Hello everyone,
WOW, where did August go!? Can you believe that summer is over!? *Cries*
The plus side: I am AMAZED by how much I accomplished this month: 35,000+ words on my manuscript, and I read/listened to seven books this month! (Not counting the book that I DNF’d, or the book that I am 90% done listening to as of today!) It’s a personal record that I am super, duper proud of 🙂
And psst……….. Did you guys notice the shiny new graphics?!
The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli (Audio) ★★★★/5
This is a heartwarming story about Molly who has had 26 crushes, but never actually dated. I love that this features a MC who is fat and takes medications for anxiety, and none of these traits had to be “fixed” by the end of the novel. I also love the amount of diversity in this book (lesbian parents, twin sister with a pansexual love interest, and YES, sperm donor babies)!!! Check out my review here.
When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandya Menon (Audio) ★★★/5
This was a super cute novel featuring who Indian characters, Dimple and Rishi, who have different takes on their traditional Indian upbringing. I love the diversity in this novel, but ohh… the cheese. Check out my review here.
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (Print) ★★★★★/5
This book tells the story of a girl, Melinda, who loses her voice after being sexually abused by a high school senior. With time, we watch as her wounds heal and she rediscovers herself and her own voice. Despite the subject matter, Melinda has a witty and dry sense of humour that makes me laugh. I absolutely loved this book and would read it again in a heartbeat!
The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger (Print) ★★★★/5
Holden Caulfield is expelled for the fourth time from his school. Instead of going home to face his family, he spends four days wandering New York city. During this time, we read about Holden’s thoughts, memories and experiences, as if he is confessing to us as a friend. I love that this book leaves us with something to think about, but it is a depressing, depressing book that was difficult to get through at times.
The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom (Print) ★★★.5/5
An 83-year-old man named Eddie is the maintenance guy for an amusement park. One day, he saves a girl from a falling cart in exchange for his own life. On his way to heaven, he meets 5 people whose lives have intersected with his. I love how the author uses simple language to convey strong emotions, though I am not used to the use of the omnipresent narrator. (How do you guys feel about omnipresent narrators?!)
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman (Audio) ★★★★/5
After losing his wife, Ove becomes a bitter man who lives a solitary life. Things begin to change when a cheerful couple moves in next door, as Ove rediscovers the kindness in his heart and comes to terms with his loss. This is a heart-wrenching book about grief and about healing. Ove is a complex character, and throughout the book, we learn about his past and how they shaped who he is as a person. Love this book, but warning: It is a sloooow book.
Him by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy (Audio) 4/5 stars
Jamie and Ryan were best friends as children, but things got weird during their last night as roommates at hockey camp. Now, as adults, they are in two different cities and drift out of touch. One day, the two meet again, and they have a chance to rekindle their friendship and maybe even let it become something more. This is a sizzling LGBT romance that got me hooked since day one. Absolutely loved it!!
The House of God by Samuel Shem (Audio) DNF
This book tells the story of medical interns and their lives. I liked House and Grey’s Anatomy, so I thought that this would be in the same flavour. I hated it. It is the first book that I’ve DNF’d since I’ve started blogging. The writing isn’t bad, and usually I don’t mind sex scenes that are well-written, but this book contains some of the worst, most distasteful and disturbing sex scenes I have ever read.
Here are some blog posts that inspired me this month that I want to share with you guys 🙂
- Why I Read YA by The Orang-Utan Librarian: As a twenty-something who still read YA, I can absolutely relate to EVERYTHING in this blog post!!
- Are Bookworms Too Materialistic? by Mikaela @ The Well-Thumbed Reader: Mikaela writes so many honest and thoughtful discussion posts. You should definitely check her blog out if you haven’t already!
- Annie’s Approach to Writer’s Block by Annie Earnshaw @ Annie Likes Words: As a writer, it is important to take care of our minds! I love the tips that Annie shares in this post 🙂
- How To Make Aesthetics 101 by Michelle @ The Writing Hufflepuff: Have you always wondered how to make aesthetics for your favourite book characters or characters in your own book?! Well… wonder no further and check out this awesome post!! Michelle makes it look SO easy and they turn out great!
- Emotional Responses: Crying by Melanie @ MNBernard Books: Ever thought about what makes you cry when you read a book or watch a movie? Melanie comes up with amazing discussion topics and this is one of my favourites this month!
How was the month of August for you? What were your favourite books? If you have any posts that you are proud of, please paste your link below and I will take a look! 🙂
SOPHIE LI 
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