Summer vacation always ignites my passion to read, but this year after we left Maine I kept the momentum going and have recently read 5 books. I haven’t read this much in years and it feels so good to be able to partake in one of my hobbies again! I thought I’d share the books that I loved, most of which you’ve probably heard of!
Tell Me Everything by Cambria Brockman: I bought this novel on a whim after seeing Cambria post about it on Instagram – I’d followed her for years, though hadn’t seen her feed in forever (thanks, Algorithm) and was excited to see what she’d created. I could not put this book down and zipped through it in a few days. Set on a New England college campus, it follows a group of college friends as they navigate their formative years until one of them ends up dead. I love how Cambria developed the characters and wove their past into the storyline.
Normal People by Sally Rooney: After I finished the book above I needed another read on vacation so my sister lent me this. Also set on a college campus, though this time in Ireland this novel explores the complicated love story between two young women who grow and change over the course of the years but find a way back to each other. I love how raw and real this writing is and I couldn’t put it down.
Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens: All I can say is this novel is as good as everyone says. I debated if that could be true and that it was just overhyped, but it is not. This book, set in the deep South follows the life of a 7 year old ‘marsh girl’ who is abandoned by her entire family and creates a life for herself in the swamp, discovering the true feeling of love, and her own intellect. Like the others, I could not put this book down!!
Educated by Tara Westover: I love memoirs and haven’t read one in a long time so I was excited to dive into this #1 NYT best seller. Oh, it’s so good! If there’s one book you read before the end of the year make it this one! It’s a gripping memoir that has stayed with me since I finished the last page. Tara’s an exceptionally talented writer and her story is so inspiring, and equally disturbing, making me so anxious to read some parts. Raised on a mountain in rural Utah by survivalist Mormon’s with a very limited view on the world, Tara chronicles her abusive childhood, stepping into a classroom and and getting an education for the first time at age 17. What follows is the complicated journey of self discovery and discovering the world and making her own opinions for the first time while navigating the painful relationship with her family.
All of these are such amazing books !! Right now I’m reading Three Women by Lisa Taddeo which has been described as a nonfiction literary masterpiece – and so far I’d have to agree! Have you read anything great lately? What should I read next?
Where the Crawdads Sing is such a great book. I couldn’t put it down.
If you enjoy thrillers, I just finished The Couple Next Door.
If you loved Educated, you should definitely read Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance. I cannot recommend a book more highly.