This month wasn’t super impressive- either books read or books themselves. But here we go! 7 books total. 2,396 pages. An average of 80 pages a day
Brontë’s Mistress by Finola Austin (306 pages). Y’all know I love some historical fiction! In 1843 England, Lydia Robinson is in a loveless marriage, made worse by the recent loss of her mother and youngest daughter. Her husband just hired a tutor for their son. Branwell Brontë happens to be the brother of the children’s governess, Anne, and brother to writers Charlotte and Emily. He also happens to be half Lydia’s age. But Lydia isn’t in a good place and Branwell is a persuasive romantic. Lydia gives in and a short lived affair happens. But when their secret is uncovered by several people, Lydia ends the affair. But her life begins to unravel- her children are distant and her husband passes away. Honestly, the affair portion of her life is very small. But her overall story is quite sad. I don’t consider myself a Brontë scholar by any stretch of the imagination. So I had no idea about this long rumored romance. I enjoyed the story though! I finished in 3 days.
The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey (366 pages). Tallulah is 26 years old and a graduate student in Boston. When an opportunity arises for room and board in exchange for nannying 12 year old Lissa, daughter of hockey star Burgess Abraham, she takes it. Not a little uneasily, as Tallulah has trust issues surrounding men. But there’s something about Burgess that makes her feel safe. And there something about Tallulah that drives Burgess crazy. It doesn’t take long for them to realize how much they like each other and how seamlessly they fit into each other’s lives (and beds). The path to smutty happily ever after is never smooth in a rom com, but it always works out. This one was not my favorite though. I finished in 4 days.
The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton (458 pages). Aiden Bishop has been invited to a masquerade weekend at Blackheath House in honor of Evelyn Hardcastle. But Evelyn is going to be murdered the night of the ball. Each day, Aiden wakes up in the body of one of the guests- some are smart, some are rash, some are more helpful than others. And each day, he gets an opportunity to solve Evelyn’s murder. But there are other people trying to solve the murder. Because whoever does is the only one who will escape Blackheath. Think murderous whodunit Groundhog Day edition meets Black Mirror. It took me quite a while to really get into the book (honestly I was pretty confused for a lot of it). But once it REALLy clicked what was going on, I couldn’t stop reading to get to the end! I finished in 5 days.
The Cure by K.A. Riley (308 pages). In a dystopian future, a Blight takes the life of almost every person over 18. Your only hope, once you turn 17, is to get selected to live in the Arc and earn the chance for the Cure. The Arc is a self sustaining city of wealthy people who could buy the Cure and run by a select group called the Directorate. Now, the outlying land is so desolate that no one else can afford it. But Ashen Spencer is ready to try, for her own sake as well as her ten year old brother and her mother (one of the few adults who has survived the Blight). But it turns out that the Arc isn’t the paradise they are promised. The Cure isn’t what it seems. And the Directorate aren’t benevolent leaders. When an old classmate from before the Blight steps in to help, Ashen learns more than she ever thought about her father and the country she lives in. It’s almost like a Hunger Games where the only adults are in the Capital. It’s the first in a series that I may or may not finish (if the rest of the series is free on Kindle!) I finished in 1 day.
Awaken by K.A. Riley (306 pages). Book 2 of the series (because yes, they were free!). Now that Ashen has learned some of the truths behind the Arc and the Cure, she leaves the safety of the Arc and sets off to find the rebel group, the Consortium. What she finds is the Bastille, a former ski town turned headquarters for what remains of the Consortium. Or so Ashen thinks. But the Bastille isn’t what it appears to be. And the Consortium isn’t so easy to find. But old friends from the Arc are still helping Ashen along the way. Even when she returns to the Arc to save her brother. I finished in 3 days.
Ascend by K.A. Riley (332 pages). Book 3 of the series. Ashen is safe and protected in the Pit, the headquarters of the remnants of the Consortium. But she soon learns that there are other pockets of rebels, separated by underground trains. When Ash and her friends are able to break into the Arc to steal power sources, she is reunited with lost love Finn and they slowly begin a rebellion in the Arc. And finally the long awaited war against the Directorate begins, with Ash as the face of the rebellion (ala Katniss in Hunger Games). I finished in 3 days.
Fallen by K.A. Riley (320 pages). Book 4 of the series. Ash and Finn are on their way to the Behemoth, the largest Arc in the country that’s located in New York. The Behemoth is run by the Bishop, a man more powerful and more cruel than anyone they have come across. But he’s also more charismatic than anyone they have met. When they finally find a way into the Moth, Ash and Finn learn what the Bishop has been up to. And it is mind blowing! But the Bishop isn’t content to use Ash and Finn’s brains- he wants total power. I finished in 5 days.
This month’s favorite is……..I guess The 7 1/2 Deaths. Honestly, this month was a bunch of books I enjoyed but didn’t LOVE!
