My October Book of the Month picks

For October, Chose
Rumaan Alam — Leave the World Behind
Rose Carlyle — The Girl in the Mirror
Jane Igharo — Ties That Tether
Lisa Jewell — Invisible Girl
Naomi Novik — A Deadly Education
VE Schwab — The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

Imagine coasting through life without many friends. Imagine working at a job where you have to inspect a dead person‘s home to find out whether or not they have any living next of kin. That kind of job will do a number on your mental health. It‘ll make you question how you‘re living your life and who will be there when you die. Interesting read

Reading a novel about a pandemic that started in China while living through a pandemic that started in China! I read this book simply because the main character and I share a name. It was eerie to read this book as the nature of the book‘s pandemic is similar to current events. We‘re nearing 200,000 deaths — in the book 237,000. It‘s crazy to read what happens when a small amount of people survive and want to continue living.

Nicely written novel detailing a mother–daughter relationship torn apart by the death of a son|brother. Gifty‘s mother falls apart after the death of her son from an overdose. The death of Nana sends Gifty‘s mom into a deep seemingly everlasting depression and Gifty into a whirlwind of scientific discovery to determine why her brother just couldn‘t end his drug addiction.

My September Book of the Month picks have finally arrived. Two African American|Black Authors (Thank You BOTM 🙌🏾). Can‘t wait to get started reading

For September, I chose:

Fredrik Backman: Anxious People
Yaa Gyasi: Transcendent Kingdom
Ling Ma: Severance
Richard Roper: How Not To Die Alone
Ruth Ware: One By One
Isabel Wilkerson: Caste: The Origins of Our Discontent

I really loved this book! I couldn‘t put it down once I started reading! When the beginning of the relationship was being described, I had no idea it would be an interracial one (not that it mattered). Very interesting to be dating someone in an open relationship. I don‘t know if I could live with my lover, his wife and adopted black child after being evicted from my apartment, though! Great book

I felt like this book was a slow read. Once I was able to get past the first few pages, the story really started moving. The plot is basically about a young girl who is able to be transported to different versions of Earth to download|upload data about what‘s happening on that version of Earth (ie, population, etc). Interesting read.

This book was hauntingly heartbreaking! Vivek grew up knowing something was different about himself. He realized he wanted to dress like a woman and that he liked men. Such a shame to have to hide who you truly are so that everyone accepts you. Truly a must read

My August Book of the Month picks are here. All African American Black Authors (Thank You BOTM 🙌🏾). Can‘t wait to get started reading

For August, I chose:
Akwaeke Emezi — The Death of Vivek Oji
Micaiah Johnson — The Space Between Worlds
Raven Leilani — Luster

These are the books I read during the month of July

Jade Chang: The Wangs vs The World
Kristin Hannah: The Things We Do For Love
Ruth Ware: The Lying Game
Beatriz Williams: The Summer Wives
Katherine Center: What You Wish For
Michele Harper, MD: The Beauty in Breaking
Silvia Moreno–Garcia: Mexican Gothic
Alex North: The Shadows
Hannah Orenstein: Head Over Heels

😳 Imagine my surprise when I opened my copy of Beatriz Williams‘ The Summer Wives to find that not only was it an Advance Reader‘s Edition but also a signed copy!!

Nicely intersectionally (told during 1930, 1931, 1951 and 1969) written novel about a young girl who visits Winthrop Island for the summer due to her mother‘s impending marriage, meets a boy and falls in love. Tragedy occurs, she leaves and he‘s arrested. Drama ensues

The End of October is a very interesting book about a global pandemic without a vaccine in sight! Similar to what the world is facing now. Lawrence Wright started writing this novel in 2017 and was released in April 2020😳 To see the events come to fruition is astounding. As eerie as the book is, reading it is was tiresome. It had a slow build to it and then it leveled off. It took me a long time to read. But it‘s still worthwhile to check out.

This book resonated with me for a lot of reasons. I felt a lot like Bea felt. I‘m a plus–sized woman that for many reasons was stuck dreaming of love with a former flame. The way she felt about navigating life as a plus–sized woman made me feel seen. Clothes that aren‘t made to fit your form, people thinking they know about your life based off of your weight and the potential lack of love from men. This book is a great read

I‘ve heard a lot about Riley Sager and his novels!! Home Before Dark is my first foray in Riley Sager novels! Edge of your seat, page–turner. This book really had me waffling in my thoughts on whether what Maggie was experiencing was true or not. The ending was mind-blowing!

The Last Flight sort of reminded me of Sandra Brown‘s Mirror Image (a woman taking another woman‘s identity after a plane crash). It was just enough suspense to keep you turning the pages.

Brit Bennett is an amazing author!!! The Vanishing Half is about the Vignes Twins, twin sisters who runaway from home in the middle of the night!! Once away from home, the sisters live together until one decides to make a break for it and live a different and separate life than the other. The heartache in losing your other half and the lives led later is beautifully written by Brit. A definite must read.

