TTT-Books Guaranteed to Put a Smile On Your Face

You ever stop and think about the books you read that make you happy? Or maybe even fill you with happy memories?

That’s what today’s Top Ten Tuesday is all about!

What is Top Ten Tuesday, you may ask?

Well, “Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.”

I’ve really enjoyed the books on this list, though thinking of ten was hard. Like seriously. Most of my books are filled with pain and anguish. Perks of reading sci-fi/fantasy!

On to the books!

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

Anyone who has read this book and doesn’t have this on their list is lying to you. I read it earlier this year and absolutely loved it. Everyone, including me, describes reading it as being wrapped in a warm hug. They aren’t wrong.

The Autobiography of Santa Claus by Jeff Guinn

I loved this book about Santa Claus. Of course I did, I’m a Christmas nut. It left me feeling all warm and cozy inside, which has desperately been needed in recent months. Plus, it’s a great book to read with some of your older kids. You might not find the topics of war and conflict appropriate for the youngest of readers.

The Comfort Book by Matt Haig

This series of essays and blurbs on things and thoughts that bring the author comfort in his darkest of times brought a smile to my face. He even includes playlists of TV shows, movies, and songs!

A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers

This heartwarming story about a tea monk and robot who simply wants to know what humanity needs asks some interesting questions about humanity, all while making you smile. It’s a gentle (and short) read. And I enjoyed every minute of it.

Snug: A Collection of Comics About Dating Your Best Friend by Catana Chetwynd

Catana Comics are utterly heartwarming. She posts regularly on Instagram, but this collection also contains new (as of 2020) comics guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

This book is a complicated one to add to the list. But I love it and it makes me smile to think about it! Plus positive trans rep!

Fangs by Sarah Anderson

The illustrated love story between a vampire and a werewolf. It came out last year and I loved it! It was sweet and wholesome, as much as anything involving vampires and werewolves can be. I mean, they cuddle while he’s in wolf form. It’s adorable!

Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson

Jenny Lawson has a way of making you smile through the pain of your depression. I really enjoy each of her books, but her first one is special. The audiobook is fantastic. Brings a smile to my face, and makes me laugh out loud every time I read/listen to it.

Mother, Can You Not? By Kate Seigel

This is another one where the audiobook is amazing. Especially because the authors mother helps narrate the book. I was wandering through a store listening to this and laughing out loud. I need to listen to this again. Definitely brings a smile to my face.

Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett

I’m love this book. The irreverent British humor gets me every time. This book always brings a smile to my face. Of course, the excellent TV series didn’t hurt the books popularity either.

What books bring a smile to your face?

All the Books I Bought in August 2021

Well.

I seem to have bought a few books last month.

Oops.

The Humans by Matt Haig

An Alien comes to Earth to stop a scientist after he solves a math equation and steps into his life. This was a book club pick that, due to a hectic month, I wasn’t able to read. I am determined to read this one this year.

A Cosmology of Monsters by Shaun Hamill

Just like his father, who built a park around them, Noah sees monsters. But unlike the rest of his family, Noah opens the door and lets them in. This book has been on my radar since it came out last year and when I saw it at my used book store I snatched it up!

Falling & Uprising by Natalie Cammaratta

Serenity never questioned her island’s boasting as the last dry land on Earth, but soon she begins to question everything. This was written by one of the members of one of my books clubs! Huzzah!

The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green

This is basically John Green reviewing the current geological age. He reviews geese y’all. Geese. I bought it for that alone. Also, if you want to pick it up, every first edition is signed by the author.

Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon

Vern is seven months pregnant and fleeing the only life she has ever known for the safety of the woods. But even in the woods, Vern is hunted. I picked this up in the B&N book haul sale, where books were 50% off.

The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas

Starr lives in two worlds, her prep school, and her home life. But when her childhood best friend is killed by police, it upends her communities. And only Starr knows the truth of what really happened that night. This book feels like a very relevant and important read. So glad I found it at my local used book store.

