This was a busy month of reading (just the way I like it!) Three thrillers, an old-Hollywood style memoir/mystery, and a satire… it was a good month! If you read one thing from this list make it The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo – so, so good! I can’t stop thinking about it. As always, for more recommendations you can check out my Book Club page, where you can filter all of my favorite books by genre… and also take a peek at last month’s reading list!
AND… (if you have a moment!) Please comment and tell me what you are reading… your suggestions are always my favorite… I literally shop the comments section of these posts… you guys have such good recommendations!
* Party Girls Die In Pearls by Plum Sykes was a reader recommendation. I had been in the mood for something fluffy and juicy and while this one was that (it’s a fun Nancy Drew style mystery set in the eighties at Oxford), it was more complex than I had anticipated. It was a really fun read, and I could not put it down. And, I didn’t guess the ending which has been happening quite a bit lately. In the beginning I had a hard time following along (all of the characters – mostly aristocrats had funny nicknames, so it was a bit confusing) but once I got them all straight, I was hooked!
* The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid may have been the best book I read all summer. I can’t decide, as that’s a rather grand statement. But it’s literally nothing like what I thought it would be and I absolutely devoured it – reading it in all of 24 hours. Evelyn Hugo is an aging old Hollywood star and commissions a rather unheard of journalist to do an interview with her. Her story is a wild one – heart warming, glamorous, deceitful at times… you won’t be able to put it down. As her story unwinds, it becomes obvious that Evelyn + Monique (the journalist) have intertwined lives. I can’t say enough good things about this… I still get chills just thinking about the plot!
* Startup by Doree Shafrir (a long time Buzzfeed editor which makes sense) is best explained by one of my best friends (and former BaubleBar co-workers). It isn’t a great book, but it’s good… and if you’ve ever worked at a startup or tech company, you will get such a kick out of it! This one didn’t remind me of BaubleBar which was (lucky for me) female-founded and a very girl-power culture… but after attending so many panels and networking events in that space you (I may get in trouble for writing this) become so weary of many of the men in that world. The overinflated egos and self-importance.. yuck. So I loved this story which involves a young female journalist who essentially manages to take down the (overconfident, egotistical) founder of one of the big NYC startups. It’s satire at it’s finest… you may not appreciate it if you aren’t familiar with the startup world but if you are I think you will love it! It’s funny and empowering.
* The Lying Game by Ruth Ware is a book I’d been really excited for as my aunt raved and raved about it, and I loved The Woman in Cabin 10 (read my review of that here). This one is about four women who were high school best friends and endured a traumatic event during boarding school. Something happens that brings them all back to the town they went to school in, and a little Agatha Christie-style mystery ensues. I really enjoyed it and read it in two days. I will say that I liked The Woman in Cabin 10 a little better, but this is definitely still a great followup. Ruth Ware is definitely becoming one of my favorite authors in the thriller/mystery space!
* The Silent Girls by Eric Rickstad came HIGHLY recommended from several of you in previous reading lists. I will be honest, it took me a little while to get into. The author’s style of writing is less fluffy than other thrillers. He writes very descriptively with a lot of details so you can’t just read it in a day or two – it takes longer. That isn’t a bad thing, but I can be really impatient when it comes to my thrillers… I want to devour them, whereas this was a little slower to read. That being said, I really enjoyed it. The plot line is extremely gory… more horror story than thriller and there are several little subplots and mysteries that keep you going. It centers around a detective (whose sister was brutally murdered years and years ago) and a string of ultra grotesque murders that seem to be connected. I finished it on Sunday and can’t stop thinking about it!
I’ve been looking for good books to add to my line up, so this is the perfect timing! Adding The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo to my list – thank you! I read Startup and felt the same way – it was good. Having worked in male-dominated tech startups for half of my career, it was certainly more enjoyable.
It’s been a struggle lately to dig into any of the books I’ve been reading. However, my mom turned me onto Jeffrey Archer’s Clifton Chronicles (after she raved about them for a good year), and I’ve finally started the series. After reading so many thrillers and light-reads, it was difficult to train my brain to enjoy a real story, but once I was halfway through Book 1, I was hooked. Onto Book 2 now and it’s definitely a solid series. If you’re into historical novels/stories, I would recommend checking out the first book. It slightly reminds me of The Nightingale (which I LOVED), because it’s light, historic and dramatic.
Thank you for the suggestion! I LOVED The Nightingale as well. 🙂
You should read ‘The Child’ by Fiona Barton, highly recommend! I have my book review here if it’s ok to post? http://designbysydnee.com/august-reading-list
I actually just started that! Highly intrigued so far.
I’ve been waiting patiently for The Lying Game to be available from the library! If you are into series check out the Throne of Glass series. I pretty much devoured it this summer. Currently reading Salt to the Sea and loving it so far.