My June Book of the Month picks have arrived. The candle smells amazing! Can‘t wait to get started reading

For June, I chose:
Brit Bennett: The Vanishing Half
Julie Clark: The Last Flight
Lawrence Wright: The End of October
Riley Sager: Home Before Dark
Kate Stayman-London: One to Watch
Lawrence Wright: The End of October

I also purchased Candice Carty–Williams: Queenie as a gift for my mother.

My May Book of the Month picks are here. There was actually an African–American| Black Author as one of Book of the Month picks. For May, I chose:

Farrah Rochon: The Boyfriend Project
Kimberly McCreight: A Good Marriage
Celeste Ng: Little Fires Everywhere.

Madison and Lillian spent one year together as roommates at Iron Mountain. Madison is found to have drugs in her room and Lillian takes the fall because all her mother sees is $$. Madison becomes successful. Lillian fails at life, until she gets a letter from Madison. I liked this book. I wished that Madison didn‘t seem so vapid and really sincerely apologized to Lillian. She came off as a huge user and Lillian just seemed to be in awe of her.

Look what I found when I left work today! One of Book of the Month‘s October 2016 books by Jade Chang: The Wangs vs the World | BTW: The cover is different than what is offered via BOTM

* Definitely can‘t wait to start reading

My April Book of the Month picks are here 😩 There were no African–American| Black Authors as Book of the Month picks for April

For April, I chose Lucy Foley‘s The Guest List and added January 2018 BOTM pick AJ Finn‘s The Woman In The Window (it‘s now a movie that I would like to see), July 2019 BOTM pick Katherine Center‘s Things You Save in a Fire and October 2019 BOTM pick Kevin Wilson‘s Nothing to See Here

This plot of this novel has been captured in many book pages. Someone is framed for murder and they fight to clear their name

I loved that the protagonist “has a certain set of skills” that can help him in his mission. The novel had a lot of action for a thriller. I liked that it was fast-paced. I, however, didn‘t like that there were so many chapters. 🤦🏽‍♀️This book DID NOT need 106 chapters for 334 pages

Here are my picks for the month of March. There were no African American|Black Authors selections and the Young Adult selections left a lot to be desired.

I chose Therese Ann Fowler‘s A Good Neighborhood and Matthew Quirk‘s Hour of the Assassin. I also purchased Bookmoji Pins.

Here are my picks for the month of February. ? Of course for February (Black History Month) Book of the Month, had an African American Author as a BOTM selection option. I chose Abi Daré‘s The Girl with the Louding Voice, Alechia Dow‘s The Sound of Stars and Graham Moore‘s The Holdout.

February Book of the Month ALSO marks my 12th box!!!! ?? I‘m officially a BOTM BFF.

😱😩 There were no African–American| Black Authors as Book of the Month picks for January. For January, I chose Simone St. James‘ The Sun Down Motel and added one extra book (which I think is a Book of the Month pick for BOTM Young Adult): Lamar Gile‘s Not So Pure and Simple

Over 110 hours of reading! Over 8000 pages read. The book stack of TWENTY–FOUR Books has been read. January was very productive for me

2020 Reading Goal | 📚 100 books (or more 😜)

For December, I chose Liz Moore‘s Long Bright River and added FOUR extra books: Gaël Faye‘s Small Country, Tarryn Fisher‘s The Wives, Maria Semple‘s Where‘d You Go Bernadette and David Yoon‘s Frankly In Love. I‘m so excited to start reading these novels.

For November, I chose Talia Hibbert‘s Get a Life, Chloe Brown and I added Ronnie Davis‘ When the Stars Lead to You, Natasha Diaz‘s Color Me In, Camryn Garrett‘s Full Disclosure, Lisa Jewell‘s The Family Upstairs and Jesmyn Ward‘s Salvage the Bones. And … that adds SIX books to my November Book Stack making the total TWENTY–ONE books to read this month. Happy Voracious Reading everyone!!

I didn‘t think I would like this book at first because of mythology explored. It has a very Mythological Mexican Cinderella quality to it. A young girl is despised by her family and made to be the “maid” of the house. A lie forces her to remain home while the family takes a trip, which leads to Cassiopeia learning some truths about her grandfather (major side eye to Pops). Eye-opening and exciting page-turner of a book. Would definitely recommend

Great read! Sometimes you just want to date without being serious and it becomes just that!! When Nikole‘s boyfriend ambushed her with a proposal at a baseball game, Carlos and his sister jump to her rescue after the fall out from her refusal! Nikole decides to rebound with Carlos and love happens

For October, I chose Ta-Nahesi Coates‘ The Water Dancer and I added Tressie McMillan Cottom‘s Thick, Ben Philippe‘s The Field Guide To the North American Teenager, Justin Reynolds‘ Opposite Of Always AND Damon Young‘s What Doesn‘t Kill You Makes You Blacker. Yes, I have added FIVE books to my list of TBR bringing my count up to NINETEEN books to be read this month. Happy Voracious Reading everyone 📚

There were no African–American|Black Authors as Book of the Month picks for September. I chose Søren Sveistrup‘s The Chestnut Man and added TWO extra books: Elizabeth Acevedo‘s With The Fire on High and Roxane Gay‘s Hunger. I was able to get my hands on Junauda Petrus‘ The Stars and the Blackness Between Them and Alix E. Harrow‘s The Ten Thousand Doors of January. I‘m excited to start reading. I just have to read ALL fourteen books I‘ve acquired.