The Walking Land by Callie Bates

When Elanna is accused of the murder of the king who raised her, she must flee back to the land where she was born, and the birth father she despises. I picked this one up from my favorite used book store in Knoxville, TN, McKay’s!

Provenance by Anne Leckie

Ingray wants nothing more than to take her place in her mother’s kingdom as her rightful heir. So she hatches a plan to free a thief and steal an artifact. Sounded fun and the author has a great reputation. Another McKay’s find!

The World Gives Way by Marissa Levien

Myrra is a contract worker with the Carlyles family, with fifty years left on her contract. But when they die, she must go on the run with their baby, and their terrible secret. Also there is a spaceship. So yeah, another Barnes and Noble book haul find.

The Inheritance of Orquidea Davina by Zoraida Cordova

Orquidea Divina lives a strange life. her pantry never runs dry and she never leaves her land. Ever. So when she summons her family to her side, they expect answers, that they don’t get. Now it’s seven years later and her family has received several powers, but an unknown enemy is determined to destroy them. Um, yes. I got this through Book of the Month. Sounds so good.

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Piranesi has a house. It has infinite corridors. Oh, and an ocean in it. I picked this one up through Book of the Month as well. So excited to read it.

The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren

Jess had given up on love, until she heard about a dating service that uses DNA based matching. But surprisingly, she is matched, at 98%, to the companies founder. I’m still not sold on this whole modern romance thing, but I didn’t hate In a Holidaze (I gave it 3 stars) so I thought I’d give another book by these authors a try.

Supernova Era by Cixin Liu

A star has died and it will shower the earth in deadly radiation. It’ll take a year, but everyone over the age of thirteen will die. What a concept.

Axiom’s End by Lindsey Ellis

Cora’s father may or may not be the whistle blower that told the world the truth about extra terrestrials. But Cora wants nothing to do with her father, or the press that seems to be following her around. A story about aliens? I’ll take it. A good used book store find.

And there you have it. My book store finds this month. It’s a bit of a long list, so I think I’m not going to buy very many books this month. I’m hoping I can get away with just the book club picks. And one of those I already own!

Every Book I Read (Sorta)-August 2021

So this was the month of my first themed TBR. Greek setting/myth retellings. I pretty much failed. Kind of like how my cat sat on my book’s dust jacket and completely ruined it.

Le sigh.

So here’s the books I read or didn’t finish cause the library took them back before I was done.

Yeah, that happened to.

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

The story about what is, essentially, a robot and her relationship with the world around her. This book wasn’t blowing my mind, but I was only halfway through when the library reclaimed it. I am back on the waiting list for it for now. But it was a solid 3 star read for me, for what I read.

The Comfort Book by Matt Haig

It’s a book of essays and chapters about the things and thoughts that bring the author comfort when he’s struggling. I really enjoyed this book. It has a lot of quotable lines in it, which is great if your looking for that pearl of wisdom to hold to through a dark day. 4 stars.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

If you don’t know by now, this is the story of Percy Jackson, a demigod, who is charged with finding Zeus’ lightning bolts. As usual, the book is much better than the movie, but I only gave the book 3 stars. No particular reason. It wasn’t terrible, but it also wasn’t great. So yeah, 3 stars. I have heard the series gets better though, so I may continue it.

I just don’t know.

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

A retelling of the Iliad, this is the story of Patroclus and Achilles. And I didn’t like it. I know, unpopular opinion. I just didn’t like the overly flowery prose. I couldn’t get past it. Drove me nuts. Sorry folks, I gave this 1 star and DNF’d it.

Ariadne by Jennifer Saint

The story of the Minotaur’s sister. It just wasn’t for me. I may try to read it again in the future, but for right now, it’s a no for me. 1 star.

Introducing Quantum Theory: A Graphic Guide to Science’s Most Puzzling Discovery by J.P. McEvoy, Oscar Zárate

This is the illustrated story of quantum physics. I love physics. I did not love this. It took me two months to read. Two months! The Horror! I did end up giving it 3 stars, but I can’t remember anything I read, so there’s that.

