August 2022 Book Reviews
August was a very busy month for me with working, moving, and traveling home to Delaware! Despite it all, I still found time to sneak some reading into my days and wound up finishing 3 books before the month was over. I rated these 3, 4, and 5 stars respectively, which qualifies as a successful reading month to me!
Each book was a different genre (psychological fiction, romance, and thriller), which kept me entertained. I find that if a read a lot of the same genre back to back it gets old, so I like to switch things up from book to book!
TL;DR: I’d recommend all three of these books!
Total pages: 1,042
2022 Goal progress: 45/52
Overall favorite of the month:
The Woman in the Window
August 2022 reads at a glance
Girl A
3/5
Birds of California
4/5
The Woman in the Window
5/5
Book #1: Girl A
Author: Abigail Dean
Rating: 3/5
This story was nothing short of a bit messed up. It’s about 6 children who are abused by their parents bordering on religious cult-like personalities. Actually, I don’t think they’re bordering — I think their actions were fully indoctrinated with their delusions.
The story is told from the perspective of Lex Gracie, known as Girl A, who at the age of 15 is able to escape the home and free herself of her parents. Of course, she has to live with her experiences and learn how to overcome so many years of trauma.
I would’ve given this story 4 stars but decided on 3 because the timelines are a bit confusing. They jump around sporadically and sometimes by the paragraph, which makes it hard to keep the storyline straight.
You’ll like this if:
You’re in the mood for a psychological fiction thriller and want a look into the perspective of a seriously messed up family dynamic.
Book #2: Birds of California
Author: Katie Cotugno
Rating: 4/5
Okay, can we talk about this cover? It’s beautiful! It caught my attention across the aisle in Barnes & Noble. A quick Goodreads check told me that most people rate it 3 stars and above, so I decided to give it a go.
I wound up liking it! There was a book I LOVED in high school called Better of Famous? (by now I’ve read it at least 3 or 4 times), and this felt like the grown-up sequel. The story follows Fiona as she navigates life after “retiring” acting and leaving the TV show that shot her to stardom as a teenager. When the producers request a reboot, her costar Sam tries to convince her to come back.
I liked the peek into Hollywood and the fact that it wasn’t all glitz and glamour — there was actually a lot of the opposite. The story read more like a YA book, but I really liked it!
You’ll like this if:
You enjoy books about fictional celebrities, want a quick and easy read, and/or you’re in the mood for a book with a rom-com feel!
Book #3: The Woman in the Window
Author: A.J. Finn
Rating: 5/5
This book was so good! I was at first intimidated by the size and not sure I wanted to take on another thriller (I’ve read a lot of them lately), but I decided to jump in. As soon as I did, I couldn’t put the book down!
First, the chapters are so short (many are 1-3 pages). A dream! Second, the story keeps you hooked!
The main character, Anna, has agoraphobia and is unable to go outside. When the story begins Anna has already spent nearly a year indoors, and her lifestyle and state of mind are suffering as a result.
She spends her time counseling others through online forums, meeting with her psychiatrist and physical therapist, and spying on her neighbors with her camera. When she begins to see things she shouldn’t, she’s met with doubt from doctors and law enforcement.
This book takes a wild twist that you will not believe!
You’ll like this if:
You enjoy thrillers, want your mind to be blown, love short chapters, and want to follow the book with a ready-to-watch Netflix film (although the film was pretty bad, not going to lie!).
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