This month was not super impressive, as far as the number of books read. But honestly, of the 7 books read, there was only one that I really didn’t like at all. And thank goodness it was the first one of the month so the month only improved! It was a total of 2,244 pages and an average of 72 pages per day. So let’s get to it.
The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters by Balli Kaur Jaswal (310 pages). Sisters Rajni, Jezmeen and Shirina have never been particularly close. And that distance has only worsened as they have gotten older. But when their beloved mother dies and requests that the three of them make a week-long pilgrimage to India for her, they comply. During the journey, they realize that each of them have been keeping secrets. Secrets that, once shared, will open them up to a closeness they never realized was missing. I finished in 6 days.
A Royal Christmas Fairy Tale by Karen Schaler (335 pages). This was my holiday Once Upon a Book Club box (that yes, I am just getting around the reading). Kaylie Karlyle is an investigative journalist in NYC and loves every minute of it. But when the station she works for gets sold, she finds herself jobless at Christmas time. But her boss sends her on a special assignment- to visit the royal family of Tolvania and learn about their Christmas traditions. Little did Kaylie know that she would be meeting an amazing queen, a handsome prince (the queen’s son) and an adorable princess (the queen’s granddaughter) all while experiencing the magic of Christmas- a magic that she had lost along the way. It was an absolutely adorable read- it totally got me in the Christmas spirit (a few months early). And the gifts were super cute as well! I finished in 4 days.
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds (306 pages). In 15 year old Will’s world, there are three rules to live by. Never cry. Never snitch. Always get revenge. So when his older brother Shawn is shot, Will thinks he knows who the responsible party is. So he grabs Shawn’s gun and gets on the elevator. But the 60 second ride from the 8th floor to the lobby can be long. Especially when you aren’t the only person in the elevator. This book of poetry (or rather verse) was not what I expected. But it was very very interesting. I finished in 1 day.
Rush by Lisa Patton (405 pages). In honor of #rushtok, this book was a must-purchase and an almost immediate must-read. The Alpha Delta Beta house at Ole Miss is one of the most highly sought after sororities on campus. Wilda Woodcock is the newest member of the Rush advisory board, with daughter Ellie going through Rush. She was asked to join by fellow Alpha Delt alum (and House Corp President) Lilith Whitmore. After Lilith asked for their daughters to be roommates. The girls’ next door neighbor Cali also seems like Alpha Delt material. Except for one small problem- she lacks pedigree and has a big family secret that could spoil everything. Miss Pearl is the beloved Alpha Delt housekeeper of over 20 years. When an opportunity for promotion comes her way, Pearl decides it’s the perfect fit. But when Lilith tries to stop the promotion, the girls realize that it is up to them to create a house they are proud of. I really liked this book. It wasn’t exactly what I thought it was going to be- it was better! I finished in 5 days.
The Book Woman’s Daughter by Kim Michele Richardson (328 pages, including historical notes). This is the sequel to The Boom Woman of Troublesome Creek. It’s 1953 in Kentucky and Honey Lovett is the adopted daughter of Cussy Mary and Jackson Lovett (main character of the first novel). She’s 16 years old and used to hiding from the law (her parents’ interracial marriage between a white man and a blue-skinned woman made them criminals). But when her parents are imprisoned, Honey quickly learns who she can trust and how to make it on her own. So taking up her mother’s old Pack Horse library route seems like the perfect fit. I finished in 5 days.
Fake It Til You Bake It by Jamie Wesley (321 pages). Yes, I’ve been sitting on several Once Upon a Book Club boxes. This is the one from June that I’m finally getting around to. So gifties on social (as always). Jada Townsend-Matthews is at a crossroads. She’s the most hated woman on the internet, thanks to turning down a proposal on a dating show. Donovan Dell is a successful professional football player and a semi-professional cupcake store owner. When their worlds collide and Jada is forced to take a job at Sugar Blitz, a reporter sniffs out a story. And a fake relationship is born. In typical rom-com/chick lit fashion, a fake relationship usually doesn’t stay fake for long. It was cute. And the gifts were great! It also made me really want to bake the cupcake recipe that was included in the box. I finished in 2 days.
In Another Light by AJ Banner (239 pages). You are supposed to be a widow at 40. But that’s exactly what happened to mortuary cosmetologist Phoebe Glassman 3 years ago. But one day, the very anniversary of her husband’s tragic accident, a body of a younger woman shows up at the mortuary. And this woman, Pauline Steele, looks exactly like Phoebe with a tattoo that Phoebe has seen before. But what really peaks Phoebe’s interest is a picture she finds in Pauline’s effects- a faded photo of Phoebe. As Phoebe investigates Pauline’s death, she learns of their shared past. I finished in 3 days.
This month’s favorite was…..Rush.
