The Week in Review - Favorite Books of July and Thinking About August

Thank You Deb@ Reader Buzz

This week was "a very good busy." Lunch with a friend, catching up by phone with a few other friends, book group meeting, hair appointment and a somewhat annoying fine dining experience.

The book group met to discuss: Ask Again, Yes; Mary Beth Keane. I loved this one and thought others would as well and although most enjoyed it some were quick to find fault with certain aspects of the writing.  Oh well, it will be interesting as next months book is American Dirt which I also liked a lot so I have no idea what my fellow group readers will think.  Our fine dining experience was interesting on Friday night.  We had last been to this restaurant in May and the website still states "all wait staff wears masks". We are vaccinated but because of the variant virus to worry about now we decided to wear masks. Well, NO ONE, maitre d or wait staff had masks on - just us.  I would have expected when our waiter came to the table seeing we had masks on would put one on but, NOPE. I didn't want to make a big deal as there were only two other tables in our dining room, but we won't be going back anytime soon even though the food was very good as was service.   Are you noticing that all of your favorite finer restaurants have eliminated some of your former favorites?  It seems to be the case wherever we have gone in the last few months.

READING

I caught up on some reading and reviews that I put off.

1. The Babysitter: My Summers with a Serial Killer (NF); Liz Rodman - 3.5/5 stars
2. Kill Your Darlings; David Bell - 4/5 Setting: KY
3. Dead By Dawn; Paul Doiron - 4/5 Setting: Maine
4. Mrs March; Virginia Feito - 5/5 Setting: NYC (briefly-Maine)

July Reading Favorites

JULY READS

1. The Temple House Vanishing; Rachel Donohue - 4/5 - Setting: Ireland (July)
2. Northern Spy; Flynn Berry - 4/5  Setting: Ireland
3. When the Stars Go Dark; Paula McLain - 3.5/5 Setting: CA
4. The Therapist; B.A. Paris - 3.5/5 Setting: London suburb
5. Swimming Back to Trout River; Linda Rui-Feng - 4.5/5 Setting: China and US
6. Malibu Rising; Taylor Jenkins Reid - 4/5 Setting: CA
7. Such a Quiet Place; Megan Miranda - 3.5/5 Setting: VA
8. Hairpin Bridge; Taylor Adams - 4/5 stars Setting: Montana
9. That Summer; Jennifer Weiner - 3/5 stars Setting: Cape Cod, MA and PA
10. The Guncle; Steven Rowley - 4.5/5 - Setting CA and CT
11. The Newcomer; Mary Kay Andrews - 4/5 - Setting: FL and NY
12. The Babysitter: My Summers with a Serial Killer (NF); Liz Rodman - 3.5/5 stars
13. Kill Your Darlings; David Bell - 4/5 Setting: KY
14. Dead By Dawn; Paul Doiron - 4/5 Setting: Maine
15. Mrs March; Virginia Feito - 5/5 Setting: NYC (briefly-Maine)

YTD Total (117) - YTD - DNF - (10)

Countries traveled to through the books I've read:  Ireland (2x) , London and China 

US States:  CA (3X), VA, MT, MA, PA, CT, FL, NY (2X)

August Plans

My eGalleys and review copies are a bit out of control to say the least so I want to try to be more on top os this moving forward. 

Here are (10) books that I hope to read or finish. - we will se how that goes.

1. Shoulder Season; Christina Clancy
2. We Are the Brennans; Tracey Lange (in process)
3. The Stranger Behind You; Carol Goodman (in process)
4. The Last Chance Library; Freya Sampson
5. No Touching; Ketty Rouf
6. Where I Left Her; Amber Garza  
7. Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead; Emily Austin
8. Getaway; Zoje Stage
9. His Only Wife; Peace Adzo Medle
10. Songbirds; Christy Lefteri

How was your month? Are there any books you are looking forward to?