Thank you so much for the suggestion!
I’ve already read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and didn’t like it much at all. I mean, the story was good, don’t get me wrong, but it seemed way too melodramatic in spots. While I was reading, it almost felt as if I was watching a soap opera — and I HATE soap operas lol
Right now I’m reading a classic film (nonfiction) book called Hot Toddy: The true story of Hollywood’s most sensational murder by Andy Edmonds. It’s all about the alleged murder of 1930s screen star Thelma Todd. Very interesting so far!
Oh that is funny! The more I read (and write these lists), the more I think that maybe I really like melodramatic? Another reader said the same thing about The Light We Lost… haha!
Hot Toddy sounds interesting! Adding to my list. 🙂
I can’t wait to read The Lying Games. I think I am going to read it next. And Party Girls Die in Pearls is one of my favorites that I have read this summer! I can’t wait for the next one. I recently read Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, and it was excellent! Eleanor is super quirky, and it is really funny & a little sad. I also recently started reading Fredrik Backman. A Man Called Ove was fantastic & I am about to finish Britt-Marie was Here. I really love both. On my list to read besides The Lying Games is Shari Lapena’s new book. The Couple Next Door was so good, so I hope her new one will be too!
Agree with Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine!! I think I’m going to try Party Girls next.
Thank you! Adding that to my list!!!
Adding Eleanor to my list – a few people have suggested that! And I ADORED A Man Called Ove. Need to watch the movie.
Hi, Grace!
I love your recommendations, and I’m currently reading “Commonwealth”, though just as you had felt – I’m about 2/3 through and just now starting to become more interested in the story-line.
Next up: The One-in-a-Million Boy by Monica Wood
I will have to check that out!
I read The Seven Husbands and The Lying Game, I agree with your feelings on both! The Seven Husbands is a great book and The Lying Game just didn’t live up to The Woman in Cabin 10. A couple of favorites that I’ve recently finished reading include “The Life She Was Given” by Ellen Marie Wiseman and “Before We Were Yours” by Lisa Wingate.
Thank you for the suggestions!!!
Thanks for sharing your reads. I’m currently reading A Dog’s Purpose! It’s so good. I’ll warn you though, you will cry!
http://www.allthatjae.com
Aw, I cried so hard at the movie!!!
I highly recommend ‘Beartown’ it’s written by the same author of A Man Called Ove. It’s really amazing and about a small town where hockey is at the center of everything. It deals with many different relationships, lies, sexual assault, etc.
oooh thank you! A Man Called Ove is one of my favorites!!
I’ll have to add a few of those to my list! I read Startup, and totally agree. It’s a fun, quick read, but nothing spectacular.
I just read Invincible Summer, that I thought was really good, and just couldn’t put it down. Not sure what i’ll read next. Possibly the Perfume Collector, The Address, or maybe something from your list. I always love this post! Can’t wait for next month 🙂
Thank you for the suggestions! I LOVED The Perfume Collector, for the record!!!
I 100% agree with what you said about The Lying Game! I actually just finished it last night!
-Gabby
http://www.orcuttfamilydentistry.com
yay! So glad to hear it. xx
Currently reading Radio Girls and loving it! The story is set in the late 1920s, early 1930s and focuses on a fresh young girl who begins working at the BBC. The plot is interesting, the characters are so refreshingly human. I needed a little girl power to keep afloat in the current political climate and this book has been a wonderful anecdote.
I recently finished Radio Girls and loved it as well. Even though it is fiction, it was a good introduction to Hilda Matheson, who in real life was a pioneering radio producer at the BBC.
I am going to have to check that out – it sounds great!!!
Thanks so much for the suggestion! I need a little Girl Power too!!!!
Light read: Mrs. Fletcher – Tom Perrotta
Heavy read (best book of my summer): The Heart’s Invisible Furies – John Boyne
Thank you for the suggestions!!
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo sounds really good! I saw it in some promotions so I wasn’t sure if it was actually good or if it was promotional hype. I’ll put it on my to-read list!
I read a YA book which I read soo quickly because I wanted to know what happened next, I think you will like it since it is kinda Gossip Girl-like. The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee. The sequel recently came out so I’m looking forward to reading that!
Side note – I like the daily posts email which reminds me to check out your blog, easier than catching up on the blog weekly
I really loved it! I got it through Book of the Month – wouldn’t have picked it up otherwise but it’s soooo good!
And LOVE a YA find – thank you for the suggestion!!!
Also glad you like the daily posts emails- thank you for telling me!!!
SO HAPPY that you loved The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo! This book knocked my socks off because I love Taylor Jenkins Reid and she shocked me with how different this book was than her others.
I loved it so, so much!! Best book this month for sure! Glad you are a fan as well, a few people didn’t love it!
