New Books for August 2022

August is shaping up to be a great month for newly released books. Just in time for the last hurrah of the summer!

Hi friends,

When I was a child, we drove from Southern California to Oklahoma every summer to visit relatives. When we got there, my dad used to say that it was the “dog days of summer.” I had no idea what that meant; all I knew was it was hot, humid, and miserable the entire time we visited. In North Texas, we are definitely in the dog days of summer. It has been hot and humid for most of this summer, and we still have a couple of months to go before it cools down. I dream of a Southern California beach, wishing I still lived close to the ocean.

I always get excited at the beginning of a new reading month; it’s a chance to look back to see what I read and the opportunity to plan what I want to read. August brings so many good books this year, many of which are publishing in the next couple of weeks. I’ve read a couple, and I hope to read at least one more; maybe there are a few that you would enjoy too.

• Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister (8-2-22) - I’ve read another book from this UK best-selling author (The Choice) and am contemplating reading this new one. McAllister writes psychological fiction/thrillers involving family and a moral dilemma at the heart of the story. However, I read the blurb, and it’s giving me pause as to whether I’d enjoy it. Maybe not read the blurb; just go in blind and see what you think.

• Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan (8-2-22) - As soon as I saw this available on Net Galley, I requested both the e-book and the audiobook, and I went back and forth between them until I finished; I loved it. I’m a newbie to audiobook listening, but in this short time, Whelan is the narrator that I’ll listen to most anything she narrates, and she has a 500-book narrating backlist. This is a fun look at friendship, a little romance, and the “behind the scenes” of audiobook narrating, which was the most interesting to me. Maybe in another life, I can be a narrator when I grow up.

• The Many Daughters of Afong Moy by Jamie Ford (8-2-22) - Rich in Asian-American history as were his previous books, Ford’s latest novel continues in that same tradition. From author Luis Alberto Urrea, “It takes readers to places they have not been to before. At our house, we enjoyed many nights reading later and later into the evening and discussing its wonders and surprises.” I enjoyed Love and Other Consolation Prizes and look forward to reading this one.

• The Codebreakers Secret by Sara Ackerman (8-2-22) - In this dual timeline WWII historical fiction novel, Ackerman continues her focus on strong women and the part they played in the Pacific theater during WWII. I requested this ARC from Net Galley, finished it a few weeks ago, and enjoyed it. The dual timeline was interesting, the mystery in the more recent timeline kept me turning the pages, and the overall feeling I had while reading it is reminiscent of the other Ackerman novel I read previously. If you like WWII historical fiction and want a different setting other than Europe, this might be a good author to check out.

• The Manhattan Girls by Gill Paul (8-16-22) - When an author puts New York City, a great storyline with interesting characters, and historical fiction together in one book, I’m all over it. From the publisher, “It’s a 1920s version of Sex and the City, as Dorothy Parker—one of the wittiest women who ever wielded a pen—and her three friends navigate life, love, and careers in New York City.” I have an ARC that I just started this last week, and I’m enjoying it so far. I’ll let you know my final thoughts when I’m finished.

• Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid (8-30-22) - Let’s start with the most obvious thing about this book, the cover. In the past, I’ve made no secret that a “shiny new cover” will lead me astray in my reading. I’m not wild about the cover of this book, but maybe it will make sense once I’ve read it. Carrie Soto appears briefly in Malibu Rising and is back as the star of Reid’s latest book. From the publisher, “In this powerful novel about the cost of greatness, a legendary athlete attempts a comeback when the world considers her past her prime.” It’s about tennis, and while I don’t play tennis, I watch it occasionally. I hope this book takes me behind the scenes to learn more about the tennis world. I’ve enjoyed several of Reid’s previous books, and I have this one on hold through one of my library cards.

There are many more books publishing in August, but there are too many to put in one newsletter. Maybe I’ll do another newsletter highlighting more August books later on in the month.

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Did you find any books from my list above that interest you? Have any upcoming books caught your eye? I’d love to hear more about what is on your TBR for August; you can tell me in the comments below.

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Things are picking up at work (like it ever slows down), and unfortunately, I’m struggling to find time to read all the books I want to read; this reader’s dilemma for sure. I hope you are finding time to relax and read, and if you are in the middle of the heatwave, I hope you are staying cool too. Happy reading!

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