Now on to everyone’s favorite part of the post, the stats! As always, the stats come from The Storygraph. Want to see yours? What are you waiting for? Go join!

Moods

Well, apparently I was feeling emotional this month, as I picked three emotional books. I also picked three adventurous books, so you know, all’s normal there.

Pace

The pace of my books was split evenly between the three categories. I kind of love that.

Page Numbers

One book under three hundred pages? Only one? I must up my short story intake! Or, I could not view this as a failure and look at it as if reading five books over three hundred pages is a positive thing, because it is.

Fiction VS. Non-Fiction

I read two non-fiction books this month! Two! This far out strips my usual reading average of none!

Genre

This month was an interesting mix of genres. But what does literary mean? Is that just fiction that they are struggling to find a place for? Because I thought Klara and the sun was Sci-Fi, but it was listed as literary. Oh well.

Ratings

In a shocking move by me, I have no five star books this month. None. Nada. Zip. Zilch. I may be broken. Also a non-fiction book got four stars! Well, dang.

And there you have it everyone! My books and stats for the month of August! I don’t think I did too bad considering I was out of town for two weeks and had no time to read.

Go me!

But I failed at my TBR, so maybe not go me?

Oh well. Them’s the breaks!

WWW Wednesday-September 1st!

And just like that it’s a whole new month! Welcome friends, to September!

Fall is almost here!

Although I did buy a fall candle on Monday, so does that mean it has already arrived in my house? Ooh, can I put out my pumpkins? Would my husband be a fan of Halloween in September?

I’m going to go with no on that last one. He always asks me to wait on the Halloween decorations.

But why wait, I ask you? Why wait?

Oh dear, I seem to have lost the plot, which is WWW Wednesday! It’s a bookish meme hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words. All you have to do is answer the three W’s: What are you currently reading? What did you recently finish reading? What do you think you’ll read next?

What are you currently reading?

Heartless by Gail Carriger

I loved the last three books in this series and had purchased the whole run, but I hadn’t finished it. So I thought, well, why not work on that? So I am. Totally makes sense.

What did you recently finish reading?

Introducing Quantum Theory: A Graphic Guide to Science’s Most Puzzling Discovery by J.P. McEvoy, Oscar Zárate

This book took me two months to slough through, and I remember none of it. At all. Not one iota. You can ask me anything about quantum theory and my reply will be “whatever”. I’m more interested in cosmology or astrophysics. That holds my attention and I can retain that information. But, if you are into quantum theory and want to learn more, this book may be for you.

What do you think you’ll read next?

Timeless by Gail Carriger

I suppose I’ll try and finish the Parasol Protectorate series, now won’t I? This is the last book in the series, but thanks to The Storygraph, I have learned there are tiny little stories set in the world that I now have to track down and find. Bother.

The Hike by Drew Magary

This is the pick for the month of September for the Literarily Wasted book club. If you’re a Sci-fi/Fantasy fan, go join! You can find them on the Facebook in two places, the official page where they host the book club meetings twice a month for one hour each time (online!), or the lounge, which is for members to gather and talk. Each month they split the book in twain, you read up to a certain point and that’s the point the first discussion is up to when they do the live chat. At the end of the month they discuss they whole book. It’s a lot of fun.

So I’m a mood reader (What? No? You’ve never mentioned this before she say’s sarcastically) so who knows if those will actually be the two books I get to next, but we shall see!

Monthly Wrap Up August 2021

Huzzah! We survived another month of sweltering heat temperatures here in Texas.

Whew.

Also, I hope everyone who is in the path of Hurricane Ida is safe and secure. You’re in my prayers.

Today we do as usual, and make a nice list of all the posts in August.

Every Book I Read July 2021: Why is it that the only thing I can ever think of saying here is “it is what it says on the tin”?

TTT-Titles or Covers That Made Me Want to Read/Buy the Book: This was my very first Top Ten Tuesday. And I have loved doing them.

