It can be totally overwhelming to pick a new book, and when reading time is limited I want to make sure that my choices are going to be well worth it. About once a month, I share my reading list in the hopes that it makes your reading list a bit easier to navigate and, more importantly, helps you discover books you really love. After all, life is too short to read books you don’t enjoy!
I’m linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy to share my reading list this month.
On My Nightstand This Month
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The Renegades by Marissa Meyer
I’m a huge fan of Meyer’s Lunar Chronicles and was excited to see that this new book was available. Renegades introduces us to a new world of superheroes, where prodigies, or those with special gifts, are trying to rebuild a city after destroying the Anarchists. The problem is that Nova doesn’t really fit in either group and when she agrees to work undercover with the Renegades, she has no idea which side she’ll choose. The beginning is a little slow and since it’s the first in a series, expect a big cliffhanger at the end of the book. My suggestion is to wait until November when the second book comes out an then read them together.
Forever, or a Long, Long Time by Caela Carter
Flora and Julian have always had theories about where they came from but it certainly wasn’t being born. When their adoptive mother takes them on a road trip to get some answers, the find themselves remembering a story they had almost forgotten. Agh…this book is so heartbreakingly good! If you’re a parent, teacher, social worker, or anyone else who works with kids you will be ripped open by this middle grades novel about Flora and her little brother Julian’s journey through adoption. Caela Carter uses Flora to tell the story of trauma, redemption, abuse, family, love, and all the messiness that lies between in this beautiful novel. Don’t shy away from the difficult subject matter, as this book is full of so much hope and joy too.
The End We Start From by Megan Hunter
I love reading books by poets because their word and language choice is so precise. You know each word has earned its way onto the page. Megan Hunter’s post-apocolypitic novel about a mother who must survive the catastrophic flooding of London with her newborn baby explores all the interesting parts of this genre in a micro, close-up way. The book is short but not without depth and would make a great book club pick. For fans of Station Eleven or The Handmaids Tale.
Braving the Wilderness by Brené Brown
Full disclosure, I’m a Brené Brown superfan. I love her work on shame and vulnerability and have used her books in several personal and professional settings, so when my book club choose her newest title to discuss, I was super pumped. In Braving the Wilderness, Brown looks at finding our own place in a world that increasingly wants us to choose sides and create identities based on who we’re excluding. As always she doesn’t beat around the bush, talking politics, guns, and even Texas drill teams (a sacred culture all it’s own). When I read Brown’s work, I feel like I’m talking with a friend who can put words to all the thoughts that swirl inside my brain and speak right to my deepest fears. We had a fantastic discussion around this book but it’s a must-read even if you aren’t part of a book club.
Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys
I read Ruta Sepetys’ newest book, Salt of the Sea, last year and really enjoyed her historical fiction so I was happy to find this book, set in the famous French Quarter in 1950 (and perfect before our trip to New Orleans for spring break). A prostitute’s daughter, Josie has always taken care of herself. But she couldn’t have done it without the patchwork of deeply flawed characters who have taken it upon themselves to raise her including a notorious madame, a biracial taxi driver, a bookseller and his son, and scrappy kid from Alabama. Now that she’s turning 18, she has to decide if staying in New Orleans will give her the life she wants, especially when her mother’s web of mistakes keeps threatening to entangle her forever.
What was your favorite read this month? Have you read any of these books before? I’d love to hear what’s on your nightstand so leave a comment below!
PS. As always, you can find all my book recommendations here.
I really must move Ruta Sepetys up on my TBR list! I haven’t read anything by her yet.
I didn’t realize Ruth Sepetys had a new book out! Must add it to my list. My favorite read last month was Castle of Water by Dane Huckelbridge. I knew it was going to break my heart but I couldn’t read it fast enough!
I’ve read the Brene Brown one and the Ruta Sepetys one. One of my students had the Marissa Meyer in silent reading this week – I will have to read that one. Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
Your mention of Brene Brown reminded me that one of my goals this year is to read another of her books; and I have plenty to choose from since I have only read (and really enjoyed) The Gifts of Imperfection.
Salt to the Sea is waiting on my shelf for me and now I’ll have to add this one of hers too. Sounds really good.
I probably liked Salt to the Sea a little bit more than Out of the Easy but it’s mostly because I’m a huge WWII historical fiction fan but I think you’ll find both of her books really great reads!
Ohhh, Forever, or a Long Long Time sounds great!! We just adopted our second son this month so perfect timing!
Diana, you’ll love this book and be totally shattered by it. It’s such a beautiful and heart-wrenching look at adoption. I loved how hopeful and honest it was!