five things Friday: August TBR edition

It's that time of the month again... time to pick a new reading list! I read more than 5 books per month, but choosing a TBR list of 5 particular ones to make sure I get to has been a nice way to focus my reading this year - and also to broaden it, to make sure I am actually picking up some non-fiction or classics or diverse reads that I always mean to but then get distracted by some shiny new escapist read. Here's what I've got lined up for August:

Need to get some work done on my Modern Mrs. Darcy 2023 reading challenge, so the first two selections are based on that: A Nearly Normal Family (legal/domestic thriller) for the "a book in translation" prompt, and If Beale Street Could Talk for the "classic you missed in school" prompt (definitely wanted to make sure to pick a classic that was missed because it isn't typically taught in schools because of our lack of diversity in considering what is "classic" - not picking any old dead white guys here!). And then speaking of diversifying my mind, I was just given a copy of White Fragility, and I want to make sure I pick it up right away rather than let it languish on the shelf like "hard" non-fiction often does for me.

Finally, rounding out the month with a couple of YA picks: Dear Martin is the next blogger book club selection that Dana and I made, for our September 6 post (so you could join us!), and Running is a new YA read that I have the library Kindle version of, so I need to read it in the next 21 days before it disappears... but also I love the timely election topic!

And for a quick wrap-up of my July reading list: I'm 5/5 in reading all of them, and 3/5 in loving them. Americanah (review here), American Spy, and All Adults Here were all 4.5 stars for me. All quite different, all really well done. American Spy was a bit unexpected in the twist on the spy thriller, focusing on a single Black mother - so it might be more literary and playing with the conventions of the spy novel that thriller devotees might not enjoy as much, but I thought it was really interesting and well thought-out. And All Adults Here was Emma Straub doing what she does so well. Read it in 2 days and really enjoyed.

The others I didn't love quite as much - Dear Mrs. Bird (review here) was a little over the top in pluckiness, but still a nice change-up for a quick, light historical fiction read. And In Five Years just fell a bit flat for me. Reminded me a bit of some Taylor Jenkins Reid or Christina Lauren, which I love, but I think in this one I was partly bugged by the wealthy New Yorkers and it feeling a bit out of touch in that way (not necessarily the author's fault, but much as I love an escapist read, this just felt jarring for some reason), and overall while a decent way to pass the time, the book felt a bit forgettable compared to others in this genre that I have enjoyed.

So that was my July in books, and it looks like it'll be a good August in books too. How about you?

I think we're all feeling some nostalgia for times gone by right now, eh? Stuck home, thinking of how long stores were fully shuttered this spring, or how long it will be till we're comfortable shopping regularly again... But today have I ever got something for you to assuage those yearning feelings: a blog book tour! A great way to virtually learn about new books when physical book tours can't really happen - plus, it's for a novel that takes place almost entirely in a mall. Re-live your teenage years and normalcy, all at once!

Summary: In Megan McCafferty's new book The Mall, Cassie is just biding her time for one last summer in her small suburban New Jersey town, before she can finally go off to college in New York City and begin The Plan, the start of her real life. But the summer isn't going as planned: after she misses the end of high school thanks to mono, by the time she's back on her feet, her boyfriend has moved on and she's lost her position at America's Best Cookie. Now she needs to find a new job in the mall to avoid having to spend time with her detached parents who are , avoid the food court where her ex is swapping spit with his new girlfriend - oh, and help her estranged middle school best friend solve a real mall mystery: is there really a load of cash hidden somewhere in the mall, as employee lore has it?

What I liked: This book has 1990s nostalgia all over it, with the references, the mixtapes and scrunchie style, and of course the classic types of mall stores. I feel like I'm a couple years too young to really feel all of that, but it was still very enjoyable to have the book set in this era - the characters and their interactions just wouldn't have worked in another setting, and I loved that unique feel. And I loved how the story took place almost entirely within the mall itself, or in her parents' car on the way to be dropped off there, but it didn't feel like it was constrained at all - it's like a good sitcom in that way. The characters and dialogue would be great for a sitcom too. Plus I always love a main character who is so type-A and not exactly up on the "cool" scene (e.g., high school me...)

So if you know going in that the story is going to be a bit far-fetched and the tone quite snarky and snappy, you will be set up for success on just going along for a fun ride. And along the way, you'll also find a great coming-of-age story, while Cassie finds love and friendship and even herself in unexpected ways. (Love that it was especially about the friendship and the self-love, not totally focused on the romantic love.) And you'll for sure find yourself reminiscing about your own last summer before college.

astrill安装包"Less than five minutes into my triumphant return to the mall, I was targeted for assassination by a rabid spritzer from Bath & Body Works. Before the ambush, I was as happy as anyone making minimum wage could possibly be..."

"As Sam Goody Kissed me--sweetly, softly, tenderly--I had an acute awareness of what I can only describe as anticipatory nostalgia. For the rest of my life, I knew I"d always remember kissing Sam Goody whenever I heard this song, these words."

Recommended for: teenagers, fans of YA authors like Jenny Han with their sweet and naive but spunky heroines, anyone with 1990s nostalgia feelings - or who is just looking for a reading experience that will put a smile on their face right now

astrill安装 4/5 stars, delightful escapist summer fun

Thanks to the publisher for a free e-copy of the book; all opinions are my own.

blogger style: one item, two ways

Back with Everlane for this month's installment of Dana and my long-running blogger style series, we're both styling this very reasonably priced and very worth buying midi t-shirt dress.

This dress has been on repeat for me this summer, as seen before, and I basically wear it the same way every time - I mean, it's cute on its own, and though it might be even cuter with a denim jacket, who has cool enough weather for that?! But then recently I remembered this little belt bag that I had ordered in anticipation of the spring-break-that-wasn't, because I thought it would be so perfect for touring around Savannah, to carry just the basics without weighing me down (and if you don't carry a big bag, the boys you're traveling with can't ask you to carry anything for them - ha!). The belt makes it into a bit of a different outfit - and the leather totally makes it count as a "belt" rather than a "fanny pack" which I am kind of scared of - plus it turns a no-pockets dress into one that has a perfect pocket for carrying the strolling around town essentials: a phone + our masks.

I feel lucky that we have plenty of open sidewalks, plus a whole college campus that is full of shady paths and currently no people, that we can walk and scooter ride without worrying about getting too close to anyone else - so that we can do it comfortably without needing masks. But I always feel better when I have it handy should the need arise!

See Dana's version here.

five things Friday: retail therapy edition

I've tried hard to find constructive ways to channel my pandemic feelings, but it's been several months, so a small bit of (online) retail therapy is just inevitable. Even if I'm not leaving the house, I can't deny th