It’s August!  Where did the summer go?  Hopefully, you’ve grabbed some of the sunny days to plop down on the beach, yap on the front stoop, or hang at the newly done Dorchester Heights park.  I’ve been buzzing through books and know when it’s hot – nobody wants to read a tired, long review, so here’s a quick list of what I’ve been reading, and we’d love to hear what you’ve had on your shelves.

What I read this month: 

The Favorites, by Layne Fargo:

No notes.  I loved it.  LOVED it.

At first, I didn’t pick it up because I thought I’d be bored by the figure skating elements, but I was wrong.  The background of the competitions for these two young skaters allowed us to see the desperation to reach #1 – whether it was a gold medal, family relationships, or love interests.  Half the time, I couldn’t breathe imagining some dance routine on skates (?), and the other half was waiting to see what the characters would do to each other.  It was very much like Tonya Harding bashing Nancy Kerrigan’s knee, but modern and detailed.

The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard, by Natasha Hester:

Another book that I had simmering on my shelves that I didn’t grab until this summer.  It circles family relationships (specifically mothers) and fashion design with a sprinkle of world wars and Paris, France- all woven into three storylines.   1.)  Blythe, newly divorced, occasionally designs for a celebrity or a show.  She has recently been approached to revive her mother’s designs, revamping and renewing them with her own eye.  Her storyline follows her divorce and relationship with her children and in-laws.  She is constantly battling what her next steps should be and is torn between multiple decisions.  2.)  We meet her mother, Astrid (in her younger years), in the first pages, making bold moves at Parsons School of Design in NYC, but being put down by leaders of the industry every time she pulls ahead.  Her designs are breathtaking, new, and vibrant – but are often questioned as to whether they are truly her own ideas.  She is the muse for another designer, Hawk Jones.  On every page, Astrid is fighting to make her name and her legacy.  I imagine her to be like Marilyn Monroe, or a similar figurehead in the news – lovely, captivating, but their own story and words hidden by what everyone else thinks.  3.)  Mizza, the original muse (Astrid’s mother and Blythe’s grandmother), introduces us to how the family originally got into the world of fashion and how fashion played a role during the time of war.  This timeline I felt the least connected to, as I feel that it could have been a story by itself, and it skipped over many details to make it a hearty tale.  However, that would have also made the book 1,000 more pages, so I understand why the author didn’t elaborate more.  After some light Googling, it seems that Mizza Bricard was a true muse for Christian Dior back in the day – however, the rest of the story is fiction!

Overall, it was an enjoyable book with topics and characters new to me, featuring a fast-paced story (even though it was long!), and I loved how the women were fighting back to have their voices heard through fashion.

The Island, by Adrian McKinty

Easy and cheesy.  The beach read of thrillers.  A family vacation gone wrong on a small island off the coast of Australia that’s overrun by a family that thinks they are the law.  It’s a little The Most Dangerous Game with modern twists, that I could imagine being a Lifetime movie.

The Wedding People, by Alison Espach

Eye-catching cover, but not a beach read like I’d originally thought.  I know the masses enjoyed this one, which is why I finished it… But I wish I didn’t.  I found the characters to be slightly pathetic (sorry?), and the overall vibe was depressing.  I’d skip it!

My Friend Anna, by Rachel DeLoache Williams

I’d actually watched the Netflix series first (shocker), and have had this book on my shelf for years.  I wasn’t sure if I would read it, given I already knew what happened, but while in a reading rut, I picked it up.  Throughout the entire book, I had a hard time deciding who I thought was worse – Anna, who lied and deceived her friends to use thousands of their dollars, or Rachel, who turned a blind eye to Anna’s obvious behavior.  Imagine being stuck with a new friend’s $62,000 hotel bill?  Then their disappearance on you?  Even typing this makes me angry.  However, this car crash of a friendship was worth the show and worth the book.

The Same Bright Stars, by Ethan Joella

This book was sweet.  Definitely a beach read and definitely something you could finish in an afternoon.  It takes place on Rehoboth Beach, with the main character, Jack, running his family’s restaurant and taking care of those who work for him.  He grapples with giving in and selling to developers, who want to revamp it and make it somewhat of a chain-type restaurant, versus continuing with tradition.  He’s tied up in his commitment to his workers and the love of tradition, but he’s ready for a well-deserved break.  The best part of this book is that it almost rocks you to sleep in your beach chair because you can imagine yourself in this beach town and grabbing a bite at this restaurant.  It’s comforting.  I wouldn’t say it’s a blockbuster book, and you won’t miss out if you don’t pick it up, but if you’re looking for a lovely read before Labor Day, this is a good one to grab.

Other Books I Read and Loved in July:

• Lessons in Chemistry, by Bonnie Garmus – Recommend it!  One that’s been reviewed so many times and is a show that I’m going to start right now!

• The Return of Ellie Black, by Emiko Jean- Recommend it!  A thriller unlike others I’ve read, and kept me guessing until the end.

• Like Mother, Like Daughter, by Kimberly McCreight – Recommend it!

• Lies and Weddings, by Kevin Kwan- Somewhat recommend, but could also skip it!

• All the Other Mothers Hate Me, by Sarah Harman – Recommend it!  Hilarious.  I’m not a mother, and I cackled the whole time reading it.  I’m guessing mothers would take it as a breath of fresh air, as the writer occasionally calls the children little shits and other names, all in the umbrella of honesty.

• The Names, by Florence Knapp- Recommend it!

• One Golden Summer, by Carley Fortune- Recommend it!   If you’re a lake girl over an ocean girl, grab this.  Romantic, and you can smell the trees as you read.

Books I Couldn’t Get Into (but let me know if I should try again):

• Confess, by Colleen Hoover

• Absolution, by Alice McDermott

• The Third Wife, by Lisa Jewell

If you’ve made it this far, thank you.  Let us know if you’ve read any of these choices or want to share what you’ve got next on your list, please do so via the comments on @caughtinsouthie or catch me at @glossinbossin / @josiegl on Instagram.

All of the above hard copies have been put in Free Little Libraries in the Southie neighborhood (unless it was a Kindle version).  Enjoy.