I truly loved all 4 books I read last month: A sequel to the book that created one of my favorite TV shows, a fun rom-com with a telenovela twist, rereading one of my old favorites, and a book that SO many of you recommended to me.
As always I’d love to hear from you: What books have you read lately that you love?
What I Read This Month:
Older by Pamela Redmond
I am a huge fan of the TV show younger. The TV show is created off of a novel by the same name.
Older is a sequel to that novel. Although I have never read the original book, I was able to fill in enough of the blanks from watching the TV show that I didn’t feel lost. In fact, I felt like I was reuniting with good friends that I had missed SO much. There are plot differences between the TV show and the book but, you’ll quickly be able to figure it out if you’re a fan of the show.
The book is about an older Liza turning 50. In a sort of “meta” plot point, her book about her experience lying about her age to land a job in publishing is now being turned into a TV show. The book follows the (very fictionalized) adventures of getting the TV show off the ground in LA.
If you’re not a fan of the TV, you might want to skip this one. But if you love the show like I do (and are impatiently waiting for the new season) it’s a fun way to reunite with Liza, Kelsey, Josh and Maggie
My Rating: 4/5
✨
You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria
This book is such a fun, modern, romance with some steamy love scenes and a telenovela twist.
We meet soap opera star, Jasmine, right after a very public, very messy, break up with her musician boyfriend. She’s just landed a role on the very hyped up bilingual romantic comedy opposite the very handsome telenovela star, Ashton Suarez.
Despite Jasmine’s desires to focus on her career — and keep her romantic life private for once — she can’t help falling for Ashton even though he’s super reserved and seems to be hiding something. Of course, things are bound to get messy, and Ashton is worried that a secret he’s been keeping all these years might be exposed to everyone.
I really enjoyed this book, especially the conversation about Latinx representation in mainstream TV. It was also fun to read a romance between actors that are playing love interests.
My Rating: 4/5
✨
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
I LOVE this book on creativity. It’s not just for writers, but anyone that’s remotely creative. Which is honestly just about everyone. I first read this book in 2016. Although I remembered loving it, I didn’t remember much else about it.
I rarely reread books, but I felt super drawn to reread this one. I personally have been feeling stagnant lately when it comes to creativity. A mixture of pandemic stress, election stress, and second-guessing what people are going to say about anything I write these days.
This book is just as good the second time around. I’m not crazy about non-fiction but I find Elizbeth Gilbert’s writing to be super approachable. Even if you just read a few pages every day, you’re bound to stumble across a little bit of wisdom and a nugget of inspiration to take with you the rest of the day.
I found myself writing out so many quotes in the Notes app on my phone to refer back to in moments when I’m feeling creatively stuck. If you’ve never read this book (or it’s been a while) I can’t recommend it enough.
My Rating: 5/5
✨
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
SO many people have recommended this book to me! I tried to read it last summer and couldn’t get into it. I’m so so so happy I gave it a second chance, though, because I LOVED it.
This book follows the unlikely romance between sworn enemies Alex, the First Son of the United States, and Henry, the Prince of Wales. The book takes place during a very fictional version of the 2020 election as Alex’s mom is campaigning for her second term. Oh yes, the president in this fictional universe is one badass, strong female.
I didn’t realize that a book about a fictional version of the 2020 election AND the first son falling in love with a prince is exactly what I needed right now. But wow, was it.
My Rating: 5/5
✨
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