Monday Reading Update #12

Another Monday, another reading updatate!

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I’ve read this past week:

We Can’t Keep Meeting Like This by Rachel Lynn Solomon
I recently read Today Tonight Tomorrow and I loved it to pieces, so naturally I wanted to check out more books by Rachel Lynn Solomon. This was her latest release (and the cover is the cutest). It takes place over the course of a summer and follows Quinn, a 17 years-old harpist who works with her parents who are wedding planners, and has stopped believing in love, and Tarek, who came back for the summer and works with his parents’ catering business. As the two of them keep running into each other, old feelings resurface and things get entangled. This is a book about food and music, and it’s super adorable. If you are looking for a YA romance, then I highly recommend you check it out!

The Enlightenment of the Greengage Tree by Shokoofeh Azar
This book was stunning. It is set in Iran during and after the Islamic Revolution of 1979, and follows a family that left Teheran for the countryside. It’s told like a tale from the Thousand and One Nights from the perspective of one of the daughters who passed away in a fire, and still lives with her family as a ghost. It’s a tale of djinnis and mermaids and other mythical creatures and events, and it was such a nice discovery. It’s extremely poetic, and I strongly recommend it! [TW death, torture, violence]

Just Last Night by Mhairi McFarlane
I have to admit that I picked up thie one hoping for a romance novel and this is not at all what I got BUT it was nevertheless a truly excellent book. It’s a story about an old cursh, and four friends whose life is turned upside down one tragic nights. It’s about secrets and new beginnings, and I devoured it. It deals with grief in a very realistic way as well. I am simply amazed by this book. It was not the fluffy story I was looking for, but that’s okay because I really enjoyed this story. I loved how it dealt with friendships, and Eve was a truly brilliant main character. I may or may not have shed a few tears, but it was worth it! [TW death, abuse]

I’m currently reading:

Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan
I just picked up the audiobook for this one! It caught my eye because it was on the list of the Women’s Prize for Fiction, and cover intrigued me. Basically it’s the story of an Irish expact in Hong Kong.

I’m going to read next:

The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Okay I swear this time it’s definitely the one I’m going to pick up next! It’s been on my TBR for the longest time, and the French translation was released last week. I’ve read yet again excellent reviews for it in the past week. And I finished the other physical book that I was reading, so now it’s going to happen I am sure of it.

Monday Reading Update

So which novel have I read during the past two weeks since my last update? I’ve been on vacation which has left me with quite some time to read! Before I get into it any further, I missed the exact date but this August marks my 6th blogversary. I never thought I would achieve such a milestone, but here we are. This blog has helped me through hard times, and accompanied me in my love for reading. Whether you are new to this blog or not, thank you for being there with me on this journey! And now that I’m done being sappy, back to what I’ve been reading these past two weeks.

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I devoured two romance novels:

The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
This book is everywhere on the French side of booktok so I had to see for myself what the big deal was. It’s an enemies-to-lovers/fake dating romance which is dare I say a perfect combo. It follows Olive, who goes on her sister’s honeymoon because they entire wedding party has fallen ill… Except for her and Ethan, the groom’s brother, whom she just happens to hates. They go together in order for the trip not to be wasted but things take a weird turn when they encounter Olive’s new boss, and Ethan’s ex girlfriend, and have to keep pretending that they are madly in love. Except… are they even pretending? It has only one bed, some angst and mutual pining, and overall is super romantic and wholesome. I loved how Olive’s character development through the book, and I’m really glad that I gave in to the hype.

And Hang the Moon by Alexandria Bellefleur
After reading Written in the Stars I had to pick up the sequel. This one follows Darcy’s brother Brendon, an eternal romantic, and her best friend Annie who of course doesn’t believe in love. It was super sweet as well, and I really enjoyed it. I can’t wait to see what happens to Margot in the next book!

I also read one more YA book which was Not Your Backup by C.B. Lee aka the third book in the Sidekick Squad series. It picks up the plot right where we left, but this time from the perspective of Emma, and so far I think this one was my favourite book in the series!