📚 Went to Barnes & Noble to renew my membership! Left with a few book recommendations from MyLitBox. (Excuse the Bob‘s Burgers Book — my son loves burgers 🤦🏽‍♀️)

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Clemantine‘s story of survival through the Rwandan genocide is an emotionally heavy one that must be told. The story tells of the courage, resilience and strength she and her sister had to move from one camp to another (and eventually migrate to America). It also shows the different trajectory of the sisters lives, with Clemantine being fostered by a white suburban family. I‘m also glad to know there‘s no animosity between the sisters.

A Nearly Normal Family is a fast paced legal thriller that seems slow paced. It‘s told through multiple viewpoints of a married couple with a seemingly rebellious teenager who finds herself in serious trouble. A man has been murdered. Did Stella really do it or did someone else commit this heinous crime. Lying, committing obstruction of justice and tampering with evidence. The ending was absolutely mind blowing.

Imagine meeting someone who could be the love of your life on the worst day of your life? Would you bother to get to know them? Natasha and Daniel have to navigate this precarious situation in this young romance novel. A whirlwind one-day romance that you hope will make it to the next day. I was devastated at the ending.

We all have that one friend that constantly competes with us, wants all of the attention and thinks they‘re doing you a favor by being friends. Stella is that person. The novel was an interesting take on the interdependence of friendship, especially when one friend starts irritating the other as in Violet‘s case. All she wanted was something of her own and to step out of Stella‘s shadow

Little & Lion is an uplifting novel on teenagers dealing with sexuality and mental health. Little has to navigate through her sexuality and Lion has to navigate through his mental health issues. These are tough issues to deal with as a teenager, but the novel gets it right without feeling gimmicky.

I watched the movie before I read the book, yet Everything Everything was beautifully written. Examining the dynamics between Madeline and her mother made me think of Munchausen‘s Syndrome. It was amazing to read as Madeline and Olly‘s relationship changed from strangers to being in love. What would you do for love if you could be affected by the outside world. I was happy that Madeline separated from her mother and explored all she missed.

The Hate U Give was an excellent read. I was on an emotional rollercoaster throughout the book. This book is a mirror to what‘s going on in America. Police brutality against black|brown people without justice being served. I‘m glad Starr spoke up and told the truth about not just Khalil, but the events of his death. It also shows that code switching is exhausting for black people. I‘m glad Starr was able to be her authentic self by the book‘s end.

Claudia returns from summer vacation to find her friend, Monday, missing and no one can remember the last time they saw her. She experiences the dramatic breakdown of her life. She intensely searches for her friend, despite nonchalant attitudes about her disappearance. I couldn‘t put it down, the suspense kept me on the edge and took me through so many emotions. The events of the novel are heartbreaking, yet the ending is definitely mind–blowing.

Speak No Evil is a phenomenal story that touches on class, race, religion and sex. It would seem that Niru is your perfect child — excelling in school, sports and even earned acceptance to Harvard. Niru‘s stressors increase as he deals with the aftermath of his father‘s anger at the discovery that he is gay. The novel is heartbreaking and the ending left me blown away and speechless.

PS. Fuck Meredith for reals. #FuckMeredithWithAHugeBlackDildo

This book is actually an anthology of Black Women Authors telling what led them to become authors|writers. Their stories resonated within me as a reader! I‘m so happy they found their voices so I could find myself within the pages of any genre of writing. I also love the recommended list of books.

📚 I definitely have my work cut out for me this month!! NINE books to be read. My Barnes & Noble membership is coming in handy now. | BTW: I just finished Imbolo Mbue‘s “Behold the Dreamers”

Behold the Dreamers shares an interesting take on the immigrant experience. I envision that most immigrant stories begin similar to this. It was truly fascinating to see the Jongas story unfold from which Jende was desperate to stay and do everything to stay in America before leaving defeatedly back to his home of Limbe, Cameroon. Sometimes home is better and you need frustrating situations to prove it you.

I struggled to read this book. It was slow for me and I contemplated giving up and not finishing it. I heard such good things about the author and her writing, but this book didn‘t flesh out really well. It kept jumping from past to present. I felt like Zadie was trying to tell too many stories at once. I think the focus should have been on the unnamed main character and her friend Tracey. This book was disappointing and so was the ending.

Adding to my library feels so exhilarating! These are the few books I found while combing through Barnes & Nobles. Coincidentally (excluding the Dream Journal) all African American women authors. Can‘t wait to dive into these novels