I just love following your reading lists! I recently finished Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed. It’s not a new book, just new to me, and basically chronicles the questions she received when she was an anonymous advice columnist, and the responses she gave. It really didn’t seem like something I’d be interested in but I picked it up on a whim, and I can’t stop thinking about it. The best book I’ve read in a long time!
I’m so happy to hear that!!!
I actually started Tiny Beautiful Things a while back, but I put it down. I need to pick it back up!!!
I just finished Since We Fell by Dennis Lehane – I really enjoyed it and it’s very different from his other more well-known books (Mystic River, Gone Baby Gone, etc).
And now I’ve started a book that was recommended by a fellow cat lover…The Lion in the Living Room: How House Cats Tamed Us and Took Over the World. Only 50 pages in so far but it’s very intriguing! As a cat person I’m sure you would enjoy 🙂
Loooove Dennis Lehane! Will have to check both of these out. I mean, anything about cats… 🙂
Two of my new favorites!
*The Unseen World by Liz Moore – about a Dad, his daughter and the many mystery within a family – so good!
*Norwegian By Night by Derek B. Miller – an elderly American father protects a Serbian neighbor boy as the two travel across Norway on the run.
Thank you for the suggestions!!!!
Awesome books! I’ve been excited to pick up The Lying Game, too! I’m quite the fan of Ware’s novels as well!
I hope you’ve had a great Thursday!
Michael
https://www.mileinmyglasses.com
She is SO talented!!!
Currently reading The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne which I’ve heard is incredible. Also went ahead and bought The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane to read when I’m finished!
Thank you so much for the suggestion! I read The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane a while back and LOVED it!!!!
The Lying Game sounds exciting! Mystery books are my favourite!
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Mine too! Hope you’re enjoying the weekend, Charmaine!
I’ve been recommending “Dark Matter: A Novel” by Blake Crouch to everyone this summer (and they all like it). I found out about it here: http://www.hithaonthego.com/dark-matter/
Read it in like 2 days, super good if you like science fiction! Has a cool “twist” as well.
Oooh, thank you for the suggestion! Love Hitha’s blog! xx
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo sounds great! I’m surprised I hadn’t heard of it before your post, but I’m excited to put it on my TBR.
Briana | youngsophisticate.com
I hope you love it!!!
I’ve got the Taylor Jenkins Reid on my list, so now I’m extra excited to get to it. And I got Startup as a free Kindle First book but haven’t picked it up yet – that’s a helpful review to let me know that other ones on my pile might be more for me…
My favorite read of the summer was Beartown – nothing like Fredrik Backman’s other books (Man Called Ove). So excellent. For something in the mystery category I loved The Dry.
Oh my gosh, A Man Called Ove was one of my favorite books last year! Will have to check out Beartown!
My coworker just finished The Nix and said it is amazing!
Ooh I will check it out – thank you for the suggestion!
If you haven’t read “In A Dark Dark Wood” by Ruth Ware add it to your list. I liked it better than Woman in Cabin 10. I am just starting Lying Game so I can’t compare that one. But I could not put “In A Dark Dark Wood” down when I read it!!
I still need to read that one!!!
I have such a love hate relationship with Ruth Ware. I loved The Woman in Cabin 10, but hated all of her other books. I am going to finally pick up The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and give it a read, it’s been sitting on my bookshelf for far too long!
I hear you! I think The Woman in Cabin 10 was definitely her best book! I hope you enjoy Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo!! xx
if you haven’t already, you MUST read All The Light We Cannot See. My favorite read of the month.
I loved that one!!!!
You are correct…Seven Husbands is the best book of the summer! I just finished Everything We Keep and Everything We Left Behind. I loved the 1st book, but not so much on the sequel.
So glad you agree! xx
I just added these to my ‘to read’ list! Thanks! I’m currently 2/3rds of the way through the Outlander Series and these will be great once I finish. If you haven’t read the Outlander books I’d highly recommend. They do such a good job of mixing history with romance and the various plot twists and turns definitely keep things interesting- plus Starz has the show based on the books which is really fantastic, season 3 just started yesterday. The books are long, but I promise you once you get into them you won’t want to put them down. I’ve been powering through a book a week since my friends got me hooked in July.
ooh thank you for the suggestions! I have heard really great things about Outlander. 🙂
Just finished reading “Thr Address” by the same author as “The Dollhouse”(which I got from your list). So good!!!
I just ordered that! So excited to read it.. I love her books.
Have you read The Alice Network by Kate Quinn? I am a little over 100 pages in and can’t put it down!!
It goes back and forth between 1915 and 1947 and connects 2 ladies stories, one of a spy from the Great War and in 1947 a 20 year old looking for her cousin who disappears during WWII.
I have not!! Thank you so much for the suggestion though, I shall check it out!