WWW Wednesday-August 4th!: Looking back at what I was reading at any given time is awesome. And WWW Wednesday helps with that. I am definitely not doing this every week. Cause reasons.

Every Book I Bought In July 2021: This is a list of all the books I bought in July. Wait until you see August’s list.

A Month of Myths-An August 2021 TBR: I set a themed TBR this month. Stay tuned to see how I did. Spoiler alert, not well.

Every New Release I Want-August 2021: I had fun searching the interwebs for the newest of new releases this month. It always brings me joy.

Souless-A Book Review: I reviewed one book this month. And I loved it!

TTT-Favorite Places to Read: I made of list of, shocker, my favorite places to read. One of them was the beach? I hate the beach. What was I thinking?

Book Series I need to Finish: I might have a problem not completing series once I start them. Too many books come out, okay!

Anything But Books Tag: This is a post where you learned a little bit about me, and not about books. Mostly it was an excuse to talk about Gargoyles and SG-1.

TTT for Aug 24-Books I Wish I Could Read Again For the First Time: Ah, to start all over again with a beloved book. That was the point of this post.

And there you have it! All the posts I posted in August! Which was your favorite?

TTT for Aug 24- Books I Wish I Could Read Again for the First Time

It’s Tuesday! That means that it’s Top Ten Tuesday time!

What is Top Ten Tuesday, you may ask?

“Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.”

This weeks topic is books I wish I could read again for the first time. I knew I had to do this one. Because I have so many. So, so many.

1. The Dragon Prince by Melanie Rawn

Has there ever been a time when I haven’t raved about this book? I first read it my freshman year of high school and I loved it. It’s been a regular re-read of mine for years.

2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling

Oh to read Harry Potter for the first time…again. I was eighteen when this book first came out and didn’t start reading them until the third book had been released. But they are wonderful, aren’t they? Also, because reasons, Trans lives matter.

3. Taliesin by Stephen R. Lawhead

I loved this start to the Pendragon cycle, and I’ve read it a few times since that first time, but nothing beat that first time of seeing that quiet finishing village.

4. The Last Dragon Lord by Joanne Bertin

This book came out 22 years ago, and I would love to read the story of humans that can turn into Dragons for the first time. It’s seems the book is out of print, but you can still pick it up on Kindle!

5. Naked in Death by J.D. Robb

I have every book in this soon to be 54 book series. But that first book was something special.

6. Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

Ah to be young again. Or maybe not be 12 years old when I read this book for the first time. Cause yes, I read this book the first year it came out.

7. The Black Gryphon by Mercedes Lackey

This was my first Mercedes Lackey book, and here we are, 26 years later, and I’m still reading them. But it would be amazing to pick this up as if I’ve never read it before.

8. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

This book was so very good. It’s in my top ten books of all time, for sure. But I’ll never be able to read it for the first time again. So sad.

9. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

While I didn’t love the way the book series ended (or the TV Show ending, lets be honest) I loved the way it started. And to read that all over for the first time? Yes please.

10. Black Sun Rising by C.S. Friedman

This story had one of the most intriguing openings I have ever read in a book. It was creepy for a fantasy book, and I’d love to read that for the first time.

There is my list. My very short list. I could do this list at least one more time.

And yes, I know most of these books are old. I’m 40!

What books that you loved would you like to pick up for the first time if you could?

Book Series I Need to Finish

So I seem to have a problem.

I start a book series, fully intending on finishing it, and then I get distracted by other books and simply don’t finish the series in a timely fashion. Often times this results in me wanting to start the series over and then, repeating the original problem of not finishing the series…again.

Or three new books in the series come out before I get to the end of the books I already do have and have to finish those new books and, well, see above paragraph.

Please tell me I’m not alone in this.

So below is a list of the series I have started, but haven’t completed.

