August Reading Wrap-up
As August winds down and pumpkin spice coffee makes its grand return, the cool, crisp mornings are starting to creep in, and I can feel the fall vibes coming. I’m already craving those cozy autumn reads, and oddly enough, I’m even tempted to dip into some spooky titles (which isn’t usually my thing, but the mood is calling). But before we dive headfirst into all things fall, let’s rewind and chat about my August reads, though I may have sneaked in a fall book already…
Such a Fun Age ⭐⭐⭐.75
I picked up this book during my trip to Seattle (which I will be making a post about soon with a video by my girlfriend like the Cape one which I’m very excited to recap). I ended up reading it at the same time as my bestie back home which made the experience even more fun. The book’s messaging and themes are definitely important, and the storytelling was solid. That said, while I liked the book, it didn’t blow me away. It wasn’t especially thought-provoking beyond what I already anticipated. One thing I struggled with was the characters, particularly Alix and Kelley. They felt like two extreme versions of the white savior trope, and I was honestly relieved that Emira didn’t end up with either of them. I did, however, really enjoy the character of little Briar. I found myself hoping that as she grows up, she won’t follow in her mother’s footsteps and that she’s treated with the care and respect she deserves.
The Pumpkin Spice Cafe ⭐⭐.75
Like I said earlier, I was craving a cozy feel since the mornings were getting so cool! I had my windows open , felt the chill in the air, drank my pumpkin coffee and downloaded this book on my kindle immediately. Like I predicted it was a fluffy, easy to read romance that I flew through. I will say, this will get you out of a reading slump and into that cozy mindset. If you are a mood reader like me I reccomend. Again, this was nothing spectacular but cute and I will for sure come back to the series.
The Compound ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
In simple terms this book is Lord of the Flies x Love Island x Hunger Games. I kept hearing about this book on my tiktok, described as an equivalent to the Hunger Games and I was intrigued. It’s more related to Lord of the Flies x Love Island in my opinion, but still game me that rush I enjoyed about the Hunger Games especially in how it explored political dynamics and human behavior when people are thrown into extreme circumstances. This was a very unique story that keeps you wanting more. The ending was left up to the imagination too much for me. The outside world was mentioned constantly, hanging over the characters like a dark cloud, but we never actually learn what’s happening out there or what they’re returning to. I wanted more closure or context, especially after such a gripping build-up.
HONORABLE BOOK CLUB MENTION: Temple of Swoon
And that brings me to my current read. Although I will not be finishing it this month I am 43% into The Four Winds and absolutely loving it. Kristin Hannah is a top author for me. She invokes so much emotion in her writing and makes history fun! More to come on this…