and hope more is on the way.
What have you been reading lately?