The Hazel Wood Series by Melissa Albert

Alice’s grandmother wrote a book called Tales from the Hinterland. When Alice’s mother is kidnapped by someone claiming to be from the Hinterlands, she must go after her. And thus Alice’s adventures begin. I gave the first book in the first series, The Hazel Wood, 4 stars. One of the few YA books to get such a high rating from me. I liked it enough to pick up the second book (I’ve had it since last year), and the third book is on my Amazon wishlist.

Swords and Fire Series by Melissa Caruso

Raverran mages are closely regulated, and up until now Zaira has avoided being caught. But when Amelia accidentally tethers her, their lives become inextricably bound. I loved the first two books in this series, giving both books 4 stars. I just haven’t finished the last book yet. Didn’t stop me from buying the first book in the authors newest series though, did it?

Mistborn Series by Brandon Sanderson

For a thousand years the Lord Ruler reigned. They were going to overthrow him. Hopefully. I read the first book and gave it 5 stars. I love the fully realized magic system and the world the author created. I’m not entirely sure why I haven’t finished this series yet, but I need to. And the Hubs agrees.

The Wicked Years Series by Gregory Maguire

The story of the Wicked Witch of the West. I love the first book and have the entire series and the second book has been siting on my TBR cart for months. It was even on one of my TBR’s last year.

The Poppy War Series by R.F. Kuang

Rin is a war orphan who won a place at a prestigious military school. This is dark fantasy story about the horrors of war and normally I don’t go for the grim dark of it all, but this book gripped me. I gave it 4 stars and it was one of the first books I reviewed on the blog, back before this was even a book blog.

Crown of Stars by Kate Elliot

The Crown of Stars series is great, from what I can remember of it. I read the first few books fifteen years ago, and then never finished the series, even though I now own them all. I need to get to that. Also, I am of the firm belief that this series should be turned into a TV show ala Game of Thrones (and yes, I know, I still haven’t finished the books but I want a show!). Bonus points to it because this series is actually finished.

The Wheel of Time Series by Robert Jordan (and the last few by Brandon Sanderson)

This 15 book series is largely regarding as some of the best fantasy out there, and I am only halfway through the first book. To be fair, I’m listening to it as an audiobook and that thing is over 30 hours long. Full disclosure, I’ve been listening to it for over a year, but I’ve enjoyed what I’ve listened to. I just haven’t finished it yet. Bad Lauren. Also, isn’t that special edition pretty? I’m having a very hard time convincing the Hubs that we need them, cause pricey.

So yeah, there are all the series I need to finish. I’m pretty sure there are more I own or just haven’t read in years. Because books.

What book series have you not finished?

TTT-Favorite Places to Read

Hooray! It’s Tuesday!

After skipping last weeks option, which is secondary characters that deserved more love (I swear I sat down to do it and my mind just went blank), I figured it was time to get back to it with this weeks list.

A list of favorite places to read.

But what is the TTT, you may ask?

“Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.”

On to the list!

1.My Comfy Couch.

This is my favorite spot in the whole house. I can sit and watch TV, read, embroider, read, cuddle with my cat, read. I do an awful lot of reading in this spot. Also, I put my TBR cart right next to it so if I need a book I can just reach over and grab one.

2.The Airplane

I traveled a lot more pre-Covid, and once I got my vaccine I’ve travelled quite a bit since then. But the airplane has always been one of my favorite places to read. Mostly because reading on a plane gets my undivided attention. It also makes flying a little more bareable.

3.In Line

So this is a weird one. And pre-pandemic I did this a lot. I would end up in a long line at the grocery store or somewhere, and be bored. I started having a book on my kindle app just for this purpose. I would only get a few pages in at a time, so some may say this one is weird, but it works for me.

4. On the Beach

Now, anyone who has actually met me knows that I dislike the beach, on account of how my fair skins burns like a lobster in a pot in 5 minutes flat. The only thing that makes the beach bearable, besides sunscreen and a jaunty hat, is a good book. Okay, so maybe this isn’t a favorite place, but it’s a place where you can always find me with a book. Always.

