Today I have a big reading round-up for you of everything I read in August and September. Recapping some of these more beachy books feels a bit silly now that it’s fall… but maybe you’ll want to read something with summer vibes to warm you up when it’s winter.
Also FYI: As of the time I’m writing this my blog is still hacked 😩 Thank you for your patience as I figure this out! It’s been a process.
Summer Sisters by Judy Blue
At the age of 12, Victoria’s life changes forever when Caitlin chose her as her “summer sister” to bring to Martha’s Vineyard for the summer. The book follows the next 20 years of their friendship from young teens to adulting and marriages.
I’ve read this book before but forget most of the plot. All I could remember is that the ending kind of shocked me. Revisiting it I remembered how much I adore this book. So much so that I think I’m going to start a tradition where I read it every August.
Judy Blume will forever be my favorite author and this book is such a delightful bridge between her young adult books I grew up with and her handful of adult novels.
My Rating: 5/5 Stars
The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther
Meredith’s family has a tradition of playing a big, competitive, game of Assasins when they’re all together in Martha’s Vineyard. This summer’s Assassins game is taking place the weekend of her cousin’s wedding, which is also the first time Meredith has been to Martha’s Vineyard since her sister passed away.
She falls hard and fast for one of the groomsmen and ends up teaming up with him to in hopes of leading herself to Assassins victory to honor of her sister.
I liked that this book was charming but also tackled grief. With that being said, I didn’t love how Meredith’s friends acted towards her as she grieved the loss of her sister. That ruined the book a bit for me.
I also felt like the romance was rushed. One second they hated each other, the next it’s love. It wasn’t my favorite recent YA read, but overall a sweet book that also tackles some serious topics.
My Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
For her senior capstone project, Pip decides to investigate a mysterious murder in her hometown. As she starts to uncover what really happen, she finds herself and her family in danger too. Will she be get to the truth before she puts herself at serious risk?
I’ve said this before, but I’m a sucker for a YA thriller. This one was just the right amount of fun and twisty. I loved the senior captstone angle and how those reports moved the plot forward. I can see why this book is a TikTok favorite.
My Rating: 4/5 Stars
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
It’s been two years since Cady spent the summer with her extended family on their private island, and she can’t remember why she hasn’t been back and what exactly happened. As the weeks go by, she slowly starts to remember bits and pieces of what happened to her and cousins that summer.
This book is unlike anything I’ve ever read before and I loved that about it. The writing style is short and choppy, almost poetic at times. It’s got a massive twist, but isn’t a thriller by any means. I read it on vacation in Cape Cod couldn’t put it down. It’s the kind of book you devour in a day and then just sit in a stupor afterwards thinking about what happened.
My Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
The Summer Place by Jennifer Weiner
The wedding of young loves Ruby and Gabe brings together their extended family… plus the family’s extensive lies and secrets. The first 75% of the book is mostly back story about each character and how they got to where they are today, and then the final 25% is the actual wedding weekend in Cape Cod.
I’m a bit torn about how I felt about this book. On the one hand, I find Jennifer Weiner’s writing to be so fabulous, as always. The characters are SO fleshed out and I found myself attached to them more than I would have though. But the beginning of this book is so tedicuous as there is no plot. Just all back story and catching up.
Once the plot got going it’s more enjoyable. Be warned though, the drama feels like a soap opera, almost too outrageous to believe at times.
My Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Before We Were Strangers by Renee Carlino
Matt runs into Grace for the first time in fifteen years while getting on the subway. When they first met as seniors at NYU, their bond was special from the moment they met. The book jumps back and forth between then and now, uncovering what happened between them in the middle.
This book has so many things I love: NYC setting, dual time line, second chance romance. Love love love love love.
I’ve come to realize that in order for me to love a romance, it’s gotta have an emotional punch to it. I’m not a huge fan of most modern rom-coms with cartoon covers. This, however, was my kind of romance. It has BIG feels, big emotions, and complicated characters. All things I love in a romance.
My Rating: 4.5/5
Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan
Nora writes Hallmark Channel-style romances. She knows all the tropes and all the cliches. When her husband (who sucks) leaves her, she writes a movie based on the experience.
The movie ends up filming in her house which is when she meets the star Leo, one of the hottest movie stars. What starts as a few awkward interactions soon becomes a special bond between Leo, Nora, and her two kids. He decides to stay in her small town for a few weeks… but then ghosts her when he is whisked away for another film.
This romance was highly recommended to me and I gotta admit… I wasn’t sure about it as first. It sounded a bit too saccarhine and cliche for me. I was totally wrong. I adored this book, Nora, Leo, and the supporting cast of characters. It’s just the right amount of smart that it doesn’t feel silly like some romances do to me. I like that Nora isn’t pathetic, she’s an incredible mom and talented writer.
I’ve also accepted that celebrity + normal person romances are SO my favorite trope.
My Rating: 4.5/5
This post contains affiliate links.
Thank you for supporting Kayla in the City (and local bookstores through Bookshop.org!)