And finally I read two literary fiction novels:

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
This one had caught my attention when it got released, and I read quite a few amazing reviews about it. It’s a book about artificial intelligence, which follows the POV of Klara, an AF (Artificial Friend) who is fascinated by everything she encounters, and her relationship with Josie, the human she takes care of, as well as the people who surrounds her. This book was wholesome and heartwarming in ways I didn’t expect, and I’m so glad that I decided to read it.

And finally, What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon
This one is a time travel romance/historical fiction that follows Anne Gallagher, who travels in 2001 to Ireland to spread the ashes of her beloved grandfather Owen, only to be transported to 1921, where she is mistaken for her lost great-grandmother. This might be her last chance to spend time with Owen, although he is six years old. And of course, she falls in love with Thomas Smith, the doctor who rescued her from the loch. The story is told from Anne’s perspective, as well as pages from Thomas’s journal. I delved into it hoping to fall in love with the story, and I most certainly did. I loved this book to pieces, and recommend it to you from the bottom of my heart.

As for what I’m currently reading, I picked up both We Can’t Keep Meeting Like This by Rachel Lynn Solomon, and The Enlightenment of the Greengage Tree by Shokoofeh Azar yesterday. And I’m still hoping to pick up The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates next! After saying this over and over again, I will eventually speak it into existence; I know it will happen eventually.

July Reading Wrap Up

Now that we are deep into August, and my vacation is coming to an end, I’m realising that I still haven’t posted my July Wrap Up, so here we go!

Middle grade:

When Marnie Was There by Joan G. Robinson ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is a beautiful middle grade classic about a little girl who moves to the sea for a few weeks, in order to improve her health and get some fresh air. It’s a book about friendship and family, and it’s super heartwarming. I’m so glad I decided to give it a try!

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Young adult:

Today Tonight Tomorrow by Rachel Lynn Solomon ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Set over the course of a day, Today Tonight Tomorrow is a rivals-to-lovers YA romance about two teenagers who have always seemingly hated each other, but pair up against all odds for a heist on their last day of high school. It’s adorable and predictable but also super well written and I loved it to pieces. It was my first time reading a book by Rachel Lynn Solomon, but certainly not the last!

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I’d seen this book everywhere and was really curious about it… And boy was it worth the hype. It’s absolutely excellent. It’s the perfect blend between Children of Blood and Bone, The Handmaid’s Tale and The Poppy War somehow. It has badass characters and excellent plot twists, and I cannot wait for the sequel!

The Disasters by M.K. England ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is another book I’d seen around and really wanted to check out: well let me tell you, I’m so glad I did. It has a full cast of queer characters and an impossible heist in space: seriously, what else could I ask for? Is it a little bit over-the-top? Yes, probably. But did I mind? Not one bit. I will definitely be reading more books by this author.

In Deeper Waters by F.T. Lukens ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was a new release I picked up solely because the cover is absolutely stunning, and I have no regrets. Basically, In Deeper Waters is a M/M retelling of The Little Mermaid (even though it is somehow not blurbed as such?) with a merman who is the last one of his kind, and a prince who has inherited forbidden magic, and just set up on his coming-of-age tour. It has pirates, treason and more plot twists, as well as a lovely fairytale vibe. If you like any of those things, you should definitely check it out!

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Not Your Sidekick by C.B. Lee ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Not Your Villain by C.B. Lee ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This series had been on my TBR for the longest time, and I’m so glad I finally gave it a try. It’s a dystopia/superhero story, and follows a different member of the squad with each volume. The characters are amazing (and pretty much everyone is queer so that’s the vibe I’m going for). In the first volume, we follow Jess, whose parents and older sister are local superheroes, and who is trying to figure out what her own power might be. As she accepts an internship with the local villain, she uncovers a plot bigger than all of them, and with the help of her friends, will try to push things right.