5. In A Hotel Room

Trips are often hectic times with lots of stuff planned to do, but when you get back to your hotel, winding down is important after such a busy day. That’s when I pull out the Kindle and read for a little while. Kindles are great for trips, aren’t they?

6.My Bed

Well, this had to come up eventually, didn’t it? I mean, we knew it was going to happen. Reading in bed is my way to relax my brain after the long day of reading I’ve been doing. I can’t sleep if I haven’t read something whilst tucked in.

7. In the Salon Chair

I dye my hair lots of fun colors. It’s been purple since December and that’s probably going to change soon. But a great way to pass the time while my color is processing is by reading. This goes back to having a book on my phone at all times. It really helps and I highly recommend it.

8. In the Chair at My Mother’s House

Sorry folks, no picture of this one, as I am not currently in Florida to get one. But I will tell you, this recliner is so comfy. And it’s got a good sized table beside it for snacks and beverages. Always a plus.

9. The Lanai at My In Laws House

I’m sorry, but look at that view. That’s the view from my In-Laws back patio. I will forever love taking a book out there. They have such cozy chairs too.

10. Pretty Much Anywhere I Am

Is this one a cop out? No, I don’t think so. I’m happy to read anywhere. In the car going somewhere, at someone else’s house, on the moon…with Steve. If you get that last one, we can be friends. In short, I’m happy to plop down anywhere there is space for some book reading. Aren’t you?

Where do you like to read most?

Every New Release I Want-August 2021

I have searched the finest internets to find these, the newest of releases!

Huzzah!

Shard of Earth by Adrian Tchaikovsky-August 3rd

The war is over. Its heroes forgotten. Until one chance discovery . . . Idris has neither aged nor slept since they remade him in the war. And one of humanity’s heroes now scrapes by on a freelance salvage vessel, to avoid the attention of greater powers. After earth was destroyed, mankind created a fighting elite to save their species, enhanced humans such as Idris. In the silence of space they could communicate, mind-to-mind, with the enemy. Then their alien aggressors, the Architects, simply disappeared—and Idris and his kind became obsolete. Now, fifty years later, Idris and his crew have discovered something strange abandoned in space. It’s clearly the work of the Architects—but are they returning? And if so, why? Hunted by gangsters, cults and governments, Idris and his crew race across the galaxy hunting for answers. For they now possess something of incalculable value, that many would kill to obtain.

I’ve heard good things about this particular author, but I’ve never read any of his other work. This seems a good place to start.

Holdout by Jeffrey Kluger-August 3rd

Walli Beckwith is a model astronaut. She graduated at the top of her class from the Naval Academy, had a successful career flying fighter jets, and has spent more than three hundred days in space. So when she refuses to leave her post aboard the International Space Station following an accident that forces her fellow astronauts to evacuate, her American and Russian colleagues are mystified. For Walli, the matter at hand feels all too clear and terrifying for her to be worried about ruining her career. She is stuck in a race against time to save a part of the world that seems to have been forgotten, and also the life of the person she loves the most. She will go to any length necessary, using the only tool she has, to accomplish what she knows is right.

Mysteries! In space! Aboard the ISS! Also, that cover is fabulous.

The Pariah by Anthony Ryan-August 24th

Born into the troubled kingdom of Albermaine, Alwyn Scribe is raised as an outlaw. Quick of wit and deft with a blade, Alwyn is content with the freedom of the woods and the comradeship of his fellow thieves. But an act of betrayal sets him on a new path – one of blood and vengeance, which eventually leads him to a soldier’s life in the king’s army.
 
Fighting under the command of Lady Evadine Courlain, a noblewoman beset by visions of a demonic apocalypse, Alwyn must survive war and the deadly intrigues of the nobility if he hopes to claim his vengeance. But as dark forces,
both human and arcane, gather to oppose Evadine’s rise, Alwyn faces a choice: can he be a warrior, or will he always be an outlaw?

Betrayal, the apocalypse, and venegance? I’ll take it. Sounds like a season of Buffy the Vampire slayer to me.

The Other Me by Sarah Zachrich Jeng- August 10th

Her birthday should be like any other night.

