Reading Roundup – Third Quarter 2021
Hey, I drafted this, and then through a series of unfortunate things, managed to lose the entire thing, so here we are. Technology. (Yes, I had a backup. Yes, I deleted it, because I thought everything was cool. Yes I went and ate actual ice cream when I realized what had happened.)
But here we are.
I had a really good quarter reading wise, so narrowing it down to ten was tough. Bookshop or Bookbub links included.
[The Retake]( https://bookshop.org/books/the-retake/9780593174142) by Jen Calonita – A very sweet middle grade about a girl who has a super bad first day of seventh grade and gets a mysterious app that lets her go back in time to try and change the trajectory of some friendships.
[May the Best Man Win]( https://bookshop.org/books/may-the-best-man-win-9781250625120/9781250625120) by ZR Ellor – Just a delight of messy teens who are exes with unfinished business, trying to fix everything by competing for the same homecoming crown. Privileged kids at a DC area private school, are kind of exactly my jam (fictionally speaking) so I enjoyed this on many levels.
[The Library of the Dead]( https://bookshop.org/books/the-library-of-the-dead-9781250767783/9781250767769) by T. L. Huchu – In a near future Scotland, a wise cracking ghost talker discovers her magic may be bigger than she thought, which is handy, because she’s been asked to look into the disappearance of a child and it may involve magical beings.
[The Kingdoms]( https://bookshop.org/books/the-kingdoms/9781635576085) by Natasha Pulley – This historical fantasy went onto my radar because amnesia, but if questions like what if the French had won the Napoleonic War and/or what if amnesia was a result of people altering the multiverse appeal to you, this story of a guy who keeps feeling like the things he’s been told about his life don’t quite fit may appeal to you.
[Like a Love Song by Gabriela Martins](https://bookshop.org/books/like-a-love-song-9780593382073/9780593382073) – Oh I loved this book. Teen pop start agrees to fake date a British teen actor to distract from a very public breakup. Really delightful hijinks ensue, including some very real looks at navigating fame and the willingness to let your life become public.
[Gearbreakers](https://bookshop.org/books/gearbreakers/9781250269508) by Zoe Hana Mikuta was not an easy read, but the two main characters are so aware that their world just utterly sucks, but no one else seems prepared to try and fix it. A dystopian world with mecha pilots and the folks who break them.
[The Summer of Lost Letters](https://bookshop.org/books/the-summer-of-lost-letters/9780593349724) by Hannah Reynolds – This book did so many things that I enjoyed. It’s a story of a girl going to Nantucket for the summer after discovering letters her recently deceased grandmother had been saving that hinted at a childhood and a love interest she hadn’t known about. And well, working and getting to know the attractive but annoying grandson of the man she’s trying to get to talk to her.
[The Girls I’ve Been]( https://bookshop.org/books/the-girls-i-ve-been-9781432885199/9780593353806) by Tess Sharpe – I really enjoyed this story of a teen raised by a con artist who finds herself, her girlfriend, and her best friend hostages in a bank robbery, and decides she’s got the knowhow to get them out of this. Content warnings include, assault, injury, and murder. More complete list [here.] (https://sharpegirl.tumblr.com/post/627443296317358080/content-warnings-for-the-girls-ive-been)
[The Hellion’s Waltz]( https://bookshop.org/books/the-hellion-s-waltz-feminine-pursuits/9780062931832) by Olivia Waite was just a delight if a historical romp about a woman whose family has recently been swindled spotted a hot lady clearly up to no good, and eventually deciding that sometimes some people deserve to be swindled.
[In Harmony]( https://www.bookbub.com/books/in-harmony-by-jn-welsh)by JN Welsh was just great. Symphony player by day, DJ by night, and a cocky manager who is sure he’s up for the challenge in every way. Hijinks ensue.
Lots of fun. Let me know if you've read any of these!