Romance:

Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I can’t resist a good sapphic fake dating book, so of course I had to check this one out. Not only is the cover beautiful, but so is the story. I’d heard great things about it, and can now safely say: it deserves all the praise.

Fiction:

The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This one is a modern retelling of Jane Eyre with a strong Gone Girl vibe. It’s a dark novel, which is not necessarily what I usually go fo, but I ended up really liking it. One of my favourite parts was definitely the fact that the story is divided between two narrators, and they are BOTH unreliable narrators. It has some really great plot twists, and I’m really glad that I decided to check it out!

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Beck Chambers ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book is a super wholesome sci-fi that follows the encounter between a non-binary tea monk and a robot who is curious about everything. It’s an easy read, with really beauitful writing, and I couldn’t put it down.

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Non fiction:

Made-up by Daphné B. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
[To be released in September]
Made-up is an essay about makeup, advertisment and consumerism in our modern society. It’s an easy read, but it was also super interesting and I’m really glad that I gave it a try. I can’t wait for more people to read this book!

Livres en français:

Tout ce que dit Manon est vrai de Manon Fargetton ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sages femmes de Marie Richeux ⭐⭐⭐
L’aube américaine d’Émilie Papadeothorou ⭐⭐
Satisfaction de Nina Bouraoui ⭐⭐⭐

Pour ce qui est de la rentrée littéraire, dont ces quatre titres font partie, j’ai bien entendu continué mes lectures ce mois-ci, et j’ai prévu de rédiger un article en français d’ici la fin du mois !

Manga & graphic novels:

A Sign of Affection vol.2 by Morishita Suu ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Asana isn’t hetero by Sakuma Asana ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Transitions d’Elodie Durand ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Montagnes russes de Gwenn Morizur ⭐⭐⭐
La fille du quai d’Alexine et Fabrice Meddour ⭐⭐
My Brother’s Husband vol.1-2 by Tagame Gengoroh ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Apothecary Diaries vol.4 by Nekokurage ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wandering Witch vol.1 by Shiraishi Jougi ⭐⭐⭐
Insomniacs After School vol.1 by Ojiro Makoto ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I’ve been reading more mangas & graphic novels lately, and I’m really enjoying that. If you have some recommendations, please feel free to share. And in the meantime, have a wonderful day!

It’s Monday: What Am I Reading?

Hello everyone! I’ve been really productive with my reading this past week and I’m really happy about that.

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I just finished reading:

Not Your Sidekick and Not Your Villain by C.B. Lee
I had been meaning to check out this series for a while at this point and I am SO GLAD that I finally did! It’s set in a sci-fi world where people have started to develop super-powers. In the first volume, we follow Jess, who is seventeen and comes from a family of superheroes with secret identities, and is waiting for her powers to appear. She accepts an internship with a company that works with their nemesis, and in the process uncovers a plot that could shatter the whole hero/villain world. It’s a great story with amazing friendships, and I’m really looking forward to reading book 3!

In Deeper Waters by F.T. Lukens
This one I can only blurb as a MLM retelling of The Little Mermaid set in a high fantasy land. It’s a romance between a merman who is the last of his kind, and a prince who bears dangerous magical powers. It has adventure and pirates. Overall it’s a quick read and I really enjoyed it!

I’m currently reading:

Not My Problem by Ciara Smyth
I was really looking forward to reading this one, considering I absolutely loved The Falling in Love Montage which I read last summer. I’m also listening to the audiobook for this one, and so far I am really enjoying it! It’s fun, and so terribly on point. It also has a (sort of?) rivals-to-lovers sapphic romance, and a MC that’s just a teeny bit self-destructive. I’m looking forward to seeing how this all unfolds!

The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue
And last but not least, this one is a historical fiction that is set in 1918 in Dublin during the pandemic. Over the course of three days, we follow the intense life of a nurse & midwife who works at a hospital in between birth and death. I am almost done with this one, and seriously, I couldn’t put it down.

As for what I want to read next, I am still hoping that I will pick up The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates pretty soon!