One minute Kelly’s a free-spirited artist in Chicago going to her best friend’s art show. The next, she opens a door and mysteriously emerges in her Michigan hometown. Suddenly her life is unrecognizable: She’s got twelve years of the wrong memories in her head and she’s married to Eric, a man she barely knew in high school.

Racing to get back to her old life, Kelly’s search leads only to more questions. In this life, she loves Eric and wants to trust him, but everything she discovers about him—including a connection to a mysterious tech startup—tells her she shouldn’t. And strange things keep happening. The tattoos she had when she was an artist briefly reappear on her skin, she remembers fights with Eric that he says never happened, and her relationships with loved ones both new and familiar seem to change without warning.

But the closer Kelly gets to putting the pieces together, the more her reality seems to shift. And if she can’t figure out what happened on her birthday, the next change could cost her everything…

This is time travel-y. I like the sound of this one.

In the Watchful City by S. Qiouyi Lu- August 31st

The city of Ora is watching.

Anima is an extrasensory human tasked with surveilling and protecting Ora’s citizens via a complex living network called the Gleaming. Although ær world is restricted to what æ can see and experience through the Gleaming, Anima takes pride and comfort in keeping Ora safe from harm.

When a mysterious outsider enters the city carrying a cabinet of curiosities from around with the world with a story attached to each item, Anima’s world expands beyond the borders of Ora to places—and possibilities—æ never before imagined to exist. But such knowledge leaves Anima with a question that throws into doubt ær entire purpose: What good is a city if it can’t protect its people?

This book sounds very intriguing. I wants it.

The Shimmering State by Meredith Westgate- August 10th

Lucien moves to Los Angeles to be with his grandmother as she undergoes an experimental memory treatment for Alzheimer’s using the new drug, Memoroxin. An emerging photographer, he’s also running from the sudden death of his mother, a well-known artist whose legacy haunts Lucien.

Sophie has just landed the lead in the upcoming performance of La Sylphide with the Los Angeles Ballet Company. She still waitresses at the Chateau Marmont during her off hours, witnessing the recreational use of Memoroxin—or Mem—among the Hollywood elite.

When Lucien and Sophie meet at The Center, founded by the ambitious yet conflicted Dr. Angelica Sloane to treat patients who’ve abused Mem, they have no memory of how they got there—or why they feel so inexplicably drawn to each other. Is it attraction, or something they cannot remember from “before”?

Books that play with memory have become more and more interesting to me recently. But having your memory messed with by a drug, now that’s interesting.

What books are you looking forward to this month?

A Month of Myths-An August 2021 TBR

As you can guess by the title, I have decided to dedicate this month to retellings. But not just any retellings. Greek myth retellings.

Why am I doing this, you may be asking? Well, it’s because I have a few of them (re:5) and I want to read them. Plus I bought one I had my eye on specifically for this TBR, so that’s fun.

On to the books!

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

The story of Patroclus, Achilles and the Trojan war. I have been told to expect feelings while reading this. So yeah.

Circe by Madeline Miller

This is the story of Circe, the sorceress from the Odyssey. It sounds fascinating and I’ve had it for a while, so I’m looking forward to reading it.

A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes

The story of the women at the heart of The Trojan War. Yes, another Trojan War story. It’s a pretty famous conflict.

Lore by Alexandra Bracken

Some of the ancient gods rebelled, now every seven years they must walk the world as mortals, only to be hunted by ancient enemies. This one just sounds good, and, bonus, a friend of mine really liked it.

Ariadne by Jennifer Saint

Ariadne is the sister to the famed Minotaur of Crete. This is her story. The minotaur isn’t a story that gets told enough, so it will be fun to read this one.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

The half human son of Neptune goes to a camp for other half human children of the Greek pantheon. I’ve wanted to read this one for a while, basically ever since I saw the movie, which I have since learned is a very bad interpretation of the books.

And there you have it, my TBR for the month of August. Here’s hoping I can finish all of these!